rst wave of population
which broke through the passes of the Parapamisus?

B.C.

_Kentish Ballad_.--When I was a boy, I can remember hearing a song sung
in Kent, in praise of that country, which I never could find in print,
and of which I am now glad to recollect the following stanza:--

"When Harold was invaded,
And falling lost his crown,
And Norman William waded
Through gore to pull him down;
When countries round
With fear profound,
To help their sad condition,
And lands to save,
Base homage gave,
Bold Kent made no submission."

Can any reader furnish the remainder, and state who is the author?

F.B.

_Curious Monumental Brass_.--I have a rubbing of a Brass, presenting
some peculiarities which have hitherto puzzled me, but which probably
some of your more experienced correspondents can clear up.

The Brass, from which the rubbing is taken (and which was formerly in
the Abbey church of St. Albans, but when I saw it was detached and lying
at the Rectory), is broken off a little below the waist; it represents
an abbot, or bishop, clad in an ornamented chasuble, tunic, stole, and
alb, with a maniple and pastoral staff. So far all is plain; but at the
back (i.e. on the surface hidden when the Brass lay upon the floor) is
engraved a dog with a collar and bells, apparently as carefully executed
as any other part. Can you tell me the meaning of this? I can find no
mention of the subject either in Boutell or any other authority. The
fragment is about 18 inches long, and the dog about 6, more or less.

RAHERE.

Jan. 26, 1850.

_Tickhill, God help me_.--Can any one tell why A Tickhill man, when
asked where he comes from, says, "Tickhill, God help me." Is it because
the people at Tickhill are famed for misery, as the neighbouring town of
Blythe seems to have been so called from its jolly citizens?

R.F. JOHNSON.

_Bishop Blaize_.--I should be much obliged by any reference to
information respecting Bishop Blaize, the Santo Biagio of Agrigentum,
and patron saint of Ragusa. Butler says little but that he was bishop of
Sebaste, in Armenia, the proximity of which place to Colchis appears to
me suspicious. Wonderful and horrible tales are told of him; but I
suspect his patronage of wool-combers is founded on much more ancient
legends. His establishment at Agrigentum must have been previous to
Christianity. I have a vague remembrance of som