Respecting John of Kent there is but little else known than may be found in Coxe's Monmouthshire, and Owen's Cambrian Biography, sub "Sion Cent." There is, however, a tradition in this neighbourhood that he was born at Eglwys Ilan, in the county of Glamorgan; and the road is shown by which he went to Kentchurch, in Herefordshire. It was at Eglwys Ilan that he is reported to have pounded the crows by closing the park gates. As this story has not appeared in English print, I will endeavour to furnish you again with a more circumstantial statement. Sion Kent, who lived about 1450, appears to have derived his name from Kent Chester, or Kent Church. He was a monk, holding Lollard opinions; and a bard of considerable talent and celebrity. As a matter of course, he was on good terms with his Satanic majesty; for he was a mighty reputation as a conjuror. MR. COLLIER may find a portion of one of his poems, translated in the Iolo MSS., page 687. Should this, or any other authority herein named, not be accessible to MR. COLLIER, it would afford me great pleasure to send him transcripts.
There is a very gross anachronism in making Sion, lege Shôn Kent, to be the contemporary of Senena.
T. STEPHENS.
Merthyr Tydfil, Aug. 7. 1851.
PETTY CURY.
(Vol. iv., p. 24.)
I believe that Petty Cury signifies the Little Cookery. See a note in my Annals of Cambridge, vol. i. p. 273.
C. H. COOPER.
Cambridge, July 12. 1851.
To those who are familiar with the Form of Cury, edited by Dr. Pegge, no explanation can be necessary for the name of this street, or rather lane. It seems, indeed, strange that any one who calls himself a Cambridge man should have failed to discover that it was the peculiar quarter of the cooks of the town; as we in London have our Poultry named from the Poulters (not Poulterers, as now corruptly designated) who there had their shops.
F. S. Q.