_The Irish at the Battle of Crecy._--I should feel obliged if any of your readers could inform me where the authority is for the Irish at the battle of Crecy having been the first to come to close fight with the French, and doing, "after the manner of their own countrie," effective service with their skenes or long knives. M. P. [There is the best authority for this assertion, even that of the veritable Holinshed, who quotes from Froissart, the cotemporary of our victorious Edward. "The armie which he (Edward) had over with him, was to the number of 4000 men of armes, and 10,000 archers, besides _Irishmen_ and Welshmen that followed the host on foot." The French historian also informs us, that the skene or knife was the chief weapon used by the Irish in that age: "The Irish have pointed knives with broad blades, sharp on both sides, like a dart-head, with which they kill their enemies," &c. Johnes's _Translation_, vol. iv. p. 428.: see also Grafton's _Chronicle_, p. 261.; and Keightley's _History of England_, vol. i. p. 279.] _King of the Isle of Wight._--I was not aware that the Isle of Wight, like the Isle of Man, had once been a kingdom. It seems that Henry de Beauchamp, Earl and Duke of Warwick, was crowned, _circa_ 1445, King of the Isle of Wight. Perhaps some of your correspondents may be able to throw some light on this matter. E. H. A. [Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, son of Richard Earl of Warwick, was crowned King of the Isle of Wight by patent 24 Henry VI., King Henry in person assisting at the ceremonial, and placing the crown on his head. Leland (_Itiner._, vol. vi. p. 91.) says, "Henricus Comes de Warwike ab Henrico VI. cui carissimus erat, coronatus _in regem de Wighte_, et postea nominatus primus comes totius Angliæ." Leland takes this _ex Libello de Antiquitate Theoksibriensis Monasterii_, in the church of which house this Duke of Warwick was buried. But little notice has been taken of this singular event by our historians, and, except for some other collateral evidence, the authenticity of it might be doubted; but the representation of this duke with an imperial crown on his head and a sceptre before him, in an ancient window of the collegiate church at Warwick, leaves no doubt that such an event did take place. (See Worsley's _Hist. of the Isle of Wight_ for a plate copied from an accurate drawing of the king.) This honourable mark of the royal favour, however, conveyed no regal authority, the king having no power to transfer the sovereignty of any part of his dominions, as is observed by Lord Coke in his _Institutes_, where this transaction is discussed; and there is reason to conclude that, though titular king, he did not even possess the lordship of the island, no surrender appearing from Duke Humphrey, who was then living, and had a grant for the term of his life. Mr.