Accession of Leo X. His entry into Rome. State of Rome at this time. Its brilliant society. The Roman Court. The wits and poets. Leo’s magnificent patronage of letters. Corruption of manners. Spread of infidelity in the literary circles of Italy. The Fifth Council of Lateran. Restoration of the Roman University. The Ciceronians. Sadolet and Bembo. Paganism of art and literature. Erasmus and Luther at Rome. Impressions received by both. Death of Leo, and accession of Adrian VI. Dismay of the professors. His attempts at Reform. Clement VII. Tokens of a change. The Oratory of Divine Love. St. Cajetan and the Theatines. The sack of Rome. 655 CHAPTER XXIII. ENGLISH SCHOLARS OF THE RENAISSANCE.--A.D. 1473 TO 1550. Scholars of Magdalen College. Visit of Erasmus to England. His opinion of Oxford. Dean Colet. His character and his friends. His friendship with Erasmus. Foundation of St. Paul’s School. Court of Henry VIII. Its brilliancy and learned character. Reginald Pole. Progress of the Reformation. Controversy between Erasmus and Luther. The divorce. The king consults the foreign universities. The Humanist professors espouse his cause. Pole retires from England. His life in Italy. Effect of the Reformation on the English universities. Utter decay of Oxford under Edward VI. 672 CHAPTER XXIV. THE COUNCIL OF TRENT.--A.D. 1534 TO 1580. Election of Paul III. His Cardinals. The Commission of Reform. Its important declaration on the subject of the state of education, especially at the universities. The sixteenth article on the professorial system. St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Colleges. The Council of Trent. Influence of Cardinal Pole in that Council. He is recalled to England. His attempts to reform the universities and establish Church seminaries. His provincial decrees. B. Peter Canisius. Decrees on education passed by the Council of Trent. Establishment of Church seminaries. Illustrious men who forwarded this work. St. Pius V. Ghiberti, Bartholomew of the Martyrs and St. Charles Borromeo. The schools and seminaries of Milan. Conclusion. 704 INDEX. 727 CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS. _CHAPTER I._ THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. A.D. 60 to 543.