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An English translation of the Epitome rei militaris, written chiefly in the first half of the 15th cent.

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MS. Douce 291
Held at the Weston Library

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'Here bygynnyth a schort tretys the whiche Vegecius ... wroot ... the whiche tretys techith holliche of Knighthod and of chiualrye ... in foure bookys ...': an English translation of the Epitome rei militaris. A long colophon, printed in the 1840 Catalogue, states that the translation was made ' at the ordenaunce & biddynge of the ... worschipfull lord sire Thomas of Berkeley: it was writen & ended in the vigile of Alle Halewes the yeer ... Ml. CCCC. & viij ... This is his name that turned this book fro Latyn to Englisshe X ton̄.' Mr. Coxe considered this, after comparison with MS. Digby 233 and MS. Magd. Coll. (Oxf.) 30, to be Clifton (i.e. clef-ton): possibly it is Bannerton. John of Trevisa translated some books for Thomas 4th lord Berkeley, whose chaplain he was. At fol. 121 is 'The boke of [precious] Stones', a translation of a French translation, from the Latin: beg. 'For the loue of Philippe King of Fraunce ... was made this boke.' Fols. 1v-3 and the margins of fols. 4-17 are occupied with 'The Pee de Gre of Chalons' to the 15th cent., in a hand of the second half of that century, with many coloured coats of arms of that and cognate families. On fol. 136 is a note of the points of a good horse.

Dates

  • Creation: written chiefly in the first half of the 15th cent.

Extent

140 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 291

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 21865

Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. Douce.

Custodial History

Owned by 'Brudenell' with the motto 'En grace affie' (17th cent.).

Physical Facet

On parchment, with illuminated borders, capitals, etc.

Dimensions

10 5/8 × 7 1/4 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
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Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom