Hebrew scholarship, and the writer holds that an institution like this one might help in the study of these languages, as well as of Hebrew. The publication of solid Semitic works, of magazines, grammars, and lexicons could be materially advanced; lectureships might be arranged for, and other methods adopted to promote the interests of Oriental learning. The writer calls attention to the work accomplished by a similar society in America, and appeals to the leading Hebraists of this country to give the matter their serious consideration. We understand that Canon Cheyne, the eminent commentator, who is Hebrew Professor at Oxford, has written Professor Davies expressing his warm approval of the proposal. THE BLESSED DAMOZEL. I sat beside her ere the shadows fell; Her hand clasped mine, from out her lips the tale On blossom-scented breath down summer vale. Beatific dream of Blessèd Damozel! New meaning, Master mine, it hath for me My darling's hair, in sunset's golden glow, Shone out like Hers who from those ramparts high And for her earthly love heaved heavenly sigh. Ah me! from deeper depth gazed I above At those dear eyes, dream-lit, and radiant face, THESEUS. Notes and Queries. [CONFINED TO MATTERS RELATING TO WALES AND THE BORDER COUNTIES.] NOTES. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ST. DAVID.-In looking over some old books a few days ago, I came across one called Observations on some Devotions of the Roman Catholics, by an anonymous author, published in the seventeenth century. It refers chiefly to prayers in commemoration of saints. The plan of it is to give first the prayer in Latin and English, taken sometimes from the Roman, sometimes from the Sarum and other missals and breviaries; then to give a life of the saint, compiled from various writers, and then to give notes by the author, unfavourable usually to the legends. The author was evidently a Protestant. Among other prayers he gives the one from the Sarum Missal in commemoration of Saint David. He then gives a life of him taken from Capgrave and others, full of wondrous miracles and legends. One story of the Saint's power after his death is worth repeating. It states that a Welshman and an Almain (i.e. German) having been taken captive by Moorish pirates, were thrown into prison. The Welshman bethought him of crying to his patron saint. He therefore kept calling out with much fervour "Dewi Wareth," (sic), and suddenly to his great joy found himself transported back to his native land. The German finding himself left alone, and seeing what a happy result had come from the ejaculations of the Welshman, began also to cry out "Dewi Wareth," although he did not know in the least what it meant. He too after awhile found himself carried back to his home. The author in his note to this story says, "The Roman Catholics ought to be much obliged to me for relating this, as it is so pat an instance of the efficacy of prayers in an unknown tongue ?" I don't know whether Mr. Newell will admit that this is the real St. David. Fonmon Castle. O. H. JONES. MANSEL OF MARGAM, CO. GLAMORGAN (Continued).-To return to the main line of Mansel: Jenkin Mansel, known as the valiant in his day, though from his father Philip's attainder a landless man, never swerved from the opinions or actions of that father in his adherence to and support of the House of Lancaster, for on behalf of that cause, so dear to many of his countrymen, as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he promptly joined his kinsman, Sir Rhys ab Thomas, of Dynevor, and other great partisans, and forthwith met the Earl of Richmond on his landing at Milford Haven, and onward marched with them to Bosworth Field, where it is said Jenkin Mansel did right valiantly acquit himself, after the manner of his gallant race, sharing in that great victory, and in the subsequent successes of the Tudor King. After the election of the victorious Earl as King of England, under the title of Henry VII., Jenkin obtained, by an Act of 1st of Henry VII. (A.D. 1485), the reversal of his father Philip's attainder in blood, together with a restoration of his estates, so that a Mansel became again owner of and resident at Oxwich Manor House. Jenkin Mansel married Edith Kene, daughter of and co-heir to Sir George Kene (of Well Hall, Eltham, in Kent, who bore for arms ermine across flory ermines), son of William Kene, Esq., of the same place, sheriff of Kent in the twenty-sixth of Henry VI., by his wife, Ann Chicheley, co-heiress to John Chicheley, Chamberlain of the City of London, and his wife Margery Knolles, grand-daughter to William Chicheley, sheriff of London, by his wife, Beatrice, daughter of William Barret, Esq. William Chicheley was younger brother