Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/381

 io'" s. iv. OCT. w, iocs.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 315 ask if the old constitution of Queen Elizabeth has been changed; and, if so, when it was done, and by what authority. EDWARD TANSLEY. Warwick Street, South Belgravia, S.W. COMBERMERE ABBEY (10th S. iv. 229).— Possibly MR. BERESFORD may like to be re- ferred to 'The Book of the Abbot of Comber- mere, 1289-1529,' containing abstracts of Nantwich deeds, leases, and rentals between those dates relating to lands, dwellings, salt houses, and pikes in Nantwich belonging to the abbot and convent of Combermere, published by Mr. James Hall, of Nantwich, for the Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. I do not know -where the chartulary of Combermere Abbey is, but probably Viscount Combermere, who lives at Chaseley House, Rugeley, might be able to throw some light on the subject. T. CANN HUGHES, M.A., F.S.A. Lancaster. ALMANSA (10th S. iv. 248).—The full name is Andres de Almansa y Mendoza. Several of his letters, in Spanish, will be found in the British Museum Library. An English translation of one of them, called ' A Rela- tion of the Departure of the Prince of Wales from Madrid, 1623,' is given in Lord Somers's 'Collection of Scarce and Valuable Tracts,' edited by Sir Walter Scott, 1809, vol. ii. p. 540, but the author's name is abbreviated to "Andrez de Mendoza." JAS. PLATT, Jun. " Our countryman " mentioned in the quo- tation is evidently Prince Charles, not Andrea de Almansa y Mendoza, author of ' Nove- dades de esta Corte y Avisos recibidoa de otrss Partes, 1621-26.' An edition of this book was published at Madrid in 1886. ROBERT B. DOUGLAS. 64, Rue des Martyrs, Paris. DUMMER FAMILY (10th S. iv. 230).—There are depositions on record in regard to the rectory of Hardwick, Bucks, showing that John Dummer was rector there in 1689. An abstract of title in my possession relative to the manors of Cossington and Rooksbridge, in East and West Pennard, Somersetshire, recites indentures dated 1 June, 1792, to •which Nathaniel Dance, Esq., and Harriet his wife, late Harriet Dummer, widow and executrix of Thomas Dummer, Esq., were parties. The late Prof. Edward Elbridge Salisbury, of New Haven, Connecticut, printed an account of the Pyldren - Dummer family in his 'Family Memorials,' which appeared in 1885. He subsequently wrote to me that Mr. H. F. Waters had discovered evidence to fill a gap of which Col. Chester had said it was " a gap that cannot be bridged "—carry- ing back the Dummers of New England to the middle of the twelfth century. GEORGE F. T. SHERWOOD. 50, Beecroft Road, Brockley, S.E. Your correspondent will find a sixteenth- century reference to this family in Col. Ches- ter's ' London Marriage Licences.' S. D. C. There is a monumental brass plate in Latin, in Dummer Church, Basingstoke, Hants, to the memory of William Dommer and Helen his wife, who both died on 12 April, 1427, which may be of interest to your corre- spondent. See 6th S. i. 335, 413. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road. The late Dr. Marshall's 'Genealogist's Guide' gives references to this family in the following books : ' Brocas of Beaure- paire,' by M. Burrows, p. 324; the Somerset Archaeological Society's Transactions, xvii. 114 ; New England Register, xxxv. 254, 321; The Genealogist, New Series, xiv. 172. E. A. FRY. 124, Chancery Lane. If HARDINGCOURT will write direct I can give him the reference to two old Dummer lawsuits. GERALD FOTHERGILL. 11, Brussels Road, New Wandsworth, S.W. References to obituary notices of eight Dummers (1724 to 1781) will be found in ' Musgrave's Obituary,' vol. xlv. of the Har- leian Society, published 1900. CHAS. A. BERNATJ. W. R. BEXFIELD (10th S. iv. 267).—Died in London, 28 October, 1853; organist of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate. W. H. CUMMINGS. Dr. William Richard Bexfield died 29 Octo- ber, 1853, and was buried in St. Mary's, Paddington, 31 October. Grove's' Dictionary' gives 28 October as the date of death. In the register of death it is, however, given as above. The date of burial is taken from the sexton's book. Bexfield died at 12, Mon- mouth Road South. J- S. S. [Several other correspondents are thanked for replies. ] GIBBETS (10th S. iv. 229, 251, 296).—When in the town of Grand Andely, Normandy, this summer, I noticed several gibbet-like structures standing in various places near the roadside. On inquiring their purpose I