Ernst Verner felt somewhat sad and lonely in London. Antwerp was a
large city, but London was far larger, and he was afraid to venture out
by himself, lest he should not find his way back again to Lombard
Street. Lady Anne too was very kind, but she was somewhat stately and
cold, and could not replace one whom he still remembered with tender
love. With Richard he was more at home, but Richard was delicate, and
did not seem inclined to enter into the sports for which Ernst sighed.
Master Gresham was as kind as Lady Anne, but he was at all hours engaged
in business, and often appeared not to take notice of the young boy
depending on him. He told Ernst that he was to go to school, but the
time passed by, and Ernst still remained at home, picking up such
knowledge as a worthy man, Master Dickson, who came every day to
instruct Richard, was willing to impart.
At length, one evening when Master Gresham was seated before the
fireplace, in which blazed several logs, Ernst, who had been sitting
silently in one corner for some time, with his face over a book,
ventured to address him. Ernst was in no way afraid of his patron,
whose genial, easy manners had from the first put him at his ease.
"Master Gresham," he said, "I now speak English well enough to go to an
English school. You said I was to go: when may that time be?"
"Few boys are in a hurry to put themselves under the power of a
pedagogue's birch," answered Ernst's patron, looking down upon him.
"Have you thought on that subject, Ernst? The road to learning is not
always one of roses. You must be prepared for many things to which you
have not been accustomed, boy."
"I do not expect to find many roses in this big city," answered Ernst;
"but yet I would lief get more learning than I at present possess."
"Well, lad, you shall have your will. As soon as Saint Paul's School
opens again after the holidays, you shall go to it," answered Master
Gresham. "You have heard of it, may be. It was founded by a ripe
scholar--Dean Colet--and it is well able to turn out ripe scholars, I am
told. Dr Freeman, the head master, is a learned man, and a thorough
disciplinarian, and it is the fault of his pupils if they do not imitate
his example. The Honourable Company of Mercers, to which I belong, are
the trustees of the school, and although you are not native born, I
shall be able to obtain a nomination for you. In Dean Colet's trust he
especially declares, in the statutes of the school, that it shall be
open to the children of all nations and countries indifferently. Indeed
there is no doubt that while he limited the number of scholars to 153--
so many fishes as were caught in the net by the apostles (John
twenty-one, verse 11), he wished the offspring of our foreign brethren
in the reformed doctrines to have a share in his benefits. No boys are,
however, to be admitted, but such as can say their Catechism, as well as
read and write competently; but as you can do that, Ernst, already, I
may promise you an admission."
Ernst thanked his patron, for he had a desire to gain knowledge, though
he did not clearly understand what sort of place a school was. As he
was anxious to make a good appearance on entering, he attended with more
assiduity than ever to his studies at home, and thus he had made very
fair progress before the day of admission arrived. At that time there
was less difficulty than there had been previously in obtaining
admission to the school. Romanists would not send their children to it,
and Protestant parents were often afraid of doing so, lest they should
bring suspicion on themselves, or lest some day Bishop Gardiner should
insist on the pupils being brought up in the Romish doctrines.
The day at length arrived for Ernst's admission. Master Gresham himself
was too much occupied to go with him. He therefore deputed Master
Elliot, his factor in Lombard Street, to perform the duty of introducing
the boy. It was a bitter cold morning, but Ernst was up betimes, and
having eaten his breakfast, he slung his new satchel, which Lady Anne
had procured for him, over his back. He had, too, thick shoes, with
bright red cloth hose, and a long blue coat, which kept his knees warm,
though it somewhat impeded his running.
Master Elliot and his charge soon reached Saint Paul's, and turning to
the left, stood before the entrance of the school. Ernst looked up, and
thought the building a very fine one. There were none around to be
compared to it.
On either side were two dwelling-houses, which Master Elliot told him
were the habitations of the masters. Passing under a fine porch, they
found themselves in the entrance-hall, where the younger pupils were
assembled, who were under the especial charge of the chaplain. In a
second large hall were boys of more advanced age, who were instructed by
the under master, while in a third division were the boys of the upper
forms, who were under the especial superintendence of the high master
himself. The last two divisions were separated only by a large curtain,
which could be drawn at will. Master Elliot passing on, stood before
the head master's chair at the further end of the hall. Dr Freeman
received his salute, and descending from his chair, inquired the name of
the boy he had brought.
"Ah! yes," he said, on hearing Ernst's name, "a ward of the worshipful
Master Gresham--that _ditissimus mercator_, as my honoured friend Dr
Caius calls him. I am glad to have the youthful Verner under my charge.
I will presently see that he possesses the necessary qualifications for
entering, of which, however, I entertain no doubt, being fully
persuaded, from what Master Gresham wrote, that he is far more
proficient than many who come here."
Ernst did not exactly understand all that the Doctor was saying; at the
same time he heard enough to give him courage, and with less anxiety and
alarm than might have been expected, he bade his friend the factor
farewell.
