n a "fore and aft sail" of the present day, the "shoulder" is the
_foremost upper_ corner, and the _last part of the canvass_ on which the
wind fixes its influence when a vessel is "sailing by the wind," or even
"off the wind." The "veriest lout" in the "after-guard" will appreciate the
truthfulness and beauty of the metaphor.

A. L.

_"A fellow-feeling," &c._--

"A fellow-feeling makes one wondrous kind."

This oft-quoted line is from Garrick's Epilogue on quitting the stage.

[Gamma].

_Early Instances of the World "News."_--Without the slightest intention of
re-opening the discussion as to whether the word "newes" be of native
growth or imported, I would beg leave to suggest as a means of completing
_its history_, that should any of the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES," whose
researches may lead amongst the authorities of the _fifteenth_ century,
meet with instances of the word in familiar use between A.D. 1400 and A.D.
1500, they would notify the same.

The earliest date of its colloquial use as yet recorded in "NOTES AND
QUERIES," is A.D. 1513: on the other hand, the word, so far as I am aware,
is nowhere used by Chaucer, although his near approach to it in the
following lines is very remarkable:

"There is right now come into the toune a gest,
A Greek espie, and telleth _newe things_,
For which I come to tell you newe tidings."--_Troilus and Creseide_, b.
ii. 1113.

After this, the transition to the word itself is so extremely easy, that it
could not be far distant.

A. E. B.

_Under the Rose._--It may interest the inquirers into the origin of this
expression to know, that at Lullingston Castle in Kent, the residence of
Sir Percival Dyke, there is in the hall an old picture, or painted carving
(I forget which, as it is many years since I saw it), of a rose, some two
feet in diameter, surrounded by an inscription, which, if I remember right,
runs as follows, or nearly so:--

"Kentish true blue;
Take this as a token,
That what is said here
Under the rose is spoken."

It is now, or was when I saw it, in the hall of that {301} ancient mansion,
but I believe had been brought from an old house in the neighbourhood.

E. H. Y.

* * * * *

Queries.

PORTRAITS OF SPENSER.

The engraved portraits of Spenser differ so much from each other as to
throw doubts on their resemblance to the poet.

I have now before me the following:

1. That prefixed to