eache with his fellow to supplie him with oyl,
and making, with theire flaring lights, the night as cleare as daye.
After 'em, the morris-dancers and City waites; the Lord Mayor on
horseback, very fine, with his giants and pageants: and the Sheriff and
his watch, and _his_ giants and pageants. The streets very uproarious on
our way back to the barge, but the homeward passage delicious; the
nighte ayre cool; and the stars shining brightly. Father and Erasmus had
some astronomick talk; howbeit, methoughte Erasmus less familiar with
y'e heavenlie bodies than father is. Afterwards, they spake of y'e
King, but not over-freelie, by reason of y'e bargemen overhearing.
Thence, to y'e ever-vext question of Martin Luther, of whome Erasmus
spake in terms of earneste, yet qualifyde prayse.

"If Luther be innocent," quoth he, "I woulde not run him down by a
wicked faction; if he be in error, I woulde rather have him reclaymed
than destroyed; for this is most agreeable to the doctrine of our deare
Lord and Master, who woulde not bruise y'e broken reede, nor quenche
y'e smoaking flax." And much more to same purpose.

We younger folks felle to choosing our favourite mottoes and devices, in
which y'e elders at length joyned us. Mother's was loyal--"Cleave to
y'e crown though it hang on a bush." Erasmus's pithie--"Festina
lente." William sayd he was indebted for his to St. Paul--"I seeke not
yours, but you." For me, I quoted one I had seene in an olde countrie
church, "Mieux etre que paroitre," which pleased father and Erasmus
much.

* * * * *

Poor Erasmus caughte colde on y'e water last nighte, and keeps house
to-daye, taking warm possets. 'Tis my week of housekeeping under
mother's guidance, and I never had more pleasure in it: delighting to
suit his taste in sweete things, which, methinks, all men like. I have
enow of time left for studdy, when alle's done.

He hathe beene the best part of the morning in our academia, looking
over books and manuscripts, taking notes of some, discoursing with Mr.
Gunnell and others; and, in some sorte, interrupting our morning's work;
but how pleasantlie! Besides, as father sayth, "varietie is not always
interruption. That which occasionallie lets and hinders our accustomed
studdies, may prove to y'e ingenious noe less profitable than theire
studdies themselves."

They beganne with discussing y'e pronunciation of Latin and Greek, on
which Erasmus differeth much fr