Some few months ago there was published in Edinburgh the first collected and only complete edition of the _Poems_ by the three brothers "Sir James, Robert, and Francis Sempill of Beltrus," better known as the authors of "The Pack-Man's Paternoster; or, a Picktooth for the Pope," "The Life and Death of Habbie Simson, Piper of Kilbarchum," "The Blythsome Wedding," "Maggie Lauder," &c., with biographical notices of their lives. I am now anxious to know if any of your numerous correspondents can inform me if copies of the original editions of the _Poems_ by "Robert Sempill" can be procured, or if they are in any of the public or private libraries in England? The following are what I am in quest of, viz.: 1. _The Regentis Tragedie_, 1570. 2. _The Bischoppis Lyfe and Testament_, 1571. 3. _My Lorde Methwenis Tragedie_, 1572. 4. _The Sege of the Castel of Edinburgh_, 1573. Also where any notice as to his family, life, and character can be found. A collection of Sempill's _Poems_, with some authentic account of the author, is certainly a desideratum in Scottish literature. T. G. S. Edinburgh, Oct. 18. 1851. DESCENDANTS OF JOHN OF GAUNT. John of Gaunt, by his third wife Katharine Swynford, left four children, born before his marriage with her, but legitimated by act of parliament. Of these the eldest is thus mentioned in Burke's "Introduction" to the _Peerage_, p. xxi.:-- "John de Beaufort, _Marquess_ of Somerset and Dorset, who married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, and had a son John, _Duke_ of Somerset, whose _only daughter and heir_, Margaret, married Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and was mother of Henry VII." Query, Was Margaret "only child," as well as only daughter of John Duke of Somerset? or was she not sister to Henry, Edmund, and John, successively Dukes of Somerset? (See Burke's _Peerage_, "Duke of Beaufort.") In that case, after the death of this last-named Duke John issueless, she would become "sole heir," as she had always been "sole daughter," of Duke John the First. Or was she in fact _the daughter of this second and last Duke John_? At his death the male line of Lancaster became extinct; the royal branch having already failed at the death of Henry VI. There appears some little confusion in Burke's excellent work, as may be seen by comparing p. xxi. of the Introduction, &c., with the genealogy of the Beaufort family. A. B. Clifton. Minor Queries. 246. _Rocky Chasm near Gaëta: Earthquake at the Crucifixion._--Dr. Basire (who was archdeacon of Northumberland, prebendary of Durham, and chaplain to King Charles the Martyr and King Charles II.), in his account of a tour made by himself and companions in 1649, says: