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

Aline Douma (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Ed. by Sebastian Sobecki, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Natalie Hanna, University of Liverpool
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1450 - c. 1470

Places

England (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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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…

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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 25 April 2024.]

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

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