Page:The Harveian oration 1896.djvu/13

 THE REVIVAL OF LEARNING

9

the revival of Greek learning and the study of Greek writers in the original. This was largely influenced by the migration of Greek scholars to Italy after the fall of Constantinople, bringing with them the ‘ brown Greek manuscripts ’ which it was thought worth a journey to Italy to read and transcribe. From this arose a new Science, along with a new Literature, and, as some think, a new Theology. Mr. Goldwin Smith has finely said that at this time ‘Greece rose from the dead, the New Testament in her hand.’ He might have added that in the other hand was the Book of Science. It is right to give prominence to the name of Linacre because among the Hellenists or scholars concerned in the Greek revival he occupied a high and honourable place. Not less was he known as a humanist, being an elegant Latin scholar, and as such ac- quired a reputation which lasted far into the next century. On his public services as the founder of our College it is needless to dwell, except as a passing tribute of grateful remembrance ; but a few facts from his life will help us to understand his position. Linacre was born about 1460, seven years after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks, and a few years after the first book was issued from a European printing-press — cardinal dates, as we know, in the history of learning. After studying at Oxford he set the example, followed by Caius and Harvey, of travel- ling to Italy to bring home the treasures of the new learn- ing. The records of his Italian journey show the romantic interest with which such a journey at that time might be invested. He carried introductions to the greatest scholars, such as Chalcondylas and Poliziano ; he heard at Florence the lectures given by these scholars to the princes of the house of Medici; and after moving among the Italian humanists, ‘himself not least, but honoured of them all/ bore off the highest laurels of Padua Returning to his

1 This is not a mere flourish. years after Linacre), picked up a

Richard Pace, Secretary of State to tradition of Linacre’s brilliant exer-

Henry VIII, who visited Italy and cise for his doctor’s degree. In his studied at Padua (probably some little book, De Fructu qui ex doctrina