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The 'Compendium Morale' or treatise on the duties of princes, by Roger of Waltham, Written in the mid-15th century in England

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MS. Fairfax 4
Held at the Weston Library

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The 'Compendium Morale' or treatise on the duties of princes, by Roger of Waltham (d. 1336), canon of London, and keeper of the royal wardrobe (1322-3), with tables of contents by mr. Thomas Graunt (d. 1474), as in MS. Laud Misc. 616, MS. Bodl. 805. Prol. beg. 'Sapienciam antiquorum exquiret sapiens' (fol. 1): text beg. 'Est respublica secundum Plutarchum' (fol. 3).

The text is here divided into twelve rubrics (not thirteen as in Royal MS. 7 E. vii in the British Museum), each with alphabetical sections and numerical sub-sections. There are lists of incipits of sub-sections arranged (fol. 192) alphabetically, and (fol. 225) according to order of contents.

Dates

  • Creation: Written in the mid-15th century in England

Extent

232 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Fairfax 4

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. II, no. 3884

Custodial History

'Mayster doctour Yong owyth this booke' (fol. 231: 16th cent.).

Physical Facet

On parchment

Dimensions

12 1/5 × 8 3/5 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom