DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0070
HOLBEIN’S “AMBASSADORS
teaching of which was forbidden at the University of Paris. The
lectures were ardently attended. Foreigners as well as Frenchmen
gathered in large numbers round any well-known luminary. The
lecturers themselves were not infrequently members of another nation.
Thus Andrea Alciati, the famous Italian lawyer, taught successively at
Avignon and at Bourges ; while large numbers of Germans, such as
Melchior Wolmar, Johann Sturm, subsequently rector of Strasburg Uni-
versity, Sleidan, the historian of the Reformation, Andre Melanchthon,
a relation of his more famous namesake, helped to promote the cause of
liberal instruction, and, in many cases, also of the doctrines of Luther.
As the Reformation advanced in Germany, its influence permeated the
ranks of the French humanists, hand-in-hand with the purely secular
learning they had hitherto cultivated. Those who professed the new
doctrines were known as “ Lutheriens.” The day of Calvin, who was
to impress the Anal and definite stamp on French Protestantism, was
yet to come.
The orthodox professors of the University of Paris viewed with
distrust all this intellectual stir. They regarded the revival of classical
learning, especially the study of Greek, which enabled people to examine
the New Testament for themselves, as conducive to heresy. To
free the path of knowledge from their bigoted restrictions, Guillaume
Bude persuaded Francis I. to found a college for the special purpose
of instruction in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, the “Three Languages ”
as they were then called ; to which mathematics and other chairs were
subsequently added. The scheme did not at once come to full ma-
turity ; but a variety of first-rate professors were engaged, who gave
free lectures in their several branches, and assembled round them a large
group of students of international character. Such was the nucleus of
the famous College Royal.
The Bailly of Troyes was well acquainted with Bude, both at Court
and in Champagne. The lifelong services of this eminent savant to a
succession of French kings brought him into constant communication
with the members of the royal households. As secretary to Charles
VIII. and librarian to Francis I. he must have been well known to
46
teaching of which was forbidden at the University of Paris. The
lectures were ardently attended. Foreigners as well as Frenchmen
gathered in large numbers round any well-known luminary. The
lecturers themselves were not infrequently members of another nation.
Thus Andrea Alciati, the famous Italian lawyer, taught successively at
Avignon and at Bourges ; while large numbers of Germans, such as
Melchior Wolmar, Johann Sturm, subsequently rector of Strasburg Uni-
versity, Sleidan, the historian of the Reformation, Andre Melanchthon,
a relation of his more famous namesake, helped to promote the cause of
liberal instruction, and, in many cases, also of the doctrines of Luther.
As the Reformation advanced in Germany, its influence permeated the
ranks of the French humanists, hand-in-hand with the purely secular
learning they had hitherto cultivated. Those who professed the new
doctrines were known as “ Lutheriens.” The day of Calvin, who was
to impress the Anal and definite stamp on French Protestantism, was
yet to come.
The orthodox professors of the University of Paris viewed with
distrust all this intellectual stir. They regarded the revival of classical
learning, especially the study of Greek, which enabled people to examine
the New Testament for themselves, as conducive to heresy. To
free the path of knowledge from their bigoted restrictions, Guillaume
Bude persuaded Francis I. to found a college for the special purpose
of instruction in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, the “Three Languages ”
as they were then called ; to which mathematics and other chairs were
subsequently added. The scheme did not at once come to full ma-
turity ; but a variety of first-rate professors were engaged, who gave
free lectures in their several branches, and assembled round them a large
group of students of international character. Such was the nucleus of
the famous College Royal.
The Bailly of Troyes was well acquainted with Bude, both at Court
and in Champagne. The lifelong services of this eminent savant to a
succession of French kings brought him into constant communication
with the members of the royal households. As secretary to Charles
VIII. and librarian to Francis I. he must have been well known to
46