: for
while he was framing the statutes by which his little community was to
be governed, he did not fail to keep the presses of Wynkyn De Worde
and Pynson pretty constantly at work, by publishing the grammatical
treatises of Grocyn, Linacre, Stanbridge, Lilye, Holte, Whittington,
and others--for the benefit, as well of the public, as of his own
particular circle. I take it, his library must have been both choice
and copious; for books now began to be multiplied in an immense ratio,
and scholars and men of rank thought _a Study_, or _Library_, of some
importance to their mansions. What would we not give for an
authenticated representation of Dean Colet in his library,[295]
surrounded with books? You, Lisardo, would be in ecstacies with such a
thing!

[Footnote 294: How anxiously does COLET seem to have watched
the progress, and pushed the sale, of his friend Erasmus's
first edition of the Greek Testament! "Quod scribis de Novo
Testamento intelligo. Et libri novae editionis tuae _hic avide
emuntur et passim leguntur_!" The entire epistle (which may
be seen in Dr. Knight's dry Life of Colet, p. 315) is
devoted to an account of Erasmus's publications. "I am
really astonished, my dear Erasmus (does he exclaim), at the
fruitfulness of your talents; that, without any fixed
residence, and with a precarious and limited income, you
contrive to publish so many and such excellent works."
Adverting to the distracted state of Germany at this period,
and to the wish of his friend to live secluded and
unmolested, he observes--"As to the tranquil retirement
which you sigh for, be assured that you have my sincere
wishes for its rendering you as happy and composed as you
can wish it. Your age and erudition entitle you to such a
retreat. I fondly hope, indeed, that you will choose this
country for it, and come and live amongst us, whose
disposition you know, and whose friendship you have proved."
There is hardly a more curious picture of the custom of the
times relating to the education of boys, than the Dean's own
Statutes for the regulation of St. Paul's School, which he
had founded. These shew, too, the _popular books_ then read
by the learned. "The children shall come unto the school in
the morning at seven of the clock, both winter and summer,
and tarry there until eleven; and return again at one o