_Wife of Robert de Bruce_.--In the Surrenden Collection is an
interesting roll, entitled "Liberatio facta Ingelardo de Warlee
Custodi Garderobe, 7 E. 2."
It is, as its title imports, the release to the keeper of the
wardrobe, for one year's accounts, aº. 7 E. 2.
I shall probably be able to send you therefrom a few "notes"
illustrative of the history of that time.
As a commencement, I think that the subjoined "note" will interest
your historical readers.
It appears that the unfortunate wife of Robert Bruce was then
consigned to the care of the Abbess of Barking, with an allowance of
20s. per week for the same. She was, I believe, the daughter of
Henry de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, and died in 1328. In the above roll
there is the following entry:--
"Cs liberati Anne de Veer Abbatisse de Berkyng,
per manus domini Roberti de Wakfeld clerici, super
expensis domine Elizabethe uxoris Roberti de Brus,
percipientis per ebdomadum xxs., et ibidem perhendinantis."
"Cs liberati Johanni de Stystede valletto Abbatisse
de Berkyng, per manus proprias, super expensis
Domine de Brus in Abbathia de Berkyng perhendinantis."
It does not appear, in the above roll, how long the hapless queen
remained in the abbey.
LAMBERT B. LARKING.
Ryarsh Vicarage. Dec. 14. 1849.
_The Talisman of Charlemagne_.--I beg to refer your correspondent,
on the subject of Charlemagne's Talisman, to what professes to be a
correct representation of this antique relic, in _The Illustrated
London News_, of March 8th, 1845; but it is not there described as
"a small nut, in a gold filigree envelopment," and gives the idea of
an ornament much too large for the finger or even wrist of any lady:
that paper says,--
"This curious object of virtu is described in the
Parisian journals as, 'la plus belle relique de
l'Europe;' and it has, certainly, excited considerable
interest in the archæological and religious circles of
the continent. The talisman is of fine gold, of round
form, as our illustration shows, set with gems, and in
the centre are two rough sapphires, and a portion of
the Holy Cross; besides other relics brought from the Holy Land."
The rest of the description much resembles your correspondent's, and
asserts the talisman to be at that time the property of Prince Louis
Napoleon, then a prisoner in the château of Ham.