CRICHTON

CRICHTON (James), known by the appellation of "the admirable Crichton," was born in Perthshire, at Clunie his paternal inheritance, in the year 1557. He studied grammar at the school of Perth, and philosophy at the college of St Andrews.

At the age of 20 years, he thought of improving himself by foreign travel; and having arrived at Paris, the desire of procuring the notice of its university, or the pride of making known his attainments, induced him to affix placards on the gates of its colleges, challenging the professors to dispute with him in all the branches of literature and the sciences, in 10 languages, and either in prose or in verse. On the day appointed 3000 auditors assembled. Fifty masters, who had laboriously prepared for the contest, proposed to him the most intricate questions; and he replied to them in the language they required, with the happiest propriety of expression, with an acuteness that seemed superior to every difficulty, and with an erudition which appeared to have no bounds. Four celebrated doctors of the church then ventured to enter into disputation with him. He obviated every objection they could urge in opposition to him; he refuted every argument they advanced. A sentiment of terror mingled itself with their admiration of him. They conceived him to be Antichrist*.

This singular exhibition continued from nine o'clock in the morning till six at night, and was closed by the president of the university, who having expressed, in the strongest terms of compliment, the lenie he entertained of his capacity and knowledge, advanced towards him, accompanied by four professors, and bestowed on him a diamond ring and a purse of gold.

The acclamations of the spectators were frequent and loud; and, what completed the amazement of the university, during the interval which passed from his giving the challenge till the day appointed for accepting it, he applied not to his books. He rather seemed industriously to avoid them. He engaged in parties at cards, and at dice; he exercised himself at tennis, and other youthful sports. This conduct was interpreted to be in derision of that learned society; but whether justly, or invidiously, we know not; and the students, to support or avenge the cause of their humiliated teachers, fixed a lampoon on the gate of the Sorbonne, intimating, that those who would see this monster of erudition, must look for him at the tavern or the brothel.

Nor, it is said, was this formidable trial attended with any waste of his fire, or usual vivacity. It seemed not an exertion that could fatigue him. The day after, he attended a public match of tilting; and, in the presence of the princes of France, and a great many

Crichton. many ladies, bore away the ring 15 times, and broke as many lances on the Saracen.

About two years after he had achieved this victory at Paris, he appeared at Rome, and gave a similar challenge to the learned of that city. The wits of Italy dispersed papers in ridicule of what they conceived to be levity or madness. But Crichton was not in the smallest degree intimidated. He disputed in presence of the pope, of many cardinals, bishops, and doctors of divinity. The universality of his knowledge extorted their admiration.

From Rome he went to Venice; where, becoming acquainted with Aldus Manutius, he presented him with a poem, which is still extant*. The treasures of learning he discovered in conversation astonished Manutius still more than his poem. He mentioned him as a prodigy wherever he went; and the other men of letters and reputation in that place were not less amazed at his acquisitions. It was thought proper that he should be publicly introduced to the doge and the senate; and he addressed them in a speech, of which the eloquence and the force, in regard to sentiment and expression, were not more remarkable, than the graces and the propriety with which he pronounced it.

We next find him at Padua; and the reputation of his merit having reached it before him, the professors of its university assembled, on his arrival, in order to receive him, and to do him honour. On being presented to them, he made an extemporal poem in praise of the city, and the assembly then present; after which, he sustained a disputation with them during six hours, on whatever they pleased to propose in the whole circle of the sciences. He then, to their surprise, concluded the meeting with an unpremeditated oration on the advantages of ignorance.

Some time after, he publicly declared, that he was ready to detect, before the same university, the almost infinite multitude of errors which disgrace the philosophy of Aristotle; to expose the learned arrogance of his commentators; and to refute the opinions of many celebrated mathematicians. And this stupendous talk he offered to perform in the common logical method, by numbers, or mathematical figures, and by a hundred different kinds of verses. Nor was this a matter of parade and ostentation. We have the authority of Aldus Manutius, who was present at the disputation, that he performed all that he had promised.

