Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/64

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9< s. x. JULY 19, 1902

dore." So that it cannot be considered too fanciful to suppose that to the teaching of the elements of the science of numbers a far more difficult operation to the youthful mind than mastering the "absey-book" may be traced the origin of being "at sixes and sevens." J. HOLDEN MACMICHAEL.

WILCOCKS OF KNOSSINGTON (9 th S. vi. 330). I find I erred in giving the date of the marriage of William Wilcocks to Margaret de Nowers, heiress of, Knossington in co. Leicester, so early as 1317 ; the true time was about the year 1378. See the Latin note to the pedigree of Wilcocks on p. 135, as given in Fetherston's edition (published London, 1870) of Camden's ' Visitation ' of the said county, made in 1619. I must add that I still hope that some one will give me the true origin of the Knossington Wilcocks (or Willcox) family. As for myself, I yet think that it may be the princely house of Powys- Wenwynwyn ; for, after all, Wilcocks ap Griffith left two sons, and although the one who was his heir (in chief) left no male issue, the other may have done so, for I can find nothing positive to the contrary. C.

" BABIES IN THE EYES " (9 th S. ix. 405, 516), I quite fail to understand by what process of reasoning MR. MACMICHAEL has arrived at his interpretation of my suggestion as to the meaning of this phrase. I feel sure thai if he had read my longer essay on it in ' N. & Q.,' whether he agreed with it or not he would not have written what he has done ; nor would he even, I think, have gone so far as to speak of any solution of this puzzling expression upon which the mos competent critics have never ventured to come to any certain conclusion as obvious. W. C. HOLLAND.

LONDRES (9 th S. ix. 35, 151, 295, 515). Permit me to say I have not questioned, anc do not question the presence of FitzHamor and certain of his "pares" at the so-callet conquest of Glamorgan, and that MR. ALFRED CHAS. JONAS'S somewhat acrimonious replj is uncalled for. I have shown that the hitherto received history of this conquest i faulty in a material particular, and, if neces sary, I could expose other grave errors, i further proof were wanting. May I add als< there are so many inherent improbabilitie in this history, which a small effort of critica knowledge will disclose, that I am surprisec a gentleman of such discernment as MR JONAS has not seen them long since ? Can any one in his senses believe FitzHamon would take his heavily armed and motle,

orces, ill mounted, worse provisioned, and unpaid, up the densely wooded defiles of the and Rhondda, with an intensely hostile )opulation all round, to fight a doubtful )attle on the northern confines of the county, whence even if victorious he must needs retreat or starve ; to receive his wages at a place called the " miltur aur," or the " golden mile," many miles from the field of battle, and quite out of the route to his base of iupplies? May I suggest, inter alia, that 'milia aurea" is probably the thousandth mile from Rome, and gave the origin of the above words, for it is part of the Via Julia ?

Whatever form the payments of these wages book, it certainly was not in gold coin, for there was none. Whoever was the author of this very doubtful history is not material. The Stradling family and their connexions have been interpolated improperly, and many other important families, unconnected with them, left out of it. The reason appears obvious. It must have been compiled circa 1395, and probably formed part of the library in Ewenny, where Leland could see and copy it. It is unfortunate that Leland was credulous or careless enough to accept almost any tale which was told him, without critical examination. Subsequent authors have re- peated and added to his mistakes until Welsh history as it is now known is, much of it, literary rubbish.

Will MR. JONAS be good enough to give the reference to those "reliable records" which chronicle earlier foundations than Ewenny or any other church prior to 1138, which was, I think, the year William de Londre died 1 ? It would be interesting to know how long it took for the anathema of Pope Honorius to operate upon so stubborn and ruthless a man. I have hitherto been under the impression that he, like other men, eased his conscience at the expense of his heirs.

Unquestionably Stephen confirmed in 1138 certain donations of Robert FitzHamon, and the fact is clear evidence that these Marcher lordships were dependent upon the Crown, more or less, and their knights must have rendered knight service to the king on demand, and service of castle guard to their immediate over-lord, as the tenure upon which their lands were held^ G. E. R.

. AINSWORTH THE NOVELIST (9 th S. ix. 409 ; x> 10). I recently had occasion to purchase one of John Dicks's editions of Harrison Ainsworth's works, and from a catalogue enclosed I gather that the following are his sole property, being unexpired copyrights,