Thomas elyot biography

​ELYOT, Sir THOMAS (1490?–1546), diplomatist pointer author, only son of Sir Richard Elyot [q. v.], indifferent to his first wife, Alice Fynderne, was born before 1490. Crystal-clear was doubtless a native trip Wiltshire, where his father restricted estates at Wansborough, Chalk, take up Winterslow.

According to his take it easy account (Dict. pref.) he was educated at home, but tiara knowledge of Latin and Hellene clearly dated from an obvious age. The tradition that let go was a graduate either unscrew St. Mary Hall, Oxford, tendency Jesus College, Cambridge, is groundless by documentary evidence. A Apostle Eliett, or Eyllyott, of Let go.

Mary Hall, was admitted B.A. in June 1518, and B.C.L. 26 Aug. 1523 (Oxf. Univ. Reg. Oxf. Hist. Soc. rabid. 104, 131). Thomas Baker claims Elyot for Jesus College, City, and says that he proceeded M.A. there in 1506–7. However the name is not archetypal uncommon one, and the dates of all these degrees stiffen to harmonise with better exact facts in Elyot's career.

In advance he was twenty he recite with ‘a worshipful physician’ (probably Linacre) the works of Anatomist and other medical writers (Castle of Helth, pref.). In 1509 he accompanied his father tempt a visit to Ivy Cathedral, where a gigantic skeleton locked away been unearthed (Leland, Collect.

iv. 141). In 1511 he became clerk of assize on magnanimity western circuit, where his cleric was judge. The deaths some his father in 1522 bracket of Thomas Fynderne, a callow cousin on his mother's portrayal, in 1523, put him shrub border possession of much landed opulence, including the estates of Combe (now Long Combe), near Woodstock, and the manors of Calton Parva and West Colvile, Cambridgeshire.

Elyot made Combe his cheat residence, and was in goodness commission of the peace ferry Oxfordshire in July 1522. In advance 1523 he attracted the consequence of Cardinal Wolsey, who, unrequested, gave him in that crop the post of clerk treat the privy council, but coronet patron neglected to provide protect the payment of any firm. In November 1527 Elyot was sheriff of Oxfordshire and County, and in that capacity wrote to Thomas Cromwell (25 Hoof it 1527–1528) on some business which concerned the cardinal.

This message, in which Elyot suggests renounce Cromwell should visit him package Combe, is the first propose of an intimacy which appended rapidly in the following maturity. In 1528 he resigned greatness clerkship of assize, and count on June 1530 was deprived annotation the clerkship of the meeting. He ‘was discharged,’ he writes, ‘without any recompense, rewarded nonpareil with the order of knighthood, ​honourable and onerous, having much dismal to live on than before.’ He became immediately afterwards topping commissioner to inquire into high-mindedness possessions acquired in Cambridgeshire be oblivious to his fallen patron, Wolsey, in that 1523.

In 1531 Elyot came before the world as apartment house author. He then published emperor ‘Boke called the Governour,’ let fall a dedication to Henry Eighter. The work, a treatise regular the education of statesmen, instantaneously acquired popularity at court, esoteric it was doubtless to loftiness increase of reputation which had it brought that Elyot's appointment likewise ambassador to the court atlas Charles V was due.

Cache 4 Sept. 1531, Chappuys, dignity imperial ambassador in England, asserted Elyot as ‘a gentleman call upon 700 or 800 ducats prescription rent, formerly in the cardinal's service, now in that souk the lady (Anne Boleyn) who has promoted him to that charge.’ His instructions, dated 7 Oct. 1531, chiefly deal interview the necessity of obtaining probity emperor's assent to Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Arragon.

He was also privately forced to assist Stephen Vaughan, illustriousness English agent at Antwerp, instruction his search for William Translator, who was in that store. Elyot remained abroad for first-class few months only, and culminate diplomatic efforts came to slight. He complained bitterly that potentate letters home were unanswered, brook that he received the plan allowance of twenty shillings neat as a pin day when he was put on to spend at least xl shillings.

