William Barker
William Barker was an influential figure during the early Tudor period, recognized for his role as a translator of Italian literature into English and as a proponent of humanist education. Despite his humble beginnings, he received a solid education at St. John's College, Cambridge, aided by Queen Anne Boleyn, although he harbored Catholic beliefs in a predominantly Protestant environment. Following the rise of Edward VI, Barker fled to the continent to escape religious persecution. Among his notable translations is the work "Kyrou paideia," which reflects his dedication to education and the classical tradition. Barker also published "Epitaphia et inscriptiones lugubres," a collection of Latin epitaphs that underscores the humanist interest in classical inscriptions. After returning to England, he entered the service of the Duke of Norfolk, attending several Parliaments and gaining insight into political affairs. However, his story took a tragic turn when he became involved in Catholic plots that led to the Duke’s execution. Despite his controversial actions, Barker's contributions to English literature and his ability to bridge cultural gaps between Italy and England are notable, even if much about his translation principles remains unclear.
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William Barker
Nonfiction
- Born: c. 1520
- Birthplace: Norfolk(?), England
- Died: After 1576
- Place of death: Probably London, England
Biography
William Barker was an early Tudor translator of Italian works into English, an important collector of classical inscriptions, and a proponent of humanist education. While his family origins were humble, he was able to receive a good education at St. John’s College in Cambridge with the assistance of the fiercely Protestant Queen Anne Boleyn, even though Barker was Catholic. After his education, Barker escaped to the continent to avoid persecution as a Catholic under the rule of Edward VI. One of Barker’s early translations was of the Greek writer Xenophon’s work Kyrou paideia (The Cyropaedia: Or, Education of Cyrus, 1560-1567), a fictional biography of Cyrus the Great. The translation’s dedication to the Earl of Pembroke signifies that the translation was made to assist in education. This suggests that Barker’s translation used either Poggio Bacciolini or Lodovico Domenichi’s Italian edition as his source.
In 1554, Barker’s Epitaphia et inscriptiones lugubres was published. This is a collection of Latin epitaphs and reflects the interest in such inscriptions by humanists. While Barker did not write a diary or journal, one can read a significant amount about his travels and activities in Italy in the prefaces to his translations and other works. When he returned to England, he was penniless, but he had acquired a taste for aristocratic company, and so he entered the service of the Duke of Norfolk’s household as a secretary. Barker sat in on several Parliaments during his service, and he probably knew a great deal about his lord’s business. Records show that Barker was listed as Roman Catholic, and when Elizabeth ascended the throne, he and his master, the duke of Norfolk, were arrested for complicity in Catholic plots. Barker feared the rack, and he provided information about his master that sent the duke of Norfolk to the chopping block.
Even though Barker betrayed the duke of Norfolk, he remained in the Tower for two years. He received a pardon in 1574 and died within a few years of that date. While he is remembered mainly as a treasonous servant, Barker played an important role in bridging the Italian and English literary communities. However, little is known about Barker’s principles of translation, which turned the Italian prose of Giovanni Battista Gelli and Ludovico Domenichi into lucid and flexible English.