OCRed data provided
for searching only. 642 SMALL LATINE AND LESSE GREEKE
tering of Terence there. Along with Terence might go some Plautus. For an understanding of how all sixteenth century drama grew, not merely nor chiefly in England, the study of Terence in the grammar schools and out is fundamental.
We have seen that Terence was in the sixteenth century the first objective in grammar school Latinity, and have noticed something of the reasons for this position. But following the leadership of Sturm, Ascham was already attempting to substitute Cicero for Terence in this fundamental position. The device was, as we have seen, to take selected epistles of Cicero so that something simple enough might be found;' but since the device had at this period made but little progress the discussion of it too may'best be deferred to another connection.a
Besides the standard and universal Cato, Aesop, and Terence, certain supplementary works for construction might also be used in lower grammar school. Like Cato and Aesop, these were usually good moral inheritances from the later Middle Ages or Early Renaissance. Mancinus, De Ryatuor Virtutibus gets required for the second form in three schools; Mantuan, Aldolescentia seu Bucolica in two for the third form, and in others with the form unspecified; Palingenius, Zodiacus Vitae for the third form, and in three others with forms unspecified; the Psalms of Hessus in one school for the third form. Numerous similar works are occasionally mentioned for this moral training, but without allocation to forms.
Since Mancinus had beversified the four Ciceronic virtues, he was considered a most estimable author. An English translation of Mancinus was printed about 152o. The unknown translator, rephrasing his original, says,
This lytyll boke is passage worthy / and mete to rude vnlernyd chyldren / & to tender yonge damsels / & euyn to them: whom the mother noressheth yet with beyfome of the mylke . . . This lytyll bake wyl fie no man: but that he may haue hym: nor wall make no man Iothe hym for any hardnes: that is in hym: yf he can eny maner wyse his firste pryncipils: that he shulde begyn withall 3
He then proceeds to explain how the work may be used to improve one's Latin.4
Alexander Bercley published a verse translation of Mancinus
See above, pp. 286 if. See Vol. II, pp. 253 if. 8 U. M. *1467 from B. M., C. 4o. d. 36; S. T. C. 17241. 4 Watson, Grammar Schools, pp. 403 if.
[ Volume
One ] 
