Thomas Randolph was certainly one of Jonson's sons. See in his _Poems_ (4th edit. p. 17.): "A {589} gratulatory to M. Ben. Jonson for his adopting of him to be his _son_." In Jonson's _Underwoods_ is a poem "To my _dear Son_ and right learned Friend Master Joseph Rutter." This is in praise of his "first play," but I am unable to state what that play was; nor can I give further information respecting Master Joseph Rutter, than that he is apparently the author of "An Elegy upon Ben. Jonson" in _Jonsonus Viribus_. Of William Cartwright Ben. Jonson used to say, "_My son_, Cartwright, writes all like a man." (Campbell's _Specimens of the British Poets_, ed. 1841, p. 183.) James Howell was another of Jonson's sons, and has, in _Jonsonus Viribus_, some lines "Upon the Poet of his Time, Benjamin Jonson, his honoured Friend and _Father_." Shackerley Marmion seems to have been another son. See in _Jonsonus Viribus_, "A Funeral Sacrifice to the sacred memory of _his thrice-honoured father_ Ben. Jonson." If Jonson really had twelve sons, it is not improbable that some of the following were of the number: Sir Kenelm Digby, Thomas Carew, John Cleveland, Sir John Suckling, Thomas May, Edward Hyde (afterwards Earl of Clarendon), Owen Feltham, Jasper Mayne, Richard West, John Vaughan, Thomas Hobbes. I should have been disposed to have added to the above illustrious list the name of Edmund Waller, but for a statement of Aubrey, who says, "He told me he was not acquainted with Ben. Jonson" (Aubrey's _Lives_, p. 564.). Aubrey (_Lives_, p. 413.), speaking of Ben. Jonson, says: "Serjeant Jo. Hoskins, of Herefordshire, was his _father_. I remember his sonne (S^r Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poeticall in his youth), told me, that when he desired to be adopted his son, 'No,' sayd he, ''tis honour enough for me to be your brother; I am your father's son, 'twas he that polished me, I do acknowledge it.'" I observe that, prefixed to Randolph's _Poems_, are some lines by Richard West, B.A., and student of Christ's Church: "To the pious Memory of my dear _Brother-in-Law_, Mr. Thomas Randolph." As West must have been unmarried, and as I believe Randolph was also unmarried, it is possible that West calls him his brother-in-law from his being also an adopted son of Ben. Jonson. C. H. COOPER. Cambridge. * * * * * SHAKSPEARE'S SEAL. (Vol. v., p. 539.) There is a very full and curious account of a _ring_-seal (of which I possess two red wax impressions), supposed to have belonged to Shakspeare, in a work unassumingly entitled _A Guide to Stratford-upon-Avon_, by R. B. Wheler, published in 1814. I presume _that_ is the seal--or, rather, _ring_-seal--to which reference is made; but how far Mr. Wheler's statements and speculations may encourage "belief in the genuineness of this relic," your correspondent, and others taking any interest in such matters, must for themselves determine.