George Ashby, The Active Policy of a Prince and the Dicta et Opiniones Diversorum Philosophorum

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Active Policy of a Prince

(henceforth:

Active Policy

) is a Lancastrian mirror for princes, written by the signet scribe George Ashby for Prince Edward of Lancaster.

Active Policy

consists of 131 Middle English stanzas in rhyme royal, with some Latin quotations. It is followed by the addendum

Dicta et Opiniones Diversorum Philosophorum

(henceforth:

Dicta

), an incomplete collection of Latin quotations on governance and kingly virtues each followed by their English translations in rhyme royal, which in its current state is almost 1,5 times longer than

Active Policy

. Though sometimes regarded as two separate poems, it is more likely that the work was conceived as one whole.

Active Policy

and

Dicta

survive in a single manuscript, Cambridge University Library MS Mm.4.42, in which they follow…

1077 words

Citation: Douma, Aline. "The Active Policy of a Prince and the Dicta et Opiniones Diversorum Philosophorum". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 November 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39164, accessed 10 November 2024.]

39164 The Active Policy of a Prince and the Dicta et Opiniones Diversorum Philosophorum 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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