OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 21 



tington when — inasmuch as the art of printing was not discovered by 

 Lorenz Koster, at Haerlem, until 1430," or seven years after "Whit- 

 tington's death ; and was not introduced to England by Caxton" until 

 1472 — there could have been no book-stalls, and it would have been of 

 little use to expose for sale manuscripts which, not only the people, 

 but many even of the monks and priests were unable to read, to such a 

 degraded state was the church and society at large reduced in those 

 days. When we look at our steam printing presses, at an unstamped 

 copy of the Times, with its sixteen closely printed pages for fourpence, 

 and at the Standard, Telegraph, and other papers for a penny, and a 

 New Testament for fourpence,^ we are apt, perhaps, to look with con- 

 tempt or pity upon the ages that are past, and hug ourselves with 

 satisfaction at our superiority ; but do we look up to Him who has 

 made us to differ, and seek to glorify Him in the use we make of the 

 superior privileges which we possess ? 



In the midst of our brilliant men of talent and research, lean scarcely 

 point out amongst ourselves (even advantages not being excepted) the 

 equal to Richard Whittington. Education obtained under diflBculties 

 is perhaps the more valued, and, with a truly benevolent mind, "Whit- 

 tington did not grudge to others what he had himself acquired at so 

 great a cost of pains and perseverance, as I shall hope to show you 

 when I come to speak by and by of the libraries which he founded. 

 Indeed I think it very probable that AVhittington was instrumental 

 in getting the law passed which, in the reign of Henry IV., 

 took off the restrictions upon education, and allowed the children of 

 the middle classes to go to school. 



The stoiy books tell us that young Whittington was attracted 

 to London by the report that its streets were paved with gold : 

 perhaps this figurative expression may have been taken literally 

 by the poor youth. I don't believe that the streets of London 



« See Henry's History of Great Britain, vol. 10, book 5. 



"William Caxton was agent to the Mercer's Company. It is highly creditable 

 to that great company that they have had amongst their number some of the most 

 intellectual men of early times. 



p "WicklifF's first translation of the Testament sold for a sum equal to £40 of 

 our money : — See Hartwell Home's Critical Introduction to the Study of tht 

 Scriptures, vol. 2. 



