Manuscript on parchment of collected Greek moral sayings translated into Latin by the diplomat George Hermonymus of Sparta. The manuscript also contains a dedicatory preface to the Abbot of St. Albans. The final two leaves contain 16th and 17th-century verses in multiple hands. The humanist style of the book's script, contents, and illuminations suggest that it is a sister copy of British Library, Harley MS 3346, which was presented to George Neville, Archbishop of York.
Description:
Binding: original, worn velvet over wooden boards., Decoration: heraldic illumination on f. 1v of two angels holding a coat of arms, overpainted to that of the Totewhill family (sable, three covered cups argent); the mitre associated with the abbacy of St. Albans floats above. Borderwork around the miniature consists of gold leaf and alternating red and blue flowers. 1 four-line gilt initial "M" on 2r with accompanying blue and red design and gold borderwork with blue and red background. Between 1 and 3 two to three-line gilt initials per page with blue and red background. Rubrics in red., Ex libris St. Albans Abbey. Ex libris the Totewhill family of Cornwall. Purchased from Christie's London sale (2017 July 12, lot 13) on the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Fund, 2017., Layout: single column of 14 lines., Script: main text in a humanist hand, possibly that of George Hermonymus. Later English and Latin verses in three early modern hands., and The manuscript contains a dedicatory preface from George Hermonymus to "Gulielmum," the Abbot of St. Albans, either William Albon (1465-1475) or William of Wallingford (1476-1492); this manuscript was probably presented while Hermonymus was on a diplomatic mission to England between 1475 and 1476. The coat of arms of the Totewhill family of Cornwall have been overpainted in the heraldic miniature.
Subject (Name):
Albon, William,---1476., Hermōnymos, Geōrgios,--15th cent., St. Albans Abbey, and Wallingford, William,---1488?
Subject (Topic):
Classical philosophy, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Christian literature, English (Middle), Humility--Religious aspects--Christianity, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of a Middle English text of the Book of Sir John Mandeville, probably related to the "Defective Version." Biblical quotations in Middle English on f63v-f64v.
Alternative Title:
Itinerarium. English
Description:
Annotation, in a later hand, on f1r: Sir John Mandevile's Travails., Binding: 18th-century full mottled calf, gilt. Spine label reads: Mandevil's travails., From the collection of John Theyer; from the collection of John Barwick of Charing; ex libris Walter Sneyd; ex libris Sir Thomas Brooke; from the collection of Sir John Arthur Brooke (Sotheby's London sale 25 May 1921, lot 921); from the collection of Sir R. Leicester Harmsworth (Sotheby's London sale 15 October 1945, lot 2023). Purchased from Martayan Lan Rare Books on the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Fund, 2011., Opening illuminated initial with ivy-leaf sprays into margins and 17 blue initials with extensive red penwork flourishing. Three contemporary or near-contemporary marginal drawings, one with color wash, of manicula., Script: cursive anglicana hand in brown ink; 32 lines per page., Side notes and notation marks in various hands, 15th-17th century., Sir John Mandeville is the suppositious author of the "travel" book known as the Book of Sir John Mandeville, or Mandeville's Travels. Written in the 14th century in Anglo-Norman French, it was widely popular and thought to be an accurate account of a knight's journey through Europe, the Middle East and Asia., and Title supplied by cataloger.
Subject (Name):
Harmsworth, R. Leicester--(Robert Leicester),--Sir,--1870-1937--Ownership, Mandeville, John,--Sir, Sneyd, Walter,--1809-1888--Bookplate, and Theyer, John,--1597-1673--Autograph
Subject (Topic):
English prose literature--Middle English, 1100-1500, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Voyages and travels--Early works to 1800