b This eminent man continually enjoyed the favour of his sovereign, who took great interest in the progress of Hebrew study, as is evident not only from the public acts of his reign, but from a manuscript among the Cotton MSS, in which the following passage occurs in his own handwriting, reders of Greke, Ebrew and Latyne to have good stipend.' Wakefield was further countenanced, as he himself says, by John Eayler, John Stocksley, Sir J. Bullein, Thomas Hurskey, Prior William, Dr. Tait, Dr. Lovel, aliisque multis nostri regni magnatibus.' Of his own attainments he speaks with becoming modesty :-'in qua' (Hebrew), he says, 'possum nondum quidem cum laude sed citra culpam epistolam dictare;' and perhaps it may now be thought with some reason, as he talks of teaching Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic in three months-Ego conscius sum,' he writes, D. Richardus Paceus (Henry's secretary) qui tribus mensibus tres simul linguas Hebræam, videlicet, Chaldeam, ac Arabicam, me quoque docente, non impigre didicit.' Still high merit must be awarded to the author of the 'Oratio,' and to the instructor of Pole and Pace, and, as is probable, of Tyndale,d Frith, and Pilkington-scholars whose attainments in Hebrew were rarely equalled while they lived. To Robert Wakefield succeeded John Shepreve, who in the year 1541 began to expound in public the book of Genesis in Hebrew. Two manuscripts of his are extant in the British Museum, entitled, 'Johannis Scheprei orationes in laudem Henrici VIII., Hebraice.' The manuscript Hebrew is excellent and duly pointed. In the year 1540 the Regius Professorship of Hebrew in Cambridge University was founded. Thomas Wakefield was chosen to fill the post. The following is a copy of the act :'Rex omnibus, &c., per præsentes damus et concedimus dilecto subdito nostro Thomas Wakefield in Artibus Magistro officium sive locum Lectoris nostri in Hebraica lingua, jam noviter a nobis fundatum et erectum, in usum et profectum juventutis nostræ b To the extract given from the University's letter to Henry VIII., and to the language of Erasmus above cited, may be added the statement of Wakefield himself: Noverat enim noster pientissimus rex et optimus princeps qui me D. Reynaldo Polo, viro nobili, et Græce ac Latine erudito adjunxit ut Hebraica disceret, quod theologis futuris quam maxime necessarium erat nimirum recte judicans absque linguæ sanctæ peritia neminem in scripturis feliciter proces surum.' • A MS. work of Paee's still exists. It is entitled 'De lapsu Hebraicorum interpretum.' d Tyndale's acquaintance with Hebrew was singularly exact- I am not afraid,' says his bitter enemy Joye, to answer Master Tyndale in this matter, for all his high learning in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.' To this eminent man's philological attainments, our authorized and venerable version sufficiently testifies. e This scholar must not be confounded with Robert Wakefield, as has been too often done. Anglicana quadra Anglicana in Alma academia nostra Cantabrigiæ ginta libras sterlingorum. . . Although this professorship was not founded till 1540, we have already seen that the royal favour and liberality were extended to Hebrew study in this University many years before. Whatever be the faults of the eighth Henry, and they are, alas! too many, let us not deprive him of his just dues as a liberal patron of literature. Edward VI., during his too short reign, took quite as much interest in promoting the study of Hebrew as did his father. In the first year of his reign we find him giving his licence to Reginald Wolff to print Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. In 1549 the celebrated Hebraist Fagius was invited to England, and appointed King's reader of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge. An order still exists, dated 26th Sept., 1549, requiring the payment of 1007. to Fagius, probably to defray the expenses of his removal. This learned man did not, however, live long enough to enter upon his duties. Bishop Pilkington, in his 'Sermon at the Restitution of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius,' preached A.D. 1560, says of the latter, after his coming into the realm he never read, he never disputed, he never preached, he never taught.' The same year Tremellius, son of a Jew of Ferrara, succeeded to the vacant professorship. By the countenance of Edward VI. and his father, the enlightening and stimulating influence of the Reformation, and the zealous and well-directed efforts of the professors and teachers of Hebrew, the knowledge of the language was extended far