The mater or argument of the epistle of Picus to Andrewe Corncus

THis Andrewe a worshypfull man and a especiall frende of Picus hadde by his lettres gyuen hym counceyll to leue the study of phylosophy as a thynge in which he thought Picꝰ to haue spent tyme ynough & whiche: but yf it were applyed to y• vse of some actuall besmes: he iuged a thyng vayne & vnprofytable / wherfore he coūceyled Pycus to surceace of study and put hym selfe with some of y• grete prynces of Italy / with whome ( as this Andrew sayd) he sholde be moche more fruytefully occupyed thē alway in the studye & lernyng of philosophye / to whom Picꝰ answered as in this present epestle appereth where he sayth these wordes (By this hit shold folowe y• hit were eyther seruyle or at the lestwyse not pryncely to make y• study of phylosophy other then mercennari) thus he meaneth. Mercēnary we cal all those thīges whiche we do for hyre or rewarde. Then he maketh philosophy mercēnary & vseth hit not as cōnynge but as marchaūdyse whiche studyeth hit not for pleasure of hit selfe: or for the instruccyon of his mynde in mortall vertue: but to applye hit to suche thynges where he may get some lucre or worldly aduauntage.