III.

University, who, disliking any thing that was new, and SECT. dreading alterations, and blindly admitting every thing. that was old, would by no means allow of this pronuncia- Anno 1542. tion, but opposed it with all their might, by disputing against it, and at last, by complaining to Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, the Chancellor of the University, against Cheke and his adherents for this great misdemeanor. Who being of the same mind with the complainants, and fearing innovation more than was need, made a solemn decree, dated the calends of June 1542, confirming the old corrupt sounding of Greek, and enjoining the scholars to make no variation, and that upon these pains, viz. If he were a regent, to be expelled out of the senate; if he stood for a degree, not to be admitted to it; if a scholar, to lose his scholarship; and the younger sort to be chastised. And in short, the decree ran, "That none should philosophize at all in sounds, but all use the present. "And that if any thing were to be corrected in them, let "it all be left to authority *."

66

SECT. III,

Letters pass between Cheke and the Chancellor of the

University about it.

AND besides this, the Chancellor sent a Latin letter to And particularly inCheke, the Greek Lecturer, to forbear any farther men-hibits tioning his new way of pronunciation in his lectures: Cheke. however treating him like a man of learning, and arguing with him in an humane and scholar-like manner. Beginning his letter in this obliging style: "Stephen Bishop "of Winton, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, "to John Cheke wisheth health. That which the Chan"cellor according to his right should do, namely, by his authority as a magistrate to abate and restrain unwary "rashness, when it waxeth wanton in learning, I thought " rather to be attempted by friendship. That I might ob

66

k In sonis omnino ne philosophator, sed utitor præsentibus. In hiis siquid emendandum sit, id omne autoritati permittite.

I.

CHAP. "tain that by fair means from a mild nature, and improved by human studies, which power would exact of Anno 1542." the rude and barbarous. Therefore I purpose to deal "with you in this epistle, not as a Chancellor with a 66 scholar, but as a man somewhat versed in learning with a "hard student; and to talk at the least with a young man " of very great hopes, if the heat of age do not add a hurt❝ful and too daring excess; a thing which (I must tell 66 you) many dislike in you. For your attempt, as I hear, "not so much with the derision of all, as with their anger "also, to bring in a new sound of letters, as well in the "Greek as in the Latin, and to settle it among the youth.

Cheke an

swers the

lor's letter.

And you, who have by the King's munificence obtained "the office of teaching a tongue, do destroy the use of it "by a new sound," &c.

But Cheke could not be persuaded to let go this enterChancel- prise of restoring the true and graceful pronouncing the Latin, and especially the Greek; which he had upon so good and sure grounds undertaken. Yet thought fit to give a very submissive answer in Latin to the Chancellor ; expressing much deference towards him, and yet freely discoursing the matter with him, and shewing in much exquisite learning upon what reasons and authorities he went. And thus he began his address to him:

"How much pleasure, most worthy Prelate, I took in "the first letter privately to me sent, wherein I saw my"self treated so friendly and obligingly," &c. But the controversy afterwards grew more warm between the Chancellor and Cheke; who had seriously, and with an ingenuous freedom, expostulated with him about the decree he had made, whereby so commendable a reformation of a considerable piece of learning was checked, to the grief and discouragement of the best scholars. This bad effect he plainly set forth to the Bishop; and shewed how fully he acquitted the place and office the King's Majesty had set him in, in making him his Greek Reader; and how much the Bishop's late orders had obstructed his Majesty's noble designs in this lecture: which was for put

IV.

ting scholars upon the study of that learned language, and SECT. for the further advancement of it. For, as he wrote to the foresaid reverend person, "Is this," said he, " to err from Anno 1542.

66

De Pronun

my office, [as it seems the Bishop had laid to his charge,] ciat. p. 102. "and from the place wherein the King hath set me, to "teach what is most ancient, what is most profitable, "what most distinct? Which, since it was granted me

by the King, it afflicts me not a little, that it is by you "lessened and abridged. For had the University be"stowed this lecture on me, I could not without great "trouble of mind have been drawn away from it, while I

profitably and honestly performed my duty therein. "With what mind then must I bear it, when the King "himself hath bestowed it on me? And by reason of the "rejection of that right pronunciation, neither have I the "fruit of reading, nor they that come the desire of hear"ing; and almost all have cast off the study of the Greek 66 tongue. For, when I entered upon this royal office of 66 reading the Greek lecture, I found all my auditors well "instructed in this way of pronouncing, and earnestly 'ap"plied themselves to the study of the Greek; and all (one "or two only excepted) with all cheerfulness addicted to "this way. Since therefore this pronunciation hath been "received now a good many years, and is widely scat"tered among men by a customary use of it, should I “alone, for no cause, reject that hath been received by all

66

upon very great cause? Should I envy them so great a "benefit, by removing it from them, or take it away by "disparaging it? Or rather, should not I pursue this "most glorious institution of the King, by the fruitfulest way of reading that I could."

