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THE ANCESTOR 185 when it comes to a detailed pedigree, the difFerence of a cen- tury or so should involve chronological difficulties. But reck- lessness in regard to dates has been the besetting sin of genealogists. The abbot evades this question altogether ; and the rough test of reckoning the average number of years to a generation would be as foreign to his methods as the attempt to fix accurately the birth and death of the persons he named would be hopeless. At the time of the trial, the Grosvenors had already been seated at Hulme a century and a half, and lords of Allostock for three or four generations. That was long enough to obscure the memories they brought with them from Budworth, and transfer the tradition to their own manor. Budworth, it should not be forgotten, was granted to Robert Grosvenor, and it was a Robert also who acquired Allostock. In the interval they had increased their estate until they were of more consequence than the original stock, and, with a confused tradition of their origin, believed themselves, and were believed to be, the elder line. Recently the representation of the family at Budworth had passed to a female, so that they were the less likely to be contradicted. Not that there is any occasion to suggest imposture. Even in these critical days, with a Registrar General and books of reference without end, who has not met with honest people cherishing some fond delusion about their origin and connections ? After all, the curious thing is that the abbot's pedigree was so nearly right. Later attempts have not always improved upon it. Eliminate Gilbert and Henry, provide Richard with an elder brother, and clear up the question about the three successive Roberts, and nothing remains to correct. But what of Gilbert, who came with the Conqueror ? He may be ac- counted for in this way. In early Cheshire documents we frequently meet with men called Venator^ as if it were a sur- name. There was however no family of any position in the county, so far as we know, who adopted it permanently, either in the Latin form, as le Veneur, or as Hunter.^ The abbot, therefore, or others examining deeds and ancient records, if aware of the Grosvenor tradition, might easily be led to suppose that in these names they found confirmation of it, and that Venator meant Grosvenor. The Gilbertus Venator of Domesday, See however W. Beamont, Arley Charters, xxxvi.