VIR ERAT PROBUS PRUDENS ET FRUGI CHRISTIANE PROVIDUS TEMPERARE LIBERALIS MARITUS CHARUS INDULGENS PATER HERUS MISEHICORS QUI POSTQUAM Er HEIC IN FIDE CHRISTIANA SUI SERVATORIS EXPECTAT ADVENTU. MARIA, born 20 July, died in infancy; DISCOVERY OF THE LONG-SOUGHT PORTRAIT OF SIR JOHN FORTESCUE, OF SALDEN. In the first volume of the RECORDS OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, page 92, in an article by the Rev. Thomas Horn, of Mursley with Salden, mention is made, on the authority of Browne Willis, of a full-length portrait of Sir John Fortescue, with an inscription underneath, describing his descent:"Sir John Fortescue, Knight, Chancellor of the Exchequer and of the Duchy of Lancaster, Master of the Wardrobe, and of the Privy Councell to Queen Elizabeth and King James. He built Salden House, and was the sonne of Sir Adrian Fortescue, Knight, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII., son of Sir John Fortescue, Knight Banneret to King Henry VII., great grandson of Sir John Fortescue, Knight, Governor of Brie, in France, under King Henry V., lineally descended in the ninth generation from Richard Fortescue, Knight, Cupp-bearer to King William the Conqueror." The portrait disappeared from view for many years, and nothing was known of its site, or even its existence. Lord Clermont, who has written a work, entitled, "An Account of the Family of Fortescue," offered a reward of £50 to any person who should supply such information as might lead to a copy being procured, and a lesser sum for any information that might lead to its discovery. Advertisements were widely circulated, and every means adopted to bring it to light, but for a long time without success. Lord Clermont's work, printed for private distribution, first appeared in 1869, in two volumes quarto: vol. i. containing the works of Sir John Fortescue, the Chancellor; vol. ii., the general history of the family. His lordship is now on the eve of publishing a revised edition of the second volume only. The following communication has been received from him : "The renewed search for the missing portrait of Sir John Fortescue, of Salden, who died in 1607, was begun in July, 187, and perseveringly and thoroughly conducted by Mr. Richard Sims. It was the Rev. Michael |