Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2016 January 23

= January 23 =

First book written by an English monarch
What was the first book written by an English monarch?--The Emperor&#39;s New Spy (talk) 02:18, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Perhaps Alfred the Great's law code or his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, both thought to have been done in the 880s. Rmhermen (talk) 02:58, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
 * The Law of Æthelberht by Æthelberht of Kent is older (about 610). However, although Æthelberht was an English king, he wasn't king of England.  Tevildo (talk) 08:33, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Neither was Alfred, strictly. Rojomoke (talk) 11:16, 23 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Alfred was notably literate, but The Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible by Paul D. Wegner says that his translations were made "with his helpers". It seems quite unlikely that any king would sit down and write a legal code in the modern sense of an author writing a book, there would be advisers and scribes to do the donkey work. King Henry VIII famously wrote Assertio Septem Sacramentorum "Defence of the Seven Sacraments" which runs to some 150 pages of modern print. Edward VI and Victoria were keen diarists, but otherwise kingship and literary achievement don't seem to be common bedfellows. Alansplodge (talk)


 * Unusual but not completely absent. Richard I was a noted poet/songwriter. He wrote poems in both French (his father's mother tongue) and Occitan (his mother's mother tongue) and set them to music (as was customary at the time). Unfortunately none of it has come down, except for two poems w/o their melody. (Cf. ). Henry VIII (besides what was mentioned by Alan) wrote poetry in English and set it to music. (Cf. ). And it is not impossible that Henry IV (or Henry V, less probably though, as he couldn't have learned much counterpoint hanging out and getting drunk with John Falstaff?) was a composer capable of writing contrapuntal music good enough to be preserved in the Old Hall Manuscript. (Cf. Roy Henry). None of this amounts to "books". Just responding to Alan. Note none of them were particularly idle kings that didn't know what to do with their time. Contact Basemetal   here  18:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Thanks. The subsequent question has reminded me that James VI and I was given to writing diatribes, notably A Counterblaste to Tobacco. Alansplodge (talk) 21:06, 23 January 2016 (UTC)


 * If we're going to involve true Scotsmen, James I also deserves a mention. (Cf. The Kingis Quair). Contact Basemetal   here  14:08, 24 January 2016 (UTC)


 * I am not sure what you mean by mentioning the king is queer, Basemetal, but Alansplodge already mentioned James I some 17 hours prior. μηδείς (talk) 23:22, 25 January 2016 (UTC)


 * LOL. You know he didn't. Contact Basemetal   here  07:12, 26 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Wow, I can't believe I was unaware of that song, and I have a huge crush on Perry. Thanks. μηδείς (talk) 03:11, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

Identify a quotation
Based on the above question. "Since writing of books has grown into a trade, it is as discreditable for a King to become an author as it would be for him to be a practitioner in a profession." This quotation appears in many anthologies and collections of bons mots from the early nineteenth century, some of which attribute it to "A certain eminent critic of James I." Can we track it down more precisely, in particular by identifying the author? Tevildo (talk) 18:10, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
 * The google-hits I get, using that particular wording, seem to stem from the source, "Amenities of Literature, Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature" by Isaac D'Israeli, 1868 (Google books, unable to get a direct link). No, wait, there's an older one: The Literary Gazette: A Weekly Journal of Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts. 1841 (Google books, unable to get direct link) Same author, and the statement is attributed to "others" (than the Cavillers). The phrase I searched for was "discreditable for a King to become an author" (in quotes) on Google. --NorwegianBluetalk 22:43, 23 January 2016 (UTC)


 * It was James Montague, Bishop of Winchester and James I's chaplain, in his preface to the king's collected works; he was not speaking for himself, but rather paraphrasing unnamed opponents prior to rebutting them. Text from archive.org jnestorius(talk) 22:55, 23 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Exact quote:
 * And since that Booke-writing is growen into a Trade ; It is as dishonorable for a King to write bookes ; as it is for him to be a Practitioner in a Profession.
 * jnestorius(talk) 23:04, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Thanks very much! The substitution of "become an author" for "to write bookes" probably explains why the trail goes cold in about 1820 for my wording. My curiosity is adequately satisfied, but if we can find out who Montague was quoting, so much the better. Tevildo (talk) 13:57, 24 January 2016 (UTC)