as an encouragement of the art, tended ultimately to cover it with ridicule. The learned Paulus Hachenbergius, in his "Dissertations on the state of Mediæval Germany," a monument, as his editor Franckius justly observes, of stupendous diligence, has commented on the evil consequences of this injudicious liberality. Referring to the time of the promulgation of the constitution of Maximilian, concerning the privileges of poets, he writes: "Ab eo tempore magnus poetarum proventus in Germania fuit, qui Latino æque ac patrio carmini studium addixêre: plures procul dubio et meliores futuri; nisi coronæ laureæ etiam ad imperitos delatæ essent, et divinam cœlestemque artem ipsa canentium vilitas paupertasque prostituisset." To check the abuse, it was ordained that those only should be crowned who had obtained testimonials of their capacity from a board of at least three examiners. But this rule was relaxed, and it was observed that poets-laureate were as plentiful in Germany as poets were rare in all countries. The wits of Italy and Germany launched the most ferocious satires ("de sanglantes satires" is the strong expression of the Abbé du Resnel) alike against those who received and those who conferred the title. We do not read, however that the privilege was ever suspended, and so late as 1621, the Emperor Ferdinand II., in augmenting those of the University of Strasburg, especially gave it the right of creating poets-laureate, before enjoyed by the Counts Palatine. That body was not slow to exercise its authority. The examination of three candidates who presented themselves was referred to the Faculty of Philosophy; and it was arranged the degrees in the two branches should be conferred at the same time. The ceremony was announced. The degrees in philosophy were conferred, and a concert of vocal and instrumental music divided the labours of the day. The Syndic of the University then made an ingenious speech upon the connection between philosophy and
