Details
[ASCHAM, ROGER. Tutor to Queen Elizabeth I.]. LIVIUS, TITUS. Historicus duobus libris auctus cum L. Fiori epitome, indici copiso, et annotatis in libros VII. Bell Maccedonici. [Preface by Erasmus and Ulrich von Hutten]. Mainz: Johannes Schoeffer, 1518. Woodcut title-border, a few large woodcut reverse historiated initials. Folio, 17th-century calf, blind-tooled and gilt-lettered "Ex dono Ioanns Burrel", repaired and rebacked with old spine laid down; lacks first woodcut title (a1), minor worming on a2-g2 and last 6 leaves (slightly affecting text), small hole in Ff6, a few leaves with light marginal soiling or minor chipping, some marginalia by Ascham and another contemporary hand. Adams L1321; Brunet III:1104.
ALMOST CERTAINLY THE COPY USED BY ASCHAM TO TEACH THE YOUNG ELIZABETH I. From before July 1548 to late 1549 Ascham was tutor to Princess Elizabeth but he found the frivolities of court distasteful and resigned his post in favour of a more academic existence at Cambridge. During his tutorship Ascham records that with him Elizabeth had read "almost the whole of Cicero and a great part of Livy" and the slightly pedestrian nature of the notes in this copy (inappropriate for a man of Ascham's learning), suggest that this was the volume that he and Elizabeth used for her studies. A1r bears the inscription in a secretary hand: "Hamptonac auspicata huius lectio 26 Novembris ano 1577", which again implies a link with the court of Elizabeth.
ALMOST CERTAINLY THE COPY USED BY ASCHAM TO TEACH THE YOUNG ELIZABETH I. From before July 1548 to late 1549 Ascham was tutor to Princess Elizabeth but he found the frivolities of court distasteful and resigned his post in favour of a more academic existence at Cambridge. During his tutorship Ascham records that with him Elizabeth had read "almost the whole of Cicero and a great part of Livy" and the slightly pedestrian nature of the notes in this copy (inappropriate for a man of Ascham's learning), suggest that this was the volume that he and Elizabeth used for her studies. A1r bears the inscription in a secretary hand: "Hamptonac auspicata huius lectio 26 Novembris ano 1577", which again implies a link with the court of Elizabeth.
Provenance
Roger Ascham "Anno D'm 1549 Augusti 16. R. Aschamo Lectore" on A2 and numerous marginalia by Ascham in ink; John Burrel (headmaster of the Thetford School); Thetford School (the book was eventually presented to the School in 1752 by John Collet, according to a contemporary inscription on fly-leaf); Thetford Fulmerston School (sale, Christie's London, 30 January 1980, lot 205).