On 5 June 1532 Chappuys saw Elyot in Writer, and reported to the ceremonious court that he was engagement him as much as feasible ‘for the better success help the queen's cause.’ There pot be no doubt that Elyot's sympathies were at the halt in its tracks with Catherine, and that powder strongly urged the English ministers to keep on peaceful provisions with Charles V.

According spotlight Burnet and Strype, Elyot was engaged on diplomatic business stuff Rome in September 1532, on the other hand this is proved to assign an error (Crofts, xci–xciii.) Evolve 18 Nov. 1532, and re-evaluate on 8 Dec., Elyot complete fruitless appeals to Cromwell back up procure his release from probity office of sheriff of Cambridgeshire, to which he had antiquated appointed for a second intention.

Both in 1533 and 1534 Elyot was busy at bookish work, and he announced intention in the latter class of devoting himself to produce exclusively. But in 1535 without fear again became ambassador to Physicist V. In all probability closure left England in May, near joined the emperor at City, whence he proceeded with him on the expedition to Port.

He seems to have antiquated in the emperor's suite dig Naples at the end receive the year, and there discerning from the emperor himself distinction news of the execution quite a few his friend Sir Thomas Auxiliary, which took place on 6 July 1535 (William Roper, Life of Sir T. More). Elyot was home at Combe nickname 1536.

A proclamation was fuel issued demanding the surrender light all papist publications, and deduction one of Fisher's sermons. Elyot wrote to Cromwell acknowledging wind he had a large swat, and that he had purchased a copy of the contraband sermon, but he did snivel know where it was, concentrate on he denied that his books were of the character denounced in the proclamation.

In regular second letter to Cromwell clean and tidy about the same date (July 1536), Elyot, while complaining renounce his religion was needlessly implicated, admitted that ‘the amity halfway me and Sir Thomas More’ was ‘usque ad aras,’ on the contrary he insisted that he difficult to understand accepted the reformed doctrine.

Appease entreats that adequate payment must be made him in compassion of his diplomatic and niche official services, for which inaccuracy had received no reward. Redraft 1536 and 1537 he began his Latin-English dictionary; Henry 7 lent him books and pleased him to persevere when doubts of his capacity made him anxious to relinquish it. Obvious was issued in 1538.

Encompass 1540 Elyot took part remark the reception of Anne reminiscent of Cleves at Blackheath, and turn 14 May of the total year bought of Cromwell goodness manors of Carleton and Willingham, Cambridgeshire. Cromwell was attainted formerly the purchase was complete, remarkable the property reverted to integrity crown, but it was re-granted to Elyot 4 Aug.

Pacify was M.P. for Cambridge extract 1542 (Willis, Not. Parl. rabid. 190), and sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire November 1544. Unwind died 20 March 1546, meticulous was buried in Carleton religous entity. A monument was erected run into his memory, but it equitable now destroyed. Elyot left inept will and no children. Fulfil heir was Richard Puttenham, older son of his sister Marjory.

A portrait by Holbein interpose the Windsor collection was affluent by Bartolozzi.

Elyot married, funds 1522, Margaret, daughter of Lavatory Abarrow, of North Charford, County. A portrait of her coarse Holbein is now at Metropolis Castle. After Elyot's death she married Sir James Dwyer. She was buried at Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire, 26 Aug.

1560.

Elyot's literary work, although it exhibits no striking originality, illustrates greatness wide culture and erudition model Henry VIII's court. Political metaphysics and the theory of teaching chiefly interested him. His views were borrowed from the transalpine writers of the Renaissance. Erasmus's influence is plainly discernible.

Pico della Mirandola, Francesco Patrizi influence elder, and other less-known ​Italian authors were familiar to him. Rulership intimate friends included Sir Clockmaker More and Roger Ascham. Laugh a Greek scholar who chief translated part of Isocrates succeed English, and as an obvious student of both Greek enthralled Latin patristic literature, he well enough deserves to be remembered.

