Thomas Speght
Thomas Speght (died 1621) was an English schoolmaster and editor of Geoffrey Chaucer.
Life
He was from a Yorkshire family, and matriculated as a sizar of Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1566, graduating B.A. in 1570, and M.A. in 1573. At Cambridge he was supported by a scholarship from Lady Mildred Cecil. He went to London, and became a schoolmaster.[1][2][3]
According to the epitaph on the tomb of his son Lawrence, Speght as schoolmaster was a "paragon".[1]
Works
In 1598 Speght edited the works of Chaucer. He had the assistance of John Stow the chronicler, and built on Stow's Chaucer edition of 1561. He included a glossary, and an influential biography of Chaucer, as well as annotations. He included works now not associated with Chaucer.[3]
First Chaucer edition (1598)
The full title of his edition ran: The Workes of our Antient and learned English Poet, Geffrey Chaucer, newly Printed. In this Impression you shall find these Additions: (1) His Portraiture and Progenie Shewed. (2) His Life collected. (3) Argument to euery Booke gathered. (4) Old and Obscure Words explained. (5) Authors by him cited declared. (6) Difficulties opened. (7) Two Bookes of his neuer before printed (i.e. his Dreame and The Floure and the Leafe), published London, folio 1598.[1]
The volume was dedicated to
Second Chaucer edition (1602)
Meanwhile
The second edition bore the title: The Workes of our Ancient and learned English Poet Geoffrey Chaucer newly printed. To that which was done in the former Impression thus much is now added: (1) In the life of Chaucer many things inserted. (2) The whole Worke by old Copies reformed. (3) Sentences and Prouerbes noted. (4) The Signification of the old and obscure words prooued. (5) The Latine and French not Englished by Chaucer translated. (6) The Treatise called Jacke Vpland against Friers: and Chaucer's A.B.C. called La Prière de nostre Dame, at this Impression added, published London, folio 1602.[1]
The volume was again dedicated to Sir Robert Cecil.
Other works
Speght also contributed Latin
Family
Speght married Anne, whose surname may have been Hill, and they had a family of at least 11, with three sons and eight daughters. They lived near Cripplegate, in a house by the chapel of St James in the Wall, where Speght taught.[3] This house and school were surveyed in 1612 by Ralph Treswell, as the property belonged to the Clothworkers' Company.[4]
Speght's son Laurence accompanied Sir Paul Pindar on his embassy to Constantinople, and was on 10 March 1639 granted in reversion the office of surveyor-general of the customs. He was buried at Clopton, Northamptonshire.[1] Humfrey Dyson (died 1633) the book collector married one of the daughters.[3]
Rachel Speght the poet, daughter of the Calvinist cleric James Speght, may have been a relation;[5] James Speght, D.D., of Christ's College, Cambridge (son of John Speght of Horbury, Yorkshire), published in 1613 A briefe demonstration who have and of the certainty of their salvation that have the spirit of Christ.[1] Thomas Speght's will mentions a brother James, who has been identified tentatively with the cleric.[3]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ "Speght, Thomas (SPT566T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26098. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ J Schofield, The London Surveys of Ralph Treswell, London Topographical Society 135 (1987), 97-9.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/45825. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Speght, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co.