Here the allusion is of course to the miseries entailed by the system of sheep-farming; a system which had been introduced and carried to excess by the monastic bodies. Some years ago I met with an old satirical song on this subject, of which the above "proverbe" formed a kind of burden, but where, or in what collection I met with it, I cannot for the life of me remember. Now, seeing that your periodical exemplifies very accurately the definition once given by a Surrey peasant of a highly accomplished man--"Sir! he knows everything, and what he don't know he axes,"--perhaps you will allow me to ask whether some one of your many able correspondents may not have the power and the will to give me this information. A worthless memory seems to suggest that the song was a Cambridge production, and interspersed with Latin phrases. Now, one word about the author of the epigram above quoted. It is not, I hope, an abuse of the freedom of speech which ought to prevail in the republic of letters, if I express a strong opinion that your learned contributor, MR. PAYNE COLLIER, has rendered very scant justice to the memory of Bastard. The epigrams selected by that gentleman as favourable samples, are among the very worst of the author's efforts. Probably not twenty copies of the _Chrestoleros_ are in existence; but as, by the kindness of my esteemed friend E. V. Utterson, I possess one of the sixteen struck off at his own private press, I beg to supply a specimen or two, that will not only gratify your readers in general, but elicit an approving verdict from MR. COLLIER himself. For example, is not the finished cadence, as well as the nervous force, of the following lines to Sir Ph. Sidney, greatly to be admired? "When Nature wrought upon her mould so well, That Nature wondred her own work to see, When Arte so labourde Nature to excel, And both had spent their excellence in thee; Willing they gave thee into Fortune's hand, Fearing they could not end what they beganne!" In my poor judgment, those are truly noble lines. And what say you to the following, Mr. Editor, which form a sonnet rather than an epigram? "The world's great peers and mighty conquerours, Whose sword hath purchased them eternal fame, If they survived in this age of ours Might add more glory to their lasting name. For him which Carthage sack'd and overthrewe, We have found out another Africa; Newe Gauls and Germaines Cæsar might subdue, And Pompey Great another Asia. But you, O Christian princes, do not so; Seeke not to conquer nations by the sworde, Whom you may better quell and overthrowe By winning them to Christ and to his worde. Give Him the new worlde for old Asia's losse, And set not up your standard, but His crosse!"