Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850 | Page 8

J.L.W.
_Waltheof--De Combre Family--Ilda._--In _Waltheof, or the Siege of
York_, an historical drama published at York, 1832, one of the
_dramatis personæ_, Judith, the niece of the Conqueror, and daughter
of the Countess of Albemarle, is made to say,--
"When gallant _Waltheof, as his country's champion_, On bus'ness of
high import and high matters, _Oft at my royal uncle's court appeared_,
...
"We married privately. Two years and more have passed since this has
happened, And one sweet pledge of love has crowned our vows."
Now I am anxious to know,
1. Whether there be any historical authority for Waltheof being sent as
envoy to William? and, if so, on what mission?
2. Is it not the more correct account, that the Conqueror gave his niece
Judith in marriage to Waltheof after the surrender of the city, [at the
same time that he conferred other honours upon him, out of respect for
his brave defence of the city; creating him, first, Earl of Northhampton

and Huntingdon, and afterwards Earl of Northumberland, A.D. 1070.]
And if so, as Waltheof could certainly not have had any "pledge of
love" before the siege of York; so neither is it probable that he had any
issue at all by Judith, as in the same year, 1070, he was beheaded by
William, for supposed participation in a conspiracy at York.
The above drama is said to be "by a descendant of one of the _dramatis
personæ_," viz. of "De Combre, one of William's generals;" being
written by Rev. Thomas Comber, of Oswaldkirk, Yorkshire. This De
Combre is represented as having married _Ilda_, a daughter of King
Harold, and sister of Edgar. Can any of your correspondents furnish me
with information as to the origin and antiquity of this family of Comber?
I learn from the present representatives of this family, that they have no
recorded pedigree which goes higher than the reign of Henry VI., but
that the family tradition has always been, that their ancestor came over
from Normandy with William, and married Ilda, daughter of Harold. It
seems that the name of Ilda is at this very day borne by one of the
family. In the _Memoirs of Dr. Thomas Comber, Dean of Durham_,
this De Combre is said to have had the manor of Barkham, in Sussex,
given to him by the Conqueror. What family had King Harold II.? Had
he any daughter Ilda? and, if so, is there any record or mention of her
husband's name?
T.E.L.L.
19th July, 1850.
_"De male quæsitis," &c._--Spelman's striking argument, that spoliated
church property is seldom enjoyed for more than three generations,
seems but a special application of a general principle,--
"De male quæsitis gaudet non tertius hæraes."
Can any of your readers tell me who is the author of the above verse? I
find it quoted as "an adage" by John Gadsbury, in his work _On the
Doctrine of Nativities_, 1658.
R.P.

_Westminster Abbey._--The late Sir Harry Englefield is known to have
had access to some of the original fabric accounts of this venerable
structure. Can any of your readers inform me whether he published the
information he may have obtained from those documents; and, if so,
where it may be found?
J.BT.
_Haberdasher--Martinet._--Can any of your correspondents suggest an
etymology for the word _haberdasher_? I ought, perhaps, to say that I
am acquainted with the derivations propounded by Mr. Richardson, but
consider them all unsatisfactory. While on the subject, I would also ask
if Mr. Richardson's Dictionary is considered the best {168} source
extant of information on English etymology, because I cannot help
thinking that it has very many faults and deficiencies. The very word,
for instance, on the derivation of which your valuable correspondent
MR. FORBES offered a suggestion in No. 38., viz. _Martinet_, I had in
vain sought for in Mr. Richardson's _Dictionary_, at least in his quarto
edition, 1887.
PRISCIAN.
* * * * *
"Querela Cantabrigiensis."--Is anything known of the authorship of the
_Querela Cantabrigiensis: or, a Remonstrance by way of Apologie for
the banished Members of the late flourishing University of Cambridge.
By some of the said Sufferers. Anno Dom. 1647_? This seems a
favourable time for inserting this Query, as there is a chance of _a
second series of "The Universities' Complaint"_ making its appearance
before the year is out.
J.M.B.
* * * * *
_Long Lonkin._--Can any of your readers give me a clue to the
personality of Long Lonkin, the hero of a moss-trooping ballad popular

in Cumberland, which commences--
"The Lord said to his ladie, As he mounted his horse, Beware of Long
Lonkin That lies in the moss."
And goes on to tell how Long Lonkin crept in at "one little window"
which was left unfastened, and was counselled by the wicked maiden
to--
"Prick