Editing Roger Ascham (section)

==Publications==
Ascham obtained from [[Edward Lee (Archbishop of York)|Edward Lee]], then [[Archbishop of York]], a pension of £2 a year, in return for which he translated [[Oecumenius]]' ''Commentaries on the Pauline Epistles'' but the archbishop, scenting heresy in some passage relating to the marriage of the clergy, sent it back to him.

===''Toxophilus''===
Ascham's first published work, ''[[Toxophilus]]'' ("Lover of the Bow") in 1545, was dedicated to [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]. The objects of the book were twofold, to commend the practice of shooting with the [[long bow]], and to set the example of a higher style of composition than had yet been attempted in English.  Ascham presented the book to Henry VIII at [[Greenwich]] soon after his return from the capture of [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], and received a grant of a pension of £10 a year. ''Toxophilus'' was the first book on archery in English.  The work is a [[Platonic dialogue]] between Toxophilus and Philologus. Editions were published in 1571, 1589 and 1788, and by [[Edward Arber]] in 1868 and 1902.{{sfn|Leach|1911}}

===''The Scholemaster''===
In 1563 Ascham began the work ''The Scholemaster'', published posthumously in 1570, which ensured his later reputation. [[Richard Sackville (escheator)|Richard Sackville]], he states in the book's preface, told him that "a fond schoolmaster" had, by his brutality, made him hate learning, much to his loss, and as he had now a young son, whom he wished to be learned, he offered, if Ascham would name a tutor, to pay for the education of their respective sons under Ascham's orders, and invited Ascham to write a treatise on "the right order of teaching". ''The Scholemaster'' was the result.

Not a general treatise on educational method, the book concentrates on the teaching of Latin; and it was not intended for schools, but "specially prepared for the private brynging up of youth in gentlemen and noblemens houses". It advocated "the double translation of a model book", the book recommended being [[Johannes Sturm|Sturm]]ius's ''Select Letters of Cicero''; the method itself was not new. The book's plea for gentleness and persuasion instead of coercion in schools, was contemporary: it was being practised and preached at that time by [[Christopher Jonson]] ({{circa|1536}}–1597) at [[Winchester College]]; and had been repeatedly urged by [[Erasmus]] and others. Along with its suggestions for educational practice, Ascham's book includes a famous warning against the dangers of Italy, which he calls "inchantementes of Circes".<ref>''The Scholemaster'', fol. 26v.</ref>

The ''Scholemaster'' was reprinted in 1571 and 1589. It was edited by [[James Upton (schoolmaster)|James Upton]] in 1711 and in 1743, by [[John Eyton Bickersteth Mayor]] 1863, by Edward Arber in 1870 (reprints in 1888, 1895, 1903, 1910, 1927), by J. Holzamer (Vienna, 1881), and by Henry Morley in 1888 (Cassell's National Library, no. 137; and reprints). In the twentieth century, it was included in series of English classics, in editions for use in schools: Methuen's English Classics (1934, ed. D. C. Whimster), Dent University Paperbacks (1966, ed. R.J. Shoeck), Folger Shakespeare Library (1967, ed. L.V. Ryan).

===Correspondence===
Ascham's letters were collected and published in 1576, and went through several editions, the last at Nuremberg in 1611. They were re-titled by [[William Elstob]] in 1703.

===Other works===
''Report and Discourse of the Affairs and State of Germany 1553'' was published by John Daye (1570). Ascham's English works were edited by James Bennett, with a life by [[Samuel Johnson]] in 1771, reprinted in 1815. [[John Allen Giles]] in 1864–1865 published in 4 vols. select letters from the ''Toxophilus'' and ''Scholemaster'' and the life by Edward Grant.