"Pass time with good company." And the other:-- "I love unloved." [285] Solus haberi in pretio volebat. (Ibid. 593) He wished that himself alone should be esteemed. [286] Talis erat puer, talis adolescens, talis juvenis, talis nunc etiam vir est. Ibid. 594. We are indebted to Secretary Pace for this characteristic trait.[287] [287] State Papers, Henry VIII. etc. i. p. 10, pub. 1830. During the sojourn of Erasmus in England, Lee, observing his influence, had sought his friendship, and Erasmus, with his usual courtesy, had solicited his advice upon his work. But Lee, jealous of his great reputation, only waited for an opportunity to injure it, which he seized upon as soon as it occurred. The New Testament had not been long published, when Lee turned round abruptly, and from being Erasmus's friend became his implacable adversary.[288] "If we do not stop this leak," said he, when he heard of the New Testament, "it will sink the ship." Nothing terrifies the defenders of human traditions so much as the word of God. [288] Subito factus est inimicus. (Erasm. Ep. 746.) Suddenly he became unfriendly. [Sidenote: LEE'S MANIFESTO.] Lee immediately leagued himself with all those in England who abhorred the study of Scripture, says Erasmus. Although exceedingly conceited, he showed himself the most amiable of men, in order to accomplish his designs. He invited Englishmen to his house, welcomed strangers, and gained many recruits by the excellence of his dinners.[289] While seated at table among his guests, he hinted perfidious charges against Erasmus, and his company left him "loaded with lies."[290]--"In this New Testament," said he, "there are three hundred dangerous, frightful passages ... three hundred did I say? ... there are more than a thousand!" Not satisfied with using his tongue, Lee wrote scores of letters, and employed several secretaries. Was there any convent in the odour of sanctity, he "forwarded to it instantly wine, choice viands, and other presents." To each one he assigned his part, and over all England they were rehearsing what Erasmus calls _Lee's tragedy_.[291] In this manner they were preparing the catastrophe: a prison for Erasmus, the fire for the Holy Scriptures. [289] Excipiebat advenas, præsertim Anglos, eos conviviis faciebat suos. (Ibid. 593.) He received strangers, especially Englishmen, and attached them to himself by his banquets. [290] Abeuntes omni mendaciorum genere dimittebat onustos. (Ibid.) He sent them away loaded with every kind of lies. [291] Donee Leus ordiretur suam _tragædiam_. (Erasm. Ep. 913.) Until Lee should begin his tragedy.