Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/493

 ii s. vm. DEC. 20, i9i3.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

487

Oordqun : David Tyrie of Cullibhie, husband to the said Elspet : John Lines of Couldraine, husband to the said Magdalene : and Thomas Gordoun of Smithstoune, husband to the said Anne.

" And that the said deceast Francis Gprdoune went from this kingdome about tuentie yeirs agoe.

being then about the aige of yeirs, and, as is

reportit, had his residence, the tyme of his deceas,

in, ane myll or thereby, distant from in

Hungarie, or thereabout."

The Balbithan MS. states that this Francis Gordon " went to Polland and married a rich match there : he dyed in Polland without succession."

J. M. BULLOCH.

123, Pall Mall, S.W.

Fox's WIDOW. All students of the social and political history of the first half of the nineteenth century should note with pleasure, in The Spectator of 29 Nov., 1913, a letter from Mr. Edward V. R. Pftwys of the Oriental Club, in which he mentions his being the fortunate possessor of twenty volumes of the diary of the widow of Charles James Fox ("Mrs. Armistead"), extending over the years 1806-42. CYRIL.

SIB JOHN HARLESTON. Among the Patent Rolls of Richard II. there is a grant, dated 27 Feb., 1393, to John Harlestori, Kt., in consideration of his many services to the King and of his great losses whilst in close imprisonment in Almain. Particulars of the affair are given in Daniel Specklin's nicle (edited by Rudolf Reuss), under the year 1388 et seq. It appears from these and the ' Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ' that one Bruno von Rappolt stein had a grudge against the English, by whom he had been carried off as prisoner of war. After he had regained his freedom he managed to catch our Sir John, and clung to him, in spite of the intercession of the King of England, the earnest entreaties of some of the Strassburg city fathers (who feared trouble from Eng- land), and against the order of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans. According to the find- ing of the city council and the talk of the taverns, Bruno had a perfect right to keep his prisoner until a ransom was forthcoming for him ; those opposing the release of our knight defied the King of England, as his sword was not long enough to reach Strass- burg, and snapped their fingers at good King Wenceslaus, who finally placed the city under the ban of the Empire. Sir John was kept a prisoner from 1384 (according to the ' Bio- graphie ') or 1388 (according to the Chronicle) till 1391, first in close confinement, and later on^parole. His case was discussed at the
 * Collectanea ' towards a Strassburg Chro-

Diet of Eger, and dealt with before the Hofgericht shall we call it the Kind's Bench? at " Buerglis " in Bohemia. No doubt this was the same Sir John Harleston as the one who was before this adventure Governor of Calais. L. L. K.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that answers may be sent to them direr*.

A LOST PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHING- TON. There is in the British Museum an interesting letter from George Washington (dated 22 April, 1793) to David Stuart, eleventh Earl of Buchan, in the earlier part of which he says he is sending Lord Buchan his portrait (presumably to Scotland). I should be glad to learn if this portrait is still in existence. BUCHAN.

6, Aldford Street, Park Lane, W.

THE WILD HUNTSMAN : HERLOTHTNGI. 1. Can any one tell me of English legends of the Wild Huntsman, and where they are published ?

2. Are there any popular versions of the chronicle legends of the " familia Helle- quini " (Herlothingi) ? and what is the etymology of the word ?

The above are required for a study on the legend of the Wild Huntsman and kindred stories Robin Hood and the like.

K. H.

[At 9 S. i. 295 references are given to several works relating to " yeth-hounds," or spectral hunt- ing dogs. Many other references and extracts are supplied at 11 S. v. 185, 296, 415]

ERASMUS LEWIS (1671-1754). The ' D.N.B.' appears to be incorrect in stating that Lewis was born at " Abercothi " in " 1670." His parents were the Rev. George Lewis, Vicar of Abergwili 1668-1709, and Margaret (Stepney) his wife ; they were married at Abergwili 29 June, 1670. and their eldest child, Erasmus, was christened there 29 April, 1671. Abercothi, in the adjoining parish of Llaiiegwad, was the property of John Williams, High Sheriff in. 1681, whose will was proved at Carmarthen, 1696. The will of the Rev. George Lewis, proved 29 Dec., 1709, does not mention Abercothi, so it may be presumed that Erasmus Lewis acquired that property by purchase, and could riot have been born there. He had several nephews and nieces, bub left the bulk of his property to James