THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15041, 8 July 1909, Page 10

THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON.

(Loudon "Weekly Telegraph.") Out of a hundred pwwmn bo whom tho "Admirable Crichton" is known aa signifying tho quintessence ot all-round attainments, it is probable that not fivo could confidently name the period at which the bearer of tlii.v title " flourished" ; and that an even entailer percentage are aware of tho exact nature of the qualities which made him the friend of prince.", statesmen and. ficholars, touched the imagination of at least two countries, and won for him a. world-wide fame that has persisted for more than three centuries. James Crichton was born on August I!), 1560. His father, Robert Crichton, of EUock and Clttny, held the post <>i lord advocate to Mary Queen, oi Scot.-., and subsequently to Jamra VI. At tho age of ton he entered tlie Pniversity of St Andrew's, then the first seat of learning in Scotland. His tutors were the best scholars of the time, and en well did ho make use of his opportunities that, when but thirteen years? old. he took bin degree of Bachelor of Arts, and less .than two years later his Master of Arts: the final examination placed him third on a list which included the names of many afterward famous professors and literary men. On leaving college he continued to work with great application. He mastered the many subjects that he attacked, and before ho was eighteen years old he could write and Si'EAK FLUENTLY IN TEN DIFFEKKNT LAXCVACrES. About thici time he quarrelled with his father on political and religious subjects, and left his country lor good. Thirsting to distinguish himself in various ways, ho went first to Paris, then tho centro of European learning. A contemporary describes him a.'-' being at this period powerful and well-lonned remarkably handsome and possessed ol a fine voice. Ho was a skilled performer on soveral musical instruments, and a very expert swordsman, rider and dancer. His memory was so prodigious that after hearing a speech or so unon. an hour long ho could repeat it word j for word. I As soon afl he arrived in Paris he proceeded, according to the custom ot the time, to affix to the doors of churches and other public buildings challenges to literary and philosophic warfare. Ho engaged to present himself nt the end of "six weeks'at the College of Navarro to answer any question " in any rc.-ion.ee, liberal art, discipline and faculty, whether.practical or theoretic,'' and this in any one of twelve specified languages—including Arabic. Greek. Latin, Spanish. French. Italian, bnglisli, Dutch, Flemish and Sclavonian. Such a challenge from a mere boy of eighteen vears to the most profound scholars of France naturally aroused great interest —oven the suspicion that a big practical joke was on foot. However, tho ooutcet of wits took place in the presence of a huge crowd, and young Crichton acquitted himself so well that he won general admiration. At the date of his visit the Court of Henry 111. of France was the gayest in Europe. Tournaments and feats of arms bad attracted lo Paris tho chivalry of'the Continent. Great, therefore, was the astonishment nf tho Parisians when, within twenty-four hours of discomfiting their most learned men, the- brilliant. Scotchman appeared in a tilting match and carried off tho prize from all the best lances in tho kingdom. As a reward of the double feat ho was then and there dubbed "the Admirable Crichton." To understand his performances properly wo should picture him as a modern senior wrangler and senior classic and winner of a Marathon race rolled into one. Ho then moved on to Italy, where, despite his brilliant gifts, ho felt tho pinch of poverty, as bus father had cut off all supplies, and disputations did not bring in means of subsistence. His natural gifts gained him plenty of friends, however. Ho was publicly introduced to bile Doge and Senate of Venice, before whom he made so-elo-quent a speech that they HAILED 3IJM AS A ' ; I'HOOIGV OF XATIVRE." Here, as in Paris, he challenged the wiro men to trials of litemry/.nd logical strength, and attained such a. reputation that people flocked from all quarters to hear him. Scholars regarded his friendship as a high honour. Copies of his Latin verses were eagerly bought; and, as may bo imagined, lie became the idol of the younger members of tho community, especially of thoso of tho gentler sex. Whether tho paco was a bit too hot for him or not Crichton's health began to fail, and at his friends' advico lie removed to Padua. There, though weakened by illness, be disputed with his usual success; in fact, lie was so completely tho master of all who opposed him that slanders, inspired by jealousy, began to, circulate with regard to his real ability. To these Crichton replied in tho most practical fashion. Ho returned to Venice and issued a challenge of such a kind that his future reputation should depend on his success in making it good. His opponents made every effort to pose him with difficult questions, bu£ after a contest, which lasted three days, he remained

: victor on tho field, and was greeted ': with a chorus of praise which for ever I silenced bis detractors.

j We now como to an episode which ! proves that;, amid all his studies tho Admirable bad not neglected what we rail his sterner accomplishments. Italy was at that time the great school of fencing and swordsmanship. While at Manilla. Crichton foil in with a certain Italian gentleman "of a. mighty, able, strong, nimble and vigorous body "—to j quote the words of Urqtihart—" but by ! r.aturG fierce, cruel, warlike and aiida- : cions, and superlatively expert ana ; dexterous in the use of his weapon (the rapier). Being poor, this fencer had made a. regular business of touring Italy, and challenging any one who chose to a duel, a certain fium of money being staked by both parties, and the winner lifting the stakes. Three Mantuaii gentlemen, all first-class fencers, had taken up his challenge in succession, and had all LOST 'J'IIKIR JIOKET AND 'rni;rr. lives wim IT. Crichton, however, was only too glad of so fine a chance for showing him- \ self as proficient with his sword as ho j was with his tongue, lie accordingly I sent in a formal challenge to this re- ! doubtable antagonist to meet him in | single, combat before the assembled court of -Mantua. We can imagine what, a sensation the challenge aroused. On the one side a powerful, expert bully, on the other a chivalrous, accomplished scholar, whose association with learned professors little augured any hope of success against, a professional swordsman. So confident was Crichton that, instead of the. customary 2500 dollars, ho engaged to deposit stakes to the value of 7500 dollars. To this bis opponent gladly consented. At" the commencement of the duel, the young Scotchman, calm and cautions, confined his efforts to tiring out the Italian, and avoiding the savage. attacks which be pressed time after time. As soon as these attacks began to flag. Crichton in his turn took the offensive, and got in three thrusts which brought the duel to a sudden close. Crichton's victory was received with cheers, clapping of hands, blowing of trumpets and other noisy signs of joy. Nor was the applause! diminished when, with characteristic generosity, Crichton insisted on dividing the stakes equally among the three widows of his less fortunate predecessors. The. practical effect of the <Hi« : l was to secure him a post as tutor to Vicenzo di Gouzago, son of the Duke of Mantua. JJv way of entertaining the court ot the duke. Crichton took' it upon himself to write ji comic drama, in which he satirised the various professions. Moreover, he agreed to stage the play and sustain the leading part in each scene.: So well did he act .that, "like an admirable comedian of our own day. he appeared a separate actor in every different character, and it became impossible to determine in which of them the comic sock seemed most familiar to him." The comedy was destined to he followed by Till', SADDEST OF TKAUMIIKS. While walking through the streets of Mantua one night Crichton was attacked by a band of masked revellers. Single-handed lie managed to put them to flight and capture tho ringleader, who "when his mask had been torn away, proved to be Vincenzo, Crichton s nil pi K Hener--i nick at having laid hands upon the young man. he fell on his knees and. taking his sword by the point, presented it to his captive. Vincenzo. inflamed by jealousy and wme. took the sword *»id thrust it through Crichton'.- heart. So died, in his twenty-second year, one who in an age of learning had j proved himself the equal of the most learned: who in an ago of chivalry excelled in all knightly accomplishments.