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for searching only. CHAPTER X
EDUCATING THE "PRINCE"; PRINCE EDWARD
LOWER SCHOOL WORK
THE SCHOOLMASTERS of King Henry's younger children, Elizabeth and Edward, agreed essentially with Sir Thomas Elyot in their points of view. They, too, were ultra-pious men; but they adapted more fully the grammar school curriculum and methods to attain their ends. For, Richard Cox, who was in charge of the rudiments of Prince Edward's education, was that master of Eton who transcribed the curriculum of about 1530. It was, therefore, only natural that he should retain the Eton mould when he began to shape a scheme of education for Prince Edward. The grammar school curriculum had proved itself so effective that its wind was now tempered to the shorn lambs of royalty.
In order to put the evidence concerning the training of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward in its proper setting, we need to notice the connection of their other known tutors, most of whom had formed a group of friends at St. John's College, Cambridge. The leader of this group at St. John's had been John Cheke, who had in various ways emphasized the study of Greek. King Henry had earlier made him King's Scholar, enabling him to prepare himself in Greek, and he had later attained eminence in his college by his able and enthusiastic teaching of that subject. In July, 1544, the day regularly being given as the tenth,' Cheke was called to be tutor of Prince Edward, who was approaching his seventh. birthday. About September 13, 1544, Roger Ascham was recommending his pupil William Grindal to Cheke, Ascham's own former tutor. Ascham had been closely connected with Cheke at St. John's, succeeding to some of his positions and perquisites, and hoping for still others. Through Cheke, Grindal became tutor to Princess Elizabeth, apparently a short time after the recommendation in September, 1544. Incidentally, stories connecting Edward and Elizabeth under Cheke doubt-less rose from this close connection between the tutors of the two children. Then Grindal died shortly before January 22, 1548,2 and, again through Cheke, Ascham succeeded as tutor to Elizabeth. So we have a group of St. John's men, notable enthusiasts for Greek,
Strype, John, The Life of the Learned Sir john Cheke, Kt., p. 22. 9 Giles, .ebcham, Vol. I, p. 158.
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