CHAPTER IX.

COLLEGE CAREER.

The youth departed from Ipswich with the love of many hearts following him, and with no lack of things requisite to make his career at Oxford brilliant. He was introduced by a student who had already gained University honors, and was looked upon as a man of sound learning and piety, and one eminently calculated to judge of Wolsey's capacity. Wolsey and Latimer were friends under the most pleasing circumstances which could possibly arise between two young men: congeniality of mind, pursuit, and honor. The latter, when he found Wolsey at Ipswich, covered himself with glory by writing that letter to Grocyn, dated April 29th, 1485; wherein he says: 'I have found a youth, inferior in years, superior in knowledge; with far less opportunity of cultivating the elegancies of literature, yet with infinitely greater industry than young men generally exercise who have those opportunities. He has a genius superior to mine, and already surpasses me in the acquirement of the Greek language. I can only say for him, what he might truly say for himself:

"Major rerum mihi nascitur ordo."'

Young Wolsey, at Oxford, had a glorious struggle within his soul to win the distinction he sought. His letters to his mother frequently breathed the hope that Ellen De Freston took an interest in his welfare. Supposing that this pure motive of distinguishing himself had for its object the fair lady of Freston Tower, the course he was pursuing was one far more honorable and arduous than the daring actions of war or enterprize. Courage of no common kind, and application of the most intense nature, were then inseparable from honor. The means of acquiring knowledge were more clogged and difficult than they now are, and the mind of the scholar was far more burdened with absurdities than it is in this enlightened age. But all that patience, industry, perseverance, and high talents could accomplish, Wolsey performed. He won every prize nobly, fairly, and against men of superior years and longer application, but not of equal ability.

In one year, and that the very first in which he went to Oxford, he was acknowledged the first man of his day. So much so, indeed, that the president, tutors, divinity reader, and fellows of Magdalen, pronounced him fit to enter the theatre against all opponents before the termination of that one year's residence at the University. He was permitted to go in for his bachelor's degree after one year. He did so, and was the first man in all academical pursuits, obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Arts before his fifteenth year had been completed. Wherever he went, he was designated by the title of the Boy Bachelor for it was never known before, and certainly never afterwards, that a degree conferred not as honorary, but as actually attained by competition, was given to so young a lad.

Wolsey was not young in manners, ideas, attainments, or knowledge. It was, singular in him at that early period, and served him well in after years, that a certain ease of deportment, of conscious mental capacity, and quiet expression of countenance, gave him a commanding influence among men of years, station, and power. He appeared, whilst at Oxford, to be a man whose wisdom had the command of all his passions, and who was never betrayed into any excess of bad taste, in manners, morals, or general conduct. He gained the good will of so many that it was impossible for him or any one not to feel elated in some measure at his success. Little did the world know how deeply moving in his young soul was the thought that Ellen De Freston would be gratified with his progress.

Nature, love, honor, truth, and grace, shone in his course as he strove to gain a reputation that should place his name above all plebeians who moved upon the world's surface. Virtuous feelings were at that time so cherished in his soul, they commanded the inmost movements of his heart. Though his parents watched his onward progress, and were delighted to recount to Edmund Daundy, their rich relation, the great and rising fame of their son--though the meed of imputation was given him by all his Ipswich friends, yet he anxiously looked for sympathy and encouragement in the daughter of De Freston.

Is there any period of life more fraught with love and hope than when the scholar gains his first distinguished prize? when youthful competition fairly tests his abilities, and honor, like the sun, rises in golden grandeur before him? He feels the warmth of the praises bestowed upon him, and hopes that his dearest kindred may be gratified. Perhaps he has a hope that one, whom he is ambitious of pleasing, may be captivated with his talents, and reward him with a sweet smile of approbation. There is no disgrace to any young man in being so prompted. His affections being pure, his views will be exalted. Thrice happy is he if his whole life's struggle shall be a steady impulse of this kind, capable of so existing to his latest hour. There are few such young aspirants who, in their day of youth, can see through the transient troubles of their tide. It seems to them as if it would flow on, and on, and on, and never turn. Alas! the ebb must come, and the stream of life decrease; the channel must become narrower and narrower, the waters of life diminish, until, becoming a small calm rivulet, it vanishes into the ocean of futurity.

At times, Wolsey was, in his younger days, subject to depression of spirit, arising either from too great application to study, or from that more probable cause, the heart-yearning sickness after the object of his affection.

