# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Grant, Edward

​GRANT or GRAUNT, EDWARD (1540?–1601), 'a most noted Latin poet' and head-master of Westminster School, was educated at Westminster, and matriculated as a sizar of St. John's College, Cambridge, 22 Feb. 1563-4, where he completed his exercises for the degree of B.A. about 1567. In February 1571-2 he was granted the degree of B.A. at Oxford by virtue of his residence at Cambridge, and a month later proceeded M.A. in the same university after obtaining a dispensation which relieved him of the necessity of residence (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc.ii.ii. 1, 79, 368, iii. 14). Wood says that he was a member first of Christ Church or Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and afterwards of Exeter College. The university register does not mention his connection with any college. He was incorporated M.A. at Cambridge on 16 Dec. 1573, proceeded B.D. at Cambridge in 1577, and D.D. in 1589, being incorporated B.D. at Oxford 19 May 1579. He was a preacher licensed by Cambridge University in 1580, and presented books to St. John's College, Cambridge, 29 April 1579.
Grant became head-master of Westminster in 1572, after serving as assistant master for about two years previously. He retained that office for twenty years, and was succeeded by Camden in February 1592-3. On 15 Dec. 1587 he wrote a Latin letter to the queen begging to be released from teaching after seventeen years' service. The next vacant prebend at Westminster was granted him by letters patent 14 Nov. 1575, and he became a prebendary or canon 27 May 1577. He was vicar of South Benfleet, Essex, from 12 Dec. 1584 till the following year; became rector of Bintree and Foulsham, Norfolk, 20 Nov. 1586; canon of Ely in 1589; rector of East Barnet 3 Nov. 1591, and rector of Toppesfield, Essex, on the queen's presentation 22 April 1598. He was also sub-dean of Westminster Abbey, and dying 4 Aug. 1601 was buried in the abbey. A son Edward, who died 2 Jan. 1587-8, aged five, was previously buried there. Another son, Gabriel, graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, B.A. 1596-7, M.A. 1600, and D.D. 1612, and became canon of Westminster in 1612.
Grant was the intimate friend of Roger Ascham [q. v.] In 1576 he published a collection of Ascham's letters with an 'Oratio de Vita et Obitu Rogeri Aschami' prefixed, and a dedication of the whole to the queen. He was also author of 'Tῆς Ἑλληνικής γλώσσης σταχυολογία, Græcæ Linguæ Spicilegium in Scholæ Westmonasteriensis Progymnasmata divulgatum,' London, 1575, 4to, ​dedicated to Lord Burghley. An epitome by Camden entitled 'Institutio Græcæ Grammatices,' London, 1597, 8vo, passed through numerous editions. He also published an enlarged and corrected version of a 'Lexicon Græco-Latinum Joannis Crispini … ex R. Constantini aliorumq. scriptis … collectum,' London, 1581, fol., dedicated to the Earl of Leicester. Both these works are rare. Grant contributed verses in Greek, Latin, or English to Lhuyd's 'Breviary of Britaine,' translated by Twyne, 1573; Prise's 'Historiæ Brytannicæ Defensio,' 1573; Ramus's 'Civil Wars in France,' translated by Timme, 1573; Baret's 'Alvearie;' Gabriel Harvey's 'Grat. Valdinens. lib. ii.' (on Leicester's arms); and John Stockwood's 'Disputatiunculum Grammaticalium Libellus.' He also lamented Bishop Jewel's and Ascham's deaths in Latin verse.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 320-1; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 711; Welch's Alumni Westmonast. vol. ii.; Le Neve's Fasti; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
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