In the Plate I have delineated a number of the symbols inscribed on the tablets, about the same size as the originals, and taken indifferently from the casts and photographs. I have not copied all the simple forms, and, of course, there are many more compound signs.

A constant figure in the casts is the one like fig. 2, line 4, clasping a post or pillar. Fig. 3, line 2, has often four little fins, like turtles' flippers, appended. The first figure, first line, seems to divide the contents into sentences. Sometimes two or three similar figures are joined together in line, as in the case of the hawk-headed figure.

There is considerable difference, also, in the size, finish, and execution of the originals in the various tablets.

THE HOUSE OF STANLEY AND THE LEGEND

OF THE EAGLE AND CHILD.

BY JAMES A. PICTON, F.S.A.

STUDENTS of history have come at last to recognise the supreme importance of consulting contemporary documents, where such exist. Without this, history is reduced to the condition of an idle romance, or a vehicle for party prejudice. I propose to illustrate this principle by reference to a little episode of English history bearing upon a family illustrious in the annals of our peerage, and never more so than at the present time.

The Chetham Society have recently issued a volume of Lancashire Inquisitions in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, from the Towneley and Dodsworth Collections. The information afforded as to the state of society at that period is curious and valuable. The documents are of the highest authority, being returns to writs from the Crown on evidence, on oath, before juries or commissions, in respect to the property of feoffees of the Crown or Duchy of Lancaster. Several of them refer to the family of Lathom, and the Stanleys their successors, at their first emergence into notice in the reign of Richard II.

The rise of the Stanley family has a legendary history attached to it. This is fully set forth in the History of the House of Stanley, by John Seacome, 1741. The original legend runs as follows: Sir Thomas de Lathom, early in the fourteenth century, walking with his Lady, who was childless, in his park, drew near to a desert and wild situation, where it was commonly reported an eagle built her nest, and,

upon their near approach thereto, heard the cries of a young child, which was found by their servants in the nest, being a male infant dressed in rich swaddling clothes. And they, having no male issue, looked upon this child as a present sent from heaven. They took it under their protection, had it carefully nursed, and baptised by their own name. The child became their heir, and at his death left an only daughter named Isabel, whom Sir John Stanley married, and, in memory of this event, took the eagle and child for his crest, as since used by his noble successors the Earls of Derby.

The legend, as modified by Seacome, commences with Sir Thomas de Lathom, who lived in the reign of Edward III.; that he and his lady being highly advanced in years, without any issue but one daughter, and he being desirous of male issue, but despairing thereof by his own lady, had a love intrigue with a young gentlewoman of his acquaintance, who bore him a son, whereof he was greatly rejoiced; but the difficulty arose how to introduce this young scion without inducing domestic strife. After several schemes and proposals, they hit upon the expedient of placing the child, richly dressed, in the vicinity of an eagle's nest, where it was found by the servants, and received by the lady with kindness and affection. The child was baptised by the name of Oskatell de Lathom, his mother's name being Mary Oskatell. The youth did not ultimately succeed to the family estates, which descended to Isabella, Lady de Stanley; but he was portioned off with certain manors at Irlam and Urmston, near Manchester, and other lands in Cheshire. Sir Thomas, in memory of the event, is stated to have assumed for his crest an eagle upon wing regardant, and that the Stanleys, despising Oskatell and his pretensions, took upon them the eagle and child in token of contempt of his claims.