Broken timeline - Part One

Chapter Twenty Three - The Book

Oxford, 1516

'I cannot be late ! I cannot be late !'

"Running again Georges ?", shouted someone in the courtyard,

"I have to be quick, for there is a lecture on Erasmus' works in the west wing ! I shall see you later !" I said, half breathlessly.
I was not going to miss any minute of the allocution. Erasmus did not come often in England, and learning from him would be an honor. My friend, Sir Thomas told me about this session and insisted on me attending it.

I kept running through the corridors. Oxford University was grand and after a few moments, I had finally made my way in front of the lecture room. I was at the ready to get inside when someone opened the door, and a flow of students came out. I spotted my friend in the crowd and caught his arm.

"William, do not tell me that I have missed the lecture ?!" I asked, fuming.

"No Hastings, you did not, but Master Colet here told us that Erasmus will not be coming. He has refused to read us his works."

"Oh...", I replied. I could not hide my disappointment, for I had been extremely looking forward to this lesson. William patted me on the shoulder and walked with me towards the courtyard.

"But I do not understand, Thomas himself told me that he would be here today. Why would he change his mind ?"

"I do not know Georges... but I do not reckon that Master More would misinform you, he might not have known about his change of heart."

"I believe you are right... Well, we cannot do much about it can we ?" I said attempting to hide my discontent.

Erasmus was Thomas' close friend, had a great deal of knowledge. I was very enthusiastic to learn from him, and meet the man Thomas had raved about.

"Say, let us join the others at the tavern, for a bit of an ale ? I heard that Philip is trying to finish his play and might have it performed tonight."

"No I believe that I might take upon the opportunity of this free time to study, and you should too. Need I remind you, also of the rule stated earlier this month ? Students are prohibited from attending the town's taverns. They even had us stay permanently on the university's grounds."

"Forgive me, but pray, what may you have done with my friend ?" inquired William laughingly. And he was right, for I did not recognize myself either.

About a year past, I was the embodiment of depravation, but that was before meeting Master More. We met after one of his lectures and he gladly introduced me to the world of knowledge. Philosophy and astronomy were a few of his passions, and we spent a great deal of time studying each star and debating about politics.

He had started working on a new manuscript and his ideas, resonated within my deepest core and made me view our world in a different light. Before I knew it, I found myself striving for more.

With each day passing by, I wandered about the reading rooms, hoping to see new titles on the shelves and studying the latest works. The library at the University did not hold many books. They all came from donations and had already been read by almost every student.

I kept writing to him about my most recent studies, and solicited him whenever I was struggling to make out latin scriptures. He always, very gladly, advised me and encouraged me to keep learning more. We quickly became familiar and I considered him more like a brother than a friend. He sought for my opinion on his works and I enthusiastically helped him.
I hoped that he would be present this day, but to my dismay, he was not able to attend the lecture.