LEARNING, MEN OF

(At Court.)

Francis I boasted never to have seen any learned man, whose knowledge he had not exhausted in two years. This deserves attention. Francis I boasted, that, of many very learned men, with whom he had conversed, he had found none but Castellan, who could supply him with something new for two years. That is to say, all the rest were soon exhausted, and reduced either to repeat or be silent. They shewed the bottom of their bag; but Castellan was a living

spring, which never dried up. Perhaps there are no persons, whose conversation is more to be feared by a learned man, than that of great lords, who love learning. For, as they are used to speak without preparation on the things, which are under their cognizance, they conceive an ill opinion of a man who does not answer readily to the questions, which are asked him concerning his profession. Now how many learned divines are there, who would be cruelly puzzled by a question, put on a sudden, concerning the year, progress, issue, and chief circumstances of a council? I have heard a famous historiographer of France confess ingenuously, that he did not know in what age Philip the Fair lived. The more a man reads, and the more collections he makes, the less fit is he to answer immediately to questions about matters of fact; so that there are some persons, that make their learning no less to be admired in their books, than their ignorance in conversation. The Blondels, the Salmasius’s, and a very small number of such like persons, are not subject to this misfortune. But others fall into dangerous hands, when they are to go through the continual questions of a person of quality, who loves books. I have heard say, that the Marshall de Crequi, being retired to a country-house during his disgrace, sent for the most learned man of that part of the country. The prior of a monastery was brought to him. Fifteen days had not passed before he said, that they had brought him the most ignorant man in the world. Not but that this prior knew a great many things, and might have satisfied Monsieur de Crequi, if he had had time to prepare himself; but, to tell immediately the proper names, the dates, and other circumstances, was what he could not do.—Art. Castellan.