The Hindu-Arabic Numerals c12.51

c12.51

Once the new system was known in France, even thus superficially, it would be passed across the Channel to England. Higden,¹ writing soon after the opening of the fourteenth century, speaks of the French influence at that time and for some generations preceding:² “For two hundred years children in scole, agenst the usage and manir of all other nations beeth compelled for to leave hire own language, and for to construe hir lessons and hire thynges in Frensche. . . . Gentilmen children beeth taught to speke Frensche from the tyme that they bith rokked in hir cradell; and uplondissche men will likne himself to gentylmen, and fondeth with greet besynesse for to speke Frensche.”