_Oaken Tombs_ (Vol. vii., p. 528.; Vol. viii., p. 179.).--In the chancel of Brancepeth Church, co. Durham, are oaken effigies of a Lord and Lady Neville, of which the following is a description. The figure of the man is in a coat of mail, the hands elevated with gauntlets, wearing his casque, which rests on a bull's or buffalo's head, a collar round his neck studded with gems, and on the breast a shield with the arms of Neville. The female figure has a high crowned bonnet, and the mantle is drawn close over the feet, which rest on two dogs couchant. The tomb is ornamented with small figures of ecclesiastics at prayer, but is without inscription. Leland (_Itin._, i. 80.) says: "In the paroche church of Saint Brandon, at Branspeth, be dyvers tumbes of the Nevilles. In the quire is a high tumbe, of one of them porturid with his wife. This Neville lakkid heires male, wherapoan great concertation rose betwixt the next heire male, and one the Gascoynes." CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A. _Stafford Knot_ (Vol. viii., p. 220.).--It was the badge or cognisance of the house of Stafford, Earls of Stafford. HENRY GOUGH. Emberton, Bucks. _Hand in Bishop's Cannings Church_ (Vol. viii., p. 269.).--See an article on this "Manus Meditationis," with a copy of the inscription, in the _Ecclesiologist_, vol. v. p. 150. HENRY GOUGH. Emberton, Bucks. _Arms of Richard, King of the Romans_ (Vol. viii, p.265.).--I think it might be proved that the border refers not to Poitou (which is represented {455} by the crowned lion), but to Cornwall, the ancient feudal arms of which are _Sable, fifteen bezants_, referring, as it would seem, to its metallic treasures. See an article on the numerous arms derived from those of this Richard, in the appendix to Mr. Lower's _Curiosities of Heraldry_. HENRY GOUGH. Emberton, Bucks. _Burial in an erect Position_ (Vol. viii., pp. 59. 233.).--So Ben Jonson was buried at Westminster, probably on account of the large fee demanded for a full-sized grave. It was long supposed by many that the story was invented to account for the smallness of the gravestone; but the grave being opened a few years ago, the dramatist's remains were discovered in the attitude indicated by tradition. HENRY GOUGH. Emberton, Bucks. In the _Ingoldsby Legends_, vol. i. p. 106., we have: "No!--Tray's humble tomb would look but shabby 'Mid the sculptured shrines of that gorgeous Abbey. Besides, in the place They say there's not space To bury what wet-nurses call 'a Babby.' Even 'rare Ben Jonson,' that famous wight, I am told, is interr'd there bolt upright, In just such a posture, beneath his bust, As Tray used to sit in to beg for a crust." Is there any authority for the statement? ERICA.