preacher, trusting to clear himself from the un-1 pleasant predicament in which he was placed, declared that now he had listened to More's learned apology he had become the more reconciled to the Greek tongue, "because," said he, "I perceive it is derived from the Hebrew." The king sat amazed, uns the story, at the man's ignorance. With ill concealed anger he dismissed him, and commanded that he should never again preach before his sovereign.

As may be supposed, the authority and influence of Henry were of the greatest importance in supporting Erasmus against his numerous and powerful opponents. In fact, but for Henry's passive aid, sometimes more actively given at the solicitation of Sir Thomas More, one of Erasmus's most devoted personal friends, the intellectual growth of England which was so essential to the cause of the Reformation must have abated, if not ceased altogether, under the adverse pressure of clerical bigotry and ignorance directed against it from all quarters.

One man who helped as much as any Englishman of Henry's time to stem the stormy current of abuse and misconception levelled against the teachings of Erasmus was John Colet. He was the son of a wellto-do mercer and citizen of London (twice elected to be its chief magistrate), and born in the fifth year of Edward the Fourth's reign. Heir to an ample patrimony, which came to him in his youth, he turned it to profitable account by entering with great eagerness upon the acquirement of knowledge. He went to Oxford, where he ardently studied logic, philosophy, and the appointed literature of the schools, and afterwards betook himself to the European continent, in order to ripen his learning by reading in the foreign Universities. Subsequently, returning to Oxford, he there became one of the most powerful and steadfast of those upholding the new order of things originated by Erasmus. In John Colet we have a man who was one of the giant guiding spirits of the Reformation era. His wealth, advantages of birth, and other social associations, might have allured him towards the inviting society of the court, to which his father had been admitted; but his nobler aspirations weaned him from the frivolities of life to take part in the great work which was to culminate in the emancipation of the English Church from the thraldom of the Papacy. Even as a very young man he bore a part in the instruction of the members of the University of Oxford. Without fee or reward he read there public lectures by way of exposition on the Epistles of St. Paul; and though he was not at that time capable of receiving any degree, yet, says an old writer, "there was not a Doctor or Abbot or other dignitary in the Church but lent an attentive ear to the doctrines he advanced." And, very pertinently, adds the chronicler, "though the novelty of these public exercises might possibly at first have procured him a crowded audience, yet nothing could have kept the numbers up but the more than common abilities of the performer." Colet had been educated, like his forerunners, in all the reigning Romish superstitions, but gradually he threw them off as his judgment became more matured. Erasmus and he became firm and loving friends at Oxford. "Farewell, dear Colet, thou best of men, the ornament of this University, and my singular delight and pleasure," writes Erasmus, affectionately, to his gifted disciple on the latter's setting forth for London, there to continue his labours.

Preferment came to Colet on the asking, and shortly after proceeding to the honourable degree of Doctor in Divinity, he was appointed Dean of the cathedral church of St. Paul, in London. Now he began to put to practical use the doctrines that he had so carefully and perseveringly studied and expounded in the University. At all hazards, he was resolved to preach the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things, to accept of no man's narrow interpretations of the Scriptures, but to put plainly before the people what he himself thought and knew of the gospel's teaching, and to recommend them more earnestly to study it for themselves.

With such eminent success did he work upon his flock, that the bigoted enthusiasts of the old doctrine began to grow alarmed. They had no notion of permitting the people to think for themselves. Nevertheless, Colet sturdily fought his way, inch by inch, with rare circumspection, weaning his hearers very gradually from the absurd and idolatrous proceedings of the Church of Rome. Unwittingly, he was laying the corner-stone of the foundations of the English Reformation. For his preaching he narrowly escaped a prosecution for heresy, set in motion by Fitzjames, Bishop of London, from which he was saved by Henry. The alleged offences were, first, opposition to image-worship; secondly, in contending that the exhortation to Peter, "Feed my sheep,' had no carnal signification; thirdly, that he inveighed against the frigid and idle disquisitions which priests were then in the habit of delivering under the names of sermons. The real sin, however, in the estimation of his persecutors, was the opening of the people's eyes by reading publicly in the cathedral, Sunday after Sunday, the Epistles of St. Paul according to the original version instead of adulterated by the jargon accepted by the schoolmen. Colet was somewhat in danger of being directed openly to recant, or else of paying the appointed penalty of heresy, which was burning at the stake. From these dangers the favour of Henry shielded him. The king, with the lordcardinal at his elbow, was sufficient barrier to the ecclesiastical sway of Fitzjames. Colet went to his rest in peace, having first founded, under shadow of his cathedral, a seminary, which, though instituted long before the Reformation was completed, may, with the strictest propriety, be termed the first Protestant school that England could boast of.

