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Typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to Professor Basil Willey about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Thanks him for his letter and he too had heard from Tolkien.

He had also received an embarrassed letter from C.S. Lewis.

He would tell him another invitation to accept the post had been sent out to their second choice and nothing could be done until it had been answered. Was making enquiries of the Registrary and Secretary General as to the extent to which Lewis's terms could be discussed in the event of Miss Gardner's refusal.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

The news of his acceptance of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English was now known.

Suggests a form of words Lewis could use in reply to offers of rooms and a Fellowship from other Colleges [Willink was Vice-Chancellor of the University as well as Master of Magdalene and so had prior knowledge of the appointment and had the advantage in being the first to be able offer Lewis a Fellowship at Magdalene]. Makes it clear he was free to accept an offer from another College if he would like.

Typed copy letter from Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Writing in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College he offers Lewis a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene and hopes that he won't be accused by other Colleges of using his prior news of the appointment to the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English as he was also the Vice-Chancellor. Explains the rules about quotas of Professorships at the Colleges and thinks that there will be two or three other Colleges in a position to offer him rooms but hopes he will accept Magdalene.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Lewis's letter of 4 June had given him news [acceptance of the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English] which when published would give immense pleasure in Cambridge.

Discusses possible start dates for the tenure.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Their second choice for the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English had declined and hopes that he will now accept the invitation.

Suggests a date of 1 October as a possible start date for the tenure but if he was still unsure he suggests meeting to discuss outstanding issues.

Hopes that he will approach the Master of Magdalene [Lewis's sister College] enquiring about living at that College before accepting any other invitations he would receive [Willink was Master of Magdalene as well as Vice-Chancellor of the University in which capacity he was writing about the offer of the chair].

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Thought that his letter was such a definite refusal of the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English, that after consultation with Prof. Willey he had sent an invitation to their second choice and would have to wait for a reply.

Clarifies the residency rules and how long a Professor could be absent. Chairs at Cambridge were not tied to a particular College and thought that suitable rooms and a Fellowship could be easily found for him.

If Choice No. 2 refuses then he thinks they should meet to talk it over. Regrets that he sent the letter to Choice No. 2.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Is writing after the College meeting as promised. They greatly hoped he would accept their invitation to live at Magdalene. It was their unanimous intention to elect him to a Professorial Fellowship as soon as possible under the University Statutes. Couldn't forecast when this would be.

In the interim their offer would include all the social rights of a Fellow - dining in Hall etc but he would not have to attend College meetings or be entitled to the Fellow's allowance of 3s 0d a day during residence. They could offer an attractive set of rooms in First Court - two sitting rooms and a bedroom and bathroom.

Hoped he would accept presentation by the College for a degree by incorporation in due course.

Hoped he would accept their offer even though it fell short of the immediate offer of a Fellowship which Christ's and Downing were in a position to make.

Suggests dates in the summer for a meeting to discuss various things and settle details about his rooms.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Was delighted that Lewis accepted their offer of a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene.

Understands about the difficulty of him coming to Cambridge in the near future, he would just like to start their acquaintance and make sure his rooms were as he liked them.

[handwritten note by Willink at the bottom of the page]:
"C.S. Lewis came into residence in October 1954 and was elected to a Professorial Fellowship on 18 January 1955".

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Transcript

Thank you so much for your second letter.

But I am sorry to have given you the burden of writing a second time. It is abundantly clear that you have cogent reasons for not making the move which we had so much hoped would be possible.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

The 'time for consultation' to which he referred in his letter of 8 June had begun and would run until 24 June when they would have a College meeting. He would write immediately after the meeting.

Returns his letter from Corpus Christi.

Apologises for the brief note as he was just off to London.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Thanks him for his letter of 12 May and the kind things he said about the invitation to become the first Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Expresses the wish of many in Cambridge that he should come and live in Cambridge. Thinks that he will receive several personal letters from people who he knows who will be more persuasive. Hopes he will reconsider and withdraw his refusal.

He did not feel the need to write to their second choice before 1 June.

Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Asks if he could reply to his letter of 24 June so that he could report back at the next College meeting and confirm his acceptance of their offer. The Master of Corpus had telephoned hi to say that as he [Lewis] had accepted rooms at Magdalene they would abandon their attempts to entice him to the Society.

Photocopy of a draft typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.

Informs Lewis that a second Professorship of English at Cambridge was to be established under the title 'Professorship of Medieval and Renaissance English'. As Vice-Chancellor he had presided over the Electors [Prof. J.R.R. Tolkien, Prof. F.P. Wilson, Prof. P. Alexander, the Masters of Jesus College and Pembroke College, Prof. Willey, Prof. M.C. Knowles, and Mr H.S. Bennett] and they were unanimous in the decision to offer Lewis the first tenure.

Hoped the moved to Cambridge would not be a deterrent and offered to meet with him if he would like to discuss the offer.

Handwritten letter from Professor Basil Willey to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Encloses a letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to H.S. Bennett which the latter had handed to him. He had tried phoning in the hope that the letter of the offer of the chair had not been sent to Miss Gardner yet. His secretary had confirmed the letter had already gone and he feared there was nothing to be done. It was all very tricky and tantalising.

Asks what should be done if Miss Gardner refused - would they offer it again to Lewis?

Handwritten letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Sir Henry Willink marked 'confidential' about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Thanks him for his hospitality and kindness. He should have written before but wanted to have a chance to talk to C.S. Lewis first.

Although it would be Oxford's loss he wanted to urge the case for Cambridge as Lewis was the precise man for the job and he would probably be happy there and be reinvigorated by a change of air. Oxford had not treated him very well, and although he was incapable of dudgeon or showing resentment he had been a little dispirited.

After their talk Lewis said he would accept. The chief obstacle had been domestic. As long as he could be assured he could have rooms to live in during term time that could house a lot of his books he would accept. Unlike in Oxford 'chairs' were not attached to Colleges but he hoped there would be no difficulty in an offer being made. Magdalene held enormous attraction for him.

He would be relieved if this came off as the more he reflected the more he felt certain in his one obdurate vote.

Hand written letter J.R.R. Tolkien to H.S. Bennett about the offer to C.S. Lewis of the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English. It was enclosed in a letter from B. Willey to H.U. Willink.

Thinks Lewis will accept the position if the domestic arrangements for his move to Cambridge could be arranged satisfactorily.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink (Master of Magdalene).

Francis had told him that his opinion might be sough about whether to include those 'curious' passages in a new publication of the Pepys diary. As he couldn't be sure of being able to attend the next Governing Body meeting he was writing to set out his opinions.

A prudential and moral problem was involved.

The prudential one was concerned with (a) the chances of prosecution and (b) with the chances of disrepute and ridicule. In the presence if Master and Mickey [Mickey Dias] it would be ridiculous for him to express an opinion both were lawyers]. As to 9b0 a journalist might make the College distasteful t the public for a week or two but what was a few weeks or years in the life of the College and a decision shouldn't be made on that basis.

It came down to whether the inclusion of such passages would lead someone to commit an immoral act they would to have done if they had suppressed them. The effect of words on people's behaviour is impossible to foresee. But the chances of any lechery being caused by a few obscure passages begin published in a very long and expensive work seemed unrealistic.

A very severe moralist might argue that it was not enough to be unable to forsee heaven and one ought before we act to be able to forsee with certainty an absence of heaven. But that was an argument against doing. He was therefore in favour of printing the whole unexpurgated Pepys.

Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

Thanks him and the College and says inches of bookshelf space was the important factor. In light of the confidential nature of their arrangements he asks how he should respond to any other College offering him a Fellowship. He was a child in such matters.

Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

The arrangement of election from 1 October 1954 with dispensation until 1 January 1955 was most obliging and would suit him admirably. if he could get away sooner he assumes that no new legislation would be necessary.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

Says the Vice-Chancellor, with whom he must he intimately acquainted has suggested he write to the Master of Magdalene and ask whether there was a possibility that Magdalene cold offer him rooms. Magdalene was attractive to him and if it were possible he would value it most highly.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

He felt much pleasure and gratitude in accepting the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English. As to the start of the tenure he would be guided by the electors but he preferred a January start to October as he was examining in their Final Honours School and he needed time for his own work and to prepare lectures. The other reason for the preference was that as he had left it so late in accepting his old College might feel they had insufficient notice of his departure.

