The Glass was of a pure white crystalline texture. Stow relates that amongst numerous Roman remains found when the ancient field, called Lolesworth, now Spittlefield, was broken up, about the year 1576, to make bricks, "there was found divers phials, and other fashioned glasses, some most curiously wrought, and some of crystal, all which had water in them." Others had "oyle in them, very thick and earthly in savour." (Survey of London, b. ii. c. 5, p. 177, ed. 1633.) In the Museum of Antiquities, at Rouen, a small Glass vessel, accounted to be Roman, is preserved, hermetically sealed, and half full of liquid. (Archæological Journal, No. 9. March, 1846.)

Early in 1847, there were found, in digging at Cuddesden, the episcopal palace of the Bishop of Oxford, several human skeletons; and near them were two sword-blades, some bronze fragments, and two small glass vases. The latter are of a very pale blue transparent glass; the surface has become iridescent from decomposition, and this, in the larger one, gives it a streaked appearance. The larger vase is 3 inches deep, by 57/8 inches in diameter, and is ornamented on the sides with three waved lines touching at the projections; underneath is a figure, much resembling the cusping of a circular window. The other vase is 4¾ inches in diameter. The pattern on both is produced by thick threads of glass, applied to the surface while melted. These vessels are conjectured to be of the Saxon period, and to be of as early a date as the fifth or sixth century. Curious Glass vessels, apparently drinking-cups, have also been occasionally discovered, ornamented, like the Cuddesden vases, with threads of Glass, attached to their surface when in a molten state, forming