by "William Black" <william.black@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Jul 16, 2008 at 09:24 AM
"Rich Rostrom" <rrostrom.21stcentury@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:rrostrom.21stcentury-5DD1AA.22540515072008@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "William Black" <william.black@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>>"Rich Rostrom" <rrostrom.21stcentury@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>
>>Indeed it is possible that the English soldiers fighting for the Dutch
>>will
>>go home and sign on with the Romans.
>>
>>A reasonable pro****tion of them will speak Latin
>
> A few officers will know schoolboy Latin.
In seventeenth century England it was part of a 'gentleman's education'
that they went abroad and served in an army.
There was no uneducated 'rank and file'.
The vast bulk of the Englishmen in foreign service were gentry who had an
education, and having an education they'd have been expected to speak,
read and write some Latin.
It was still in use as an international language, although I understand
that Greek was used in scientific circles.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
