But Nicholas made him promise that he would tell no man. And many other charitable works did Nicholas perform in his native city.' "These three purses of gold, or, as they are more customarily figured, these three golden balls, disposed in exact pawnbroker fashion, are to this day the recognised special emblem of the charitable St. Nicholas." And now for the more immediate object of the present Note, which is to show--what, when once pointed out, will, I think, readily be admitted, namely, that in the grotto formed of oyster shells, and lighted with a votive candle, to which on old St. James's day (5th August) the passer by is earnestly entreated to contribute by cries of, "Pray remember the Grotto!" we have a memorial of the world-renowned shrine of St. James at Compostella. The popularity which St. James formerly enjoyed in England, and the zeal with which his shrine was visited by natives of this country, have recently been so clearly shown by Mr. J.G. Nichols, in his interesting little volume, _Pilgrimages to St. Mary of Walsingham and St. Thomas of Canterbury_, that I need not here insist upon these points. What the original object of making these grottoes may have been I can only suggest: but I shall not be surprised if it should turn out that they were formerly erected on the anniversary of St. James by poor persons, as an invitation to the pious who could not visit Compostella, to show their reverence for the Saint by almsgiving to their needy brethren. Oysters are only allowed to be sold in London (which city, by the by, levied a tax of two pence on every person going and returning by the river Thames on pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James), after St. James's day. Why is this? I wish Mr. Wansey, who is an able antiquary, and one authorised to look into the records of Fishmongers' Company, would give us the information upon this point which these documents may be expected to furnish. WILLIAM J. THOMS. P.S.--I should be glad if any of the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" could explain to that Erasmus alludes, when he says, "Culmeis ornatus torquibus, brachium habet ova serpentum," which L'Estrange translated, "Straw-works,--snakes, eggs for bracelets;" and Mr. Nichols, who honestly states that he is unable to explain the allusion, as he does not find such emblems elsewhere mentioned,--"adorned with straw necklaces and bracelets of serpents' eggs." * * * * * NOTE OF A MS. VOLUME OF CHRONICLES AT REIGATE.