66

Chancellor

fect of his

Then he freely told the Bishop the success of his letter Cheke to the University, "That since the order therein con- shews the "tained, many had departed from his lecture; and they the ill ef"that came, came with so sad and melancholic minds, as letter to the "one would think they were mourning for the death of a University. "friend. For, as he went on, with reluctancy of the best "learned, and in effect of the whole University, you have

I.

CHAP. "again shut them up in this corrupt confusion; which is 66 so gross that we may almost feel it with our hand. Anno 1542. "Wherefore, if any thing hereafter happen otherwise than "the King's Majesty expecteth, it is not to be ascribed to 66 me, who have taken the best way, and followed the me"thod used among us; but it will lay on them who move things well placed," &c. He subjoined, “ Truly, I fear, 66 we must have no more declaiming in Greek, which we "daily practised before, since that which was distinct and "clear is taken away, and that which is confused and un"sound is only left. For that pronunciation, which our 66 ears so liked and approved, is now gone into the utmost 66 parts of the earth: nor, however profitable it be, how"ever true, however noble and magnificent, can longer "tarry at Cambridge by reason of the punishments and "mulcts threatened."

Thus did Cheke with an ingenuous boldness express his mind, and argue with the Bishop about this matter: wherein he shewed as well his eloquence, as his conscientious care of discharging the office committed to him by the King, and his zeal for the promoting of learning.

But whatever opposition of injunctions, decrees, and penalties were made against it; yet, as it was said of truth, it is great, and will prevail, so this true way of speaking and reading Greek got the day in the University. Cheke's way And those that were the greatest ornaments of learning Greek pre- then in Cambridge, Redman, Smith, Ponet, Pickering, Ascham, Tong, Bill, and all others, who either read any thing publicly in the schools, or privately in the colleges, gave themselves wholly to this correct way.

of sounding

vails.

Seven let

Cheke.

In fine, there passed seven learned epistles between the ters pass between Gar- Chancellor and our Greek Professor; wherein was comdiner and prised, I think, whatsoever could be said on this argument pro or con, containing considerable learning in them. The originals whereof were left in the hands of Cælius Secundus Curio, a learned man of Basil, by Cheke himself, as he passed through that place in his journey into Italy, in the beginning of Queen Mary's reign. From which ori

V.

ginals Cælius printed them anno 1555: dedicating them SECT. to the learned Sir Anthony Cook, Cheke's dear friend, and fellow instructor of good King Edward; giving him Anno 1542. this reason for publishing them, that after he had diligently perused them, he saw nothing in that kind ever more perfectly written. And therefore judged so great a good was by all means to be communicated to all that were studious of good literature.

SECT. V.

What and how Cheke read.

Herodotus.

BUT let us go and hear our Greek Lecturer read. In Cheke reads his readings, among other authors he read Herodotus; and in that ancient historian particularly, the books entitled Euterpe and Polyhymnia, where Cheke had occasion to speak of some places in Italy and Greece, and to describe them. Which he did with that life and advantage of expression, a that one of the most ingenious of his auditors ever after had a most ardent inclination to travel, and see those parts of the world: so that he confessed it could not be quenched by any fears of labour or danger, which commonly are the attendants of travel. It was Ascham, whom we have had occasion several times to mention already. Who afterwards being Secretary to Sir Richard Morisin, King Edward's Ambassador, and now in Germany, had a fresh mind to pursue his long desire, of which he remembers Cheke in a letter to him; adding, that though for the bearing of travel, he had not a robust body, yet that he could bear labour, and cold, and heat, and any kind of food and drink, (the necessary qualification of a hard student, and fit as well for a traveller,) wanting nothing but a purse; praying him, his friend, to assist him by his interest with the rich, to supply him with travelling expenses; promising him, as some recompense, that he would bring him home a fair account of the customs, manners, and fashions of those places, whereof Cheke was a Asch. Epist. iii. 16.