N.
Woodbridge, April 15.


_Regimental Badges._--When were the regimental badges granted to the
first nine infantry corps of the line, and under what circumstances were
they so granted?

J.C.
London, April 15. 1850.


_Mother of Thomas à Becket._--The well-known romantic legend of the
origin of this lady has been introduced into the _Pictorial History of
England_, on the authority of "Brompton in X. Scriptores." And on the
same page (552. vol. i.) is a pictorial representation of the "Baptism
of the Mother of Becket, from the Royal MS. 2 B. vii."

Now, Lord Campbell, in his _Lives of the Chancellors_, repudiates the
story in toto; but without assigning any other reason for doing so, than
an inference from the silence of Becket himself and his secretary,
Fitzstephen, on the point.

Can any of the learned gentlemen, whose distinguished names adorn your
valuable pages, direct an humble student to the fountain of truth, for
the settlement of this _verata questio_?

W. Franks Mathews.
Kidderminster, April 7. 1850.