[1267] Ninth Report Hist. MSS., App. i. p. 56.
[1268] Historic Towns: London.
[1269] Mr. Loftie elsewhere tells us (p. 27) that Reinmund "was succeeded by his more eminent son Azo, the goldsmith, whom it would be interesting to identify with one of the Azors of Domesday." How does Mr. Loftie know that Azo was "more eminent" than his father, or that he was a "goldsmith"? On one point we can certainly agree with him. It would be most "interesting" to identify a Domesday tenant in a man whose father was living in 1132!
[1270] Ninth Report (ut supra), p. 67 b. For similar instances of eccentric statements on the City fathers in Mr. Loftie's book, see p. 355, and my paper on "The First Mayor of London" (Antiquary, March, 1887). They throw, it will be found, a strange light on Mr. Elton's unfortunate remark that "Mr. Loftie makes good use of the documents discovered at St. Paul's" (Academy, April 30, 1887, p. 301).
[1271] "Socce Comitis Gloecestrie."
[1272] Cf. pp. 305, 306.
[1273] Ralf fitz "Algod," Robert fitz Gosbert, and Robert d'Ou occur in a deed of 1132 (Ninth Report Hist. MSS., App. i. p. 67 b), and Osbert Masculus in one of 1142 (ibid., p. 40 b).
ADDENDA.
Page [5]. The assertion by the Continuator of Florence of Worcester that Stephen kept his coronation court "cum totius Angliæ primoribus" has an important bearing on the assertion by Florence that Harold was elected to the throne "a totius Angliæ primatibus." For this latter phrase is the sheet-anchor upon which Mr. Freeman relies for the fact of Harold's valid election, and which he is avowedly compelled to strain to the uttermost:—