_Old John Harries, "Bishop of Wales."_--I have "An Elegy to the Memory of the late worthy and pious Mr. John Harries of Amleston, in Pembrokeshire, Preacher of the Gospel;" from which it appears that, after devoting himself to preaching for forty-six years, through both North and South Wales, and more particularly in "Roose, Castlemartin, Pembroke, Haverfordwest, Narberth, Woodstockslop, and Amleston," he died at Newport on the 7th of March, 1788. Will you allow me to ask your numerous correspondents whether any of them can assist me in tracing his pedigree? One of his sons, a minor canon of Bristol, bore the arms of Owen Gwynedd, viz. "vert, three eagles displayed on a fesse, or," on his book-plate. He was often called the "Bishop of Wales," from the large district through which he _overlooked_ the progress of the Gospel.
_University Hood._--What is the origin of wearing hoods to indicate a man's University degree; and how old is the practice?
_Black Rood in Scotland--Cross Neytz._--Observing that in Vol. ii. of "N. & Q." pp. 308. 409., and in Vol. iii., p. 104., there is a discussion about the "Black Rood of Scotland," which does not seem to be very satisfactorily concluded, I am tempted to send you a passage from Madox's _Baronia Anglica_, p. 268., &c., which seems to bear upon the point in question, but I am not competent to say how far it may serve to throw any light upon the obscurities of the case.
It there appears that 13th Oct. 1306, James Steward of Scotland swore fealty to King Edw. I.:
"By his corporal oath, taken upon the consecrated body of Christ; and upon _the two holy crosses_, to wit, the _cross Neytz_, and the _Blakerode Descoce_, and other holy reliques."
"In the priory of Lanrecost, in the diocese of Carlisle, before W. Bp. of Lichfield and Coventry, the King's Chancellor; and in the presence of Adomar de Valence."
I perceive in one of your communications, there is mention of the _English Cross, the Cross Nigth_, which in Madox is called "the Cross Neytz." Perhaps some of your antiquarian correspondents will favour us with some explanation of this cross.
I should wish moreover to elicit some further particulars of _Thomas Madox, the Historiographer Royal_, who has so well deserved of all lovers of ancient English history by the four books in folio which he has left us: especially his _Formulare Anglicanum_, and that work of prodigious industry and research, his _History of the Exchequer_. There is some account in Nichols' _Lit. Anecdotes_, but I should wish to see some more particulars of his life and studies, and a more exact critique upon his several works.