264

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE

the sermon at home with the members of their household. Sometimes two or three famiHes meet for this

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it

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purpose, " Of books on all subjects in; their own language they have an enormous number, so that I doubt whether any country is equal to them, particularly as regards books on theology. There are truly not more bookstalls at Frankfurt at the time of the fair than there are here every day. Verulamius's (Bacon's) work De Scieniiarum Augmentis has also recently appeared in English. "VI. Their thirst for the word of God is so great, that many of the nobles, citizens also and matrons, study Greek and Hebrew to be able more safely and more sweetly to drink from the very spring of life. Do not think that only one or two do this ; there are many, and day by day this holy contagion spreads farther. "VII. Some select men designated by ParHament are now working that they may have the text of the Bible as accurate as possible, corresponding in everything with the sources, and furnished with very short marginal notes. Here, however, political considerations have somewhat interfered, for they have fixed them a term of a few months only ; but I hope the time will be prolonged. "VIII. They are vehemently debating on the reform of the schools of the whole kingdom in a manner similar that to that to which, as you know, my wishes tend, that all young people should be instructed, none neglected, and that their instruction should be such that lay down the foundations of Christianity more deeply and more soHdly in the tender minds, thus afterwards rendering greater the efficacy of religious ministration. " IX. They are endeavouring to found special illus-