29 MARCH 1963, Page 16

THE EARLIEST LIMERICK SIR,—What is the date of the earliest

'limerick'? suspect St. Thomas Aquinas of introducing one quite deliberately as a mnemonic into one of his best-known prayers:

Sit vitiorum meorum evacuatio

Concupiscentice et libidinis extermitzatio, Caritatis et pcitienthe, Humilitatis obedientim, Omniumque virtutum augmented°.

Is there an earlier example?

HUGH ROSS WILLIAMSON

Savage Club, SW1