Before he left Padua, we are also told, that a person named Archangellus Mercenarius, who had applied solely to subjects of philosophy, and had acquired a high reputation for knowledge in them, discovered a desire to enter into competition with him. Crichton refused him not the honour he aspired to; he even begged him to propose the topics of which he was the most perfectly well informed. This advantage so honourably conferred by Crichton, added to the disgrace of his adversary. But Archangellus, on perceiving his temerity, did much to apologize for it, by a strain of conduct somewhat uncommon among scholars. He acknowledged his defeat and inferiority with candour and politeness.

These attainments of erudition, which cannot be thought of without wonder, were not gained by an intensity of labour, that allowed not leisure for amusement, or that precluded the acquisition of softer and more useful accomplishments. Crichton did not confine himself like a pedant to his closet and his studies. He was ambitious to adorn himself with every sort of excellence. He moved with gracefulness in the dance; he was dexterous at every feat of horsemanship; he designed and painted with admirable skill; he performed in vocal and instrumental music with a taste and power of execution that are almost never united. It is also recorded, that he had uncommon address in those domestic games, which an indolent ingenuity has invented, and which enable us to fill up the little intervals of life.

His historians have likewise been careful to enlarge on his knowledge and expertise in all military exercises. At tilts and tournaments he met no superior. He never engaged in them without acquiring the victory. Nor was it always in mock representations of battle that he displayed his prowess. A prize-fighter, proud with triumphs obtained in every country of Europe, received protection from the duke of Mantua, and spread terror through his dominions. Three persons had fallen by his sword; and the duke repenting of his rash concession, Crichton proffered him his service, and staked 1500 pistoles on his success. The duke was reluctant to oppose the life of a man so accomplished, to that of a murderer and a common enemy of mankind; yet, relying on the fair report of his achievements, he was prevailed with to consent to it. The time and the place were appointed; and the whole court determined to be spectators of the combat. The prize-fighter advanced with address and violence. Crichton defended himself with a calm intrepidity. In his turn, however, he became the assailant. The Italian wasted with his own fury, was unable to repel passes pressed with no less vigour than dexterity. He received three thrusts through the body, and expired. Crichton, generous as well as brave, disdained to appropriate the prize of victory. He hastened, in the true spirit of chivalry, to throw it at the feet of the widows whose husbands this gladiator had assassinated.

The duke of Mantua, struck with the variety of his talents and acquirements, made him tutor to his son Vincentio Gonzaga, a prince of turbulent dispositions and licentious manners. The court approved highly of his choice; and Crichton, in order to express his gratitude, or to excite still higher their admiration, composed a comedy for their entertainment. This performance has been extolled as a most ingenious satire against mankind; and he himself was the chief performer in it. He personated with inimitable propriety, and with the most exact knowledge, the divine and the philosopher, the lawyer and the mathematician, the physician and the soldier. But, while he was elated with his preëminence, and was laughing over the follies and the absurdities of men, an unexpected and cruel event was about to terminate the career of his glory.

One night, during the festivity of the carnival, while he rambled about the streets playing upon the guitar, six men in masks attacked him. In this extremity, he consulted his courage and his skill; and he employed them with success. He dispersed his assailants, and disarmed their leader, who, pulling off his mask, exclaimed, "I am the prince your pupil." The gallant Crichton, recognizing his features, not only spared his life, but taking his sword by the point, presented it to him. The prince insensible of a conduct so noble, and stung with jealousy, or mad with wine, immediately seized it, and plunged it into his heart.

Thus perished, in the 32^d year of his age, the admirable Crichton. A death so ignoble, so immature, added to the regret and the sympathy which his loss would otherwise have excited. The court of Mantua ordered a general mourning for him; a thousand epitaphs and elegies lamented him; and paintings of him, in which he was represented on horseback, with a sword in one hand, and a book in the other, were multiplied in every quarter.