"The Lord of _Latham_ and his Lady, being Childless, as they were walking in the Park, heard a Child crying in an Eagle's nest: they immediately ordered their servants to search the Eyery, who presented them with a beautiful Boy, in rich swadling-cloaths. The good old lady looked upon it as a present sent from Heaven, ordered it to be carefully educated, and gave it the Surname of _Latham_. He (the Child) was knighted by King Edward III. by the name of Sir _Oskytel Latham_, and left sole Heir of that vast estate. He had one daughter, named _Isabella_, who by marriage brought the honours of _Latham_ and _Knowsley_, with many other Lordships, to _Sir John Stanley_." Mr. Sacheverell goes no further into the Story; and the Reader will be naturally inclined to know whose Child this was, and how it was conveyed into the Eagle's nest. For this we must have recourse to Sir William Dugdale[266], who relates the Story more circumstantially, and, as he says, upon credible tradition; _viz._ That a _Sir Thomas de Latham_ had a natural Son, called _Oskytel_, by an obscure woman, who lived near him; and, "having no Child by his Lady, he designed to adopt this _Oskytel_ for his Heir; but so that he himself might not be suspected to have been the Father. Observing, therefore, that an Eagle had built her Nest in a large spread oak within his Park at Lathom, he caused the Child in swadling cloaths to be privily conveyed thither; and (as a wonder) presently called forth his Wife to see it; representing to her, that, having no Issue, God Almighty had thus sent him a Male Child, and so preserved, that he looked upon it as a miracle; disguising the truth so artificially from her, that she forthwith took him (the Child) with great fondness into the house, educating him with no less affection than if she had been his natural Mother; whereupon he became Heir to that fair inheritance; and that, in token thereof, not only his Descendants, whilst the Male Line endured, but the _Stanleys_ proceeding from the said Isabel (the Heir Female), have ever since borne the Child in the Eagle's Nest, with the Eagle thereon, for their Crest. [266] Baronage, vol. II. p. 257. * * * * * _Francis Bourgeois_, Member of the Royal Academy, had leave from King George III. to wear the Polish Order "Merentibus." The Diploma is dated Warsaw, February 16, 1791. Ordered to be registered in the College of Arms. ORIGIN AND DERIVATION OF A FEW Remarkable Surnames. _Lewkenor._--Sir Lewis, Master of the Ceremonies; from one of the Hundreds of Lincolnshire, called anciently _Levechenora_[267]. [267] Brady's History of England, General Preface, p. 50. _Kempe._--The same as _Champion_. The Danish word[268]. [268] Brady's Preface to the Norman History, p. 150. _Misenor._--From _Mesonero_, an Inn-keeper; Spanish. _Muncaster._--The old name of Newcastle upon Tyne; quasi _Monk-Caster_. The present name was perhaps taken on its being rebuilt.