in easy circumstances, who, dying when his son was but seven years
old, left him to the care of his mother. The latter married again very
shortly afterwards, and neglected the poor boy, the offspring of her
first marriage. At the age of fifteen he did not even know his
letters, and was, besides, half starved, and otherwise ill-treated by
his step-father; but the love of knowledge germinated in the breast of
the unfortunate youth, and he learned to read at the house of a
neighbour. His father-in-law set him to work in the vineyards, and
thus occupied all his days; but the nights were his own. He often
stole out unheeded, when all the household were fast asleep, poring
over his studies in the fields, by the light of the moon; and thus
taught himself Latin and the rudiments of Greek. He was subjected to
so much ill-usage at home, in consequence of this love of study, that
he determined to leave it. Demanding the patrimony which his father
had left him, he proceeded to Treves; and, assuming the name of
Trithemius, from that of his native village of Trittheim, lived there
for some months, under the tuition of eminent masters, by whom he was
prepared for the university. At the age of twenty, he took it into his
head that he should like to see his mother once more; and he set out
on foot from the distant university for that purpose. On his arrival
near Spannheim, late in the evening of a gloomy winter's day, it came
on to snow so thickly, that he could not proceed onwards to the town.
He, therefore, took refuge for the night in a neighbouring monastery;
but the storm continued several days, the roads became impassable, and
the hospitable monks would not hear of his departure. He was so
pleased with them and their manner of life, that he suddenly resolved
to fix his abode among them, and renounce the world. They were no less
pleased with him, and gladly received him as a brother. In the course
of two years, although still so young, he was unanimously elected
their Abbot. The financial affairs of the establishment had been