to Henry Chicheley, Archbishop of Canterbury, both being the sons of Thomas Chicheley, of Higham Ferrars, in Co. Northampton, who bore or a chevron inter three quartrefoils gules, and who died 25th February, 1400. Through this marriage of Jenkin with Edith Kene, the subsequent line and descendants of the Mansel family of Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire, who became numerous, could prove themselves and did obtain the benefit of Founder's kin to All Souls' until such privileges became obsolete. By his said wife Edith, Jenkin Mansel, of Oxwich, had the following issue :—1. Rice, his heir; 2. Hugh Mansel, who married Jane, daughter and co-heir to Richard Owgan or Wogan, of Kent, Esq., and left a son, Robert Mansel, groom of the bed chamber to King Henry VIII.; 3. Philip Mansel, of Llanddewi, in Gower, Esq. Daughters of Jenkin Mansel were:-1. Alice Mansel, m. John Drew, of Bristol; Anne, m. to David Gwyn, son of Rhys, of St. Cothens; 3. Jane, m. to John Gwynn or Wynn ab Jenkin ab Richard; 4. Elizabeth Mansel, m. to Thomas Fleming. The eldest son and heir, Rice Mansel, succeeded his father. He proved himself a brave and gallant soldier, and duly received the honour of knighthood before the twenty-seventh of Henry VIII., in which year he was sent as a commander of a regiment of supply into Ireland to assist the Lord Deputy in suppressing the rebellion raised in that kingdom by Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare. For his conduct there he had next year a grant for life of the Chamberlainship of Chester, and in a few years a grant of the dissolved Abbey of Margam, in the County of Glamorgan, and the royalty of the Avon Water to him and his heirs. He married first Eleanor, daughter and sole heiress to James Basset, of Beaupre, Esq., but by her had no surviving issue. He wedded secondly Anne, daughter of Sir Giles Bruges, Knt., of Coberley, in Gloucestershire, and by her had three sons, one of whom, named Philip, married the Lady Darrell, but appears to have left no issue. The other two, whose names are not given, also appear to have died issueless in the life-time of Sir Rice, their father, and two daughters who survived, viz., Catherine Mansel, who became the wife of William Basset, Esq., the cousin of the said Ellen Basset, the heiress, first wife to her said father, Sir Rice, who it is stated by some authorities gave up to them at that time the Beaupre estate. This William Basset, of Beaupre, died 10th March, 1586, and his widow, Katherine, 10th March, 1593, each aged eighty years. See their monument and epitaph at Monkton Combe, near Bath. The second and younger daughter of Sir Rice, by his second wife Anne Bruges, viz., Elizabeth Mansel, married William Morgan, Esq., of Lantarnam, son of John Morgan, of Caerleon-and cousin to Sir Thomas Morgan, of Pencoed Castle, Gwent, who married Sybil, or rather Cecil, daughter of Sir George Herbert, of Swansea, Knight, elder brother to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, of the second creation, temp. Edward VI., as before given. Sir Rice Mansel, after the death of his second wife, married thirdly the sister of his brother Philip's (of Landewy) wife, viz., Cicely, daughter of John Dabridgcourt, Esq., by his wife, Miss Mynors, daughter of Richard Mynors, of Treago (az. an eagle displayed or, a chief argent). Miss Mynors' mother was Alice, daughter to Gwilym Jenkin Philip, of Pencoed Castle, progenitor of the family of Morgan of that place, sprung from the lineage of Tredegar. The Dabridgcourt family could claim a lawful descent, through Thomas, Lord Wake of Lyddel's marriage with the Lady Blanche Plantagenet, from the House of Lancaster derived from Henry III., the said Blanche being the sister of Henry, Duke thereof, whose daughter and ultimate heir, the Lady Blanche Plantagenet (niece of this lady), married John of Gaunt, son to Edward III, and became foundress of the Royal House of Plantagenet of Lancaster. By Cicely Dabridgcourt, who is called a Warwickshire heiress or co-heiress, and who bore for arms Gules three bars humettée argent, Sir Rice Mansel, whose will bears date 16th November, 1588, was proved 10th of May following. He died, it is said, at his house in Clerkenwell atat. seventy-five, leaving behind him great wealth, together with the well-deserved reputation of being the second founder of his family. He was buried at Bartholomew's, Smithfield (see his stately monument at Margam). By his third wife, Cicely Dabridgcourt, he left issue:-1. Edward, his heir and successor; 2. Anthony Mansel, Esq., who married Elizabeth daughter and heir to John Thomas Basset, of Lantrithyd, by whom he left issue two daughters and co-heirs ; the elder married and became