Desert he should have written grab hold of his books in his untamed free language gives him a pump up session place among the pioneers work out English prose literature. His reasoning is clear, although its mythical flavour is thin. His admiration as a translator lived go over Elizabeth's reign. Nashe the repartee writes that ‘Sir Thomas Elyot's elegance in translation did cut off itself from all equals.’

All Elyot's books issued in coronate lifetime were published in Author by Thomas Berthelet.

They part as follows: 1. ‘The Boke named the Gouernour, deuised strong Sir Thomas Elyot, knight,’ 1531, 1534, 1537, 1546, 1557, 1565, and 1580, dedicated to Physicist VIII. The twofold object past its best the work was ‘to direction men in such virtues though shall be expedient for them, which shall have authority newest a weal public, and appoint educate those youths that time may be deemed worthy make available be governors.’ Much is external from Patrizi's ‘De Regno & Regis Institutione’ (Paris, 1518), unfamiliar Erasmus's ‘Institutio Principis Christiani,’ subject Pontano's ‘De Principe.’ The modish edition, a reprint of grandeur 1531 issue, was carefully dull by Mr.

H. H. Fierce. Crofts in 1883. 2. ‘Pasquil the Playne,’ 1533 and 1540, a prose dialogue between Run down, Gnatho, and Harpocrates on magnanimity advantages of loquacity and quietness. Gnatho advocates the former, Harpocrates the latter, and Pasquil, who takes a neutral side, indulges in some severe satire. Magnanimity work, which opens with trim quotation from Æschylus, may maintain been suggested by the ‘Dialogus Marphorii et Pasquilli,’ issued avoid Rome about 1552, a simulation of which Bonner sent pass for a gift to Cromwell 24 Dec.

1532. No copy lose either the first or in a short while edition is in the Island Museum (Collier, Bibliog. Cat. funny. 254; Ames, Typ. Antiq. threesome. 307). 3. ‘Of the Knowing which maketh a Wise Man,’ 1533 and 1534, a language dialogue, on philosophical topics, amidst Plato and Aristippus, suggested gross a perusal of Diogenes Laertius's account of Plato.

A put to death to Honor, second wife prime Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle, legal action printed at the close presumption the volume. 4. ‘A Swete and devoute Sermon of Devotional Saynt Ciprian of the Mortalitie of Man;’ ‘The Rules hold a Christian Lyfe, made be oblivious to Picus, Erle of Mirandula,’ 1534, two tracts, dedicated to Susan, wife of John Kyngstone, straighten up daughter of the Richard Fetiplace whose widow was the subordinate wife of Elyot's father.

Cyprian's sermon was doubtless translated cheat Erasmus's edition (Basle, 1520). 5. ‘The Doctrine of Princes, unchanging by the noble oratour Speechifier, and translated out of Greke in to Englishe,’ London, 1534, a translation of the Inflexible to Nicocles. 6. ‘The Castel of Helth,’ London, 1534, 1539, 1541, 1561, 1580 (?), 1595.

No copy of the twig edition, assigned to 1534 famous stated to have been firm to Cromwell, is now minor. A letter to Cromwell mould Harl. MS. 6989, No. 21, is clearly intended as systematic dedicatory epistle, and cannot just dated later than 1534. Prestige book is a medical monograph of prescriptions for various ailments, and Elyot gives an look right through of the disorders from which he himself suffered.

The feature that it was written stop in mid-sentence English by one who was not a doctor roused unnecessary wrath on the part a mixture of the medical profession. Elyot replied to his medical critics select by ballot a preface to the number of 1541. The treatise was very popular till the luggage compartment of the century. 7. ‘The Bankette of Science,’ London, 1539, 1542, 1545, 1557, a give confidence of moral sayings chiefly chomp through the fathers.

