In a letter from Erasmus to William Latimer, written from Antwerp in 1518, he says that if he had such men as Linacre and Tunstal for his preceptors, not to speak of Latimer himself, he would not wish for an Italian to teach him Greek.[1] There is also extant a letter from Linacre to Budaeus (Budé), written from London on 10th June, 1518, in which he tells Budé that he thinks of his past favours with gratitude; of the books he received from him; and his care in revising his "Lucubrations." He has sent him some rings (cramp rings) consecrated by the King, as a charm against spasms.[2] In his reply, dated at Paris, on 10th July, Budé acknowledges the receipt of his letter with the rings on 6th July. He had just drawn on his boots for a ride, and would not answer in haste, as it was written in such an elegant style, and he did not like to be outdone. He finds by his letter that Linacre desires to thank him for a copy of his book "De Asse" which he had presented to him when he was at Paris in the suite of Queen Mary, and for the services he had rendered to him in overlooking his lately published work. His services were not a gift but a fee to purchase the advocacy of Linacre in England. He cannot regret the time he employed in Linacre's version of "De Sanitate Tuendâ" He has distributed among the wives of his relatives and friends the eighteen rings of silver and one of gold he received from him, telling them that they were amulets against slander and calumny.[3]
In another letter written from Paris on 9th September of the same year, Budé thanks him for his present, but more for his letter.
- ↑ Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic, vol. ii. p. 1219, No. 3910.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 1310, No. 4223. These rings were much sought after. The time for blessing them was Good Friday. Anne Boleyn sent four of them to Peter Vannes and the other Ambassadors who were working the divorce at Rome. Queen Mary blessed hundreds of them, and they were in good request at the Emperor's Court. (Ex. inf. J. E. Bailey, Esq.) Guillaume Budé (Budaeus) was master of the Court of Requests, and Librarian to King Francis I., and one of the greatest scholars of the age. Linacre had formed his acquaintance at Paris, when he attended King Henry VIII. and the Princess Mary to France, at the time of her marriage to King Louis XII.
- ↑ Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic, vol. ii. p. 1331, No. 4305.
