John Palsgrave
Encyclopedia
John Palsgrave was a priest of Henry VIII of England
's court. He is known as a tutor in the royal household, and as a textbook author.
, in Norfolk
.
After studying at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, B.A. 1504, he travelled to France to study in Paris where he qualified as M.A. He became tutor to Princess Mary Tudor in 1513, receiving the sum on £6-13s-4d per annum. When she married Louis XII of France
, he accompanied her to Paris, but by 1516 he had moved to Louvain; Sir Thomas More wrote to Erasmus to recommend him to study law and classics there.
In 1518 he was instituted to the benefices in Asfordby
in Leicestershire
, Alderton
and Holbrook
in Suffolk
, and Keyston
, Huntingdonshire
.
In 1525, he was appointed tutor to Henry's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy
; the programme of studies waa ambitious, following lines suggested by More, Stephen Gardiner
and Thomas Elyot
, and including music, visual aids and the company of William Parr
and the younger brothers of the boy's mother Elizabeth Blount
. He was succeeded in the post by Richard Croke
in 1526, for reasons that may include the hostility of Thomas Wolsey, who had earlier refused to appoint Palsgrave as Archdeacon of Derby. His past connections meant that Palsgrave was called in by the Duke of Suffolk to write a pamphlet derogatory of Wolsey's career, in 1529.
He then continued private tutoring whilst working on his book. In 1533 he was ordained priest by Thomas Cranmer
and instituted to the benefice of St Dunstan in the East. In 1545 he was presented to the living of Wadenhoe
in Northamptonshire
by Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy
, one of his former pupils.
and dedicated to Henry VIII). This book — written in English
despite its French title — is said to be the first grammar
of the French language
. Its purpose was to help Englishmen who wanted to learn French.
He also translated William Fullonius's Latin play, The Comedy of Acolastus, which he published in 1540 and dedicated to the King. The first simile of the English phrase "as deaf as a post" appears to originate from Acolastus: "How deaf an ear I intended to give him ... he were as good to tell his tale to a post." and may be attributed to Palsgrave.
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's court. He is known as a tutor in the royal household, and as a textbook author.
Life
It is believed that John Palsgrave, who spelled his name in a variety of ways including Pagrave, was the eldest son of Henry Pagrave of North BarninghamNorth Barningham
North Barningham is a Hamlet within the civil parish of Gresham in the English county of Norfolk. The Hamlet is miles south west of Cromer, miles north-northwest of Norwich and miles north-northeast of London. The Hamlet lies miles south of the town of Sheringham. The nearest railway station...
, in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
After studying at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, B.A. 1504, he travelled to France to study in Paris where he qualified as M.A. He became tutor to Princess Mary Tudor in 1513, receiving the sum on £6-13s-4d per annum. When she married Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
, he accompanied her to Paris, but by 1516 he had moved to Louvain; Sir Thomas More wrote to Erasmus to recommend him to study law and classics there.
In 1518 he was instituted to the benefices in Asfordby
Asfordby
Asfordby is a village and civil parish in the Melton district of Leicestershire, to the west of Melton Mowbray on the A6006 road.The parish consists of Asfordby proper, Asfordby Valley and Asfordby Hill, which together have a population of around 3,000...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, Alderton
Alderton
Alderton is the name of the following places in the United Kingdom:* Alderton, Northamptonshire* Alderton, Gloucestershire* Alderton, Shropshire* Alderton, Suffolk* Alderton, WiltshirePeople with the surname Alderton...
and Holbrook
Holbrook, Suffolk
Holbrook is a village situated close to the northern shore of the Stour estuary in Suffolk, England. It is located on the Shotley peninsula in Babergh district, around 8⅓ km south of Ipswich....
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and Keyston
Keyston
Keyston – in Huntingdonshire , England – is a village near Molesworth west of Huntingdon.The village lies at the western end of Huntingdonshire and the parish's western border coincides with the county boundary with Northamptonshire...
, Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
.
In 1525, he was appointed tutor to Henry's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset was the son of King Henry VIII of England and his teenage mistress, Elizabeth Blount, the only illegitimate offspring whom Henry acknowledged.-Childhood:...
; the programme of studies waa ambitious, following lines suggested by More, Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner
Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...
and Thomas Elyot
Thomas Elyot
Sir Thomas Elyot was an English diplomat and scholar.-Early Life:Thomas was the child of Sir Richard Elyot's first marriage with Alice De la Mare, but neither the date nor place of his birth is accurately known...
, and including music, visual aids and the company of William Parr
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
and the younger brothers of the boy's mother Elizabeth Blount
Elizabeth Blount
Elizabeth Blount , who was better known by her nickname of "Bessie", was a mistress of Henry VIII of England.-Early life:She was the daughter of Sir John Blount and Catherine Pershall, of Kinlet, Bridgnorth, Shropshire...
. He was succeeded in the post by Richard Croke
Richard Croke
Richard Croke was an English classical scholar, and a royal tutor and agent.He was educated at Eton College. He took his B.A. at King’s College, Cambridge in 1510, and proceeded to travel....
in 1526, for reasons that may include the hostility of Thomas Wolsey, who had earlier refused to appoint Palsgrave as Archdeacon of Derby. His past connections meant that Palsgrave was called in by the Duke of Suffolk to write a pamphlet derogatory of Wolsey's career, in 1529.
He then continued private tutoring whilst working on his book. In 1533 he was ordained priest by Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
and instituted to the benefice of St Dunstan in the East. In 1545 he was presented to the living of Wadenhoe
Wadenhoe
Wadenhoe is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire. Part of the civil parish of Pilton, Stoke Doyle and Wadenhoe, it is on the River Nene, approximately 4 miles from Thrapston and 10 miles from Kettering. The Nene Way long distance footpath passes through the village...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
by Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy
Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy
Charles Blount, fifth Baron Mountjoy was an English courtier and patron of learning.-Life:Charles Blount was born on 28 June 1516 in Tournai, where his father, William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, was governor. Charles Blount's mother was William 's second wife, Alice, daughter of Henry Keble, Lord...
, one of his former pupils.
Works
He composed L'esclarcissement de la langue francoyse (printed in 1530 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and dedicated to Henry VIII). This book — written in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
despite its French title — is said to be the first grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
of the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Its purpose was to help Englishmen who wanted to learn French.
He also translated William Fullonius's Latin play, The Comedy of Acolastus, which he published in 1540 and dedicated to the King. The first simile of the English phrase "as deaf as a post" appears to originate from Acolastus: "How deaf an ear I intended to give him ... he were as good to tell his tale to a post." and may be attributed to Palsgrave.