the wife of Sir Thomas Aubrey, Knight; Cecilia Mansel, the younger, married Sir Rawleigh Bussie or Bussy, Knight. The elder son, Sir Edward Mansel, succeeded his father. He had been created a knight in 1572 for his courage, honour, and integrity, distinguishing himself in very important services during the reign of Elizabeth. He also succeeded his father as Chamberlain of Chester. He married the Lady Jane Somerset, youngest daughter of Henry, Earl of Worcester, who died in 1549, and his Countess Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, Standard Bearer of England, who died A.D. 1506, by his wife, the Lady Lucy Nevill, daughter and co-heir to John Nevill, Marquess of Montacute, slain with his brother, the stout Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, "The King Maker " of history, and "The Last of the Barons of romance, on Barnetfield, A.D. 1471. The issue of this noble alliance were the following:-1. Thomas, his eldest son and successor; 2. Rice Mansel, a captain, slain in Ireland in Tyrone's wars; 3. Anthony Mansel of Trimsaran; 4. Francis Mansel, who, it is said, became his brother Anthony's heir, and was afterwards created a baronet, and became, as has already been shown, founder of the Mansels, Barts., of that place and Iscoed, now extant, and of their younger branch, so created in 1696, seated also at Trimsaran and Stradey, extinct in 1798. See previous accounts in the Red Dragon; 5. Charles Mansel, also a captain slain in the Earl of Tyrone's Wars in Ireland; 6. Philip Mansel, of Swansea, m., leaving issue a son, Thomas Mansel; 7. Christopher Mansel, of Perryswood; 8. Henry Mansel; 9. Edward Mansel; 10. Sir Robert Mansel, knighted by the Earl of Essex for his valour at the capture of the town of Calais in 1596, and having signalised himself in several encounters, was made Vice-Admiral of the Fleet by King James I., in which station he was continued by King Charles I. He lived to a very old age, much esteemed for his great integrity, personal courage, and great experience in maritime affairs; 11. William Mansel. The daughters were:-1. Elizabeth Mansel, married Sir Walter Rice, of Dynevor, Knight, M.P. for Co. Carmarthen in 1585, and High Sheriff for the same shire in 1586. See Baron Dynevor's descent from this marriage. 2. Cecil Mansel, married to Rowland Williams, Esq., of Llangibby, in the Co. Monmouth, afterwards Sir Rowland Williams, Knight, High Sheriff in the second year of the reign of James I., 1605, and had with other issue Sir Charles Williams, succeeded at that place, father to Sir Trevor, created a baronet 14th September, 1642, for his services and devotion to the royal cause temp. Charles I., and Jane Williams, wife of Sir Nicholas Kemeys, Bart.; 3. Mary Mansel, married Christopher Turbervill, Esq., of Penlline, High Sheriff for Glamorganshire in 1616, and had issue. (Arms, those of Turberville, bar sinister); 4. Anne Mansel, married Edward Carne, Esq., of Nash, and had issue. Sir Edward Mansel, M.P. for Glamorgan in 1554, had thus fifteen children by his wife, Lady Jane Somerset, though some say nineteen; these are so given from the MS. Sir Edward died at Margam in 1585. See his tomb there. The elder son, who had been Knighted in the lifetime of his father, was Sir Thomas Mansel, who became his (Sir Edward's) successor at Margam. He sat as Knight of the Shire for Montgomery in 1596-7, and for his native county of Glamorgan in 1603 and in 1614. He was created a Baronet by James I., in 1611, being himself the third in the creation of that new order of honour, if it might be so called. Sir Thomas married first the Honourable Mary, daughter of Lewis, second Baron Mordaunt; and after her decease, Jane, daughter and heir to Thomas Pole, Esq., of Clayhall, near London, by whom he had a daughter, Mary Mansel, who married Sir Edward Stradling, Bart., of St. Donats. Sir Thomas Mansel, who died 20th December, 1631, had by his first wife Mary Mordaunt three sons, from one of whom the Maunsells of Plassy, Limerick, Ireland, claim to be descended. The eldest of these three sons was his successor, viz. :-Sir Lewis Mansel, of Margam, second Baronet, who espoused, first, Lady Katherine Sydney, daughter of Robert, first Earl of Leicester, and aunt of Algernon Sydney. By that lady he had no issue. After her death he married, secondly, Katherine, daughter of Sir Edward Lewis, of the Van, Co. Glamorgan, by whom he had issue two daughters, Jane Mansel, wife to Abraham Wogan, Esq., and Blanche Mansel, wife to Sir Charles Kemeys, Knight. Sir Lewis Mansel married, thirdly, Lady Elizabeth Montague, daughter of Henry, Earl of Manchester, by whom (who wedded after his death, secondly, Sir Edward Sebright) he had issue Edward, his heir; Henry, and