[This collection was published by Griswold of New York in 1844. We
saw a copy at Tupling's, No. 320. Strand, a few days since.]
_John à Cumber_ (Vol. iv., p. 83.).--Some months ago MR. J. P. COLLIER
made some inquiries respecting John à Kent, the Princess Sidanen, and
John à Cumber. Respecting the two latter I was enabled to furnish some
information; and since that I have fallen upon the traces of John à
Cumber. My inquiries have recently been directed to the scene of the
Battle of Cattraeth or Siggeston (Kirby Sigston); and I have
endeavoured, hitherto ineffectually, to find some good description of
the scenery of the North Riding of Yorkshire, and of the great plain of
Mowbray, which was probably the scene of the conflict described by
Aneurin, and which, I believe, includes both Catterick and Sigston. It
was in that country that I found John à Cumber, who is most probably the
person described in the following extract:--
"Thirsk.--In the reign of Henry VII. an insurrection broke out
here, in consequence of an obnoxious tax. This was a subsidy
granted by the parliament to the king, to enable him to carry on
the war in Brittany against the French. The Earl of Northumberland
had signified at an assembly, that the king would not remit any
part of the tax, though the northern people had besought it; when
they, taking the earl to be the cause of the answer, fell upon,
and slew him, together with several of his servants, at the
instigation of one John à Chamber. They then placed themselves
under a leader, Sir John Egremond, who, on being defeated by the
Earl of Surrey, fled into Burgundy. John à Chamber and some others
were taken, and executed at York."--_A Picturesque Tour in
Yorkshire and Derbyshire_, by the late Edward Dayes, London, 1825,
pp. 147-8.
Dayes gives no authorities[2]; but this may afford a clue to further
discoveries.