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Gentleman's Magazine 1780 p.132
monosysllable, as Grip, Girt, &c. If we go another way
to work, and suppose the first letter to be an E, then,
considering that not only the next parish church of Appleby
is styled in record, Ecclesia Sti Laurentii de Appleby; and
that the parish church of Morland, in which parish our
chapel stands, is dedicated to the same saint; Burn I, 443
(though our chapel is to All Saints; see Ecton's Valor) we
might be tempted to read Ecclesia DE S LaVRRENDE, the last
letter but one being a mistake for C or T; or else should be
separated, and form DE: but neither doth this satisfy; for
though I have turned over Mr. Burn's two volumes very
carefully on this occasion; in which there are some
thousands of persons and place names mentioned, yet I can
find none that one can suppose to be here meant. Nor doth
the Baronetage article, Lorraine of Northumberland, afford
any variety of assistance, Mr. Burn mentions, vol. I. p.51.
Estate of Loring, and Sir Nigel Loring, vol. I. p.153, but
he has no Weredun, or Verdon; but Warton, Wartun, Wherton,
Quherton, pp.1, 11, 12, 36, 39, 41, 62, 234, 264, 558. There
is said to be a Wardon or Wardrew iin Northumberland.
Heylin's Help to History, p.436, No.114, barely mentions a
Baron Verdon, who is probably no more ours than his Baron
Leidurne; p.445, No.275, has any thing to do with the middle
of our 5th line. Mr. Burn has a Laborne, v.i. p.143, 144,
and he likewise informs us, Cumb. I, p.420, that Axham was
anciently wrote in the most authentic instruments ASCYM or
ASCOM. But our H is so remarkably large and plain, that it
cannot be mistaken for a K. To go on, I cannot desire
anybody to read AnnO A A Reparata S a lute; as I see
nodate, except CV be one, and M omitted. The middle word of
line 4th, if other things conspired kindly, might tempt one
to read MVRum, to commemorate the building of the very wall,
as hanc fenestram fecit, &c. Burn I, p.75. The
fifth line, if an Antiquary could be other than a sad
creature, he would think for Lilliburlaro; and that the
usual ORATe prO a Ni M, was intended to follow. But when in
so many suppositions not a single one seems plausible, it is
time to give up, and express one's wishes, that others may
only not be misled by any thing here said, as perhaps they
would have done better, if left entirely to themselves,
instead of being put on a wrong scent; and I assure them,
when they make all clear, as they will do, who settle the
reading rightly and truly, that I shall be pleased to see
how easily and luminously they proceed on, where I could not
see a step before me, nor even where I was.
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