accounts, the first select company established, and
owed its origin to Sir Walter Raleigh, who had here instituted a
meeting of men of wit and genius, previously to his engagement with the
unfortunate Cobham. This society comprised all that the age held most
distinguished for learning and talent, numbering amongst its members
Shakspeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Selden, Sir Walter
Raleigh, Donne, Cotton, Carew, Martin, and many others. There it was
that the "wit-combats" took place between Shakspeare and Ben Johson, to
which, probably, Beaumont alludes with so much affection in his letter
to the old poet, written from the country:

"What things have we seen
Done at the Mermaid! heard words that have been
So nimble and so full of subtle flame,
As if that every one from whom they came
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest."

Ben Jonson had another club, of which he appears to have been the
founder, held in a room of the old Devil Tavern, distinguished by the
name of the "Apollo." It stood between the Temple Gates and Temple Bar.
It was for this Club that Jonson wrote the "Leges Convivales," printed
among his works.]

_Royal Arms in Churches._--When were the Royal Arms first put up in
churches?

Are churchwardens compelled to place them over the chancel arch, or in any
part of the building over which their jurisdiction extends?

In a church without an heraldic coat of Royal Arms, can a churchwarden, or
the incumbent _refuse_ legally to put up such a decoration, it being the
gift of a parishioner?

AZURE.

[For replies to AZURE'S first Query, see our Sixth Volume _passim_. The
articles at pp. 227. and 248. of the same volume incidentally notice
his other queries.]

_Odd Fellows._--What is the origin of Odd Fellowship? What gave rise to the
title of Odd Fellows? Are there any books published on the subject, and
where are they to be had? Is there any published record of the origin and
progress of the Manchester Unity?

C. F. A. W.

[Our correspondent should consult _The Odd Fellows Magazine_, New
Series, published Quarterly by order of the Grand Master and Board of
Directors of the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. We have only seen vols. i. to vii., which appeared between
1828 and 1842. Perhaps some of our readers may wish to know what is an