Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

But howsoever it chanced that the knowledge and study of good letters being once planted in this realm, afterward went to decay: yet King Alfred deserveth no little praise, for restoring or rather increasing the same. After whose time they have ever since continued, albeit not continually through every age in like perfection. But this we may see, what it is to have a Prince learned him self, who feeling and tasting the price and value of science & knowledge, is thereby not only the more apt to rule, but also to instruct & frame his subjects, from a rude barbarity, to a more civil congruency of life, & to a better understanding of things: as we see in this famous Prince to happen. Concerning whose first education & bringing up, although it was somewhat late before he entered any letter: yet such was the apt towardness & docility of his nature, that being a child, he had the Saxon Poems (such as were used then in his own tongue) by hart and memory. Who afterward with years and time grew up in such perfection of learning and knowledge, in so much, that as mine author sayeth, Nullus Anglorum fuerit vel intelligendo acutior, vel in interpretando elegantior. The which thing in him the more was to be marvelled, for that he was xij. years of age before he knew any letter. Then his mother, careful and tender over him, having by chance a book in her hand, which he would fain have:¹ promised to give him the same, so that he would learn it. Whereupon he for greediness of the book, eftsoons learned the letters, having to his Schoolmaster Pleimundus, after bishop of Canterbury. And so daily grew more and more in knowledge, that at length, as mine author saith,² Plurimam partem Romanae bibliothecae, Anglorum auribus dedit, optimam praedam peregrinarum mercium, civium usibus conuertens. That is. A great part of the Latin Library he translated into English, converting to the uses of his Citizens, a notable pray of foreign ware & merchandise. &c. Of which books by him and through him translated, was Orosius: Pastoral Gregorij. The history of Bede: Boëtius de consolatione Philosophiae. ³Also a book of his own making and in his own tongue, which in the English speech he called a handbook, in Greek called it Enchiridion, in Latin a Manuel.

But howsoeuer it chāced that the knowledge and study of good letters being once planted in this realme, afterwarde went to decay: yet King Alfrede deserueth no little praise, for restoring or rather increasing the same. After whose time they haue euersince continued, albeit not continually through euery age in like perfection. But this we may see, what it is to haue a Prince learned him selfe, who feeling and tasting the price and value of science & knowledge, is thereby not only the more apt to rule, but also to instruct & frame his subiectes, from a rude barbaritie, to a more ciuile congruencie of life, & to a better vnderstanding of thinges: as we see in this famous Prince to happen. Cōcerning whose first education & bringing vp, although it was somewhat late before he entred any letter: yet suche was the apt towardnesse & docilitie of his nature, that being a childe, he had the Saxon Poemes (such as were vsed then in his owne toung) by hart and memory. Who afterward with yeares and time grewe vp in such perfection of learning and knowledge, in so much, that as mine author sayeth, Nullus Anglorum fuerit vel intelligendo acutior, vel in interpretando elegantior. The which thing in him the more was to be marueiled, for that he was xij. yeares of age before he knew any letter. Then his mother, careful and tender ouer him, hauing by chance a booke in her hand, which he wold faine haue: