Grammarians' War

William Lily on John Skelton (British Library ms Harley 540, f. 57 verso)
Quid me Scheltone fronte sic aperta Carnis vipero potens veneo Quid versus trutina meos iniqua Libras. Dicere vera num livebit Doctrina tibi dum parari famam Et doctus fieri studes poeta: Doctrinam nec habes nec es poeta. —William Lily^[1]^[2]
With face so bold, and teeth so sharp Of Viper's venome, why dost carp? Why are my verses by thee weigh'd In a false scale? May truth be said? Whilst thou, to get the more esteeme, A learned Poet fain wouldst seem; Skelton, thou art, let all men know it, Neither learned, nor a poet. — English translation by bishop Thomas Fuller in 1662^[1]^[2]

The Grammarians' War (1519–1521) was a conflict between rival systems of teaching Latin. The two main antagonists were English grammarians and schoolmasters William Horman and Robert Whittington. The War involved Latin primers called Vulgaria, which were thus named because they contained "vulgar" (in the 16th century sense, i.e. everyday and common) sayings or phrases that schoolchildren were expected to use in normal life, such as "Sit away or I shall give thee a blow," and, "Would God we might go play!"^[3]^[4]

^ ^a ^b Edwards 1995, pp. 48.
^ ^a ^b Pendergast 2006, pp. 73.
^ Pendergast 2006, pp. 71–72.
^ Simon 1966, pp. 89.

[FOOTNOTEEdwards199548-1] Edwards 1995, pp. 48.

[FOOTNOTEPendergast200673-2] Pendergast 2006, pp. 73.

[FOOTNOTEPendergast200671–72-3] Pendergast 2006, pp. 71–72.

[FOOTNOTESimon196689-4] Simon 1966, pp. 89.

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