68. DIVIDEBAT] Mr. Lupton, who has edited this letter, gives an example of this chilling method of division and subdivision, from a sermon on the Son of the Widow of Nain. 'Death is first divided into (1) the natural, (2) the sinful, (3) the spiritual, (4) the eternal. Of these 1 is further classified as (_a_) general, (_b_) dreadful, (_c_) fearful, (_d_) terrible. 2 is next compared to 1 in respect of four common instruments of natural death, that is to say, (_e_) the sword, (_f_) fire, (_g_) missiles, (_h_) water; and so on, to the end. This is no exaggerated specimen.' 81. Thomas of Aquino (1225-1274) was, like Duns Scotus, one of the leading mediaeval philosophers. Durandus (c. 1230-1296) was a French writer on canon law and liturgical questions. IURIS UTRIUSQUE] Cf. XXII. 8 n. 83. CENTONES] _cento_ is lit. a patchwork, such as a quilt. The term was then applied to a kind of composition which came into fashion in later classical times and was very popular in the Middle Ages. It was made by stringing together detached lines and parts of lines from an author into a complete whole with a definite subject. Such centos were often made from Vergil and on Christian themes; but the term is probably used here for collections of texts from the Bible or the Fathers. 118. Ghisbertus was town-physician of St. Omer and a friend of Erasmus. 119. UTRIUSQUE SCHOLAE] 'of each party, or class.' 122. VIRTUTES] The Vulgate word, which in the English Bible is regularly translated 'mighty works'. 143. SODALI] As a safeguard against scandal the Franciscan rule prescribed that no brother should go outside the monastery without another brother as companion. 152. HILARI DATORE] Cf. 2 Cor. 9. 7. 154. Antony of Bergen, Abbot of St. Bertin's at St. Omer, was brother of the Bishop of Cambray, Henry of Bergen, to whom Erasmus had been secretary on leaving Steyn. This incident occurred in 1502, the only year in which Erasmus was at St. Bertin's in Lent. 157. QUADRAGESIMAE] Lent, the first day of which was roughly the fortieth before Easter. Cf. Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays; where the calculation is again only approximate. 163. OMITTERES] _Si_ must be understood from _nisi faceres_.