gh Bredon to Pershore. The ball in question is marked with
the broad arrow. From whence and at what period was the shot fired?

FRANCIS JOHN SCOTT.

Tewkesbury.

_Scottish Castles._--It is a popular belief, and quoted frequently in the
_Statistical Account of Scotland_, and other works referring to Scottish
affairs, that the fortresses of Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle,
Dumbarton Castle, Blackness Castle, were appointed by the Articles of Union
between England and Scotland to be kept in repair and garrisoned. Can any
of your readers refer to the foundation for this statement? for no
reference in to be found to the subject in the Articles of Union.

SCRYMZEOUR.

Edinburgh.

_Sneezing._--Concerning _sneezing_, it is a curious circumstance that if
any one should sneeze in company in North Germany, those present will say,
"Your good health;" in Vienna, gentlemen in a _cafe_ will take off their
hats, and say, "God be with you" and in Ireland Paddy will say, "God bless
your honour," or "Long life to your honour." I understand that in Italy and
Spain similar expressions are used and I think I remember {367} hearing,
that in Bengal the natives make a "salam" on these occasions.

There is also, I believe, a popular idea among some of sneezing having some
connexion with Satanic agency; and I lately met with a case where a
peculiar odour was invariably distinguishable by two sisters, on a certain
individual violently sneezing.

I shall be very much obliged if any of your readers can furnish me with any
facts, theories, or popular ideas upon this subject.

MEDICUS.

_Spenser's "Fairy Queen."_--Allow me to employ an interval of leisure,
after a visit to the remains of Kilcolman Castle, in inquiring whether any
of your Irish readers can afford information respecting the existence of
the long missing books of the _Fairy Queen_? Mrs. Hall, in her work on
Ireland (vol. i. pp. 93, 94.), says that--

"More than mere rumour exists for believing that the lost books have
been preserved, and that the MS. was in the possession of a _Captain
Garrett Nagle_ within the last forty years."

W. L. N.

Buttevant, co. Cork.

_Poema del Cid._--Is there any edition of the _Poema del Cid_ besides the
one published by Sanchez (_Poesias Castellanas anteriores al siglo XV._),
and reprinted by Ochoa, and appended likewise to an edition of Ochoa's
_Tesoro de los Romanceros_, &c., published at Barcelona in 1840? I shall
feel ob