France from a very ancient period; that Pepin received it (A.D. 755) from
the Pope, and Charles the Bald (A.D. 859) from a Council: and Charles VI.
refers to ancient usage for this title, and makes use of these words:

"--nostrorum progenitorum imitatione--evangelicæ
veritatis--DEFENSORES--nostra regia dignitas divino Christianæ
religionis titulo gloriosius insignitur--."

Mr. Luders refers to the use of the words "Nos zelo _fidei catholicæ_,
cujus sumus et erimus Deo dante _Defensores_, salubriter commoti" in the
charter of Richard II. to the Chancellor of Oxford, in the nineteenth year
of his reign, as the earliest introduction of such phrases into acts of the
kings of England that he had met with. This zeal was for the condemnation
of Wycliff's _Trialogus_. In the reign of Hen. IV. the writ "De Hæretico
comburendo" had the words "Zelator justitia et fidei catholicæ cultor;" and
the title of "Très Chrêtien" occurs in several instruments of Hen. VI. and
Edw. IV. It appears very probable that this usage was the foundation of the
statement made by Chamberlayne and by Mr. Christopher Wren: but that the
title of Defender of the Faith was used as part of the royal style before
1521, is, I believe, quite untrue.

W.S.G.

* * * * *

MEANING OF JEZEBEL.

(Vol. ii., p. 357.)

There appear to be two serious objections to the idea of your correspondent