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 ii. SEPT. 3, '98.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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was formerly Clare House Court, but after- wards Clare Court, going up Drury Lane. These arms are Ermine, two piles issuing from the dexter and sinister chief angles, their points meeting in base. The sup- porters are a leopard dexter and lion sinister, and the motto, "Spes audaces ad- juvat." The coat of arms was removed from 14, Gilbert Street when that house was pulled down a few years ago, but was happily replaced close by, and is now outside the office of the Strand Board of Works, No. 8, Clare Street, having been in some degree repaired on its removal.

J. H. MAcMlCHAEL. 14, Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park.

LABRUSCA, SPANISH POET (9 th S. ii. 89), has no place in the British Museum Catalogue.

F. ADAMS. 106A, Albany Road, Camberwell.

ENGLISH AGENTS IN POLAND (9 th S. ii. 148). Francis Gordon, servant and agent to Vladislaus IV. of Poland, was succeeded in his office by Richard Delves, a merchant at Hamburg, born 1602, died 1643. He was the third son of Sir Thomas Delves, Kt. and Bart., of Doddington Hall, Cheshire. Amongst my MS. copies of Delves deeds is the Latin deed of his appointment, dated 15 July, 1636.

JAMES HALL.

Lindum House, Nantwich.

NOTES ON BOOKS, Ac.

The Church Towers of Somersetshire. Etched by E. Piper, R.P.E. With Introduction by J. L. Warden Page. Parts IV. and V. (Bristol, Frost & Reed.)

Two more parts of this interesting and important contribution to our knowledge of English eccle- siastical architecture are now issued, each part con- taining two etchings. One of those in the fourth part presents Bath Abbey, known, on account oJ the number and size of its windows, as " the Lantern of England." Mr. Piper's etching gives a good view of these and of the flying buttresses, which are also a special feature. The peculiar shape of the tower, narrower on the north anc south sides than on the east and west, is well con- veyed. The second design shows the church of AL Samts, Wraxall, with its magnificent tower in four decreasing stages, contrasting markedly with the low and stunted shape of the general building. Visitors to the west of England are familiar with this tower, facing the Mendips and commanding a fine view of a well-wooded country. The design also reproduces the tall fifteenth - century cross which stands in the churchyard. First in the fifth part is the plain, solid tower of St. John the Baptist Keynsham, another of the fine churches in the immediate vicinity of Bristol. Shapely and solic

as it is, the tower has no great antiquarian interest, dating back only to the time of Charles II. A r ormer tower, on the north side of the edifice, was destroyed by a storm on 13 January, 1632. Of the Abbey of Black Canons, erected on a spot close at land Toy William, Duke of Gloucester, in the twelfth century, a few ruins only remain. Last conies the freeman as " the finest square tower not designed or a spire or lantern in all England, and therefore jossibly in the whole world," the special glory and lelight of Somerset. Placed in the middle of some of the sunniest of Western scenery, this unrivalled x>wer, which rises to the height of 114 (qy. 140)
 * ower of All Saints', Wnngton, fondly described by
 * eet, can boast to have suggested the propor-

tions for the Victoria Tower at Westminster. The etching is one of Mr. Piper's best. The whole are admirably executed, and the completed work cannot fail to be a delightful possession. Mr. Page points to some shcncomings in the church, as apart from the tower, of All Saints. The sense that tne church is dwarfed by the tower no uncommon experience in Somersetshire is in this case not onveyed.

Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series. Decem- ber, 1671, to 17 May, 1672. Edited by F. H. Blackburne Daniell. (Eyre & Spottiswoode. ) To the student of national history, in its ordinarily received sense, the papers regarding the stoppage of payments from the Exchequer and the strained relations with our Dutch neighbours are the most important in this volume; but it contains much else of nigh interest, especially as regards the Noncon- formists. It shows that the idea of toleration as we now understand the term \vas so little under- stood in those days, that nearly every one except those directly benefited by it was shocked by the Declaration of Indulgence. A distinction was made between Protestant Dissenters and Roman Catholics. The former were to be allowed places of public worship, but both the buildings and the ministers officiating therein had to be licensed by State officials. Popish recusants did not fare so well : they were not permitted to possess places of public resort, but might assemble in private houses. This was an improvement on the old condition of things, but it is impossible for us to believe that either Charles or his ministers in granting these relaxa- tions were moved by kindly or statesmanlike motives. This was well known by those who benefited by the relaxation, and therefore little gratitude was felt by those who were most favoured by the new departure. The applications for licences were very numerous. It is not probable that all of them have been preserved, but those which exist have been calendared here, and a care- ful examination of them shows the strength of the old Nonconformity in various parts of England.

There is not much of importance relating directly to the Established Church. Perhaps the most noteworthy document of the kind is an account of the funeral of John Cosin, Bishop of Durham, who died in London 15 Jan., 1672. His body was taken to the North and buried at Bishop's Auckland. The chief gentry of the County Palatine met the corpse at the river Tees; when the procession entered the city of Durham it was received by the mayor and aldermen, who " stood in their liveries within the west gate, and then followed the hearse to the castle. The ceremonial is well described; it seems to have been of a stately character such as had not