CHAPTER IX

THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND

Nature of the Renaissance, and its influence on Gloucester--State of English scholarship--Gloucester's qualifications for the career of a patron of letters: his early education--his relations with the Italian Humanists--His friendship with Zano, Bishop of Bayeux--Connection with Leonardi Bruni: its abrupt ending--Correspondence with Pier Candido Decembrio: the translation of Plato's _Republic_: books bought for Gloucester in Italy--Gloucester and Piero del Monte--Lapo da Castiglionchio works for him--Antonio Pasini--Friendship with Alfonso of Naples--Antonio di Beccaria his secretary in England--Titus Livius of Ferrara and his Vita Henrici Quinti--Gloucester's physicians, 340-382