The reputation of Mr. Ascham, as a man of extensive learning, was now so firmly established, that he was elected to the honourable office of Public Orator. This imposed upon him the duty of composing the university-letters, for which by his skill in the Latin language, and his beautiful writing embellished with drawings, he was peculiarly qualified. But in all ages and in every country conspicuous merit, while it meets with it's due reward from the liberal mind, will inevitably incur the hatred of the selfish and the envious. It is no wonder, therefore, that Ascham should have subjected himself to censure for the exercise of his leisure-hours. His love of archery, an amusement better suited to the soldier than the scholar, exposed him to severe animadversion. This, however, he repelled by a learned treatise, published in 1544, entitled 'Toxophilus, or the Schole or Partitions of Shooting,' and dedicated to Henry VIII.; * who was so well pleased with it, that on the suggestion of Sir William Paget he allowed him thenceforward an annual stipend of ten pounds. With this, and his university-stipends, he appears to have possessed a very comfortable income; in addition to the gratuities which he received for teaching persons of distinction to write, particularly

Of this dedication the object was, to obtain a pension, which might enable him to travel into Italy, at that time the residence. of literature in general, and more eminently the seat of Greek learning.

†This, Johnson by a somewhat prolix investigation estimates as equivalent to "more than one hundred pounds a-year" at present. The work itself is rather whimsical, as the writer seems to think the complete archer ought to have no less a compass of knowledge than he possessed himself!

Prince Edward, the Princess Elizabeth, and the two brothers Henry and Charles Brandon, Dukes of Suffolk.*

And now approached the great event of the Reformation, by which the objects of literary study were entirely changed. The breaking up of the old religion split the world into a variety of hostile sects. The Bible being at last thrown open, every man, whether learned or unlearned, was eager to fami liarise himself with it's contents, and ambitious of elucidating it's difficulties. All were absorbed in religious speculations. Europe exhibited one vast scene of polemical warfare; and the talents of mankind were monopolised by theological contention. The topics, which generally kindled the ardour of the most accomplished scholars, were inquiries into the practices and maxims of the primitive ages; the nature of civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction; the authority of Scripture and tradition, of popes, and councils, and schoolmen; topics, which from prejudice and passion, as well as from the want of philosophic habits of discussion, they were unable to treat either with calmness or with accuracy.

One of the first effects of the Reformation was, that the revenues of the clergy were seized under pretence of zeal for religion. Even the students of the universities were deprived of their exhibitions and pensions! Hence Ascham complains, in a letter to the Marquis of Northampton, dated 1550, that the grammar-schools throughout England would be

*Lee Archbishop of York, likewise, allowed him a yearly pension. (Johnson.)

ruined; and that the Universities themselves must speedily become extinct.' At Oxford, both professors and pupils deserted the schools; and academical degrees were abolished as anti-christian. The new teachers, not content with cleansing Christianity from Catholic corruptions, carried their absurd refinements so far as to assert the inutility of all human learning; and thus reformation degenerated into fanaticism. In this enlightened spirit, these zealous advocates for apostolic simplicity and primitive ignorance, at a visitation of the University of Oxford, stripped the Humphredian library of all it's books and MSS., many of which were totally destroyed, and of the rest a great number condemned as inimical to the Gospel of Christ!

Yet, notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, the Reformation was an event perhaps more auspicious to human improvement than any, which adorns the annals of time. It produced, beyond all other causes that can be imagined, intellectual activity, that harbinger of free inquiry, which is the only sure cause of the progress of society. A change of manners in the church was the instantaneous result. The clergy, unable to prevail by force, were compelled to try argument; and their state of ignorance vanished. The Jesuits, who succeeded the friars as champions of the papal hierarchy, sprang up during the struggle; and thus Rome had, once more, it's age of learning.

This general state of mental excitement, however unfavourable in the first instance to the Belles Lettres, was eventually conducive in a high degree to the advancement of literature. The minds of men were awake

and active; and required only to be favoured by their political condition to exert some of the highest efforts of intellect.

Upon the accession of Edward VI. his pension, which had been stopped at Henry's death, was regranted; and he was desired to continue at Cam bridge to promote the cause of the Reformation, in conjunction with his friend Bucer, the German divine, who had been invited by that University to fill the divinity-chair. But the death of Grindal brought him to court to attend the Princess Elizabeth, whose Latin and Greek studies he by her own appointment directed for two years. Taking umbrage however at some ill-founded rumours maliciously propagated against him, he abruptly quitted the court in disgust, returned to the University, and resumed his office of Public Orator.

In 1550, being upon a visit in Yorkshire, he received intelligence that he was appointed secretary to Sir Richard Morisine, who was then preparing to set out on an embassy to Charles V., Emperor of Germany. This promotion obliging him to proceed immediately to London, on his way he visited Lady Jane Grey, at her father's house at Broadgate in Leicestershire. He found her studying the Phædo of Plato in Greek, and "that (he adds) with as much delight, as some gentlemen would read a merry tale in Boccace;" and he discovered such learning and good sense in her conversation, that he pronounces her in his works the wonder of her sex.'*

* The treatment of that incomparable lady by her father and mother, the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, as she related it to Ascham, is shocking almost beyond credibility:

'After salutation (says he) and dewtie done, with some other VOL. I.

2 E

During his three years' attendance upon the German embassy, he cultivated the acquaintance of the learned in that country, and applied himself to the investigation of politics, which made him extremely useful to his principal. Yet neither the concerns of his station, nor his assiduity in reading the Greek au

taulke, I asked her, "Why she would leese such pastime in the parke? Smiling, she answered me; "I wisse, all their sport in the parke is but a shadoe to that pleasure that I find in Plato. Alas! good folke, they never felt what trewe pleasure ment." "And howe came you, Madame," quoth I, " to this deepe knowledge of pleasure; and what did chieflie allure you unto it, seeinge not many women, but verie fewe men, have attained thereunto?" "I will tell you," quoth she," and tell you a truth, which perchance ye will marvell at. One of the greatest benefites that ever God gave me is, that he sent me so sharpe and severe parentes, and so jentle a scholemaster. For when I am in presence eyther of father or mother; whether I speake, keepe silence, sit, stand, or go, eate, drinke, be merie, or sad, be sowying, playing, dauncing, or doing anie thing else, I must do it as it were in such weight, measure, and number, even so perfitelie as God made the world; or else I am so sharplie taunted, so cruellie threatened, yea presentlie sometimes with pinches, nippes, and bobbes, and other waies (which I will not name, for the honor I bear them) so without measure misordered, that I thinke myself in hell, till time come that I must go to Mr. Elmer; who teacheth me so jentlie, so pleasantlie, with such fair allurements to learninge, that I thinke all the time nothing whiles I am with him. And when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because whatsoever I do els but learninge, is full of grief, trouble, feare, and whole misliking unto me." (Schoolmaster.)

In the Treatise likewise, from which the above extract is taken, the reader will find no mean information as to the manners of the age, particularly of the younger people, and the men of pleasure, and, what we call choice spirits.' His characters of the ancient writers are masterly, and from his precepts and advices for reading the most learned may draw profit; but, after all, the work seems not to have been finished. Sir John Cheke's judgement, and counsel for reading Sallust, is particularly good.