This establishment, which has so long flourished, and is still flourishing, and among whose scholars are recorded the names of men eminently distinguished for their learning, their talents, and their virtues, was founded by Dr. John Colet, Dean of St. Paul's, in the year 1512, by the warrant of Henry VIII, responding to the following.

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"SUPPLICATIO AD REGIAM MAIESTATEM

"In the moste humble wyse shewith and besechith youre "mooste graciouse highnesse youre contynuall oratour John "Colet, Deane of the cathedrall churche of Seynt Paule, "within youre citie of London, That where youre said ora"tour to the pleasur of God and for and in augmentation "and encrease as well of connying as of vertuouse lyving "within youre realme hathe now of late edifyed within the cimitory of the saide cathedrall churche a schole-house "(wherein he purposith that children as well borne and "to be borne within youre said citie as elsewhere (to the same repayring shall not oonely in contynuance be substancially taughte and lernyd in Laten tung, but also in"structed and informed in vertuouse condiciouns, which by "Goddes grace shall largely extende and abunde to "the common weal of the people of this youre realme, "and to the grete coumfort and comodite of youre grace "and to youre heires, to have yong children of youre realme "both in conyng and vertue graciously brought up in "avoyding many folde vices which these dayes for lake of "suche instruccion in youth been gretly rooted and contyn"ued in yong people, to the grete displeasur of God. And "for the perpetuall contynuance of the charges of the same, "for ever to be borne, paied, and susteyned according to "such ordre and direccion as youre said oratour by speciall "favour and licence of youre highnesse purposith to make "and ordeyne, he intendith to geve and moytyse landes and "tenements of the clere yerely valew of fifty and three "poundis in the contie of Buk, to some body corporat at his denomynacion. In consideracion whereof it may please "youre highnesse of youre most habundant grace and goodnesse, by youre gracious letters patent under youre grete "seale in due forme to be made, to graunt and licence youre "said oratour to geve and graunt mans londs and tenements "in the said countie of the clere yerely valew of fifty and

"three poundis above all charges to som body corporate, "and licence to the same body corporat the same landes "and tenements to receyve and take to the intent before"said, eny statute of landes and tenements to mortmayne "not to be putt notwithstanding, and that withoute fyn fee or other charges therefore to be paide or borne to youre grace. And youre said oratour shall daiely pray to God "for the prosperitie of youre moste noble and royall estate "long to endure."

JOHN COLET, D. D. the Founder of this school, was born in London in the year 1466. He was the son of Sir Henry Colet, Knight, mercer and citizen of London, who had acquired great wealth with a most unblemished character, and had been twice elected lord mayor, in the years 1486 and 1495. This, the only surviving child of eleven sons and an equal number of daughters, who died in their infancy, received, as it has been traditionally believed, the early part of his education at St. Anthony's school in Threadneedle-street, then the most eminent seminary, for learning in that period, in London, and which has long since fallen into decay. Newcourt, in his Repertorium, represents his removal to the University of Oxford to have taken place in 1483, where he continued during seven years in the ardent pursuit of knowledge, but more particularly attaching himself to the study of logic and philosophy. He then proceeded to his degrees in Arts, and had not only rendered himself familiar with the works of Cicero, but was no stranger to Plato and Plotinus, which he read and compared for their mutual illustration*. He could not, however, have studied them in any other way than through the medium of Latin translations; as neither at school nor at the University was there, at that time, any opportunity of learning Greek, a language which the strange prejudices of the age may be said to have encountered with prohibitions to the teaching of it. In mathematics also, he had made a very great proficiency, and having obtained, in the language of Wood, "a most admirable competency in learning at home," he determined to enlarge it by travel through foreign countries. He went first to France, and then to Italy, and appears to have re

* Wood's Ath. Oxen, edit by Bliss, vol. I. fol. 22.

mained on the Continent from 1493 to 1497. Previous to the commencement of his travels, when he was but nineteen years of age, and only two years standing in the University, he was presented, by Sir William Knyvet, a relation of his mother, to the rectory of St. Mary Denington, in Suffolk, which he held to the close of his life; and by his father, to Thryning, in Huntingdonshire, in which he was instituted in 1493, but resigned it in 1499*.

