and the Testament of Love alludes to the work in similar terms. “In the statutes of Winchester College [written about 1386],” says Warton, “a grammar is called Antiquus Donatus, i.e. the Old Donat, or the name of a system of grammar at that time in vogue, and long before. The French have a book entitled ‘Le Donnet, traitè de grammaire.... Among Rawlinson’s MSS. at Oxford I have seen Donatus opitimus noviter compilatus, a manuscript on vellum, given to Saint Albans by John Stoke, Abbot in 1450. In the introduction, or lytell Proheme, to Dean Colet’s Grammatices Rudimenta, we find mention made of ‘certayne introducyons into latyn speche called Donates, &c. ... Cotgrave ... quotes an old French proverb: ‘Les diables etoient encores a leur Donat’—The devils were but yet in their grammar.”
In common with Æsop, the Dialogus Creaturarum, and other peculiarly popular works, Donatus lent his name to productions which really had no connection with his own, and we find such titles as Donatus Moralizatus, Donatus Christianatus, adopted by writers of a different class in order to attract attention and gain acceptance.
In England, however, the Works of Donatus do not appear to have obtained the same broad footing which they probably did in Italy. The modern edition by Lindemann, taken from a manuscript at Berlin, exhibits the entire system divided into three sections or books. But all that we know to have passed the press, at all events in this country, are two pieces evidently prepared for petty schools—the Donatus Minor and the Donatus pro pueris, both published at the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century.
The former has on the title-page a large woodcut, representing a schoolmaster in a sort of thronal chair, with the instrument of correction in his hand, and three pupils kneeling in front of him. Both the teacher and his scholars wear the long hair of the period and plain close caps. It is curious that the pupils should not be uncovered, but the engraving could not, perhaps, be altered.
“The work begins with the title ‘De Nomine.’ Almost every page has a distinct running title descriptive of the subject below treated of. Herbert properly adds: ‘In this book the declension of some of the pronouns is very remarkable, viz. N. Ego. G. mei vel mis. N. Tu. G. tui vel tis. N. Quis vel qui, que vel qua, Quod vel quid. Pl. D. & Ab. quis vel quibus. Also Nostras and Vestras are declined throughout without the neuter gender.’”
IV.
Rise of native teachers—Magdalen College School, Oxford—John Annaquil, its first master, and his grammatical handbooks—The Compendium Grammatices with the Vulgaria of Terence annexed—The Parvulorum Institutio—Personal allusions in the examples given—John Stanbridge—Account of his works, with extracts of interesting passages—Robert Whittinton—His sectional series of Grammars.
I. The influence of Donatus was both widespread and of prolonged duration, and we must regard the ancient capital of the civilised world as the focus and cradle of all modern grammatical literature. Upon the great revival of culture, many Englishmen repaired to Rome to undergo a formal training for the scholastic profession under the masters who arose there, among whom were Sulpicius, author, as we have seen, of several educational tracts, which obtained considerable currency here, and Johannes Balbus, who compiled the famous Catholicon.