The Golden Grasshopper: A story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOUR.

  SAINT PAUL'S SCHOOL.

  Ernst Verner felt somewhat sad and lonely in London. Antwerp was alarge city, but London was far larger, and he was afraid to venture outby himself, lest he should not find his way back again to LombardStreet. Lady Anne too was very kind, but she was somewhat stately andcold, and could not replace one whom he still remembered with tenderlove. With Richard he was more at home, but Richard was delicate, anddid not seem inclined to enter into the sports for which Ernst sighed.Master Gresham was as kind as Lady Anne, but he was at all hours engagedin business, and often appeared not to take notice of the young boydepending on him. He told Ernst that he was to go to school, but thetime passed by, and Ernst still remained at home, picking up suchknowledge as a worthy man, Master Dickson, who came every day toinstruct Richard, was willing to impart.

  At length, one evening when Master Gresham was seated before thefireplace, in which blazed several logs, Ernst, who had been sittingsilently in one corner for some time, with his face over a book,ventured to address him. Ernst was in no way afraid of his patron,whose genial, easy manners had from the first put him at his ease.

  "Master Gresham," he said, "I now speak English well enough to go to anEnglish school. You said I was to go: when may that time be?"

  "Few boys are in a hurry to put themselves under the power of apedagogue's birch," answered Ernst's patron, looking down upon him."Have you thought on that subject, Ernst? The road to learning is notalways one of roses. You must be prepared for many things to which youhave not been accustomed, boy."

  "I do not expect to find many roses in this big city," answered Ernst;"but yet I would lief get more learning than I at present possess."

  "Well, lad, you shall have your will. As soon as Saint Paul's Schoolopens again after the holidays, you shall go to it," answered MasterGresham. "You have heard of it, may be. It was founded by a ripescholar--Dean Colet--and it is well able to turn out ripe scholars, I amtold. Dr Freeman, the head master, is a learned man, and a thoroughdisciplinarian, and it is the fault of his pupils if they do not imitatehis example. The Honourable Company of Mercers, to which I belong, arethe trustees of the school, and although you are not native born, Ishall be able to obtain a nomination for you. In Dean Colet's trust heespecially declares, in the statutes of the school, that it shall beopen to the children of all nations and countries indifferently. Indeedthere is no doubt that while he limited the number of scholars to 153--so many fishes as were caught in the net by the apostles (Johntwenty-one, verse 11), he wished the offspring of our foreign brethrenin the reformed doctrines to have a share in his benefits. No boys are,however, to be admitted, but such as can say their Catechism, as well asread and write competently; but as you can do that, Ernst, already, Imay promise you an admission."

  Ernst thanked his patron, for he had a desire to gain knowledge, thoughhe did not clearly understand what sort of place a school was. As hewas anxious to make a good appearance on entering, he attended with moreassiduity than ever to his studies at home, and thus he had made veryfair progress before the day of admission arrived. At that time therewas less difficulty than there had been previously in obtainingadmission to the school. Romanists would not send their children to it,and Protestant parents were often afraid of doing so, lest they shouldbring suspicion on themselves, or lest some day Bishop Gardiner shouldinsist on the pupils being brought up in the Romish doctrines.

  The day at length arrived for Ernst's admission. Master Gresham himselfwas too much occupied to go with him. He therefore deputed MasterElliot, his factor in Lombard Street, to perform the duty of introducingthe boy. It was a bitter cold morning, but Ernst was up betimes, andhaving eaten his breakfast, he slung his new satchel, which Lady Annehad procured for him, over his back. He had, too, thick shoes, withbright red cloth hose, and a long blue coat, which kept his knees warm,though it somewhat impeded his running.

  Master Elliot and his charge soon reached Saint Paul's, and turning tothe left, stood before the entrance of the school. Ernst looked up, andthought the building a very fine one. There were none around to becompared to it.

  On either side were two dwelling-houses, which Master Elliot told himwere the habitations of the masters. Passing under a fine porch, theyfound themselves in the entrance-hall, where the younger pupils wereassembled, who were under the especial charge of the chaplain. In asecond large hall were boys of more advanced age, who were instructed bythe under master, while in a third division were the boys of the upperforms, who were under the especial superintendence of the high masterhimself. The last two divisions were separated only by a large curtain,which could be drawn at will. Master Elliot passing on, stood beforethe head master's chair at the further end of the hall. Dr Freemanreceived his salute, and descending from his chair, inquired the name ofthe boy he had brought.

  "Ah! yes," he said, on hearing Ernst's name, "a ward of the worshipfulMaster Gresham--that _ditissimus mercator_, as my honoured friend DrCaius calls him. I am glad to have the youthful Verner under my charge.I will presently see that he possesses the necessary qualifications forentering, of which, however, I entertain no doubt, being fullypersuaded, from what Master Gresham wrote, that he is far moreproficient than many who come here."

  Ernst did not exactly understand all that the Doctor was saying; at thesame time he heard enough to give him courage, and with less anxiety andalarm than might have been expected, he bade his friend the factorfarewell.