"Desiring nothing more" (recites the Prologus to the statutes of St. Paul's School) "than the education and bringing-up of children in good manners and literature," Dean Colet caused his school to be begun at the east end of St. Paul's Church. In devout language he dedicated it to the "Honour of Christe Jesu in pueritia, and of his blessed mother Mary." One hundred and fifty-three-according to the number of fish taken by St. Peter (John xxi. 1)-was the statutable number of children to be admitted, and these "of all nations and countries indifferently." Having perfected his scheme, he conveyed certain estates, by way of endowment, "to the most honest and faithful Fellowship of the Mercers of London" (doubtless from a desire to honour his father's memory), appointing them "patrons, defenders, governors, and rulers" of the school. He then addressed a petition to Henry, praying for his Letters Patent as solemn ratification of the deed. The king's consent was forthwith given, and in the year 1512 the school was opened for the reception of scholars. The Dean now drafted with his own pen the qualifi

might be able to understand and appreciate the written precepts of the gospel for themselves. In this way they might become young evangelists, taking the place of those old and well-tried apostles of the Reformation who had gone to their rest. The works of Tully, Sallust, Cicero, Virgil, and Terence, the children were particularly enjoined to read, together with those of the chief Greek poets, orators, and historians. And Lilly was to be careful to expound to them a book "which that learned Erasmus made at my request," writes Lilly: "Institutum Christiani Hominis,"-literally translated, "A Guide for the Christian."

