Why the British Martial was once the most celebrated wit in all of Europe

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: John Owen was a Welsh schoolmaster whose Latin epigrams achieved instant, continent-wide fame in the early seventeenth century. Known as the British Martial, his sharp, witty verses were translated into multiple languages for centuries, even earning a spot on the Roman Catholic Church's list of forbidden books for his biting Protestant satire.

Born in Caernarfonshire around 1564, John Owen was educated at Winchester College and Oxford. His talent for epigrams emerged early; by age sixteen, his verses were already being performed during a state visit by Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Francis Drake. After serving as a fellow at New College, he transitioned into a career as a schoolmaster, eventually teaching at The King's School in Warwick. Despite his modest salary, which was doubled to £20 per year in 1614, his literary output brought him immense international prestige.

Owen’s Epigrammata, published in twelve books between 1606 and 1620, showcased a mastery of Latin that earned him the moniker of the British Martial. His work was characterized by humor, felicity, and intellectual point, often adapting lines from earlier Latin poets. The collection’s structure remains notoriously complex, as the books were originally released in four separate volumes, leading to multiple instances of books titled Book I. Later editions, including the 1620 Leipzig printing, expanded the collection to include twelve books, though some content—such as the moralizing epigrams in Book XI—was actually borrowed from the work of Michel Verino.

The reach of Owen’s influence was profound. His verses were translated into English, French, German, and Spanish, and he was widely read by Continental scholars. His staunch Protestantism, however, proved costly; his sharp critiques of the Roman Catholic Church led to his work being placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum in 1654. His religious stance also caused a personal rift, as his uncle, Hugh Owen, disinherited him for his views. Today, Owen is perhaps best remembered for his cynical variation on the classic adage regarding changing times, which suggests that mankind only worsens as time progresses—a sentiment that likely inspired Joseph Haydn to name his Symphony No. 64 after the epigram.

Owen died in 1622 and was buried in the old St Paul's Cathedral. His legacy endured through numerous reprints and translations, with scholars like Renouard producing definitive editions in 1795. Even in the modern era, his work continues to be studied and translated, proving that the wit of this Welsh schoolmaster remains as sharp as it was four centuries ago.

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