SOURCE: Edgerton, William L. “Floures for Latine Spekynge,” “Apophthegmes,” and “The Paraphrase of Erasmus.” In Nicholas Udall, pp. 68-81. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., 1965.

In the first essay below, Edgerton analyzes Floures for Latine Spekynge in terms of what it reveals about Tudor education and as its relationship to Ralph Roister Doister. In the second and third essays, he examines Udall's intentions and style in his translations of Erasmus.

Floures for Latine Spekynge

Floures for Latine Spekynge probably gives a better understanding of what actually was studied by Tudor schoolboys than the much better known Schoolmaster, by Roger Ascham. Floures is not a scolding admonition, by a schoolmaster who never taught in grammar schools, of what should be taught; but a good example of what the Tudor schoolboy actually studied. In fact, a perusal of Floures explains to some extent that love of words and sometimes exhausting prolixity...