On his arrival at Paris, he sought the society of the learned, and, among others, became acquainted with Gaguiness, the French historian, who had been ambassador at the court of Henry VII. from that of France, and the celebrated Budæus, who first excited in him the desire to become acquainted with Erasmus, whose friendship afterwards contributed so much to the honor and happiness of his life. In Italy he contracted an intimacy with many distinguished persons; especially with his own countrymen, Grocyn, Linacer, Lilly, and Latimer, who were learning the Greek tongue, then but little known in England, under those great masters, Demetrius, Angelus Politianus, Hermolaus Barbarus, and Pomponius Sabinus. It is not to be supposed that, with his thirst of knowledge, he hesitated to avail himself of this opportunity to make acquisitions in the knowledge of the Greek language: but he more earnestly devoted himself to divinity, and studied while abroad the best of the ancient Fathers, particularly Origen, Cyprian, Ambrose, and Jerome ; at the same time, it is said that he rather undervalued St. Augustine nor did he seem to prefer Aquinas, Don Scotus, and other schoolmen. He also studied the civil and canon law; made himself acquainted with the history and constitution of church and state; nor did he neglect the best English writers of that period, both in prose and verse, in order to perfect his style and render him an eloquent preacher. Polydore Virgil, one of his contemporaries, mentions, that he was, by an early and natural disposition, inclined to piety and religion; and therefore, as soon as he approached the age of manhood, and was well instructed in all those arts and sciences which are called Humanity, he applied himself to divinity, choosing St. Paul as his particular master, and

*The practice of taking livings while thns under age generally prevailed in the Church of Rome; and Colet being an Acolythe, which is one of their seven orders, was duly qualified.

studiously exercising himself in the writings of the great Apostle, both at Oxford and Cambridge*. Erasmus also states in his character, written at large and in the warmth of affectionate admiration, that, while a youth, he acquired all that could be taught by scholastic philosophy, and well deserved his title of Master of Arts and Sciences, being perfectly versed in every one of them. Cicero's works he had read with a fond and eager attention; nor had he neglected those of Plato and Plotinus, and had pursued his studies through every branch of mathematical science, &c.

During his foreign travels he was inade a Prebendary of York, and installed by proxy on March 5, 1494; he was also advanced to the canonry of St. Martin's Le Grand, London, and the Prebend of Good Easter, in the same church. On his return to England in 1497, he was ordained Deacon in the month of December, and in July following he entered into Priest's orders.

It is a very attractive and interesting part of this admirable man's character, that he was a real philosopher, another Socrates, who mastered all his evil propensities, though under the guidance of a more exalted morality than the pagan sage is known to have enjoyed. Dr. Colet was inclined by nature to love, luxury, and sleeping indolence; fond of wine, and addicted to levity both in manners and discourse; of a very high and impatient spirit, and not without a tendency to avarice: yet these various and powerful propensities he so completely conquered, from a mental conviction of the consequences attached to their indulgence, that he became chaste, abstemious, indefatigable in his pursuits, temperate, grave, generous, and a rare example of meekness and humility.

He might certainly have made choice of his profession, if he had been disposed to the active pursuits of life, or have enjoyed the independence of ample fortune, having a sufficient estate for his support, and a fair interest to recommend him at court for any suitable office and employment, as he had the advantage, in the opinion of Erasmus, of a tall and

Polydore Virgil, lib. xxvi. fol. ult.-His studies at Cambridge were of a transient nature. That University, it seems, lay in the road from his residence in Suffolk to Oxford, and he is supposed to have made an occasional stay there to derive any advantages which that seat of learning might offer to him.

comely person. "Accesserat his fortunæ commodis corpus elegans ac procerum." To the life of a courtier he might have been encouraged by his father, Sir Henry Colet, who, being accustomed to the figure of the high offices to which he had been elevated, and the consequence derived from his character and opulence in the city, and from his loyal conduct, had been an object of royal favor. But piety and love of learning prevailed; and fixing his determination to enter into holy orders, he thus renounced the temptations of his birth and fortune.

With this excellent spirit, says Dr. Knight*, to whom this brief biographical sketch is so much indebted, the admirable young man would not, on his return from the Continent trust himself among the allurements of the city and of the court, but after staying a few months at his paternal home, from a respectful sense of duty and affection to his family, and friends, he retired to Oxford to enjoy the opportunities of a pious and studious life; yet not to be buried in learned obscurity and fruitless research. On the contrary, he commenced a new and active scene of public instruction, by reading lectures on the Epistles of St. Paul, which he continued during three years, without any reward or stipendiary remuneration: and though he had taken no degree beyond that of Master of Arts, there was not a Doctor in Divinity or Law, or Abbot, or any other dignitary in the church, who did not gladly attend him.

At Oxford he became personally acquainted with Erasmus, and a friendship between these admirable persons commenced, which continued inviolate to the close of their lives. Erasmus came to England about the latter end of the year 1497; and, after a short stay in London, hastened down to Oxford, where he was welcomed with a most courteous and hospitable reception from Father Richard Charnock, Prior of the Regulars of the Order of Austin, in the college of St. Mary the Virgin. This excellent divine, and amiable man represented his guest "as a very excellent person endued with singular virtues." This character given by the prior, added to the established celebrity of Erasmus, increased the wish of Colet to request the acquaintance and friendship of the illustrious visitor. This he immediately expressed in an

* Knight's Life of Dr. John Colet, Dean of St Paul's, and Founder of St. Paul's School, passim.