the most brilliant, but one of the most learned, of
the age; he was the Mecænas of the fourteenth
century. Two of the noblest patrons of literature
that Italy ever possessed were Pope
Nicholas the Fifth and Pope Leo the Tenth.
The post of apostolic secretary, looked upon as
the highest honour, was repeatedly conferred
upon men of letters.

The Roman University had fallen into decay.
The primary cause of this was the long sojourn
of the popes at Avignon. Innocent the Seventh
conceived the idea of re-establishing it. In the
midst of the turmoils of the great schism, Innocent
issued a bull, in which, after stating that in
consequence of the unsettled times the schools
of learning at Rome had become neglected,
he announced that he had appointed learned
professors in all the branches of the sciences
and in the Greek tongue. His praiseworthy
endeavours did not, however, succeed in
re-establishing it on a permanent footing. The merit
for achieving so desirable an end was reserved
to Pope Eugenius the Fourth; but the university
especially nourished under Nicholas the
Fifth.

The University of Bologna had gradually
fallen off in the middle of the fourteenth
century, but, towards the close of the century, was
resuming its pristine high reputation. At the
commencement of the fifteenth century it was
in high repute, numbering among its professors
some of the most learned scholars in Italy, as
Guarino, Filelfo, and Aurispa. Filelfo relates
that when he went there to assume his duties as
professor, in 1428, such a large number of
professors came to welcome him that nothing more
honourable can be imagined. The Cardinal of
Aries, the legate at Bologna, sent for him
immediately on his arrival, and received him with
every mark of distinction. He was allowed a
salary of four hundred and fifty scudi, namely,
three hundred from the city, and one hundred
and fifty from the private purse of the legate,
who, moreover, presented him with a purse of
fifty scudi and other valuable presents. In the
same year a revolutionary movement took place
at Bologna, and for the three following years
the university was deserted. In 1450, the
university was rebuilt by Cardinal Bessarione. He
offered high salaries to the most learned
professors, and aroused the emulation for study
among the youth of Bologna by prizes and
rewards. Nicholas the Fifth conferred various
privileges upon the university. Students from
all parts of Europe flocked to Bologna. Christian,
King of Denmark, visited it in 1474.
Desirous that two of his courtiers should receive
diplomas—one of law, the other of medicine—
the ceremony took place in the church of San
Pietro. Elevated seats having been prepared
for the professors who had to confer the
diplomas, a more elevated seat was raised for the
king, who, out of respect for the university,
declined taking possession of it, declaring that
he should deem it the highest honour to be
seated side by side with men whom all the
world held in such high esteem.

Whilst under the rule of the lords of Carrara,
the University of Padua was in a flourishing
condition. Having fallen to Venice, in 1406,
the Venetians voted the sum of four thousand
ducats for the benefit of the university—a sum
which was annually voted in subsequent years.
A papal bull, issued by Pope Eugenius the
Fourth, in 1439, conferred various privileges
upon the university. The Venetian senate, in
its desire to render the university as flourishing
as possible, prohibited the establishment of
public schools in other cities of the republic—
an impolitic and arbitrary act, which led to the
emigration of many of her sons. Venice, the
capital, was an exception to the act. The
University of Venice was in such high repute that
it did not fear a rival. The senate decreed,
however, that the degrees of philosophy and
medicine only should be conferred at Venice,
whilst Padua had the exclusive right of
conferring those of divinity and law.

At the commencement of the fifteenth
century, the University of Pisa had greatly fallen
off. The city was annexed to the Florentine
republic in 1406. The university had
nearly been swamped by that of Florence. The
Florentines, aware of the advantages which
Pisa offered as a place of study, and well
understanding that two universities could not co-exist
so near each other in the same state, turned all
their attention to Pisa. The University of
Florence had gone through many changes; at one
time well attended, at another deserted,
supported or neglected by turns by the authorities.
Guarino and Aurispo gave lectures there in
1428. Filelfo went there from Bologna, and
his lectures seem to have been well attended.
Under Lorenzo di Medici the University of
Florence reached the height of its prosperity.
In 1472, a decree of the senate transferred the
University of Florence to Pisa. A papal brief
of Pope Sixtus the Fourth, issued in 1475,
empowered the Florentines to levy a tax of five
thousand ducats for five years upon the church
property for the benefit of the new university,
In 1479, in consequence of the devastations of
the plague, the university was transferred to
Pistoja, but only for one year. The plague
having again made its appearance at Pisa in
1481, the classes migrated to Prato, but after
three months the lectures were resumed at
Pisa. In 1485, from a similar cause, the classes
were again opened for a time at Prato.

Florence and Pisa were not the only cities of
Tuscany that boasted universities. The University
of Siena stood in high repute in the fifteenth
century. Filelfo, who appears to have been
ubiquitous, held a course of lectures there
when compelled to leave Florence in 1435. For
two years he received the annual salary of two
hundred and fifty florins.

The University of Arezzo had fallen into
decay; and when the city was annexed to
Florence, the students all left for Pisa.

The University of Pavia stood in good repute
in the fifteenth century, both as regards the
eminence of the professors and number of