[1] Gherardi, Statuti della Univ. e Studio Fiorentino, 364;
Sandys, ii. 220; Einstein, 15.
Sometimes these pilgrims to Italy were poor men,
as were John Free, and the two Oxford men, Norton
and Bulkeley, who went thither in 1425-29.[1] But as a
rule such a journey was only possible for wealthy men.
An important pilgrim was Andrew Holes, who represensed
England at the Pope's court in Florence.[2] In
the eyes of Vespasiano, Holes was one of the most
cultivated of Englishmen. He appears to have bought
too many books to send by land, and so was obliged to
wait for a ship to transport them. What became of these
books?--did he collect for his own use?--or was he acting
merely for Duke Humfrey or the king?--or did he leave
them, as it is said, to his Church? Unfortunately these
are questions which cannot be answered.
[1] O. H. S., 35, Anstey, 17, 45.
[2] "Messer Andrea Ols" in Italian authority; identified by Dr.
Sandys.
Four other men, Tiptoft, Grey, Free, and Gunthorpe,
all of Balliol College, where the influence of Duke Humfrey
may fairly be suspected, journeyed to Italy. "Butcher"
Tiptoft, an intimate of another enlightened community at
Christ Church, visited Guarino, walked Florentine streets
arm-in-arm with Vespasiano, thrilled Aeneas Sylvius, then
Pope, with a Latin oration, and returned to his own country
with many books, some of which he intended to give
to Oxford University--one of the best deeds of his
unhappy and calamitous life.
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