_The "Passellew" Family_ (Vol. i., p. 319.).--I think there can be little doubt that the "Robert Passellew" of Waltham Abbey, and "John Paslew," the last abbot of Whalley, belong to the same family. A reference to Burke's _General Armory_ proves the armorial bearings to be the same, and also that the family was connected with the county of Durham. The following extract from the _Historical, Antiquarian, and Picturesque Account of Kirkstall Abbey_ (Longmans, 1827), will show that a century later the Paslews had obtained a footing in Yorkshire, and had become benefactors of Kirkstall: "Robert Passelowe, with King Richard II.'s licence, gave one toft, five acres of land, and an annual rent of 2_s._ 6_d._ in Bramley, with the reversion of nine messuages, seven oxgangs, and six acres and a half of land, after the decease of the tenants, ..., all which premises were valued at £4 2_s._ 6_d._ per annum."--P. 208. T. T. W. Burnley, Lancashire. _Lady Petre's Monument_ (Vol. iv., p. 22.).--"A E I O U." Do not these letters stand for "αει ου"--_non semper_? alluding to the resurrection from the tomb. J. H. L. May not the five vowels at the end of the Latin epitaph of Lady Petre's monument mean, "A Eternæ Ianua Obitus Uitæ?" F. A. Hampstead. _Spenser's Age at his Death_ (Vol. i., p. 481.).--Touching this subject I can state that I am well acquainted with an admirable portrait of the poet, bearing date 1593, in which he is represented as a man of not more than middle age; so that, whether he died in 1596 or 1598, he may be said to have died prematurely--_immaturâ morte obiisse_, as the monument testifies. VARRO. _Blessing by the Hand_ (Vol. iii., pp. 477. 509.).--The priest of the Greek church, in blessing with the hand, anciently held it with the thumb crossing the third finger, the first finger being held straight, the second and fourth curved, so as to represent altogether the Greek letters I C X C, the first and last letters of "Jesus Christ." The same letters are impressed on the bread used in their eucharist, the bread being marked with the Greek cross, similar to our cross-buns, with the letters I C and X C in the upper angles of the cross, and the letters N and K in the two lower angles. The N K is the abbreviation of νίκᾳ, and the whole phrase is "Jesus Christ conquers." This church derived the expression from the standard (labarum) of Constantine, ἐν τούτῳ νίκᾳ = _in hoc signo vinces_. In Goar's notes on the Greek rituals, especially that of Chrysostom's, much information may be obtained on the symbolisms of Christianity. T. J. BUCKTON. Lichfield.