of the open hand as an emblem of power. In addition to the
instances cited by your correspondents, the following may be mentioned.

The Romans used the open hand as a standard.

The Kings of Ulster adopted it as their peculiar cognizance; thence it was
transferred to the shield of the baronets created Knights of Ulster by
James I.; to many of whose families recent {602} myths have in consequence
attributed bloody deeds to account for the cognizance of the bloody hand.
The Holte family of Aston Hall, near this town, affords an instance of such
a modern myth, which has, I think, already appeared in "N. & Q." The
subject of _modern myths_ would form a very interesting one for your pages.

An open hand occurs on tombs in Lycia. (Fellowes' _Lycia_, p. 180.)

The Turks and Moors paint an open hand as a specific against the evil eye.
(Shaw's _Travels in Barbary_, p. 243.)

The open hand in red paint is of common occurrence on buffalo robes among
the tribes of North America, and is also stamped, apparently by the natural
hand dipped in a red colour, on the monuments of Yucatan and Guatemala.
(Stephen's _Yucatan_.)

EDEN WARWICK.

Birmingham.

_Awk_ (Vol. viii., p. 310.).--H. C. K. asks for instances of the usage of
the word _awk_. He will find one in Richardson's _Dictionary_, and two of
_awkly_:

"The _auke_ or left hand."--Holland's _Plutarch_.

"They receive her _aukly_, when she (Fortune) presenteth herself on the
_right_ hand."--_Ibid._

"To undertake a thing _awkely_, or ungainly."--Fuller's _Worthies_.

Q.

Bloomsbury.

_Tenet_ (Vol. viii., p. 330.) was used by Hooker and Hall, and is also
found in state trial, 1 Hen. V., 1413, of Sir John Oldcastle. Sir Thomas
Browne, though he writes _tenets_ in his title, has _tenent_ in c. i. of
b. vii. But these variations may be generally placed to the account of the
printers in those days. (See TENET, in Richardson.)

Q.

Bloomsbury.

_Lovett of Astwell_ (Vol. viii., p. 363.).--Since I wrote on this subject,
I have consulted Baker's excellent _History of Northamptonshire_, and I
find the pedigree (vol. i. p. 732.) fully bears out my strictures on Betham
and Burke's account of Thomas Lovett, and his marriage with Joan Billinger.
With regard to Elizabeth Boteler, Mr. Baker simply states that Thomas
Lovett, Esq., of Astwell, married to his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of
John Boteler, Esq., of Watton Woodhall, Herts; but I observe that (_Idem._