Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/87

 position in the embassy, but if so his plans were altered, for they travelled together no further than Bologna, where they fell in with Angelo Politiano, whose friendship Selling had made on a former occasion. To him Linacre was introduced by Selling, who left him at Bologna to profit by the introduction, while he himself proceeded on his mission to Rome. The University of Bologna then held a high rank among the schools of Europe; but Linacre did not make any long stay there. For after Politian had left it he followed him to Florence, where he became his pupil. These were the days of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael Sanzio; and Florence, under the rule of Lorenzo de Medici, was the favoured home of the arts and sciences. The chief instruments in the encouragement of classical learning, at that time, were Politian and Demetrius Chalcondylas, with both of whom Linacre became intimate, and by whom he was introduced to Lorenzo the Great. These two had been jointly appointed tutors to Lorenzo's sons Pietro and Giovanni de Medici, of whom the latter afterwards became Pope under the title of Leo X. The superiority of Linacre's attainments, and the modesty of his demeanour, won for him the approbation of Lorenzo, and procured for him the privilege of being associated with the young princes in their studies, and residing with them as their chosen companion in their hours of relaxation and amusement.

After a residence of more than twelve months at Florence, Linacre proceeded to Rome, in order to avail himself of the superior advantages which the Christian capital afforded to the advanced scholar. Here he was fortunate enough to form a friendship with the famous Hermolaus Barbarus, the friend of Pope Innocent VIII., whose acquaintance he accidentally made in the library of the Vatican. From Barbarus he learned much, and from him he is said to have acquired ideas which considerably influenced his future life and character. The residence of Barbarus was then practically an academy, to which the learned resorted for instruction and gratification, and Linacre became a frequent visitor at his house, and participated in the intellectual