Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/96

 at Florence during the agitation and enthusiasm excited by the preaching of Savonarola, with which he was deeply impressed. It is probable that the painful disease with which he was afflicted greatly interfered with his practice as a physician, and to this cause may in some measure be attributed his turning himself to the faculty of Divinity. It must be remembered that Law, Physic, and Divinity, the three grave professions as they were called, were in those days more closely united, and physicians were readily admitted to holy orders. It appears, too, from Linacre's dedication of his translation of Galen "de Naturalibus Facultatibus" to Archbishop Warham, that in devoting himself to the sacred profession he hoped to find more leisure for his literary work. All these causes may have actuated him to seek admission to the priesthood, but it was some time before he was actually ordained to that holy office.

It is clear that Linacre had not given up the practice of his medical profession at this time, for among the King's annual expenses there is, in June, 1516, an entry of £12 10s. for one quarter's wages to Dr. Lunacre; and many similar entries of such payments afterwards occur therein.' He was also physician to the Queen at this time.

By the King's letters, under the Privy seal, dated at Windsor, 19th Aug., and by his letters patent of 24th August, 1517, Thomas Linacre, clerk, was nominated to a canonry and prebend in the collegiate chapel of St. Stephen, Westminster, in the place of Andreas Ammonius, deceased. By letters patent of 6th March, 1517-8, he was presented to the Church of Hollesworth (Holsworthy) in the county of Devon; and on 7th October, 1518, he became prebendary of South Newbold in York Minster, which he only held for about six months.