"Keep thy wits about thee, my lad," whispered Master Elliot, "and do
credit to your name and country. There is nothing very difficult for
you to go through, depend on that, or those dull-headed boys we passed
as we entered would never have taken their places in the school."
Ernst found his friend's remarks correct.
His reading, in spite of his foreign accent, was considered fluent, and
his writing very good. To the questions put to him he answered in a way
to obtain the approbation of the Doctor, and he was forthwith sent to
take his place in the lower school. Ernst found that each class
contained sixteen boys. The one who was at the head of his class had a
little seat to mark his honourable position, arranged above the benches
on which the other boys were placed.
As at that early hour lights were required, each boy had brought a wax
candle, it being against the rules laid down by Dean Colet that any
tallow candles should be used. As soon as the day became sufficiently
bright, the candles were immediately extinguished, to be ready again in
the evening. Ernst, by attending diligently to his studies, gained the
approbation of his masters, and, greatly to his surprise, was in a short
time promoted to the seat of honour at the head of the class. He
observed that when Master Elliot entered he laid down fourpence, which
he found was the fee for his admission into the school. This sum was
given to a certain poor scholar, who was engaged to attend to the
schoolrooms, swept them out, and also kept the seats and desks clean--
John Tobin was his name. Ernst took a liking to the lad because he
seemed so humble and quiet, and ready to oblige. His cheeks were
somewhat hollow and his garments threadbare, for in truth the fourpence
he received, though not a sum to be despised, was not sufficient to
maintain him in much luxury. John Tobin had also a widowed mother,
already advancing in life, whom he did his utmost to support, and he
looked forward to the time when he should, by the result of his labours,
enable her to live in more comfort than she then could. Ernst, in
course of time, made friends with several of his schoolfellows, who will
be mentioned hereafter. He had to be up early every morning to take his
breakfast and be away to school, as the hours of study were from 7 to 11
a.m., and from 1 to 5 p.m.
On one side of the hall was a chapel, where the pupils assembled for
prayers on first collecting in the morning, as also at noon, and again
in the evening. Ernst, having been brought up a strict Calvinist, was
not altogether pleased at seeing, over the chair of the head master, an
image of the boy Jesus, albeit it was a beautiful work of art.
It was in the gesture of teaching. All the scholars on going into the
hall, as also on departing, were taught to salute it with a hymn. Above
the figure there was a painting, intended to represent God the Father,
under which was written the words, "Hear ye Him!" These words were
placed there, Ernst heard, at the suggestion of the great Dutch scholar
Erasmus, who was a friend of Dean Colet, and who, some years before, had
visited London. Under the figure also were some lines in Latin, written
by the same learned person. Behind the school was a playground
surrounded by cloisters, where the pupils played in rainy weather.
As is well-known, it was the custom for the elder boys in some schools,
and other youths, to assemble on stages at Barthelmy Fair, where they
held disputations on various subjects, much in the way as is done in the
Netherlands. The scholars at Dean Colet's school were, however,
interdicted from this amusement, he considering it as tending only to
idle jabbering.
His great wish was that they all should learn pure and chaste Latin, and
he prohibited them from studying the later writers, after Sallust and
Cicero. Ernst found that there were very few holidays at the school,
Dean Colet holding that keeping the Saints' days, as had been the
custom, was a great cause of idleness and dissipation. He remarked that
those countries where the Saints were thus honoured were the poorest,
and most immoral in Christendom. The students were, however, allowed to
act plays, interludes, and moralities, and were trained by the head
master and others to speak their parts with correctness and grace;
indeed, so perfect did they become, that they at times exhibited their
talents before their Sovereign.
Ernst's days were not altogether pleasant ones. He was jeered at by the
other boys on account of his foreign tongue. The discipline too of the
school was very strict. The ferule and the birch were constantly
employed. If he was perchance late at school, either in the morning or
afternoon, he had additional tasks and impositions, not that he often
suffered on that account. He attended with great assiduity to his
studies, anxious to improve himself, and to show that he was worthy of
the kind patronage of Master Gresham. He soon made himself acquainted
with Paul's _Accidents_, written by Dean Colet for the use of his
scholars, and consisting of the rudiments of grammar, with an abridgment
of the principles of religion.
Ernst had mixed so little with other boys, that he was unaccustomed to
defend himself against the attacks of his companions. Thus at first
even very small boys dared to assail him, he looking upon them with
pity, or it may have been with contempt, just as a large mastiff, when
little dogs are barking at his heels, refrains from retaliating. This
gave them courage to continue their persecutions. One day, however,
several of the bigger boys thought fit to unite with them, mimicking
Ernst, and inquiring what had become of his parents, that they allowed
him thus to be sent to a foreign land.
"They were burnt for their religion," answered Ernst at last; "because
they would not bow down to idols, or attend the Popish mass."
