John Holywood the Mathematician.—Is the birthplace of this distinguished scholar known? Leland, Bale, and Pits assert him to have been born at Halifax, in Yorkshire; Stanyhurst says, at Holywood, near Dublin; and according to Dempster and Mackenzie, at Nithsdale, in Scotland.

Edward F. Rimbault.

Essay on the Irony of Sophocles, &c.—Who is the author of the Essay on the Irony of Sophocles, which has been termed the most exquisite piece of criticism in the English language?

Is it Cicero who says,

"Malo cum Platone errare, quam cum aliis rectÈ sentire?"

And who embodied the somewhat contradictory maxim,—

"Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas?"

Nemo.

Meaning of Mosaic.—What is the exact meaning and derivation of the word Mosaic as a term in art?

H. M. A.

Stanedge Pole.—Can any one inform me in what part of Yorkshire the antiquarian remains of Stanedge Pole are situated; and where the description of them is to be found?

A. N.

Names of the Ferret.—I should be much obliged by any one of your readers informing me what peculiar names are given to the male and female ferret? Do they occur any where in any author? as by knowing how the words are spelt, we may arrive at their etymology.

T. Lawrence.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

Colfabias.—Can any of your learned correspondents furnish the origin and meaning of this word? It was the name of the privy attached to the Priory of Holy Trinity in Dublin; and still is to be seen in old leases of that religious house (now Christ Church Cathedral), spelled sometimes as above, and other times coolfabioos.

The present dean and chapter are quite in the dark upon the subject. I hope you will be able to give us a little light from your general stock.

A Ch. Ch. Man.

Dublin.

School of the Heart.—This work consists of short poems similar in character and merit to Quarles's Emblems, and adorned with cuts of the same class. I have at hand none but modern editions, and in these the production is ascribed to Quarles. But Montgomery, in his Christian Poet, quotes the School of the Heart, without explanation, as the work of Thomas Harvey, 1647. Can any of your readers throw light on this matter?

S. T. D.

Milton and the Calves-head Club.—I quote the following from The Secret History of the Calves-head Club: or the Republican Unmasqu'd, 4to., 1703. The author is relating what was told him by "a certain active Whigg, who, in all other respects, was a man of probity enough."

"He further told me that Milton, and some other creatures of the Commonwealth, had instituted this Club [the Calves-head Club], as he was inform'd, in opposition to Bp. Juxon, Dr. Sanderson, Dr. Hammond, and other divines of the Church of England, who met privately every 30th of January; and though it was under the Time of Usurpation, had compil'd a private Form of Service for the Day, not much different from what we now find in the Liturgy."

Do any of Milton's biographers mention his connexion with this club? Does the form of prayer compiled by Juxon, Sanderson, and Hammond exist?

K. P. D. E.

David Rizzio's Signature.—Can any reader of "Notes and Queries" furnish the applicant with either a fac-simile or a minute description of the signature and handwriting of David Rizzio? The application is made in order to the verification of a most remarkable alleged instance of clairvoyance, recorded at large in a volume on that and its kindred subjects just published by Dr. Gregory of Edinburgh.

F. K.

Lambert Simnel—Was this his real Name?—It occurs to me that we are not in possession of the real name of Lambert Simnel, the famous claimant of the crown of England. We are told that he was the son of a baker; and we learn from Johnson's Dictionary that the word "simnel" signified a kind of sweet-bread or cake. Now, considering the uncertainty and mutability of surnames in former times, I am led to suspect that "Simnel" may have been a nickname first applied to his father, in allusion to his trade; and I am strengthened in my suspicion by not finding any such name as "Simnel" in any index of ancient names. Could any of your correspondents throw light on this question, or tell whether Lambert left any posterity?

T.

Honor of Clare, Norfolk.—I have seen a letter, dated about 1702, in the possession of a gentleman of this town, which alludes "To His Majesty's Honor of Clare;" and I shall feel obliged if any of your correspondents can render me any information as to whether there are any documents relative to this "Honor" in existence: and if so, where they are to be met with? for I much wish to be informed what fragments were made from South Green (a part of this town), which was held of the above mentioned "Honor," and by whom made; and further, who is the collector of them at this period?

J. N. C.

Sponge.—When was the sponge of commerce first known in England?

Thudt.

Babington's Conspiracy.—Miss Strickland, in her life of Queen Elizabeth (Lives of the Queens of England, vol. vii. p. 33.), after describing the particulars of this plot, adds in a Note,—

"After his condemnation, Babington wrote a piteous letter of supplication to Elizabeth, imploring her mercy for the sake of his wife and children."—Rawlinson MSS., Oxford, vol. 1340. No. 55. f. 19.

A copy of a letter to which the description given by Miss Strickland would apply, has been lately found among some papers originally belonging to Lord Burleigh; and it would be very desirable to compare it with the letter said to be in the Rawlinson collection. I have, however, authority for saying that the reference above quoted is incorrect. I should be very glad indeed to find whether the letter referred to by Miss Strickland is printed in any collection, or to trace the authority for the reference given in the Lives of the Queens. The MS. copies in the British Museum are known.

J. Bt.

Family of Sir John Banks.—R. H. wishes to be informed how many children were left by Sir John Banks, Lord Chief Justice in Charles I.'s reign: also, whether any one of these settled at Keswick: and also, whether Mr. John Banks of that place, the philosopher, as he was called, was really a lineal descendant of Sir John B., as he is stated to have been by the author of an old work on the Lakes?

R. C. H. H.

Sewell, Meaning of.—It is usual in some deer-parks in different parts of England, but more especially, as far as my own knowledge goes, in Kent, for the keepers, when they wish to drive and collect the deer to one spot, to lay down for this purpose what they call sewells (I may be wrong as to the orthography), which are simply long lines with feathers attached at intervals, somewhat after the fashion of the tails of kites. These "sewells," when stretched at length on the ground, the herd of deer will very rarely pass; but on coming up will check themselves suddenly when in full career, and wheel about. The same contrivance was in use in Virgil's time for the same purpose, under the name of formido (Geor. iii. 372.):—"PuniceÆve agitant pavidos formidine pennÆ." Can any of your readers help me to the origin of the modern term sewell?

H. C. K.

—— Rectory, Hereford.

Abel represented with Horns.—In one of the windows of King's College Chapel, the subject of which is the Death of Abel, the artist has given him a pair of horns. Can any of your readers explain this?

C. J. E.