CHAP. VI. 'burden the one to relieve the many. I want the A.D. 1511. teacher to have traversed the whole range of know'ledge, that it may spare each of his scholars doing it. A diligent and thoroughly competent master might 'give boys a fair proficiency in both Latin and Greek, in a shorter time and with less labour than the com'mon run of pedagogues take to teach their babble." On receipt of this letter and its enclosure, Colet wrote to Erasmus : 6 6 Colet to Erasmus. 'London, 1511.2 "What! I shall not approve!" So you say! What is there of Erasmus's that I do not approve? I have read your letter "De Studiis" hastily, for as yet I have been too busy to read it carefully. Glancing through it, not only do I approve everything, but also greatly admire your genius, skill, learning, fulness, and eloquence. I have often longed that the boys of my school should be taught in the way in 'which you say they should be. And often also have with Eras- I longed that I could get such teachers as you have 'so well described. When I came to that point at the ' end of the letter, where you say that you could edu'cate boys up to a fair proficiency in both tongues in fewer years than it takes those pedagogues to teach ' their babble, O Erasmus, how I longed that I could 'make you the master of my school! I have indeed Colet agrees mus. 1 De Ratione Studii Commentariolus: Argent. 1512, mense Julio, and printed again with additions, Argent. 1514, mense Augusto. The above translation is greatly abridged. 2 Eras. Epist. App. iv. 6 some hope that you will give us a helping hand in CHAP. VI. teaching our teachers when you leave those "Can- A.D. 1511. "tabrigians." 6.66 With respect to our friend Linacre, I will follow your advice, so kindly and prudently given. 'Do not give up looking for an undermaster, if 'there should be anyone at Cambridge who would not 'think it beneath his dignity to be under the head 'master. I 'As to what you say about your occasional skir'mishes with the ranks of the Scotists on my behalf, am glad to have such a champion to defend me. But it is an unequal and inglorious contest for you; for 'what glory is it to you to put to rout a cloud of flies? 'What thanks do you deserve from me for cutting ⚫ down reeds? It is a contest more necessary than glorious or difficult!' While Colet acquiesced in the view expressed by Erasmus as to the high qualities required in a schoolmaster, he gave practical proof of his sense of the dignity of the cailing by the liberal remuneration he offered to secure one. The Scotists of Cam bridge. of Colet's At a time when the Lord Chancellor of England Salaries received as his salary 100 marks, with a similar sum masters. for the commons of himself and his clerk, making in all 1331. per annum,' Colet offered to the high-master of his school 35l. per annum, and a house to live in besides. This was practical proof that Colet meant to secure the services of more than a mere common 1 In 4 Henry VIII. (1513) Lord Chancellor Warham received 100 marks salary, and 100 marks for commons of himself and clerk-200 master of Colet's school. CHAP. VI. grammarian. He had in view for his headmaster, Lilly, A.D. 1511. the friend and fellow-student of More, who had masLilly head- tered the Latin language in Italy, and even travelled farther East to perfect his knowledge of Greek. He was well versed not only in the Greek authors, but in the manners and customs of the people, having lived some years in the island of Rhodes. He had returned home, it is said, by way of Jerusalem, and had recently opened a private school in London.2 He was, moreover, the godson of Grocyn, and himself an Oxford student. He had at one time, as already mentioned, shared with More some ascetic tendencies, but, like his friend, had wisely stopped short of Carthusian vows. He was, in truth, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Colet and his friends, and, in the opinion of Erasmus, 'a thorough master in the art of educating youth.'3 Thus Colet had found a high-master ready to be fully installed in his office, as soon as the building was comAn under pleted. But an under-master was not so easy to find. Colet had written to Erasmus, in September, 1511, wishing him to look one out for him, and in the letter last quoted had again repeated his request. Erasmus wrote again in October, and informed him that he had mentioned his want to some of the college dons. One of them had replied by sneeringly asking, 'Who would 'put up with the life of a schoolmaster who could get 'a living in any other way?' Whereupon Erasmus master wanted. 1 Prefatory Letter of Beatus Rhenanus, prefixed to the edition of More's Epigrammata, printed at Basle, 1518 and 1520. 'fex.' Preface of Erasmus to De Octo Orationis Partium Constructione, &c. Basle, 1517. 4 Colet to Erasmus, Sept. 1511, 2 Knight's Life of Colet, p. 370. not 1513 (Brewer, No. 4448), for Miscellanies, No. vi. the same reason as Nos. 4447 and 3Recte instituendæ pubis arti- 4528. modestly urged that he thought the education of youth CHAP. VI. was the most honourable of all callings, and that there A.D. 1511. could be no labour more pleasing to God than the Christian training of boys. At which the Cambridge doctor turned up his nose in contempt, and scornfully replied, 'If anyone wants to give himself up entirely 'to the service of Christ, let him enter a monastery!' Erasmus ventured to question whether St. Paul did not place true religion rather in works of charity-in doing as much good as possible to our neighbours? The other rejected altogether so crude a notion. Behold,' said he, we must leave all; in that is perfection.' Story of a 'He scarcely can be said to leave all,' promptly re- doctor. turned Erasmus, 'who, when he has a chance of doing 'good to others, refuses the task because it is too 'humble in the eyes of the world.' Erasmus, lest I should get into a 'man good-bye.'1 'And then,' wrote quarrel I bade the This, he said, was an example of 'Scotistical wisdom,' and he told Colet that he did not care often to meddle with these self-satisfied Scotists, well knowing that no good would come of it. It would seem that, after all, a worthy under-master did turn up at Cambridge, willing to work under Lilly, and thereafter to become his son-in-law 2; so that with schoolmasters already secured, and schoolbooks in course of preparation, Colet's enterprise seemed likely fairly to get under weigh so soon as the building should be completed in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1 Eras. Epist, cl. Brewer, p. 4528. Dated October 29, 1513, but, as it mentions the De Copia being in hand, it must have been written in 2 John Ritwyse, or Rightwyse. Cambridge CHAPTER VII. 1. CONVOCATION FOR THE EXTIRPATION OF HERESY (1512). CHAP. VII. COLET's labours in connection with his school did not A.D. 1512. interfere with his ordinary duties. He was still, Lollards go to hear Colet's sermons. Sunday after Sunday, preaching those courses of sermons on the Gospels, the Apostles' Creed, and 'the Lord's Prayer,' which attracted by their novelty and unwonted earnestness so many listeners. The Dean was no Lollard himself, yet those whose leanings were toward Lollard views naturally found, in Colet's simple Scripture teaching from his pulpit at St. Paul's, what they felt to be the food for which they were in search, and which they did not get elsewhere. They were wont, it seems, to advise one another to go and hear Dr. Colet; and it was not strange if, in the future examination of heretics, a connection should be traced between Colet's sermons and the increase of heresy.1 That heresy was on the increase could not be doubted. Foxe has recorded that several Lollards suffered in 1511 under Archbishop Warham, and, strange to say, Colet's name appears on the list of judges.2 Foxe 1 'Moreover, that Thomas Geffrey | Dr. Colet.'-Foxe, ed. 1597, p. 'caused this John Butler divers 756. 'Sundays to go to London to hear 2 Ibid. p. 1162. |