  "Keep thy wits about thee, my lad," whispered Master Elliot, "and docredit to your name and country. There is nothing very difficult foryou to go through, depend on that, or those dull-headed boys we passedas we entered would never have taken their places in the school."

  Ernst found his friend's remarks correct.

  His reading, in spite of his foreign accent, was considered fluent, andhis writing very good. To the questions put to him he answered in a wayto obtain the approbation of the Doctor, and he was forthwith sent totake his place in the lower school. Ernst found that each classcontained sixteen boys. The one who was at the head of his class had alittle seat to mark his honourable position, arranged above the bencheson which the other boys were placed.

  As at that early hour lights were required, each boy had brought a waxcandle, it being against the rules laid down by Dean Colet that anytallow candles should be used. As soon as the day became sufficientlybright, the candles were immediately extinguished, to be ready again inthe evening. Ernst, by attending diligently to his studies, gained theapprobation of his masters, and, greatly to his surprise, was in a shorttime promoted to the seat of honour at the head of the class. Heobserved that when Master Elliot entered he laid down fourpence, whichhe found was the fee for his admission into the school. This sum wasgiven to a certain poor scholar, who was engaged to attend to theschoolrooms, swept them out, and also kept the seats and desks clean--John Tobin was his name. Ernst took a liking to the lad because heseemed so humble and quiet, and ready to oblige. His cheeks weresomewhat hollow and his garments threadbare, for in truth the fourpencehe received, though not a sum to be despised, was not sufficient tomaintain him in much luxury. John Tobin had also a widowed mother,already advancing in life, whom he did his utmost to support, and helooked forward to the time when he should, by the result of his labours,enable her to live in more comfort than she then could. Ernst, incourse of time, made friends with several of his schoolfellows, who willbe mentioned hereafter. He had to be up early every morning to take hisbreakfast and be away to school, as the hours of study were from 7 to 11a.m., and from 1 to 5 p.m.

  On one side of the hall was a chapel, where the pupils assembled forprayers on first collecting in the morning, as also at noon, and againin the evening. Ernst, having been brought up a strict Calvinist, wasnot altogether pleased at seeing, over the chair of the head master, animage of the boy Jesus, albeit it was a beautiful work of art.

  It was in the gesture of teaching. All the scholars on goi
ng into thehall, as also on departing, were taught to salute it with a hymn. Abovethe figure there was a painting, intended to represent God the Father,under which was written the words, "Hear ye Him!" These words wereplaced there, Ernst heard, at the suggestion of the great Dutch scholarErasmus, who was a friend of Dean Colet, and who, some years before, hadvisited London. Under the figure also were some lines in Latin, writtenby the same learned person. Behind the school was a playgroundsurrounded by cloisters, where the pupils played in rainy weather.

  As is well-known, it was the custom for the elder boys in some schools,and other youths, to assemble on stages at Barthelmy Fair, where theyheld disputations on various subjects, much in the way as is done in theNetherlands. The scholars at Dean Colet's school were, however,interdicted from this amusement, he considering it as tending only toidle jabbering.

  His great wish was that they all should learn pure and chaste Latin, andhe prohibited them from studying the later writers, after Sallust andCicero. Ernst found that there were very few holidays at the school,Dean Colet holding that keeping the Saints' days, as had been thecustom, was a great cause of idleness and dissipation. He remarked thatthose countries where the Saints were thus honoured were the poorest,and most immoral in Christendom. The students were, however, allowed toact plays, interludes, and moralities, and were trained by the headmaster and others to speak their parts with correctness and grace;indeed, so perfect did they become, that they at times exhibited theirtalents before their Sovereign.

  Ernst's days were not altogether pleasant ones. He was jeered at by theother boys on account of his foreign tongue. The discipline too of theschool was very strict. The ferule and the birch were constantlyemployed. If he was perchance late at school, either in the morning orafternoon, he had additional tasks and impositions, not that he oftensuffered on that account. He attended with great assiduity to hisstudies, anxious to improve himself, and to show that he was worthy ofthe kind patronage of Master Gresham. He soon made himself acquaintedwith Paul's _Accidents_, written by Dean Colet for the use of hisscholars, and consisting of the rudiments of grammar, with an abridgmentof the principles of religion.

  Ernst had mixed so little with other boys, that he was unaccustomed todefend himself against the attacks of his companions. Thus at firsteven very small boys dared to assail him, he looking upon them withpity, or it may have been with contempt, just as a large mastiff, whenlittle dogs are barking at his heels, refrains from retaliating. Thisgave them courage to continue their persecutions. One day, however,several of the bigger boys thought fit to unite with them, mimickingErnst, and inquiring what had become of his parents, that they allowedhim thus to be sent to a foreign land.

  "They were burnt for their religion," answered Ernst at last; "becausethey would not bow down to idols, or attend the Popish mass."

