*An Ancient Chasse or Reliquary* is shown among the treasures of the cathedral, which was looked upon for a long time as a representation of the murder of St. Ethelbert, but this is only an example of the many traditional tales which modern study and research are compelled to discard. It undoubtedly represents the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury. On the lower part is the murder; on the upper, the entombment of the saint, very similar in style to the later Limoges work of the thirteenth century. The Rev. Francis Havergal gives a detailed description, which we have condensed to the following:— This reliquary consists of oak, perfectly sound, covered with copper plates overlaid with Limoges enamel. It is 8-1/4 inches high, 7 long and 3-1/2 broad. The back opens on hinges and fastens with a lock and key, and the upper part sloped so as to form an acutely-pointed roof; above this is a ridge-piece; the whole rests on four square feet. Front of Shrine:—Here are two compartments; the lower one shows on the right side an altar, of which the south end faces the spectator; it is supported on four legs and has an antependium. Upon the altar stands a plain cross on a pyramidal base, and in front of it a chalice covered with a paten. Before, or technically speaking, in the midst of the altar stands a bishop celebrating mass, having both hands extended towards the chalice, as if he were about to elevate it. He has curly hair and a beard and moustache. He wears a low mitre, a chasuble, fringed maniple, and an alb. In the top right-hand corner is a cloud from which issues a hand pointing towards the figure just described. Behind, to the left, stand three figures. The foremost has just thrust the point of a large double-edged sword, with a plain cross hilt, through the neck of the bishop from back to front. [Illustration: ANCIENT RELIQUARY IN THE CATHEDRAL.] ANCIENT RELIQUARY IN THE CATHEDRAL. The upper compartment represents the entombment of the bishop. The middle of the design is occupied by an altar tomb, into which the body, swathed in a diapered winding-sheet, is being lowered. The ends of the bier are supported by two kneeling figures. On the side of the tomb furthest from the spectator is a bishop or abbot without the mitre looking toward a figure on his right, who carries a tablet or open book with some words upon it. At either extremity of this panel stands a figure censing the corpse with a circular thurible. The border of each compartment is formed by a double invected pattern of gold and enamel. The ridge-piece is of copper perforated with eight keyhole ornaments. The back of the shrine is also divided into two compartments, and is decorated with quatrefoils. It is pierced in the middle of the upper border by a keyhole communicating with a lock on the inside. The right-hand gable is occupied by the figure of a female saint. The left gable is occupied by the figure of a male saint.