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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 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].

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 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].

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.