cations for the High Mastership of his school. It will be interesting to state, in the quaint language of Colet himself, what those qualifications were. The High Master, in doctrine, learning, and teaching, was to direct the whole school. He was to be a man "hoole in body, honest, and vertuous, and lerned in good and cleane Latin literature" (herein the Dean displayed his own particular partiality for the purer Latin style), "and also Greke if such may be gotten." Even Colet's scholarship had not carried him so far as an acquaintance with Greek literature in its original form. Although accounted one of the best educated men of his time, he, during his seven years of studentship at Magdalen College, Oxford, had only acquired As boys offered themselves, no matter where a knowledge of the Greek authors through the they came from, so long, at least, as they could say medium of Latin translations. It was to be feared the Church Catechism and read and write, they that Colet would experience insurmountable difficulty were to be admitted by the High Master. "If in obtaining the right sort of man for the High your child," recites the instructions which Lilly was to Mastership. In perplexity he had recourse to deliver to a boy's parents, "can read Latin and his "dear Erasmus," who forthwith recommended English sufficiently so that he be able to read and write for the post, for his profound acquaintance with the his own lesson, then he shall be admitted into the Greek and Latin languages, William Lilly, who school for a scholar. If your child, after reasonable happens to have been the first of Englishmen who season proved, be here found inapt and unable to ever publicly taught Greek in this country. He learning, then ye warned thereof shall take him away, taught it.to the children of St. Paul's School. Lilly that he occupy not our room in vain." The number having been eagerly selected by Colet, the Mercers of seats in the school was absolutely limited to the assembled in the School House, elected him to hundred and fifty-three before mentioned, and it was the office, and delivered to him his charge in this essential that no dunce or laggard should prevent the wise:"Sir, we have chosen you to be Master and admission of a lad more likely to profit by the school teacher of this school, to teach the children of the same teaching. It is interesting to note the connection not only good literature, but also good manners, cer- between this judicious rule and the same kind of tifying you that there is no room of continuance and statute framed by John Lyon, regulating the admisperpetuity but upon your duty in the school." He sion of children to his Free Grammar School at was warned that, at Candlemas of every year, "when Harrow. So identical is the wording in the two that the Mercers be assembled in the School House," he it almost seems as if John Lyon had studied Dean would be expected to submit himself and his conduct Colet's statutes before drawing up his own. The for the year past to their examination; and if found following rule formed by Colet offers a similar coindoing his duty he would be re-elected to office, other- cidence, as in substance it happens to be embodied wise he would be warned to depart, and make room in the original statutes of one, if not two, of the great for another. By way of an assistant in the school a foundation schools. In no time of the year (Colet Sur-Master-"a man virtuous in living and well instructed Lilly) were tallow candles to be used in St. lettered". '-was appointed. To both Masters free Paul's School, but only wax candles, and these were lodging was accorded, and the yearly gift decreed of to be furnished at the cost of the children's parents. a "lyvery gowne of iiii nobles, delivered in cloth," Being a day school only, the scholars were expressly a custom perpetuated, be it remarked, in the present prohibited from carrying meat, drink, or bottle annual gift made by the Mercers' Company to the to school. If, after school-hours, they needed Head and Second Masters of St. Paul's School of an refreshment, they were to go elsewhere. "I academic gown of silk. A mark a week for the High will," wrote the Dean, "that they use no Master, and vis. 8d. for the Sur-Master, was con- cock-fighting, nor rydinge about of victorye" sidered by Dean Colet sufficient stipend for each. (whatever that may mean; possibly some rough and The spiritual instruction of the scholars was com- rude school-game in vogue at the time), "nor disputmitted to the care of a Priest, "a good, honest, and ing at St. Bartholomew, which is but foolish babbling, virtuous man," who was directed to sing Mass in the and loss of time. I will also that they have no chapel of the school and pray daily that the children remedyes (play days)." If the Master granted any "might prosper in good life and literature, to the holiday except at the desire of the king, or an archhonour of God and our Lord Christ Jesu." bishop or bishop present in person at the school, then, as often as he did so, he was to forfeit forty shillings. Every Childermas the children were enjoined to walk in solemn procession with the Masters and other officials to the cathedral, to hear the Child-Bishop sermon, and to attend the Mass afterwards, when each scholar was to present the Child-Bishop with one penny. It will be interesting to read the following account of this ceremony, which Strype has given in his "Memorials Ecclesiastical under Queen Mary: "Because the way of celebrating St. Nicholas Day is so odd and strange," he writes, "let me add a word or two explanatory of it. The memory of this saint and Bishop Nicholas was thus solemnised by a child,

Touching what should be taught in his school, the Dean confessed that it "passed his wit to devise and determine in particular." But, in general, he charged Lilly that his scholars were to be taught always in good literature, both Latin and Greek, "and good authors, such as have the very Roman eloquence joined with wisdom, especially Christian authors who wrote their wisdom with clean and chaste Latin, either in verse or prose." For, wrote Colet, "my intent is by this score specially to increase knowledge, and worshipping of God and our Lord Christ Jesu, and good Christian life and manners in the children." He hoped that his brood of young scholars, when they came to years of discretion,

ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL.

which has existed for more than three centuries
built.
"at the east end of Paules Church," is now being

the better to remember the holy man, even when he | reproduction of Dean Colet's famous foundation, was a child, and his childlike virtues when he became a man. The Popish festival tells us that while he lay in his cradle he fasted Wednesdays and Fridays, sucking but once a day on those days. And his meekness and simplicity, the proper virtues of children, he maintained from his childhood as long as he lived; and therefore, saith the festival, children do him worship before all other saints. The Boy-Bishop, or St. Nicholas, was commonly one of the choristers, and therefore in the old offices was called Episcopus Choristarum, Bishop of the Choristers, and chosen by the rest to this honour. But afterwards there were many St. Nicholases, and every parish almost had his St. Nicholas; and from this St. Nicholas Day to Innocents Day at night the boy bore the name of a bishop and the state and habit too, wearing the mitre and pastoral staff, and the rest of the pontifical attire, nay, and reading the holy offices. While he went in procession he was much feasted and treated by the people, as it seems much valuing his blessing, which made them so fond of keeping this holiday." It was kept with all due ceremonial at St. Paul's Church in Colet's time; and his scholars, and the scholars of the neighbouring Grey Friars, now Christ's Hospital, every Childermas walked two and two, headed by their respective Masters, to render homage to the Bishop of the Choristers.