Soon after Latimer was made Fellow of All-Souls, and Wolsey elected Master of Arts, the former entered his friend's apartment in Magdalen, and found him in this melancholy meditative mood. It was no easy thing at such times to rouse him, for though constitutionally robust, and mentally powerful, having made most surprising progress in logic and philosophy, he would be sometimes so depressed as to be unfitted for the duties of his station.

He filled various offices in his college from the year 1488 to 1495, before he took orders, and was extremely active in superintending, even before he was elected master, the progress of youth in the schools belonging to the college; but at times he would confine himself to his rooms, and endeavor to conceal from his most intimate friends this depression.

The fact was, that in his letters to his mother he had sought for some favorable report of Ellen De Freston's interest, and, if possible, a word of attachment which might inspire him with hope. At that period the communication between Ipswich and Oxford was only by pack-horses and special messengers. Young men did not often visit their friends during their academical career; and, if progressing favorably at the University, they were content to let their relatives perceive their affection by their devotion to the studies of the place. Had any letter from his mother given him encouragement to come home, Wolsey was not the man to delay. It was when he was in one of these abstracted moods, that Latimer came to announce to him that he was going to Ipswich, and thence to a foreign country, to Padua, the seat of learning, especially of perfection in the Greek language.

'I must visit Freston Tower again,' he said; 'can I not convey some token of your regard for old and early associations?'

'Are you really going to my native town?' he answered, apparently with deep interest. 'Yes, my friend, I would have you call and see my parents, and commend me to them. Tell them I want for nothing here; that I send my duty, love, and greeting, and hope that they continue in health. Commend me also to my old friends Daundy, Sparrowe, Cady, Smart, and Tooley, and tell them all that I am so mindful of their early fostering care of me, that I will not forget their bright example of encouraging learning--that I am devoted to it, and will do my best endeavors to promote it at Ipswich.'

Here he paused, and Latimer replied--

'And Lord De Freston--and Ellen! no message for them?'

'Yes, yes! I have a message to the former. Tell De Freston that I never forget him; that I am very proud of all his congratulatory letters; that I think of his castle, of his lovely tower, of the beautiful banks of the Orwell, of his love of literature. Yes! convey this, my first prize, to him, this beautiful edition of the first New Testament ever printed, which was in the memorable year I came to Oxford. Tell him, from me, that I have proud pleasure in sending by your hand such a token of my regard.'

He took down from his book-shelf a splendid edition of the Novum Testamentum, Nicolai De Lyra, beautifully bound in vellum, with a Latin inscription upon the exterior of the cover, to Thomas Wolsey, scholar of Magdalen.

This work had every capital letter throughout its pages illuminated with blue and red paint. The text is superb, and the marginal notes elaborate, and beautifully printed at Nuremberg, in the year 1485.

'And what for Ellen, Thomas?'

'Ah, Latimer! What can I send her? I must confess I would gladly send my whole library, if you would take it, in token of the happy days we have spent together in De Freston's Tower. And you will be there, Latimer, participating in the joy of such a scene and such a mind! Oh! how dull, how dark, how dismal, do these cloisters appear compared with my walk along my native banks, and Ellen De Freston's converse and company. Those were bright days, most bright and glorious days; I would I could be with you, but it cannot be! I must perform the duties I have undertaken. Speak a kind word for me to Ellen, and say that the scholar never forgets his instructress. Tell her she is as a polar star to my existence, and that the newly-discovered power of the needle and magnet points not more truly and constantly to each other than my regards to her.'

'Do you love her, Thomas? Will you commission me to tell her so? And shall I mention the matter to Lord De Freston?'

'No! no! no!' replied Wolsey, hastily. 'You must not say so much, not exactly that; that would not be what I would commission you to say to that beauteous creature. I am not in a condition of life yet to employ an ambassador for such a purpose. This, however, you may state--that I shall count it the happiest day of my life when we meet again.'

'I will repeat it for you, Wolsey, with all my heart. In the meantime, despair not. You have a great deal to do in the University; let it be done with vigor. I will speak you fairly to all your friends, and most fairly to the fairest.'

'You are indeed my friend, Latimer, in this, as all other cases. I have had all the honors Grocyn could heap upon me, through your recommendation, and how shall I repay you for your friendship?'

'Wait until I ask you, Thomas, and when I do, may it be such as you can perform. I have now to urge upon your friendship only to remember that I am constantly your friend.'

'When I forget that, may I forget father, mother, and friends; even Ellen De Freston herself; and as I can never do that, so can I never do the other.'

And thus they parted.