and wide. Even ladies strove to excel in oriental studies. The youngest daughter of Sir Anthony Cook was celebrated for her Hebrew erudition. If we may believe Sir Thomas Challoner, in his elegy on Lady Jane Grey, Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic were added to that lady's other accomplishments. A singular instance of the use to which Hebrew learning was put about this time occurs in Strype's Memorials. Speaking of Sir Hugh Willoughby's projected enterprise, of seeking for a passage into the eastern parts of the world through the unknown and dangerous seas of the north,' he goes on to say, 'The letters of safe conduct were wrote in Latin, to all kings, princes, and other states, being three in number, for each ship one; and three others of the same effect were writ in Hebrew, and three others in the Chaldee tongue; to suit with the language of the eastern countries when they should arrive in those parts of the world.' These letters were dated May, 1553. The reign of Mary did not, as may well be imagined, prove more favourable to the interests of Hebrew learning than to those of national prosperity and religion. The most eminent men in the kingdom were imprisoned or burned. In a letter of Hooper's, written a short time before his death, and while in prison, there is a passage which indicates his acquaintance with Hebrew. Nor was this the only instance of high attainments lost to mankind by imprisonment or the stake during this reign of unrestrained and triumphant bigotry. At the death of Mary a better state of things immediately ensued. Elizabeth, though as tyrannical and hard-hearted as her sister, was, it must be confessed, a distinguished patroness of learning. In the first year of the new queen's reign we find the Council requiring the immediate payment of the Hebrew lecturer's salary, which had been unjustly detained. The next year the English Church at Geneva presented her majesty with a new translation of the Psalms from the Hebrew, made by themselves. A letter exists in the British Museum from Cavallerius to Sir W. Cecil, desiring the recommendation of the minister as a teacher of Hebrew to the University. It would seem that this was not only granted, but was also successful, sustained as it was by the friendly offices of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, since we find Cavallerius soon after styled reder of Ebrew in Cambridge.' By a patent, dated 14 Éliz. 1572, the freedom of the state and the advowson of a prebendary in Canterbury were granted to this French scholar. He appears to have been a learned man and a good teacher. Hugh Broughton, in comparison with whom Lightfoot declared himself a mere child in Hebrew and rabbinical learning, speaks very highly of him. In Hebrew,' says he, he could drive such a study, that they might learn more of him in one month than others could teach in ten years.' That the study of Hebrew was prosecuted with much success in this seat of learning during Elizabeth's Ridley says, referring to this period, All the reformations made with regard both to statutes and to studies are now again deformed and invalidated, and every thing reduced to its pristine chaos and ancient papistry.'-Ridley's Works, Parker Soc., p. 392. i Strype's Annals, i. 48. * Lansdowne MSS., x. 40. This letter is dated May 27, 1569. In it Covellarius signs himself' Rodolphus Cævellarius, Hebræus.' These prelates, in their letter to the heads of colleges, refer to the good and godly affection that divers in the University bear to the knowledge of the Hebrew tongue.' reign is evident from several other circumstances. Besides the instruction given by the Regius Professor of Hebrew, we find the Provost of King's College ordering a Hebrew lecture to be read in the chapel of the college and in his own private house." Some other colleges seem to have supported, in addition, a Jew to instruct in Hebrew. A Hebrew teacher was also established and provided for in connection with Sidney College by the munificence of Lord Harrington. It would seem that in some colleges an examination in Hebrew frequently preceded the bestowal of a fellowship. This was certainly the case in Emmanuel College. In order to facilitate the study of this language, the collegians were in the habit of meeting for the purpose of reading the original languages of the Bible. Indeed, from various sources it appears sufficiently evident that a great majority of scholars who during Elizabeth's reign were acquainted with Hebrew, were indebted for it to the instructions they received at this University. During the same period this study was