Colet's school was, strictly speaking, a Free School, though it is not so named, we believe, in any original document setting forth the designs of the foundation. It was stipulated that a child on his first admission should pay 4d. "for writing of his name," no doubt for the act of registering him as a scholar, which sum by the way was set apart as a gift to the poor scholar who daily swept the schoolroom and kept the seats clean. Beyond this small payment, no money was to be asked of parents for their sons' instruction. The statutes of Colet make no allusion whatever to permission being granted the High and Sur-Masters to instruct any but the statutable number of children given in to their charge; and so it has come about that, from the year 1512 to the date of the passing of the Public Schools' Acts in the present decade, no scholars "foreign" to the foundation have been admitted to St. Paul's School. The yearly value of the lands with which Colet endowed his school was estimated by Stow in 1598 to be "£120 or better;" these lands are now producing, annually, nearer £20,000. The Public Schools Commissioners, very properly, came to the determination that this splendid income ought in the present day to educate more than 153 children. They therefore recommend to Parliament that very important alterations should be made in the constitution of Dean Colet's foundation; the most material of these are that St. Paul's School shall henceforth comprise :

1. A School, to be called St. Paul's School, divided into two departments, one of which shall be a Classical department for about 500 boys, and the other a Modern department for about 500 boys.

2. A School or Schools, to be called Dean Colet's School or Schools, for not less than 400 girls in all. No time has been lost in giving effect to an Order in Council embodying these changes; and the readers of this publication will be glad to learn that sixteen acres of land have been secured by the Governors near the Addison Road Station of the Metropolitan Railway, on which St. Paul's School, the modern

Paul's School was one of simple patronage vested For years the system of admitting boys to St. in the Worshipful Company of Mercers, who, in passing, we may say, do not seem to have had a vestige of authoritative right to this office. According to the statutes of Dean Colet, so long as whatever nation or country he might be, who could there was a vacant seat in the school, any boy, of read or write-as we have already pointed out-was to be admitted on application to the High Master. This duty, under the new scheme, once more reverts to him; and henceforth any parent who wishes to send a son to St. Paul's School can be sure of his being admitted without any delay on application to that gentleman. It is satisfactory to be able to record this beneficial change from the old plan of "nomination," which it is only right, however, to say, was, in general, judiciously and charitably exercised by "the most honest and faithful Fellowship of the Mercers of London." It is related that, when Dean Colet was asked why he had left his foundation in trust to laymen as tenants of his father rather than to an ecclesiastical society, he answered, "There is no absolute certainty in human affairs, but body of citizens than in any other order or degree of for my part I have found less corruption in such a mankind."

It has been rightly said that few public schools prominently in English history than St. Paul's can claim to have educated more men who figure School.

John Milton, who was one of Colet's scholars from At the head of the list stands the immortal Christ College, Cambridge. John, the great Duke of 1620 to 1625, proceeding from St. Paul's School to the antiquarian and herald; and that admirable Marlborough, was a Pauline; and so was Camden, gossip and historian of the manners of the court of Charles II, Master Samuel Pepys. other notable personages who were likewise beholden to it for instruction in their youth may be menAmong William Whittaker, one of the earliest and most tioned John Leland, the celebrated archæologist; prominent chaplains of the Reformation; Robert Nelson, author of the "Companion to the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England;" Dr. Benjamin Calamy; Sir John Trevor, a Speaker of the House of Commons; Halley, the great astronomer; Major André, who was shot by General Washington's orders for intriguing with Arnold, the American commander; Sir Philip Francis, reputed author of the "Letters of Junius;" Sir Charles Wetherell, Sir Frederick Pollock, and Lord Chancellor Truro, eminent lawyers; and Dr. Benjamin Jowett, the present Master of versity of Oxford. St. Paul's School has little or no Balliol and Regius Professor of Greek in the Unipersonal history, owing to the fact that from the date of its foundation it has always been a day school. traditions and customs such as we find associated We search its archives in vain for any curious Harrow. Its great reputation has been principally with Eton, Winchester, Westminster, Rugby, and maintained by the success of its scholars at the Universities, who in this respect have worthily supported the fame of John Colet, Founder of St. Paul's School.

CHARLES E. PASCOE.

SCANDINAVIAN CUSTOMS.