e?

2. Whether any _ancient_ monuments, or heraldic bearings of the family,
are still extant in any parts of Yorkshire?

3. Whether any work on Yorkshire genealogies exists, and what is the
best to be consulted?

JAYTEE.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Pension_ (Vol. ii., p. 134.).--In the _Dictionnaire Universelle_, 1775,
vol. ii. p. 203., I find the following explanation of the French word
_Pension_:--

"Somme qu'on donne pour la nourriture et le logement de
quelqu'un. _Il se dit aussi du lieu ou l'on donne a manger._"

May not the meeting of the benchers have derived its name for their
dining-room in which they assembled?

BRAYBROOKE.

_Execution of Charles I._ (Vol. ii., pp. 72. 110-140. 158.).--In Lilly's
_History of his Life and Times_, I find the following interesting
account in regard to the vizored execution of Charles I., being part of
the evidence he gave when examined before the first parliament of King
Charles II. respecting the matter. Should any of your correspondents be
able to substantiate this, or produce more conclusive evidence in
determining who the executioner was, I shall be extremely obliged. Lilly
writes,--

"Liberty being given me to speak, I related what follows: viz.,
That the next Sunday but one after Charles I. was beheaded,
Robert Spavin Secretary to Lieutenant-General Cromwell at that
time, invited himself to dine with me, and brought Anthony
Pearson and several others along with him to dinner. That their
principal discourse all dinner time was only who it was that
beheaded the king. One said it was the common hangman; another,
Hugh Peters; others were also nominated, but none concluded.
Robert Spavin, so soon as dinner was done, took me by the hand,
and carried me to the south window. Saith he, 'These are all
mistaken; they have not named the man that did the fact: it was
Lieutenant-Colonel Joice. I was in the room when he fitted
himself for the work; stood behind him when he did it; when
done, went in with him again: there is no man knows this but my
master, viz. Cromwell, Commissary Ireton, and myself.'--'Doth
Mr. Rushworth know it?' saith I. 'No, he doth not know it,'
saith Spavin. The same thing Spavin since has often related to
me, when we were alone."

R.W.E.
Cheltenham.

_Paper Hangings_ (Vol. ii., p. 134.).--"It was on the walls of this
d