William Malim facts for kids

William Malim (1533–1594) was an English scholar, school headmaster, and writer who created new works in Latin. He is remembered for leading two important schools, Eton College and St Paul's School, and for his writings.

William Malim's Life

Early Life and Education

William Malim was born in Staplehurst, a town in Kent, England. He went to school at Eton College, a famous boarding school. After Eton, he continued his studies at King's College, Cambridge, starting in 1548. He became a fellow (a senior member of the college) three years later. Malim earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1553 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1556. At one point, in 1555, he was temporarily suspended from college activities for two weeks, though the reason is not known.

Malim also spent time traveling abroad. He visited many places, including Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), Antioch, Jerusalem, and other cities in the East. In 1559, his college asked him to study civil law. However, he stopped these studies when he became the headmaster of Eton in 1561. He then left his position at King's College soon after. While at Eton, he wrote a book called a Consuetudinarium, which explained all the rules and traditions of the college. He likely wrote this for a visit from royal officials in 1561.

Headmaster at Eton College

Malim was known for being a strict headmaster at Eton. During his time, some students left the school because of his strict teaching methods. This situation inspired Roger Ascham to write his famous book, Scholemaster, in 1563. This book discussed better ways to teach and educate students. Malim stayed at Eton for about ten years. In 1569, he also became a church official, called a prebendary, in Lincoln Cathedral.

Leading St Paul's School

In 1573, Malim was appointed the High Master of St Paul's School, London, another important school. After less than seven years there, he asked Lord Burghley, a powerful government official, for a different job. However, he remained at St Paul's until 1581, when a new headmaster took over. William Malim is thought to have passed away shortly before August 1594.

William Malim's Writings

Malim wrote in a flowing, though sometimes overly fancy, Latin style. Most of his surviving works are short Latin poems or letters that praised his friends. These were often placed at the beginning of his friends' books.

Latin Works

Some examples of his Latin writings include:

• A piece called De Adventu … Elizabethæ Reginæ ad Arces Windesorienses, written when Elizabeth I had to leave London for Windsor because of the plague in 1563.
• An oration (a formal speech) in Latin for Duke John Casimir in 1578.
• A collection of poems from St Paul's School, called Carmina Scholæ Paulinæ in Regni Elizabethæ initium. Malim probably put this collection together in 1573.

Translations

Malim also translated a short book from Italian. This book was about the successful siege of Famagusta in Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire. The book was published in London in 1572. Its long title began: The True Report of all the successe of Famagosta, of the antique writers called Tamassus, a citie in Cyprus, and so on. The original Italian book was by Nestore Martinengo. Malim's translation was later used by George Gascoigne in one of his own works.

One of the poems in Geoffrey Whitney's book, Choice of Emblemes, published in 1586, was written to William Malim.