Ascham, ROGER, a distinguished English writer and classical scholar, was born in 1515 at Kirby Wiske, near Thirsk, in Yorkshire. He received his early education in the family of Sir Anthony Wingfield, and by him was sent, in 1530, to St John's College, Cambridge, where, in 1534, he took his B.A., and, in spite of his avowed leaning to the Reformed doctrines, obtained a fellowship. The study of the classics, especially Greek, had recently been revived at Cambridge, and Ascham's bent impelled him with ardour to these studies. His reputation as a classical scholar soon brought him numerous pupils; and about 1538 he was appointed Greek reader at St John's. He at first opposed the then new method of pronunciation which is still used in England; but afterwards adopted and defended it. His leisure hours were devoted to music, penmanship (in which he excelled), and archery. In defence of the latter art, he published, in 1545, a treatise entitled Toxophilus, the pure English style of which, independently of its other merits, ranks it among English classics. For this treatise, which was dedicated to Henry VIII., he was rewarded with a pension of £10, equivalent to about £100 of our present money. In 1546 he was appointed university orator. In 1548, on the death of his former pupil, Grindal, he was called to supply his place at Cheshunt as tutor to the Lady Elizabeth. In this office he gave the highest satisfaction; but at the end of two years abruptly resigned it, on account of a quarrel with the princess's steward. As secretary to Sir Richard Morysin, ambassador to the court of Charles V., he spent three years (1550-53) on the Continent, at Augsburg chiefly, but with occasional visits to Venice, the Tyrol, Carinthia; and in 1553 was published his Report on the Affaires of Germany. During his absence, he had been appointed Latin secretary to Edward VI.; and on his return, after the young king's death, the interest of Bishop Gardiner secured him the same office under Mary, his pension being at the same time doubled. His prudence and moderation preserved him from offending by his Protestantism; and after Mary's death, Elizabeth retained him at court in the double capacity of secretary and tutor, which offices he held till his death, 30th December 1568. His principal work, The Scholemaster, a treatise on classical education, was published in 1570 by his widow, and has been well edited by
Professor Mayor (1863). His admirable Latin and English letters, 295 in number, are included in Dr Giles's excellent edition of his English works (3 vols. 1864-65). See also Dr Katterfeld's Roger Ascham, sein Leben und seine Werke (1879).