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.