Brian Anslay facts for kids

Brian Anslay (died 1536) was an important English official and translator. He worked for two famous kings, King Henry VII and King Henry VIII. Anslay is best known for translating a very important book called The Book of the City of Ladies from French into English.

Who Was Brian Anslay?

Brian Anslay lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. He was an English administrator, which means he helped manage things for the king. He also had a special skill: he could translate books from one language to another.

Working for the King

Anslay worked for two powerful kings of England. First, he served King Henry VII. Later, he worked for King Henry VIII. He had a specific job called "yeoman of the wine cellar." This meant he was in charge of the king's wine supply. It was an important role in the royal household!

In 1528, King Henry VIII showed his appreciation for Anslay's service. The king gave Anslay a piece of land in Bradwell-on-Sea, a place in Essex. Records suggest that Anslay continued to serve King Henry VIII until at least 1533.

A Famous Translator

Besides his work for the king, Brian Anslay was also a talented translator. He helped bring important ideas and stories to English readers.

The Book of the City of Ladies

In 1521, Anslay finished a very important translation. He took a French book called Le Livre de la cité des dames and turned it into English. He published it with the title Boke of the Cyte of Ladies.

This book was printed by Henry Pepwell. Pepwell mentioned that the translation was made for Richard Grey, 3rd Earl of Kent. The Boke of the Cyte of Ladies is a collection of short stories. These stories are all about famous women from history and myths. The book was based on an older work by Giovanni Boccaccio called De mulieribus claris (which means On Famous Women).

His Later Life

Brian Anslay was married and had two sons. He passed away in 1536 in a town called Darenth, which is in Kent.