successfuly prosecuted in the University of Oxford. In 1570 Thomas Kingsmill was appointed to the Hebrew professorship there in the place of Thomas Nale. A few years after (1579) a resolution was passed by the University to the following effect:-'ad extirpandum hæresim quamcunque et ad informandum in vera pietate juventutem libros hosce legendos censemus et statuimus, viz. . . . catechismum Johannis Calvini, Latine, Græce, et Hebraice.' In this University the celebrated Drusius, himself educated at Cambridge, taught four years. When Elizabeth visited Oxford, we are informed that she was received with gratulations in Hebrew'quo etiam tempore valvis et parietibus affigebantur carmina Latina, Græca, et Hebræa.' (Wood, p. 288.) Still it seems evident that the study of Hebrew was not so enthusiastically and successfully followed as at Cambridge, since it was not till after the Hebrew lecture had been long neglected, arising from the protracted illness of the Hebrew professor, that the Vice-chancellor and University engaged the services of the celebrated Hooker. Broughton appears, too, to call the Oxford fellows to task for envying him his rapid advance in Hebrew learning. 'Such a course,' said they, of making Hebrew and Greek as native in years so young (twenty), will, twelve years hence, do that with ease which all our pains could not come by.' n Strype's Annals, ii., Part ii. p. 39. P Rymer's Fœdera, xv. 678. • Clark's Lives, p. 99. Drusius appears to have been more especially employed to teach Syriac. Cancellarium.... Johannem quendam Drusium convocationi solemni commendabat, ut linguam ille Syriacam in scholarum aliqua explicaret.'—Wood's Annals, 212. • Fulman's MSS., viii. 183. Others, Others, besides those residing at the seats of learning, acquired a knowledge of Hebrew. Gataker taught it for some time in Essex, and Cavallerius in London before he went to Cambridge: Broughton also taught Hebrew in the metropolis. In the prefatory speech to his lectures at St. Paul's he says: 'I being requested to read, thought no place more fit than this, because I heard that a learned man of France (Cavallerius), about 23 years ago, did read here in the Hebrew tongue ..... it hath pleased God that I should come hither to revive his study.' These learned men exerted a great influence and had many scholars. Barrow, styled by Strype a separatist, in an address which he wrote to the Council while in prison, and indeed just before his execution, says: If it be objected that none of our side are worthy to be thus disputed or written with, we think that this will prove the contrary, viz., because there are three or four in this city (London), and more elsewhere, which have been zealous preachers in the parish assemblies, not ignorant of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues.' Indeed it would appear that ignorance of Hebrew was at this time regarded as a defect in the education of a minister. Knox, in his defence before the Bishop of Durham, frankly declares, 'In the Hebrew toung I confess myself ignorant, but have, as God knoweth, fervent thirst to have some entrance thairin.' Broughton, moreover, expressly affirms that 'Divinity graduates must know (or be thought to know and see with other men's eyes), and by the English Universities they are bound to know' Hebrew. Broughton, moreover, styles Bishop Elmer the best Ebraician of all the bishops' (Ep. to Nobilitie of Eng. p. 16), inferring, at least, that several of them were acquainted with Hebrew. In Elizabeth's time the teachers of Hebrew were surprisingly successful in rendering their students proficients in the language.t Broughton not only wrote but spoke the Hebrew with astonishing ease. He taught Sir Rowland Cotton, when a child, to converse in the same language with fluency. Bishop Bedell was as familiar with the Hebrew as the English, constantly translating from the original when reading with his family. The profoundly learned Gataker followed the same plan with as much ease. This practice, by the way, was introduced into Scotland by the celebrated John Row about the same period, and was afterwards followed in Many Hebrew poems of these days survive. The two Universities published no less than three volumes of verse in Hebrew, &c. in honour of Sir Philip Sidney. Among the Lansdowne MSS. (104, 78) are elegies in Hebrew on the death of Anne Countess of Oxford, written 1588. There are also numerous grammars and lexicons in manuscript in the libraries of Dublin, Cambridge, and Oxford, and in the British Museum, which must have been written about this time. See list at end of this article. New |