Sirloin.—­When on a visit, a day or two since, to the very interesting ruin (for so it must be called) of Haughton Castle, near Blackburn, Lancashire, I heard that the origin of this word was the following freak of James I. in his visit to the castle; a visit, by the way, which is said to have ruined the host, and to have been not very profitable even to all his descendants.  A magnificent loin of meat being placed on the table before his Majesty, the King was so struck with its size and excellence, that he drew his sword, and cried out, “By my troth, I’ll knight thee, Sir Loin!” and then and there the title was given; a title which has been honoured, unlike other knighthoods, by a goodly succession of illustrious heirs.  Can any of your correspondents vouch for the truth of this?

H.C. 
Bowden, Manchester.

Thomson of Esholt.—­In the reign of Henry VIII. arms were granted to Henry Thomson, of Esholt, co.  York, one of that monarch’s gentlemen-at-arms at Boulogne.  The grant was made by Laurence Dalton, Norroy.  The shield was—­Per fesse embattled, ar. and sa., three falcons, belted, countercharged—­a bend sinister.  Crest:  An armed arm, embowed, holding a lance, erect.  Families of the name of Thompson, bearing the same shield, have been seated at Kilham, Scarborough, Escrick, and other places in Yorkshire.  My inquiries are,—­

1.  Will any of your readers by kind enough to inform me where any mention is made of this grant, and the circumstances under which it was made?

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.

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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,—­