_Defender of the Faith_ (Vol. ii., pp. 442. 481.).--In _Collectanea
Topographica et Genealogica_, vol. vi. p. 321., is an indenture of lease
"maide the xxijth daye of Januarye, in the second yeare of the reagne
of King Henry the seaventhe, by the graice of God Kinge of England,
_defendoure of the faithe_," etc.
The lessor, Christopher Ratlife, of Hewick, died before 10 Henry VII., and
the editor of the above work says, "It is impossible to account for the
peculiarity in the date of this deed."
Bishop Burnet cites Spelman as asserting that several of the kings of
England before Henry VIII. had borne the title of "Defender of the Faith."
A correspondent of the _Gentleman's Magazine_ (N.S. xvi. 357.) conjectures
that the name of Spelman had been inadvertently substituted for the name of
Selden; though he justly remarks, that Selden by no means countenances the
assertion of the bishop.