Suggests times to come over and visit him in Cambridge.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

Thanks him for his inexhaustive kindness. Unless the second candidate was as trickily placed as himself he couldn't see him turning down the appointment but he would still come and visit Magdalene and make his acquaintance.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

Apologises for writing again and in a way that may make him seem rather ridiculous. Since his last letter he had spoken to Tolkien who had considerably changed his view. Firstly he has told him that the electors would not elect a philologist. This was very important as it set him free. Secondly full residency in Cambridge was not necessary and four days a week in term time would be fine. Tolkien's lively mind leads him (with perfectly innocent intentions) to overstate things but was his view correct? It would remove his difficulty as he could leave his household intact and have rooms in Cambridge. He wouldn't mind working and sleeping on the train but he had no right to assume these conditions as they seemed too good to be true but if they were real he would like nothing better.

He felt a fool for saying all this. His thoughts were already thinking about what he would do if he accepted and had already started composing imaginary lectures.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

Was moved by Sir Henry's extremely kind letter and his persuasion. He was knocking at his door but he couldn't unlock it because he didn't have the key. His domestic arrangements held him back especially care for his brother who wasn't always in perfect psychological health as he assumed the chair would necessitate living in Cambridge at least during term time.

Looks forward to meeting him when he was next in Cambridge.

Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

He was surprised and apologetic that the master has not received a reply to his letter of 24 June [in which he formally offered him a Fellowship at Magdalene] as he had written a draft and given it to his secretary to be sent by return. He thanks him and his future colleagues. He would be very happy to present himself for a degree by incorporation. It seemed ungracious that he did not come over to Cambridge at once but vivas did not finish until the end of the month and he was due to leave for Ireland on 5 August. He looked forward to coming over when the dear old thing Ordinary Life began again in October and to beginning an acquaintance which he hoped would become a friendship.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of the University [he was also Master of Magdalene College].

He was more pleased and honoured than he could express at the invitation. The prospect (socially and academically) of migrating from Oxford to Cambridge was an incentive rather than a deterrent. He regretfully had to refuse the invitation due to domestic considerations. He also came of stock that aged early and he was feeling a lack of energy and the first holder of the chair certainly needed energy and vigour. Although he had refused he could be pressed but he didn't want to waste Sir Henry's time.

Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].

Thanks him for the formula which he would use [Willink suggested the form of words he should use if offered a Fellowship at another College]. A professorial Fellowship at Magdalene was exactly what he would like best. He should like to remain under the same patroness [when was at Magdalen College, Oxford].

(1) Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink, 24 January 1957
He was one of two trustees of a fund for making gifts to individuals who need help such as undergraduates or disabled College servants or their widows. The fund was in a fairly flourishing condition and the suns of £25 to £100 could be given not too infrequently. If he felt there was anyone that needed funds the College could not give a private letter stating the case could be forwarded to the other trustee. This should not come before the Governing body and his name [Lewis} need not be mentioned at any stage

(2) Typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis, 23 February 1962
Makes the case for a third year pupil of Dennis Babbage who was in need of help from the charitable trust

(3) Letter from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink, 3 March 1962
Apologises for the dealy but he has been laid out with gastric flu. He had written to Barfield directing them to send a cheque for £100 to the undergraduate. He didn't want him to know who the donor was.

(4) Typed letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis, 8 March 1962
Says that Dennis is very grateful. Was sorry he had been ill. Sends news from College - marriage of Dennis Babbage to Stephana Gaselee on 27 March 1962 and they had invited Simon Barrington-Ward to return to Magdalene and he was now making up his mind.

(5) Letter from Barfield & Barfield to Sir Henry Willink enclosing the cheque, 7 March 1962

(6) Letter from Sir Henry Willink to Barfield & Barfield acknowledging receipt of the cheque and confirming it was for a charitable cause and outlining the reasns the undergraduate needed financial assistance