permitted to pass. Not a creature was
allowed to approach save the general's cow. One day old Lady D----
having called at the general's, in order to make a short cut, bent her
steps across the lawn, when she was arrested by the sentry calling out
and desiring her to return. "But," said Lady D----, with a stately air,
"do you know who I am?"--"I don't know who you be, ma'am," replied the
immovable sentry, "but I knows you b'aint--you b'aint the _general's
cow_." So Lady D---- wisely gave up the argument and went the other
way.[274]

GILPIN'S LOVE OF THE PICTURESQUE CARRIED OUT.--A REASON FOR KEEPING
THREE COWS.

Lord Sidmouth told the Rev. C. Smith Bird that he was partly educated at
Cheam, by Mr Gilpin, the author of many volumes on "Picturesque
Scenery." He was but a poor scholar, but seems to have been loved by his
pupils. He _carried out_ his regard for the picturesque, as would appear
by the following anecdote[275]--

"In visiting the Rev. Mr Gilpin at his house in the New Forest on one
occasion, his lordship observed three cows feeding in a small paddock,
which he knew to be all that Mr Gilpin had to feed them in. He asked Mr
Gilpin how he came to have so many cows when he had so little land? 'The
truth is,' said he, 'I found one cow would not do--she went
dry.'--'Well,' said Lord Sidmouth, 'but why not be content with another?
Two, by good management, might be made to supply you constantly with
milk.'--'Oh, yes,' said the old gentleman, '_but two would not group_.'"

KING JAMES ON A COW GETTING OVER THE BORDER.

In the "Life of Bernard Gilpin," his biographer refers to the
inhabitants of the Borders being such great adepts in the art of
thieving, that they could twist a cow's horn, or mark a horse, so as its
owners could not know it, and so subtle that no vigilance could watch
against them. A person telling King James a surprising story of a cow
that had been driven from the north of Scotland into the south of
England, and escaping from the herd had found her way home; "The most
surprising part of the story," the king replied, "you lay least stress
on--that she passed unstolen through the debateable land."[276]

DUKE OF MONTAGUE AND HIS HOSPITAL FOR OLD COWS AND HORSES.

The Rev. Joseph Spence[277] records that "the Duke of Montague has an
hospital for old cows and horses; none of his tenants near Boughton
dare kill a broken-winded horse; they must bring them all to the
_reservoir_. The duke keeps a