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for searching only. THE ETON SYSTEM UNDER QUEEN ELIZABETH 377
For my nepveu Fraunces Wylloughbye at sondrye tymez syth his commyng to Walden to the schole Mr. there, in anno supradicto.
To the scholemayster of Walden for teaching my nepveu Fraunces one quarter of a yeare ended the xvth Jaye of September, anno predicto iijs. iiijd.
More to hym in rewarde xxd.
To one that dyd teache hym to wryte xijd.
To hym selfe to putt in his purse iijd.
For a Terence for hym iiijd.
For a Lateen psaltere iijd.67
For the next quarter, we have,
To Mr. Corbett of Walden by the handes of Gryphyn for necessaryes layde oute for my nepveu Fraunces as foloweth:
For a wryting booke, ijd.; ... for a glasse and yncke, jd.; . . . for an incke horne, ijd.; for halfe a quier of paper, jd. o h . ; . .. for a Cato and dialoguez, vijd.;
To Mr. Corbett, 150 Decembris, anno praedicto, for Tullies epistelez iijd. To the scholemaister of Walden for teaching of hyrn . . . ijs. vjd.66
A further hint as to books seems to belong to the next quarter. In a bill which appears to be dated May 3, 1556, we find,
For Ciceroes epystelles for hym, with divers commentaries viijs.
For a dixionarie in Englysshe xd.
For Colloquia Vivis xd.
For Colopine cunt onomastico xvjs.69
The editor thinks the English dictionary was that of Sir Thomas
Elyot, but the price shows that this identification is incorrect. For under date of January 156o-I561, we happen to have the price of Elyot's dictionary and a few other school items.
To Mr. Coverdall for Eliotes dictionary, 12s.; for four Lilies grammers,
4s.; and for four dialoges, as. 8d.; for four Isopes fables, 2s.; 2os. 8d.
To Sandon's wife for byrche for roddes, 3d.70
Thus Francis Willoughby's dictionary was not Elyot's, but was no doubt the little dictionary of Withals. In 1571-72, the Withals was sold at 49s.4d. per hundred, just under 6d. each.71 So the retail profit was a trifle over 4d. each.
In his first year at Saffron Walden, it is evident that Francis Willoughby was centering attention upon Terence, and Tully's epistles.
67 Ibid., pp. 410-411. 66 Ibid., p. 411. 66 Ibid., p. 411.
76 Hirt. MSS. Comm., Report on the Manuscripts of the Earl of Ancaster, Preserved at Grimsthorpe, p. 468. Perhaps this item gives some idea of the proper proportion of birch required along with these elementary texts. Two other grammars were purchased-without birch--in June, 156e, for as., Ibid., p. 462.
71 Arber, E., A Transcript of the Registers of the Company of Stationers of London, 1344-16#0, Vol. I, pp. 52o if.
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