April 18th Polydore Vergil (Death)

Today in 1555, Polydore Vergil (1470 – 1555) died.  The Italian – born but naturalised Englishman, Vergil became famous for his works on the British nations, specifically stating in his ‘Anglica Historia’ that ‘The whole Countrie of Britaine...is divided into iv partes; whereof the one is inhabited of Englishmen, the other of Scottes, the third of Wallshemen, and the fowerth of Cornishe people. Which all differ emonge them selves, either in tongue, either in manners, or ells in lawes and ordinaunces.’ 

Vergil is, therefore, one of the first recorded writers to describe Cornwall as viewed as a distinct part of the island, separated by history and language.

Born in Urbino, the child of a medical dispenser and the grandson of a physician who had taught in Paris, Vergil came to England (1502) as the representative of Cardinal Adriano Castellesi.  He held the office of Collector of Peter’s Pence (a tax payable to Rome by all people) and resided in Wells in a house now known as the ‘Old Archdeaconry’ and which is occupied by the Music School of Wells Cathedral School.  In 1504, he was actually enthroned as the Bishop of Bath and Wells as proxy for Adriano whilst in 1508 he also appointed himself as Archdeacon of Wells.

An established author, and a representative of a Cardinal, Vergil was received as a minor celebrity, and was welcomed at court by King Henry VII and it was at the King’s request that he began work on his ‘Anglica Historia, a New History of England’.

 

   
 







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