Edward Grant (headmaster)
Encyclopedia
Edward Grant (1540s-1601) was an English classical scholar, Latin poet, and headmaster of Westminster School
. He was also the first biographer of Roger Ascham
.
, Cambridge, 22 February 1564. where he completed his exercises for the degree of B. A. about 1567. In February 1572, he was granted the degree of B.A. at Oxford by virtue of his residence at Cambridge, and a month later proceeded M.A. in the same university after obtaining a dispensation which relieved him of the necessity of residence. Anthony Wood
says that he was a member first of Christ Church, Oxford
or Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and afterwards of Exeter College, Oxford
(the university register does not mention his connection with any college). He was incorporated M.A. at Cambridge on 16 December 1573, proceeded B.D. at Cambridge in 1577, and D.D. in 1589, being incorporated B.D. at Oxford 19 May 1579. He was a preacher licensed by Cambridge University in 1580, and presented books to St. John's College, Cambridge, 29 April 1579.
Grant became head-master of Westminster in 1572, after serving as assistant master for about two years previously. He retained that office for twenty years, and was succeeded by William Camden
in February 1593. On 15 December 1587 he wrote a Latin letter to the queen begging to be released from teaching after seventeen years' service. The next vacant prebend at Westminster was granted him by letters patent 14 November 1575, and he became a prebendary or canon 27 May 1577. He was vicar of South Benfleet, Essex, from 12 December 1584 till the following year; became rector of Bintree
and Foulsham
, Norfolk
, 20 November 1586; canon of Ely in 1589; rector of East Barnet
3 November 1591, and rector of Toppesfield
, Essex
, on the queen's presentation 22 April 1598. He was also sub-dean of Westminster Abbey
, and dying 4 August 1601 was buried in the abbey. A son Edward, who died 2 January 1588, aged five, was previously buried there. Another son, Gabriel, graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
, B.A. 1597, M.A. 1600, and D.D. 1612, and became canon of Westminster in 1612.; a brother John became a fellow of Trinity.
.
Grant contributed verses in Greek, Latin, or English to Humphrey Lhuyd's Breviary of Britaine, translated by Thomas Twyne
, 1573; John Prise
's Historiae Brytannicae Defensio, 1573; Thomas Tymme
's translation of the Civil Wars in France attributed to Petrus Ramus
, 1573; John Baret
's Alvearie; Gabriel Harvey
's Gratulationum Valdinensium lib. ii. (on Leicester's arms); and John Stockwood
's Disputatiunculum Grammaticalium Libellus. He also lamented Bishop John Jewel
's and Ascham's deaths in Latin verse.
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
. He was also the first biographer of Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his promotion of the vernacular, and his theories of education...
.
Life
He was educated at Westminster, and matriculated as a sizar of St. John's CollegeSt John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, Cambridge, 22 February 1564. where he completed his exercises for the degree of B. A. about 1567. In February 1572, he was granted the degree of B.A. at Oxford by virtue of his residence at Cambridge, and a month later proceeded M.A. in the same university after obtaining a dispensation which relieved him of the necessity of residence. Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
says that he was a member first of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
or Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and afterwards of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
(the university register does not mention his connection with any college). He was incorporated M.A. at Cambridge on 16 December 1573, proceeded B.D. at Cambridge in 1577, and D.D. in 1589, being incorporated B.D. at Oxford 19 May 1579. He was a preacher licensed by Cambridge University in 1580, and presented books to St. John's College, Cambridge, 29 April 1579.
Grant became head-master of Westminster in 1572, after serving as assistant master for about two years previously. He retained that office for twenty years, and was succeeded by William Camden
William Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
in February 1593. On 15 December 1587 he wrote a Latin letter to the queen begging to be released from teaching after seventeen years' service. The next vacant prebend at Westminster was granted him by letters patent 14 November 1575, and he became a prebendary or canon 27 May 1577. He was vicar of South Benfleet, Essex, from 12 December 1584 till the following year; became rector of Bintree
Bintree
Bintree is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, about nine miles south-east of Fakenham. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 300....
and Foulsham
Foulsham
This article is about the place. For the publishing company see W. Foulsham & Company Limited.Foulsham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The Village is miles west south west of Cromer, miles north west of Norwich and miles north east of London. The village lies...
