l was the news that there is a meeting-house in
Berwick belonging to the anti-burghers, who are dissenters from the Church
of Scotland, which has a bell, for the ringing of which, as a summons to
worship, Barrington, Bishop of Durham, granted a licence, which still
exists. I was not aware that bishops either had, or exercised, the power of
licensing bells; but my informant will, I doubt not, on reading this,
either verify or correct the statement. At the time when the bell was
licensed, the congregation were in communion with the Church of Scotland.

ALFRED GATTY.

_The Keate Family, of the Hoo, Herts._--I shall be obliged to any of your
readers for information respecting the _Sir Jonathan Keate, Bart._, of the
Hoo, Hertfordshire, who was living in the year 1683; also for any
particulars respecting his family? I especially desire to know what were
his relations to the religious parties of the time, as I have in my
possession the journal of a nonconformist minister, who was his domestic
chaplain from 1683 to 1688.

G. B. B.

Cambridge.

_Divining-rod._--Can any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." supply
instances of the use of the divining-rod for finding water? I know several
circumstances which might incline one, in these table-turning days, to
inquire seriously whether there be any truth in the popular notion.

G. W. SKYRING.

_Medal and Relic of Mary Queen of Scots._--I have in my possession a medal,
the size of a crown piece, of base metal, with perhaps some admixture of
silver. On one side of this are the arms of Scotland with two thistles, and
the legend--

MARIA ET HENRICUS DEI GRATIA R: ET R: SCOTORUM,

and the reverse, a yew-tree with a motto of three words, of which the last
seems to be VIRES, the date 1566, and the legend--

EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPANTUR INIMICI.

Associated with this for a very considerable period has been a small wooden
cross, which is said to have been made from the yew-tree under which Mary
and Darnley had been accustomed to meet.

I have been told that there is some farther tradition or superstition
connected with these relics: if there be, I shall be glad to be informed of
it, or of any other particulars concerning them.

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

_Bulstrode's Portrait._--Prefixed to a copy in my possession of _Essays
upon the following Subjects: 1. Generosity, &c._, by Whitelock Bulstrode,
Esq., 8vo. Lond. 1724, there is a portrait of the author, bearing this note