prevent him betraying the amours of Venus, and was hence adopted as the
emblem of silence. The rose was for this reason frequently sculptured on
the ceilings of drinking and feasting, rooms, as a warning to the guests
that what was said in moments of conviviality should not be repeated;
from which, what was intended to be kept secret was said to be held
"under the rose."

III. Roses were consecrated as presents from the Pope. In 1526, they
were placed over the goals of confessionals as the symbols of secrecy.
Hence the origin of the phrase "Under the Rose."

JARLTZBERG.


_Ergh, Er, or Argh._--Might not these words (queried by T.W., Vol. ii. p
22.) be corruptions of "_burgh_," aspirated _wurgh_, and the aspirate
then dropped; or might not _ark, argh_, &c., be corruptions of "_wark_:"
thus Southwark, commonly pronounced _Southark_? I merely offer this as a
conjecture.

JARLTZBERG.


_Royal Supporters_ (Vol. ii., p. 136.).--E.C. asks when and why the
unicorn was introduced as one of the royal supporters. It was introduced
by James VI. of Scotland when he ascended the throne of England, on
account of the Scottish royal supporters being two unicorns rampant
argent, crowned with imperial, and gorged with antique, crowns, with
chains affixed to the latter passing between their forelegs and reflexed
over their backs, unguled, armed, and crined, all or; the dexter one