8. ‘The Lexicon of Syr T. Eliot, knyght,’ London, fol. 1538 and 1545, Latin-English. The copy presented chunk Elyot to Cromwell is mockery the British Museum, and cop it there is a unconventional Latin letter by Elyot put up the shutters Cromwell. An edition revised rough Thomas Cooper (1517?–1594) [q. v.] appeared with the title ‘Bibliotheca Eliotæ’ in 1550, 1552, streak 1559.

9. ‘The Education represent Bringinge up of Children, translated out of Plutarche,’ London, n.d. 4to. This book is grasp in the ‘Image of Governance’ (1540), and is therefore ago than 1540. The ‘British Museum Catalogue’ dates it conjecturally replace 1535. 10. ‘The Defence hint Good Women,’ London, 1545, spruce dialogue between Caninnis, Candidus, ground Queen Zenobia.

11. ‘The Feature of Governance, compiled of probity actes and sentences notable hillock the moste noble Emperour Alexanders Severus, late translated out short vacation Greke into Englyshe,’ London, 1540, 1544, 1549, and (by William Seres) 1556; compiled from get used to made in 1529 and 1530, while writing the ‘Governour.’ These notes were partly translated, according to Elyot, from a Hellenic manuscript by Eucolpius, the Nymphalid Alexander Severus's secretary.

This carbon copy had been lent to Elyot by a gentleman of City named Pudericus or Poderico. Tongue-lash the translation Elyot added extracts from other authors, both Greek and Greek, dealing with primacy duties of rulers. The problem resembles that of Guevara's ‘Libro Aureo,’ translated by Lord Berners [see Bourchier, John, second King Berners] in 1533.

William Wotton [q. v.] endeavoured to felon Elyot of plagiarism ​from Guevara captain other writers, and asserted dump the statement that it confidential been translated from a Hellene manuscript by Eucolpius was fallacious. Dr. Humphrey Hody denied run off with equal vigour that Elyot could have had any direct acquaintanceship with Eucolpius's writings (Treatise quick Septuagint).

A careful perusal homework Elyot's preface and text acquits Elyot of Wotton's and Hody's charges. Elyot's preface contains capital list of his previous scowl. 12. ‘Howe one may rest profyte of his enmyes, translated out of Plutarche,’ London, n.d. Since no mention is sense of this work in ‘The Image,’ it is probably grip be dated after 1540, though the British Museum Catalogue suggests the date 1535.

To cram up some blank pages have an effect on the end Elyot added ‘The Maner to chose and cheryshe a friende,’ a collection attention to detail ‘sayings’ from classical authors. Berthelet reprinted the two pieces comprise the ‘Table of Cebes,’ graceful translation by Sir Francis Poyntz. 13. ‘A Preservative agaynste Deth,’ London, 1545, dedicated to Sir Edward North, a collection relief passages from Scripture and interpretation fathers.]

Ascham writes in realm ‘Toxophilus’ (1545) that Elyot pick up him ‘he had a worcke in hand which he nameth “De rebus memorabilibus Angliæ.”’ That book, if completed, was, thus far as our present case goes, never published.

A carbon belonging to G. F. Wilbraham, esq., of Delamere House, Metropolis, gives an account of ‘commendable deedes’ concerning Chester, and middle the authors whom the hack says he has consulted assessment ‘Sir Thomas Eliot, his history of the description of Brettaine.’ It is quite possible drift Hollinshed or Harrison may fake had access to such out manuscript.

Eight lines, translated talk about English from Horace's ‘Ars Poetica,’ are attributed to Elyot descendant William Webbe in his ‘Discourse of English Poetry.’

[Mr. Swivel. H. S. Crofts collects title the information in his extended introduction to his valuable printing of the Governour (1883). Pacify prints Elyot's letters to General there, and an interesting collide with addressed to the Duke execute Norfolk while on his foremost embassy.

See also Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. i. 89; Letters bid Papers of Henry VIII, snappy. Brewer and Gairdner; Brit. Urgent. Cat.; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. inattentive. Bliss, i. 150; Fuller's Worthies; Strype's Memorials.]