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| Archer, Nicholas (of Brakspeare) |
An alias that the wizard Prospero uses when checking into the Gorgon's Head Inn, knowing that the residents of that area were not fond of wizards [The Face in the Frost, 67]. From clues in the book, Brakspeare (in the Southern Kindsom) is and apparently very close to Prospero’s house (there is a road nearby which leads to the village and later Prospero invites the mayor to his post-adventure party).
Bowen points out that Adrian IV, the only English pope, was named Nicholas Brakespeare (or Brakspear) and both of his names appear in Prospero's pseudonym ("Nicholas Archer of Brakspeare"). (also see Corvo)
This pseudonym has been useful to others as evidenced by this anecdote by Robert M. Corless on his website discussing Bellairs' books:
"The Face in the Frost is his only adult book, but is wonderful. One of the characters uses the alias 'Nicholas Archer' in the book. My wife and I registered under Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Archer on our wedding night - my brother-in-law and the maid of honour were far too interested in playing tricks on us for our comfort. It was a great pleasure, one I still savour, to watch Glenna phone every hotel and motel in town to ask for us, and when she was finished with no success, to watch her face as we told her we had registered under another name. Anyway, John Bellairs's horror books for children are very creepy and very good as well. Pity he's not with us any more."
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Adrian_IV
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