Editing Alexander Barclay (section)

==Biography==
Barclay was born in about 1476. His place of birth is matter of dispute, but [[William Bulleyn]], who was a native of [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]], and probably knew him when he was in the [[monastery]] there, asserts that he was born "beyonde the cold river of Twede" (''[[River Tweed]]'', i.e. in [[Scotland]]). His early life was spent at [[Croydon]], but it is not certain whether he was educated at [[Oxford]] or [[Cambridge]]. It may be presumed that he took his degree, as he uses the title of "Syr" in his translation of [[Sallust]]'s ''Bellum Jugurthinum'', and in his will he is called [[Doctor of Divinity]].

From the numerous incidental references in his works, and from his knowledge of [[European literature]], it may be inferred that he spent some time abroad. [[Thomas Cornish (bishop)|Thomas Cornish]], [[suffragan]] [[bishop]] in the diocese of Bath and Wells, and [[provost (education)|provost]] of [[Oriel College, Oxford]], from 1493 to 1507, appointed him chaplain of the college of [[Ottery St Mary]], [[Devon]].<ref>Antony Hasler, ''Court Poetry in Late Medieval England and Scotland'' (Cambridge, 2011), p. 88.</ref> Here he wrote his satirical poem, ''[[The Ship of Fools]]'', partly a translation from [[Sebastian Brant]].

The death of his patron in 1513 apparently put an end to his connection with the west, and he became a [[monk]] in the [[Benedictine]] monastery of [[Ely Cathedral|Ely]].<ref>Antony Hasler, ''Court Poetry in Late Medieval England and Scotland'' (Cambridge, 2011), p. 88.</ref> In this retreat he probably wrote his [[eclogues]]. He left Ely to join the Franciscan order.<ref>Antony Hasler, ''Court Poetry in Late Medieval England and Scotland'' (Cambridge, 2011), p. 88.</ref> In 1520 "Maistre Barkleye, the Blacke Monke and Poete" was desired to devise "histoires and convenient raisons to florisshe the buildings and banquet house withal" at the meeting between [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] and [[Francis I of France|Francis I]] at the [[Field of the Cloth of Gold]].<ref>[[John Gough Nichols|Nichols, John Gough]], ed., [https://books.google.com/books?id=LKQUAAAAQAAJ ''The Chronicle of Calais'' (Camden Society, 1846), p. 83]</ref> He at length became a [[Franciscan]] friar of [[Canterbury]].

It is presumed that he conformed with the change of religion, for he retained under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] the [[benefice|livings]] of [[Great Baddow]], [[Essex]], and of [[Wokey]], [[Somerset]], which he had received in 1546, and was presented in 1552 by the [[dean (religion)|dean]] and [[chapter (religion)|chapter]] of Canterbury to the [[rectory]] of [[All Hallows Lombard Street|All Hallows]], Lombard Street, London. He died shortly after this last [[preferment]] at [[Croydon]], [[Surrey]], where he was buried on 10 June 1552.