The Historie of Italie

1549

de Beer Eb 1549 T

London: Thomas Berthelet

William Thomas (d. 1544) spent some five years in Italy, a country, according to him, that led Europe in the arts of civility. He praised cities such as Padua, Ferrara, and Pisa, and encouraged others to visit and study there. Not only did Thomas compile the first Italian grammar in English (1550), but he produced his Historie of Italie (1549), which was suppressed and publically burnt after his execution for treason in May 1544. In his account of the then chief Italian states, he praises various ‘Commodities’. Some of the tempters include: fine bread, good wines (both strong and small), flesh (of all sorts wild and tame), fowl (water and land), fish, and delicate fruits, which are seemingly so good that they could turn one into a vegetarian.