Eighteenth-century transcription of inscription relating to the Eleanor Cross, Geddington, Northamptonshire, filled with errors and describing its restoration in 1712. From the papers of John Blackburne of Orford Hall, Warrington.

1p., landscape 12mo. On aged and lightly-creased laid paper ('PRO PATRIA' watermark), with chipping to extremities. On reverse, in another hand: 'At Northampton a Monument at the Inn'. The note reads: 'This ancent Mounement was Erected to perpetuate the memory of Queen Eleon [sic] Consort to Edward the First Who in an Expedition against the Scots was Shot with a Poison arrow the Queen Extracted the poisen from the wound By Sucking it out By which means she saved the Kings Life But Lost her own - This Being almost Come to Decay By age was Rebuilt and Beutified By the worshipfull the Justices of Peace for this County in that Memorable Year 1712 when the Arms of England was Crownd with Succes under the Conduct of Brave and Renownd John Duke of Malbrow'. The poison-sucking story, popularised by William Camden, has no basis in fact, and the present document is an interesting example of how stories are distorted in folk memory. As perpetuated by Camden, the incident is supposed to have occurred at Acre, not in Scotland, and the poisoning is supposed to have involved a dagger, not an arrow; nor is Eleanor supposed to have died as a result of her intervention.