II CHAP issued new statutes for the Augustinians, in which he endeavoured to bring them back to a stricter observance of their rule, to a more ascetic life, and to the cultivation of learning.3 larity at Cambridge and Oxford 4 At the same time that Wolsey was thus drawing the monastic orders into a friendly acquiescence with his plans for their reformation, he was also getting into his hands the supreme control of the His popu- universities for the same purpose. Each of them had long before given him special tokens of their respect, for as early as May 1514 (when Erasmus was Margaret Professor of Divinity), Cambridge had offered him the chancellorship, which he declined; * and in 1515, Oxford had sent him an official intimation that his name was for the future to be mentioned in the Bidding Prayer by preachers of that university. Perhaps there was something of gratitude for benefits expected in these rather eager tokens of university respect; but there seems to have been a feeling of mutual affection between Wolsey and Oxford which made him seek her reformation by many noble acts of munificence, culminating in the foundation of Christ Church. Wolsey seems to have taken the opportunity of a royal visit to Oxford for first broaching the subject of his intentions. About Easter, 1518, the King and Queen were at Abingdon, and Wolsey with them. The Queen paid a visit to the University, and was accompanied by the Cardinal, addresses being made 3 Wilkins' Concilia, iii., 683. It is curious to find that while permitting the use of organs, these statutes of Wolsey forbid "prick song," or elaborate singing, and enjoined "plain song." The minute attention given to discipline is illustrated by one which regulates the access of laundresses to the monastery. 4 Ellis' Orig. Letters, III. i. 168. "Brewer's Calend. St. Pap., i. 934. II to them both by the public orator. In reply to that CHAP addressed to himself, Wolsey declared that he had the welfare of Oxford very much at heart, and proposed to show his great interest in the University by founding several professorships and by reforming the statutes. This proposition was received with gratitude by the University at large; but Archbishop Warham, who was chancellor, objected at first to throw so much power into the hands of one person, and seems to have given up his own opinion. in deference to that of the University when he consented, in the end, that Wolsey's proposal should be complied with. He, however, signified his assent in a letter to the University, dated at Oxford, May 22, 1518; and it is no slight evidence of the Cardinal's popularity there that a vote of convocation placed the University statutes entirely in his power, for the purpose of reformation, within about a week afterwards,—the document being dated June 1st.” seven pro The first use which Wolsey made of the power Founds thus placed in his hands, was to establish the pro-fessorships fessorships which he had promised. These were at Oxford seven in number, namely, those of Theology, Civil Law, Medicine, Rhetoric, Mathematics, and Greek. All the endowments of these were forfeited to the King on the Cardinal's fall, and the professorships dropped in consequence. But a few years later four 8 Oxford owes so much for its im- II 9 CHAP out of the number were recreated, under the name of Regius professorships. Henry VIII. did not, however, refund the endowments, but, characteristically appropriating the honour of the foundation, characteristically also made somebody else in this case the Dean and Chapter of Westminster-pay the stipends of the professors. Wolsey set much value upon the study of Greek, having been an intimate friend of Linacre, the first president of the College of Physicians (another of Wolsey's noble institutions), who was fellow of All Souls as early as 1484, and taught Greek to Erasmus and Sir Thomas More. His first theological professor was Thomas Brynknell. His first Greek professor was Calphurnius, a native of Greece, who introduced the pronunciation now generally used by English scholars, but which was for some time a matter of bitter controversy at Oxford.1 His first professor of rhetoric was the famous Ludovicus Vives. In 1521 Wolsey appointed, as successor of Calphurnius, Lupset, who had been brought into notice by Dean Colet, and had been tutor to Thomas Wynter, the Cardinal's son, a great friend of Linacre, More, and Erasmus. By thus promoting the study of Greek, Theology, and other branches of learning, Wolsey was taking an impor 9 The charge was transferred, in later days, to Christ Church. 1 Ecc. Mem. i. 194. Strype quotes Dr. Caius "de pronunciatione Græcæ ac Latina Linguæ❞ as his authority. 2 Probably the first instance of any language being printed in other than English type, by an English printer, is in the case of a few Arabic and Hebrew letters, printed in a book on the study of Arabic, Chaldee, and Hebrew, writ ten by Robert Wakefield, Canon of King's College, Oxford, and printed in 1524 by Wynkyn de Worde. These characters are evidently cut in wood, and very roughly cut. The author complains that he was obliged to omit the whole of the third part of his treatise because the printer had no Hebrew types. It was this Wakefield who first suggested that the European mind should be consulted as to the Divorce. II Uni versities tant step towards elevating the standard of education, CHAP especially among the clergy; and showed himself in this as in most other things to be a man in advance of his generation. His efforts as to Greek met with very great opposition from the young Oxford of the Greek at day those junior members of common rooms whose the Uns opinions are mostly very worthy of veneration in their own eyes; but by the aid of Sir Thomas More, Wolsey was able to overcome this opposition, and Oxford learned Greek in spite of its teeth. Whether or not Wolsey had anything to do with the introduction of Greek into Cambridge is uncertain. Erasmus was invited there by Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was chancellor of the University from 1504 till his death. That great scholar, but graceless man, was also appointed to the Greek professorship by Fisher's influence. But the successor of Erasmus was the learned Dr. Croke (otherwise Blunt), who was employed in very important State affairs during the rule of Wolsey. Cambridge, however, was being well provided for by the splendid benefactions of Henry VI. and the Lady Margaret, and by the zeal of its chancellor, Bishop Fisher, and did not stand in so much need of Wolsey's fostering care. Wolsey Nor did Cambridge follow the example of surrender- tation of ing its statutes to him for reformation until April 15, herown 1524.3 In the year previous (1523) a visitation of hands Cambridge University, for the purpose of eradicating "Lutheran" opinions, had been projected; Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and West, Bishop of Ely, being the visitors proposed. But Wolsey set his foot upon this plan, superseding the two bishops by Dr. Shorton, Master of Pembroke Hall, Wolsey's comFiddës' Wolsey, Collect., p. 40. E keeps visi heretics in II CHAP missary for the selection of Cambridge students of mark for Christ Church, and a well-known favourer of the proscribed opinions. It was probably some agitation arising out of this which led Cambridge to follow the example of Oxford, and commit its fortunes to the care of the great Cardinal. Prepares to found Christ Church In About the year 1520, Wolsey began to make preparations for founding his great college at Oxford. Longland, Bishop of Lincoln, and confessor to the King, was his principal agent; and in the choice of one so closely associated with his Sovereign, Wolsey showed already the intention of connecting the foundation itself with the Crown, which he indicated in letters to the King, by calling it his college. corresponding with Wolsey on the subject, Longland A.D. 1520 speaks strongly of the great satisfaction which Wolsey's plans were giving to Henry, and was evidently very zealous in the work himself, showing the King how "great good would ensue from this noble foundation, as well in the bringing up of youth in virtue, as in exceedingly tending to the maintenance of Christ's Church and His faith, to the King's honour and that of all the realm; and that many should be brought up there which would be The King's able to do His Grace honourable service." The King hearty made Longland explain Wolsey's purpose to Queen to the plan Catherine, and the Bishop had evidently caught up good-will some of Wolsey's own enthusiasm on the subject, when he "showed to the Queen's Grace the effect of all, and what great good should come of the same, as well to the conservation of Christ's Church and faith, as to the realm; where all good learning and letters should be, whereby resort should be out of all 4 Fiddës' Wolsey, Collect., p. 212, |
