_Herstmonceux Castle_ (Vol. ii., p. 477.).--The elucidation of your correspondent's _second_ Query suggests several further questions; for instance--Was _Juliana_ wife of _William_, the _owner_ of the estate? If so, did she die in the lifetime of her husband? If so, did she leave issue? semble not, and assuming her to have no direct heirs, the estate would escheat. Was the King lord of the fee? Were William de Warburton and Ingelram de Monceaux relatives of the _half_ blood of Juliana? If so, a re-grant to them, if claimants, would not, I imagine, have been unusual upon payment of a fine to the crown. It would almost seems as if a doubt existed as to the heirship, from the expression "_whose next of kin they _SAY_ they are_." This note is conjectural only, and is therefore offered with much diffidence. I.B.C. _Suem._--_Ferling._--_Grasson_ (Vol. iii., p. 7.).--It is obvious that your correspondent's extract from the Rotherfield court-roll is not accurately transcribed. The original most probably contains no such words as _suem_. _Ferling_ is a well-known word in old legal phraseology. As a term of superficial measure it denotes a quarter of an acre; of lineal measure, an eighth of a mile, or furlong. _Grassum_ is the term commonly used in the northern parts of the kingdom to signify the fine, or foregift in money, paid by a lessee for the renewal of his lease from a lay or ecclesiastical corporation. It is derived from the A.-S. _Gaersum_ or _Gaersame_, a treasure; the root of which is still retained in the northern word _Gear_, goods or stuff. [Delta]. Jan. 10. 1851. _Portrait of Archbishop Williams_ (Vol. iii., p. 8.).--Your correspondent Y.Y. desires to be informed of the "locus" of the portraits of several bishops, among them of _John Williams_, Archbishop of York. There is a full-length in the hall of this college, which I shall have great pleasure in showing to him should he ever find it convenient to pay Cambridge a visit. P.J.F. GANTILLON. St. John's College. _Swans hatched during Thunder_ (Vol. ii., p. 510.).--Some years ago I purchased a pair of swans, and, during the first breeding season after I procured them, they made a nest in which they deposited seven eggs. After they had been sitting about six weeks, I observed to my servant, who had charge of them and the other water-fowl, that it was about the time for the swans to hatch. He immediately said, that it was no use expecting it till there had been a rattling peal of thunder to crack the egg-shells, as they were so hard and thick that it was impossible for the cygnets to break them without some such assistance. Perhaps this is the reason why swans are said to be hatched during a thunder-storm. I need only say, that this is a popular fallacy, as swans regularly hatch after sitting six weeks, whether there happens to be a thunder-storm or not. HENRY E.