1542-1545.
He is engaged with the Princess, afterwards Queen Mary and others in
translating Erasmus' _Paraphrase of the New Testament_ into English.
'1545, Sept. 30, at London,' date of his _Preface to Lake_.
In his _Pref._ to _John_, partly translated by Princess Mary, partly
by Rev. F. Malet, D.D.; Udall gives us the following account of
female education in his day: which can only, however, apply to a few
women, like Elizabeth, Mary, and Lady Jane Grey. 'But nowe in this
gracious and blisseful tyme of knowledge, in whiche it hath pleased
almightye God to reuele and shewe abrode the lyght of his moste
holye ghospell: what a noumbre is there of noble women (especially
here in this realme of Englande,) yea and howe many in the yeares of
tender vyrginitiee, not only aswel seen and as familiarly trade in
the Latine and Greke tounges, as in theyr owne mother language: but
also both in all kindes of prophane litterature, and liberall artes,
exactely studied and exercised, and in the holy Scriptures and
Theologie so ripe, that they are able aptely cunnyngly, and with
much grace eyther to indicte or translate into the vulgare tongue,
for the publique instruccion and edifying of the vnlearned
multitude.... It is nowe no newes in Englande to see young damisels
in nobles houses and in the Courtes of Princes, in stede of cardes
and other instrumentes of idle trifleyng, to haue continually in her
handes, eyther Psalmes, Omelies, and other deuoute meditacions, or
elles Paules Epistles, or some booke of holye Scripture matiers: and
as familiarlye both to reade or reason thereof in Greke, Latine,
Frenche, or Italian, as in Englishe.'
+1547. Jan. 28. Edward VI. ascends the throne.+
'1552. July 20. At Windsor.' The date of Udall's preface to the
translation by himself and others, of T. Gemini's _Anatomy_.
+1553. July 6. Mary succeeds to the crown.+
1554. Dec. 3.
Date of a warrant dormer from the Queen to the Master of her Revels.
[Reprinted in _The Loseley MSS._ Ed. by A. J. Kempe, F.S.A. London.
1836.] The warrant runs thus-- 'Whereas our wellbeloued Nicholas
Udall hath at soondrie seasons convenient heretofore shewed and
myndeth hereafter to shewe his diligence in setting foorth of
Dialogues and Enterludes before us fo' ou' regell disporte and
recreacion.' ... And then goes on to authorize the loan of apparel
for those purposes. Did the popularity of the Dramatist, and her
personal acquaintance with him, since they had worked together on
Erasmus' _Paraphrase_, lead the Queen to condone the intense
Protestantism of the Preacher, even to the continuing of him in
favour? Udall and Ascham, two noted Protestants, are both favoured
by Mary.
*1555.
1556. Nov.
Udall is appointed Master of Westminster School, and so continues
until Mary re-establishes the Monastery at Westminster.
1556. Dec.
Udall dies.
----. ---- 23.