French Numerals.—I should be much obliged to any reader of ‘N. & Q.’ who could furnish me with a reason for the rejection by the French of their convenient numeral forms septante, huitante, and nonante, and the substitution in their stead of the cumbersome soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. A French friend tells me that the Belgians still have the older forms in common use. C. J. Battersby.
Spanish Wrecks off Aberdeenshire.—There was a tradition among the people of the north-eastern coast of Aberdeenshire that two ships belonging to the Spanish Armada—the St. Catherine and the St. Michael—were wrecked on that coast in 1588. Is there any authentic record of such having occurred? D. A.
Sheriffs.—I shall be grateful to any of your readers who will tell me shortly (1) Between what dates does a sheriff now hold office? (2) When and why was the date of assuming office changed from Michaelmas? I find in the list of sheriffs given in the Thirty-first Report of the Deputy-Keeper of Public Records (1870) that only one date by regnal year is given for each sheriff, and I presume this is the year in which the sheriff rendered his account.
Can any of your readers refer me to a continuation of the list of sheriffs above referred to? It closes with 5 Edw. III. The Report speaks (p. viii) as if its publication were only part of a larger scheme then in hand at the Public Record Office; but I can find no reference to its completion in the list of contents of any of the eighteen reports that have since been issued. Q. V.
Sir Thomas Rempston.—In appendix ii. to the Thirty-seventh Annual Report of the Deputy-Keeper of the Public Records, on the Welsh Records and Calendar of Recognizance Rolls of the Palatinate of Chester, I find the following entry:—
“1416/7, Feb. 4th. Grant to Thomas Rempston, Knt, of the office of Constable of the Castle of Flint, and of Sheriff and Raglor of the County there, for life, in the Room of Roger Leche deceased.”
Sir Thomas Rempston’s successor to this office was Sir John Done, of Utkinton, in Cheshire, who was appointed on July 6, 1458. Can any of your readers kindly give me any information respecting this Sir Thomas Rempston?
There was a Sir Thomas Rempston who was Constable of the Tower of London and Admiral of the West, but he is said to have been drowned from a small boat on the Thames near to London Bridge about 1403. Henry Taylor.
Hyde, of South Denchworth.—Can any of your readers tell me which pedigree of Hyde is correct, that given by Burke in his ‘Landed Gentry,’ or that in Clarke’s ‘Hundred of Wanting’? They differ totally as regards Francis Hyde, of Pangborne (temp. James I.). Burke says he was son of Hugh Hyde, fifth son of William Hyde, of South Denchworth, and gives him one wife, four sons, and two daughters. Clarke says he was son of John Hyde, fourth son of William Hyde, gives him two wives and only two sons.
Also I should be glad to know if the Hydes of Norbury, Cheshire (Lord Clarendon’s ancestors), were of the same stock as the Hydes of South Denchworth. Constance Russell.
Dog’s Tooth Ornament.—In Parker’s ‘Introduction to Gothic Architecture’ it is stated that this decoration may be considered to belong exclusively to the Early English style, although in the Norman we find an approach to it, and modifications of it may be seen in the Decorated. In the ‘Imperial Dictionary’ it is described as “an ornament peculiar to Norman architecture.” I should be glad to know whether this decoration is found in any Norman work; and, if it is, the names of some churches or other buildings where it may be seen. W. A.
Replies.
ATTACK ON JERSEY.
(7th S. v. 27.)
A detailed account of this attack is to be found in a work, now completely out of print, entitled ‘Chroniques des Iles de Jersey, Guernesey, Auregny, et Serk, auquel on a ajouté un Abrégé Historique des dites Iles,’ published in Guernsey in 1832 by George S. Syvret.
It appears from this account that three British regiments, the 78th, the 83rd, and the 95th, or portions of them, ware garrisoned in Jersey in 1781, and were engaged in repelling the attack made on that island on Jan. 6 by the French, commanded by Baron de Rullecourt. The French landed before daybreak at a spot on the coast called La Roque, at some distance from the town of St. Helier, and took possession of a small battery. The main body then marched on the town, leaving a detachment to guard the battery, which, however, was retaken during the day by half a company of the 83rd Regiment, under the command of Lieut. Robinson. Day was just beginning to break when the invaders reached the town. No alarm had been given, and they penetrated as far as the square in which the court-house is situated, killed the sentinel, and made prisoners of the guard stationed there. One of the soldiers contrived to escape, and ran to inform the Highland Regiment, which was quartered in the building known as the General Hospital. The alarm once given, the troops in