, 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...
, 20 November 1586; canon of Ely in 1589; rector of East Barnet
East Barnet
East Barnet is an area of North London within the London Borough of Barnet bordered by New Barnet, Cockfosters and Southgate. It is a largely residential suburb whose central area, known locally as the Village, contains a variety of shops, public houses, restaurants and services. East Barnet is...
3 November 1591, and rector of Toppesfield
Toppesfield
Toppesfield is a small village, historically associated with arable farming, in north Essex, England.-Inhabitants:Toppesfield has approximately three-hundred inhabitants...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, on the queen's presentation 22 April 1598. He was also sub-dean of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, and dying 4 August 1601 was buried in the abbey. A son Edward, who died 2 January 1588, aged five, was previously buried there. Another son, Gabriel, graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, B.A. 1597, M.A. 1600, and D.D. 1612, and became canon of Westminster in 1612.; a brother John became a fellow of Trinity.
Works
Grant was the intimate friend of Roger Ascham. In 1576 he published a collection of Ascham's letters with an Oratio de Vita et Obitu Rogeri Aschami prefixed, and a dedication of the whole to the queen. He was also author of 'Tῆς Ἑλληνικής γλώσσης σταχυολογία', Graecae Linguae Spicilegium in Scholae Westmonasteriensis Progymnasmata divulgatum, London, 1575, dedicated to Lord Burghley. An epitome by Camden entitled Institutio Graecae Grammatices, London, 1597, passed through numerous editions. He also published an enlarged and corrected version of a Lexicon Graeco-Latinum Joannis Crispini . . . ex R. Constantini aliorumq. scriptis . . . collectum, London, 1581, dedicated to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of LeicesterRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
.
Grant contributed verses in Greek, Latin, or English to Humphrey Lhuyd's Breviary of Britaine, translated by Thomas Twyne
Thomas Twyne
Thomas Twyne was an Elizabethan translator and a physician of Lewes in Sussex, best known for completing Thomas Phaer's translation of Virgil's Aeneid into English verse after Phaer's death in 1560, and for his 1579 English translation of De remediis utriusque fortunae, a collection of 253 Latin...
, 1573; John Prise
John Prise
Sir John Prise was a Welsh public notary, acting as a royal agent and visitor of the monasteries. He was also a scholar, associated with the first Welsh printed publication Yn y lhyvyr hwnn.-Life:...
's Historiae Brytannicae Defensio, 1573; Thomas Tymme
Thomas Tymme
Thomas Tymme was an English clergyman, translator and author. He combined Puritan views, including the need for capital punishment for adultery, with a positive outlook on alchemy and experimental science.-Life:...
's translation of the Civil Wars in France attributed to Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus was an influential French humanist, logician, and educational reformer. A Protestant convert, he was killed during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Early life:...
, 1573; John Baret
John Baret
John Baret or Barret , was an English lexicographer.Baret was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and took the degree of B.A. in 1554–5, and that of M.A. in 1558. About 1555 he describes himself as ‘having pupils at Cambridge, studious of the Latin tongue.’ In later years he is said to have...
's Alvearie; Gabriel Harvey
Gabriel Harvey
Gabriel Harvey was an English writer. Harvey was a notable scholar, though his reputation suffered from his quarrel with Thomas Nashe...
's Gratulationum Valdinensium lib. ii. (on Leicester's arms); and John Stockwood
John Stockwood
John Stockwood was an English clergyman, preacher, translator of Protestant texts and school-master.-Life:He was from Kent, and was a pensioner of St John's College, Cambridge, when Queen Elizabeth visited the university in August 1564, matriculating on 4 October in that year, and admitted a...
's Disputatiunculum Grammaticalium Libellus. He also lamented Bishop John Jewel
John Jewel
John Jewel was an English bishop of Salisbury.-Life:He was the son of John Jewel of Buden, Devon, was educated under his uncle John Bellamy, rector of Hampton, and other private tutors until his matriculation at Merton College, Oxford, in July 1535.There he was taught by John Parkhurst,...
's and Ascham's deaths in Latin verse.