The doctrine of regions was coeval with the death of Our Lord. The east was the realm of the oracles; the especial Throne of God. The west was the domain of the people; the Galilee of all nations was there. The south, the land of the mid-day, was sacred to things heavenly and divine. The north was the devoted region of Satan and his hosts; the lair of demons, and their haunt. In some of our ancient churches, over against the font, and in the northern walls, there was a devil's door.
It was thrown open at every baptism for the escape of the fiend, and at all other seasons carefully closed. Hence came the old dislike to sepulture at the north.
R.S. HAWKER.
Morwenstow, Cornwall.
Sir John Perrot (Vol. ii., p. 217.).—This Query surprises me. Sir John Perrot was not governor of Ireland in the reign of Henry VIII., and your correspondent E.N.W. is mistaken in his belief that Sir John was beheaded in the reign of Elizabeth. He was convicted of treason 16th June, 1592, and died in the Tower in September following. In the British Plutarch, 3rd edit., 1791, vol. i. p. 121., is The Life of Sir John Perrot. The authorities given are Cox's History of Ireland; Life of Sir John Perrot, 8vo., 1728; Biographia Britannica; Salmon's Chronological History; to which I may add the following references:—
Howell's State Trials, i. 1315; Camden's Annals; Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia; Lloyd's State Worthies; Nash's Worcestershire; Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, iii. 297.; Strype's Annals, iii. 337, 398-404.; Stradling Letters, 48-50.; Nare's Life of Lord Burghley, iii. 407.; Fourth Report of Deputy Keeper of Public Records, Appendix, ii. 281. Dean Swift, in his Introduction to Polite Conversation, says,—
"Sir John Perrot was the first man of quality whom I find upon the record to have sworn by God's wounds. He lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was supposed to be a natural son of Henry VIII., who might also have been his instructor."
C.H. COOPER
Cambridge, August 31. 1850.
Coins of Constantius II.—The coins of this prince are, from their titles being identical with those of his cousin, very difficult to be distinguished. My only guide is the portrait. Gallus died at twenty-nine; and we may suppose that his coins would present a more youthful portrait than Constantius II. The face of Constantius is long and thin, and is distinguished by the royal diadem. The youthful head resembling Constantius the Great with the laurel crown, Rev. Two military figures standing, with spears and bucklers, between them two standards, Ex. S M N B., I have arranged in my cabinet, how far rightly I know not, as that of Gallus.