  "Oh! oh! young master, heretics were they!" exclaimed some of the boys;for at this time, although the principles of the school existed asbefore, Romanism was apparently in the ascendant. "Then you are aheretic, I doubt not, and will some day come to the stake."

  A big boy was standing by whom Ernst had often seen, though never spokento. He listened eagerly to what Ernst was saying, as also to theexclamations of the other boys.

  "I am ready to burn for the true faith," said Ernst. "It were well forsome of you to try and learn what that true faith is, instead of abusinga foreigner sent among you."

  "Are you, young jackanapes, to teach us?" exclaimed several of the bigboys together; and the younger ones, set on by them, once more began toattack Ernst, to pull his coat tails, and to give him cuffs on the head.He stood it for some time in his usual way, till one of the big onesbegan to treat him in the same manner. Instantly turning round, hestruck his new assailant a blow between the eyes, which sent him reelingbackwards. The boy, enraged, flew upon Ernst, and would have punishedhim severely, had not at that moment the lad who, has been spoken ofsprung forward.

  "Fair play!" he exclaimed, "fair play! English boys, if you forget whatthat is, I intend to see it carried out. Now as Ernst Verner is aslight boy, and I am a stout one, whoever wants to attack him mustattack me first--who is ready? Come on! you all know me, Andrew A'Dale,that I never flinch from a fight; and with a good cause to fight for, Iam not going to do so now."

  The boy who had been attacking Ernst, blinded with anger, flew atA'Dale, who sent him back reeling among his companions.

  "Does anybody else want to attack Verner?" he exclaimed; "let him comeon now, or ever afterwards keep quiet."

  No one answered the challenge. The bigger boys walked off one by onewith looks of anger turned towards A'Dale, while the younger ones slunkaway, and Ernst was left standing near A'Dale. Ernst thanked A'Dalewarmly for the protection he had afforded him.

  "I never stood up for another more willingly," answered A'Dale. "Youare a foreigner, and without friends, and more than that you are aProtestant, and your parents have suffered for a good cause. Both thosethings would make me wish you well, but I like you for yourself, and forthe spirit you have shown, so say no more about it."

  From that day forward Ernst and Andrew A'Dale became firm friends.

  Soon after this the whole school went in procession, according tocustom, to attend the service of the Boy Bishop. He was one of thechoristers of the cathedral, one of whom every year was selected forthis office. He was habited in a bishop's full dress, though it cannotbe said that he looked altogether as dignified as might have beendesired. Still he managed to ape with tolerable accuracy the movementsand mode of proceeding of a full-grown bishop. One thing might truly besaid, that had he played many strange antics, he would scarcely haveout-done Bishop Bonner, albeit such a remark would have been dangerousto make at that time. The boys of the school were arranged, as has beensaid, in their seats, when the bishop, ascending the pulpit, and withcrozier in hand, delivered his address. His companions now and thenmade signs to him which betokened no great amount of respect. As theboys of Saint Paul's School, however, had the eyes of their mastersfixed on them, they behaved with sufficient decorum. A'Dale, however,who disliked such mummeries as much as did Ernst, did not altogetherkeep his countenance. He was in sight of the altar, where the priestwas about to perform the high mass. That ceremony was gone through inthe usual way, both A'Dale and Ernst, and some others may be, chafingnot a little at being obliged to be present at it. Ernst's quick sighthad detected the eyes of the priest fixed on him and A'Dale. Hewhispered to his companion.

  "Yes, possibly we are marked," answered A'Dale; "but the priest can dous little harm, I should think; and at all events we must brave it out."The two boys, it must be owned, took little pains to conceal theirfeelings. Before leaving the church each boy of the school had to takeup one penny, and present it to the Boy Bishop for his maintenance, andthus every year he collected a goodly number of pennies. It may beremarked that the Boy Bishop was chosen by the other choristers toofficiate from Saint Nicholas Day to the evening of Innocents' Day.Should he die during that period, he was always buried in the habit of abishop. The following day Ernst and A'Dale saw, not without someanxiety, the priest who had been officiating at the altar enter theschool. After speaking with the head master, he cast his eyes round theclasses and pointed to A'Dale and Ernst.

  "Some harm will come out of this," they thought; but they wisely saidnothing. Again the priest consulted with the head master, who seemed tobe expostulating with him, and finally took his departure, casting afrowning glance on the two boys. Having reached the door he turnedround, as if to watch what the head master would do. Dr Freeman onthis called up A'Dale and Ernst, and spoke in a loud voice with greatseverity to them, threatening them with condign punishment for theirirreverent behaviour. As, however, he did not proceed further thanwords, they had reason to hope that he did not consider them guilty ofany very atrocious crime. As soon as the priest had taken hisdeparture, they were allowed to return to their seats, with anadmonition, that in future, whatever they might
think of such matters,not to express their thoughts by their gestures.

  It may be supposed, though, that the masters were not personallyfavourable to the re-introduction of the Popish forms and ceremonieswhich was then taking place throughout the country. There was more tocome out of this than the boys thought.