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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].

Letter to Mr Searles explaining word choices and passages in Mere Christianity.

Letter from C.S. Lewis to E.M. Trehern (matriculated in 1933).

It was certainly true that Chaucer's unintended successors valued his other works more then the Canterbury Tales but he had seen more about the Tales in major Elizabethan writers especially those which attacked the Medieval Church which was welcome to Protestants.

He also thought that Chaucer's comic work was better than his serious doggerel. But he might be wrong.

(1) Newspaper cutting of a letter from C.S. Lewis setting out his ideas on standardised spelling, News Chronicle, 1959

(2) Handwritten letter from C.S. Lewis to Denis Glass, agreeing with his views that the need to reform spelling to make it standardised was unnecessary, 6 Jan 1960

Autograph letter, signed, to Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer, discussing the improvement of the process of dyeing fabric and asking whether the Belgian government would be interested in this.

Autograph letter in French, addressed from "4 Georges Hotel", signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer.

Autograph letter in French, signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer.

Autograph letter in French, signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer.

Autograph letter addressed from "3 Lowndes Street, Belgrave Square, London", signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer, inviting him to meet with White prior to returning to Brussels.

Autograph letter addressed from "38 St James’ Place", signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer, making arrangements for the two to meet.

Autograph letter in French addressed from "10 Grosvenor Square", signed, to Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer and Elizabeth Van de Weyer requesting the pleasure of their company.

Autograph letter addressed from "12 Pine Apple Place, Edgware Road", signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer, asking if King of Belgium may sit for a painting on the subject of the christening of the Princess Royal.

Autograph letter in French, signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer.

Autograph letter in French, addressed from "Anvers", signed, to Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer. The author refers to Elisa Meerti, the singer from Antwerp.

Letter from Charles Hayes to the Countess of Portsmouth [Visitor] in which he says he knows she intends the Mastership for a person too young at present to take up the appointment and asks her to consider appointing his brother in trust until the preferred gentleman comes of age and stating he was willing to accept any terms placed upon him.

Transcript

Madam,

I have been this morning at Billingbeare to pay my duty to your Ladyship and should have done it before you had left the country, but was obliged to go to London the day after you came from bath, & I did not return from London till Wednesday last. However, I had the pleasure of hearing from Mr Watts, that your Ladyship was perfectly well.

I should not have presumed, Madam, to have ventured upon this application if your late kind readiness to serve my brother when the livings of Wargrove & Waltham were vacant, had not encouraged me to do what I fear you will now blame me for. But the desire of assisting a brother who is deserving of every thing I can do for him, must be my excuse.

In short, Madam, the Mastership of Magdalen College in the University of Cambridge is now vacant, as I am informed, by the death of Dr Chapman. I know your Ladyship designs this piece of preferment for a young gentleman, who for some years to come will not be capable of holding it. The request therefore which I have now to make to your Ladyship is, that you would be so kind as to present my brother to this dignity in the University, in trust only 'till the person you design it for, is of age to take it. Whatever security your Ladyship shall require for my brother's performing the terms you shall please to impose upon him, will be most readily and thankfully complied with.

Mr Aldworth, at whose house I write this, begs leave to present his best respects to your Ladyship & to join with me in this request, which give me leave to say comes from a family, who claim an immemorial right to you Ladyship's favour and protection. I must desire your Ladyship will present my duty to my vey good Lord and that you will believe me to be with the most perfect esteem and regard,

Madam,
Your Ladyship's most obliged and most humble servant Charles Hayes