er 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