INTRODUCTION.

London, and probably to have practised medicine, but there is no satisfactory evidence as to this period of his life.

The accession of Henry VIII. must have raised the hopes of Linacre, as it did those of all the scholars and enlightened men in England at that time. The young king, known to be learned himself and a favourer of learning, was expected to give a powerful stimulus to the progress of the new studies. Erasmus was urged by his friends to return to England to share the prosperity and splendour of the new reign. A new epoch of enlightenment was to commence, and a final blow was to be given to all those evils and abuses which the scholars summed up in the word barbarism. It is well known that these hopes were not at all, or very imperfectly, realized, but Linacre himself had no reason for disappointment. He was made the royal physician, a post, in those days, of great influence and importance in other than professional matters, as is shewn by a curious letter addressed to Linacre by the University of Oxford. From this, as from other events, it is clear that Linacre did not, while at court, forget his old mistress, learning, but used his influence as far as possible for her advancement. He is described by a contemporary and friend George Lilly, as conspicuous among the chief persons of the court in a purple robe and a hood of black silk. Among his other patients are mentioned the great prelates Wolsey, Warham, and Fox.

After some years of professional activity, and when he was about fifty years of age, Linacre appears to have taken holy orders; or possibly at this time merely proceeded to priest's orders, having been previously deacon. The simplest explanation of this step is that which is given by himself in the dedication of his translation of Galen de Naturalibus Facultatibus on the Natural Faculties to Archbishop Warham, namely, that he