"Oh! oh! young master, heretics were they!" exclaimed some of the boys;
for at this time, although the principles of the school existed as
before, Romanism was apparently in the ascendant. "Then you are a
heretic, I doubt not, and will some day come to the stake."
A big boy was standing by whom Ernst had often seen, though never spoken
to. He listened eagerly to what Ernst was saying, as also to the
exclamations of the other boys.
"I am ready to burn for the true faith," said Ernst. "It were well for
some of you to try and learn what that true faith is, instead of abusing
a foreigner sent among you."
"Are you, young jackanapes, to teach us?" exclaimed several of the big
boys together; and the younger ones, set on by them, once more began to
attack Ernst, to pull his coat tails, and to give him cuffs on the head.
He stood it for some time in his usual way, till one of the big ones
began to treat him in the same manner. Instantly turning round, he
struck his new assailant a blow between the eyes, which sent him reeling
backwards. The boy, enraged, flew upon Ernst, and would have punished
him severely, had not at that moment the lad who, has been spoken of
sprung forward.
"Fair play!" he exclaimed, "fair play! English boys, if you forget what
that is, I intend to see it carried out. Now as Ernst Verner is a
slight boy, and I am a stout one, whoever wants to attack him must
attack me first--who is ready? Come on! you all know me, Andrew A'Dale,
that I never flinch from a fight; and with a good cause to fight for, I
am not going to do so now."
The boy who had been attacking Ernst, blinded with anger, flew at
A'Dale, who sent him back reeling among his companions.
"Does anybody else want to attack Verner?" he exclaimed; "let him come
on now, or ever afterwards keep quiet."
No one answered the challenge. The bigger boys walked off one by one
with looks of anger turned towards A'Dale, while the younger ones slunk
away, and Ernst was left standing near A'Dale. Ernst thanked A'Dale
warmly for the protection he had afforded him.
"I never stood up for another more willingly," answered A'Dale. "You
are a foreigner, and without friends, and more than that you are a
Protestant, and your parents have suffered for a good cause. Both those
things would make me wish you well, but I like you for yourself, and for
the spirit you have shown, so say no more about it."
From that day forward Ernst and Andrew A'Dale became firm friends.
Soon after this the whole school went in procession, according to
custom, to attend the service of the Boy Bishop. He was one of the
choristers of the cathedral, one of whom every year was selected for
this office. He was habited in a bishop's full dress, though it cannot
be said that he looked altogether as dignified as might have been
desired. Still he managed to ape with tolerable accuracy the movements
and mode of proceeding of a full-grown bishop. One thing might truly be
said, that had he played many strange antics, he would scarcely have
out-done Bishop Bonner, albeit such a remark would have been dangerous
to make at that time. The boys of the school were arranged, as has been
said, in their seats, when the bishop, ascending the pulpit, and with
crozier in hand, delivered his address. His companions now and then
made signs to him which betokened no great amount of respect. As the
boys of Saint Paul's School, however, had the eyes of their masters
fixed on them, they behaved with sufficient decorum. A'Dale, however,
who disliked such mummeries as much as did Ernst, did not altogether
keep his countenance. He was in sight of the altar, where the priest
was about to perform the high mass. That ceremony was gone through in
the usual way, both A'Dale and Ernst, and some others may be, chafing
not a little at being obliged to be present at it. Ernst's quick sight
had detected the eyes of the priest fixed on him and A'Dale. He
whispered to his companion.
"Yes, possibly we are marked," answered A'Dale; "but the priest can do
us little harm, I should think; and at all events we must brave it out."
The two boys, it must be owned, took little pains to conceal their
feelings. Before leaving the church each boy of the school had to take
up one penny, and present it to the Boy Bishop for his maintenance, and
thus every year he collected a goodly number of pennies. It may be
remarked that the Boy Bishop was chosen by the other choristers to
officiate from Saint Nicholas Day to the evening of Innocents' Day.
Should he die during that period, he was always buried in the habit of a
bishop. The following day Ernst and A'Dale saw, not without some
anxiety, the priest who had been officiating at the altar enter the
school. After speaking with the head master, he cast his eyes round the
classes and pointed to A'Dale and Ernst.
"Some harm will come out of this," they thought; but they wisely said
nothing. Again the priest consulted with the head master, who seemed to
be expostulating with him, and finally took his departure, casting a
frowning glance on the two boys. Having reached the door he turned
round, as if to watch what the head master would do. Dr Freeman on
this called up A'Dale and Ernst, and spoke in a loud voice with great
severity to them, threatening them with condign punishment for their
irreverent behaviour. As, however, he did not proceed further than
words, they had reason to hope that he did not consider them guilty of
any very atrocious crime. As soon as the priest had taken his
departure, they were allowed to return to their seats, with an
admonition, that in future, whatever they might think of such matters,
not to express their thoughts by their gestures.
It may be supposed, though, that the masters were not personally
favourable to the re-introduction of the Popish forms and ceremonies
which was then taking place throughout the country. There was more to
come out of this than the boys thought.