Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 92, August 2, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 92, August 2, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
JOHN A KENT AND JOHN A CUMBER.
I am much obliged to you, Mr. Editor, for giving additional circulation
to my inquiry (through the medium of the _Athenæum_ of the 19th ult.)
regarding the two ancient popular wizards, John a Kent and John a
Cumber. I was aware, from a note received some time ago from my friend
the Rev. John Webb of Tretire, that there are various current traditions
in Monmouthshire, and that Coxe's history of that county contains some
information regarding one of these worthies. That fact has since been
repeated to me by a gentleman of Newport, who wrote in consequence of
what appeared in the _Athenæum_, and whose name I do not know that I am
at liberty to mention. I may, however, take this opportunity of thanking
him, as well as the transmitter of the curious particulars printed in
the _Athenæum_ of Saturday last.
One point I wish to ascertain is, whence John a Kent derived his
appellation? This question has not been at all answered. Has his name
any connexion, and what, with the village of Kentchurch, in
Monmouthshire; and why was the place called Kentchurch? To what saint is
the church dedicated? and has the name of that church anything to do
with the name of the saint? Anthony Munday (or Mundy), in his MS. play
(now in my hands by the favour of the Hon. Mr. Mostyn, and by the kind
interposition of Sir F. Madden), does not give the slightest clue to
the "birth, parentage, and education" of John a Kent. As to John a
Cumber, all we learn is, that he was a Scottish conjuror, employed by a
nobleman of the same country to counteract the proceedings of John a
Kent, who is represented as in the service of Sir Gosselin Denville, a
person who appears, from what Munday says, to have had power and
influence in South Wales.
Now, the name of Sir Gosselin Denville itself suggests a Query; because
I find in Johnson's _Lives of Highwayman, &c.,_ fol. 1734, p. 15. (I do
not of course refer to it as a book of any authority), that there was a
celebrated collector of tribute from travellers who bore that name and
rank. He, however, came from Yorkshire, and lived (according to the
narrative of Johnson, who had it most likely from Capt. A. Smith, whose
work I have not at hand) as long ago as the reign of Edward II. Let me
ask, therefore, whether there exist any tidings respecting such a person
as a native of Wales, and as the "master" (I use Munday's word) of John
a Kent?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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