A History of English Language

A history of the english language 140
his refusal. Outrages were soon committed by the French on English subjects, to which
the English retaliated, and finally an attempt was made to settle the matter by negotiation.
The English representatives included Sir Thomas Swynford 96 and one Nicholas de
Ryssheton, who signs himself “Professor of Both Laws,” that is, civil and ecclesiastical.
Now there would be nothing remarkable about these negotiations were it not for the fact
that several times the English ambassadors complain about the use of French by their
French correspondents and ask them to write only in Latin. On two occasions they speak
of the French language as being as unknown to them as Hebrew. 97 This statement, if
taken at its face value, as has generally been done, is astonishing, to say the least. But it is
quite unbelievable. De Ryssheton, as a lawyer, must have known French well. 98 We need
not pause over the reasons for the statement.” The statement was not true; but the English
delegates would not have alleged such a reason for carrying on negotiation in Latin if it
had not had a certain plausibility. Ignorance of French must have been quite common
among the governing class in England from the beginning of the fifteenth century. Before
the middle of the century it was necessary to have a “Secretary in the French language”
among the government officials. 100 At the end of the century Caxton could write: “For the
mooste quantyte of the people vnderstonde not latyn ne frensshe here in this noble
royame of englond.”
108. French as a Language of Culture and Fashion.
When French went out of use as a spoken language in England not only was its sphere
more restricted but the reasons for its cultivation changed. In the first decade of the
fifteenth century, John Barton wrote a Donet François, a treatise intended for adults who
wished to learn French. It is interesting to note the three reasons he gives for
Englishmen’s learning the language. He says nothing about their needing it to
communicate among themselves but says, first, it will enable them to communicate with
their neighbors of the realm of France. In the second place, the laws are largely in French.
And finally, he says, gentlemen and women willingly write to each other in French. The
first of these reasons would be equally
96
He was the son of Katherine de Swynford and a fairly prominent person. Indeed he was believed
to have been the murderer of Richard II. At any rate he was a strong supporter of Henry IV and was
one of Richard’s guardians.
97
The letters are printed in Royal and Historical Letters during the Reign of Henry IV.
98
On one occasion the English king sends him instructions in French.
99
The explanation is probably to be found in a passage in Froissart (ed. Kervyn de Lettenhove, XV,
114–15) from which it appears that ten years before, the English had had to proceed very warily in
negotiating a treaty of peace; they had had trouble before through the use of French. But there was
also some feeling against the desire of France to have French recognized as the language of
diplomacy. A somewhat similar instance of friction occurred in 1413–1414 when a compromise
was finally reached by drawing up an agreement between the two countries in both Latin and
French in parallel columns. Cf. J.H.Wylie, The Reign of Henry the Fifth, I, 156.
100
Cal Pat. Rolls, 1436–41, pp. 41, 471, 555, and later entries in the Close and Patent Rolls.