Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/86

 William Tilly, otherwise called Selling, from the place of his birth, a man of learning and research, who had studied Greek in Italy, where that language had been cultivated for several years. From this master, who is supposed to have been in some way connected with him by birth, and who seems to have taken an affectionate interest in his education, Linacre acquired a taste for a higher class of learning than was usually taught in the English schools. He went up to the University of Oxford in 1480, when he had reached his 21st year (a later age than was customary for the entrance of students to the University in those days), and in 1484 he was elected to a fellowship at All Souls. While at Oxford he is understood to have become the pupil of Cornelio Vitali, an Italian of noble birth, who had been forced to leave his native country, and who is believed to have been the first to give instruction in Greek, not only at the University, but anywhere in England. At this period of his life Linacre is said to have applied himself to the study of Greek, and laid the foundation of that perfection in it which he so amply displayed at a later period of his life, in opposition to the studies which were then sanctioned by the statutes and customs of the place. Here, too, he made the acquaintance of William Grocyn and William Latimer, who shared with him his devotion to the "new learning"; and one of whom, Grocyn, survived to form part, with Linacre himself, of that brilliant circle of Oxford scholars, who excited the admiration of Erasmus. About the year 1485 or 1486 he availed himself of an opportunity that was then presented to him of going into Italy, where he met with great facilities for improving himself in his favourite studies. His former tutor Selling, the prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, being sent by King Henry VII. on an embassy to the court of Rome, offered to take Linacre with him as a friend and companion. Leland says that he was to have occupied a subordinate