Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 9.djvu/62

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NOTES -AND QUERIES. [9 th s. ix. JAN. is, 1902.

Fortescue was admitted there as a scholar on 9 Nov., 1552, and as a full Fellow two years later, and that on 11 May, 1564, Ed- ward Capell was admitted scholar in Fortes- cue's place, on account of his absenting him- self "ultra tempus in statutis limitatum." It seems reasonable to infer that his absence was caused by his attention to his duties as parish priest. The theory that he was iden- tical with Anthony Fortescue (the husband of Katherine Pole) who was convicted of treason in February, 1562/3, must be rejected as untenable. By the statutes of the college (rubric 38) no married man could hold a fellowship ; and this is only one out of several fatal objections to the theory. It has been already pointed out (at the first reference) that the conspirator's marriage with Kathe- rine Pole probably took place in 1544.

2. The style "Sir Anthony Fortescue," when applied to the conspirator, indicates neither a knight nor a cleric, but a blunder. In the special commissions, dated 18 and 22 Feb., 5 Eliz. (1562/3), for the trial of this conspirator and his companions, he is de- scribed as "Anthonius Fortescue, nuper de Lambehethe, in com. Surr., generosus," and it is incredible that he received the honour of knighthood after his conviction. The proceedings relating to his trial are epito- mized in the ' Fourth Pieport of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records,' App. II, p. 263, and the original documents are at the Record Office, in Baga de Secretis, pouch xl.

In making the conspirator a knight, as also in making him brother of Sir John Fortescue, Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Clermont merely followed * Biographia Britannica,' vol. iii. (1750) p. 2002, where it is stated that " the second great misfortune " of Sir John's family was " the conviction of his brother Sir Anthony Fortescue, Knt., for high treason." For this statement 'Bio- graphia' cites Camden's 'Annals,' p. 89 ; but Camden neither styles the conspirator a knight nor suggests that he was related to bir John Fortescue. 'Biographia' makes a further blunder (p. 2003, in notis\ which Lord Clermont detected (p. 12), by identify- ing bir Johns younger brother also with the Anthony Fortescue who, on the death of Sir Usburn Ichmgham, was appointed to the otticium marescalli armatus exercitus sol- darium et aliorum belligerorum nostrorum in re n Hibermse." This appointment, under which the new marshal was to have 4s. a day for his own pay and Qd. sterling for each of his thirty-two "equites," was made by letters patent dated 23 Dec., 38 Henry VIII. (1546) in the patent the marshal is described simply

as "armiger"; but in the 'Visitations of Worcestershire, 1569,' and the 'Visitations of Surrey, 1530, 1572, and 1623 ' (Harl. Soc. Publ., xxvii. 56, xliii. 14), he is called " Sir Anthony." It is possible, therefore, that he became a knight, and that his knighthood has some- times been transferred by mistake to the conspirator.

In searching for themarshal's patent I found another, dated 21 Oct., 38 Henry VIII. (1546), whereby " our welbeloved servant Anthony Fortescue, one of the gentylmen ushers of our chamber," was licensed to sell and export 200 dickers of tanned leather hides or their value in calf-skin. For his "offences and demeryts " this gentlemanly leather-seller was a prisoner in the Tower on 29 March, 1547, when, notwithstanding his imprison- ment, his licence was continued for the benefit of his assignees and of the "poore jentyl woman" his wife. See 'Acts of Privy Council,' N.S., ii. 462. On the question whether or not he was the future conspirator it would be unwise to hazard any guess.

H. C.

"ODOUR OF SANCTITY" (9 th S. viii. 483). This phrase refers to a belief which has pre- vailed that the dead bodies of persons who were remarkable for the holiness of their lives and saintly deaths have emitted a miraculous odour of surpassing sweetness whether im- mediately after death or on long-subsequent uncovering of their remains. The phrase, in English as in other languages, must be traceable to a remote period.

JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS. Town Hall, Cardiff.

In an announcement in Faulkner's Dublin Journal of the death on 1 March, 1744/5, of the Hon. Rose Mapas, widow of Christopher Mapas, of Rochestown, and second daughter of William, third Viscount Fitzwilliam, of Merrion, it is stated that

"she was endowed with amiable qualities, being an extraordinary wife, mother and family woman, most pious, truly charitable, and departed this life in the Odour of Sanctity."

F. ELRINGTON BALL.

ST. KILDA (9 th S. viii. 324, 487). Here is another theory as to the origin of this name. There is, or was, in the island a spring of water called Kilder. Now as the name Kilda is said^ to be given to some springs of cold water in Iceland, it is not impossible, accord- ing to a writer in the ' Edinburgh Encyclo- paedia' (1830), that the appellation St. Kilda may have originated from the abundance of springs in the island. The same writer mentions that the religious