or, indeed, person of any sort. The date of the same thing in France is mentioned in Vellay, but I forget it now. C. B. _Bishops and their Precedence_ (Vol. ii., p. 9.).--It may interest your correspondent E. to refer to a passage in Baker's _Chronicle_, sub anno 1461, p. 204., which would tend to show that the precedency of the spiritual barons was at that period disputed. That writer says:-- "John Earl of Oxford, with his son Aubrey de Vere, &c., was convicted of treason and beheaded. John Earl of Oxford, in a former parliament, had disputed the question concerning the precedency of Temporal and Spiritual Barons, a bold attempt in those days, and by force of whose argument Judgment was given for the _Lords Temporal_." Where will this judgment or any account of the dispute be found? G. _"Imprest" and "Debenture"_ (Vol. ii., p. 40.).--_Imprest_ is derived from the Italian _imprestare_, to lend, which is _im-praestare_, (Fr. _preter_). _Debentur_, or _Debenture_ (Lat. _debeo_), was originally a Customhouse term, meaning a certificate or ticket presented by an exporter, when a drawback or bounty was allowed on certain exported goods. Hence it seems {77} to mean a certificate acknowledging a debt, and promising payment at a specified time on the presentation of the certificate. Debentures are thus issued by railway companies when they borrow money, and the certificates for annual interest which accompany them are, so to speak, _sub-debentures_. Perhaps this may throw _some_ light upon the matter. E. S. JACKSON. _Charade_ (Vol. i., p. 10.).--The charade cited by QUAESTOR is on my "Notes" as the "Bishop of Salisbury's," and the following answer is said to be by a clergyman:-- "Firm on the Rock of Christ, though lowly sprung, The Church invokes the Spirit's fiery Tongue; Those gracious breathings rouse but to controul The Storm and Struggle in the Sinner's Soul. Happy! ere long his carnal conflicts cease, And the Storm sinks in faith and gentle peace-- Kings own its potent sway, and humbly bows The gilded diadem upon their brows-- Its saving voice with Mercy speeds to all, But ah! how few who quicken at the call-- Gentiles the favour'd 'little Flock' detest, And Abraham's children spit upon their rest. Once only since Creation's work, has night Curtain'd with dark'ning Clouds its saving light, What time the Ark majestically rode, Unscath'd upon the desolating flood-- The Silver weigh'd for it, in all its strength For scarce three pounds were counted, while its length Traced in the Prophet's view with measur'd reed, Squared just a mile, as Rabbins are agreed-- And now I feel entitled well to smile, Since Christ's Church bears the Palm in all our Isle." I waited some time to see if any solution would be given of the charade; and I now send you the one in my possession, in default of a better. REBECCA.