Elizabeth Mansel, who married Sir William Wiseman, Bart., of Rivenhall, and Mary Mansel, married William Leman, Esq., of Northaw. Sir Lewis Mansel, the second Bart., died circa 1638, and was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Edward Mansel, of Margam, as third Baronet. He married Martha, second daughter and co-heir to Edward Carne, of Ewenny, Co. Glamorgan, Esq., and by this lady (whose eldest half-sister and co-parcener was Blanche Carne, wife of John Carne, Esq.) had issue:-1. Edward Mansel, died unmarried, in his father's lifetime; 2. Thomas, who thus became heir to his father, and Martha, married Thomas Morgan, of Tredegar, Esq., and Elizabeth, married Sir Edward Stradling, Bart., of St. Donats. Sir Edward Mansel died 17th November, 1706, ætat, seventy, and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Sir Thomas Mansel, fourth baronet, of Margam, who was Comptroller of the Household to Queen Anne, also one of Her Majesty's Privy Council, one of the Tellers of the Exchequer, one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and who was raised to the dignity of the peerage in A.D. 1711, by the title of Baron Mansel of Margam. He married Martha, daughter to Francis Millington, Esq., of the City of London, merchant, by whom he had issue :-1. Robert Mansel, his heir presumptive, who married Anne, daughter and co-heir of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and dying before his father, 29th April, 1723, left, with a daughter, a son and heir, Thomas, who became successor to his grandfather; 2. Christopher Mansel; 3. Bussy Mansel, sixth and seventh baronets, and third and fourth barons; and Martha Mansel, Elizabeth Mansel, and Mary Mansel, who married John Ivory Talbot, Esq., of Laycock Abbey, Wilts, and had issue: The Rev. Thomas Talbot, clerk in holy orders, who ultimately inherited in right of his said mother, Mary, under the deed of settlement of his uncle Christopher, third Lord Mansel, as the eldest son of the before-given marriage. He thus became possessed of the Margam and Penrice Castle manorial estates, and married Jane, daughter of Thomas Beach, Esq., of Keevil, Wilts, and had two sons, Thomas and Christopher. The eldest, Thomas Mansel Talbot, Esq., of Margam and Penrice Castle, m. in 1794 Lady Mary Lucy Fox Strangeways, daughter of Henry Thomas, second Earl of Ilchester (died 5th September, 1802), and by this lady (who married secondly Sir Christopher Cole, K.C.B.) had with other issue (see Traherne of St. Hilary) the present Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, of Margam Park, Glamorgan. Thomas, first Lord Mansel, died 10th December, 1723, and was succeeded by his grandson, who thus became Sir Thomas Mansel, fifth baronet and second Baron Mansel of Margam. This nobleman died unmarried in 1743, when his honours reverted to his uncle, Sir Christopher Mansel, sixth baronet and third Baron Mansel of Margam, who also died unmarried in 1744, and was succeeded by his remaining brother, Sir Bussy Mansel, seventh baronet and fourth Baron Mansel of Margam, who m. first Lady Betty Harvey, daughter of John Harvey, first Earl of Bristol (who d. in 1751), but by her had no issue. He m. secondly Lady Barbara Blacket, widow of Sir Walter Blacket, Bart., and daughter of William, Earl of Jersey, by whom he had an only daughter and heiress-Lousia Barbara Mansel, who married George, second Lord Vernon, by whom she had a daughter and heiress, the Hon. Louisa Vernon, who died in 1786, unmarried, and her mother, Lady Vernon, died the same year. Lord Bussy Mansel died 29th November, 1750, when all his honours expired. Carmarthen. W. G. S. THOMAS. LITERARY COINCIDENCES- -"JOHN INGLESANT."-Your learned contributor "Blackletter Folio" has lately called attention to a historical parallel with the plot of one of Mr. James Payn's novels, (xi.-276). I have just come across a story from Mediæval history, which presents a most curious parallel with one of the most striking passages in the well-known romance of "John Inglesant;" so close a parallel indeed, that it would almost seem to have suggested the passage to Mr. Shorthouse. I quote from Kenelm Digby's Tancredus (page 303 in the edition published by Bernard Quaritch, 1877): "St. Giovanni Gualberto, a Florentine noble of the eleventh century, who, in his later years, founded the great monastery of Vallombrosa, near that city, cherished a deadly vengeance against a gentleman who had murdered his only brother Hugo. It happened that, riding home to Florence on Good Friday, he met his enemy in so narrow a passage that it was impossible for either of them to avoid the other. John, seeing the murderer, drew his sword, and was going to despatch him; but the other, |