The doctrine of Wisdom of the wise auncient Philosophurs, written in the 2nd half of the 15th century
'Here begynnythe a booke called in French Les ditez de Philosophurs and in Englisch for to sey The doctrine of Wisdom of the wise auncient Philosophurs, as of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Tholome [Ptolemy], and suche others, translated out of latyn in to french to king Charles the vie of Fraunce bi William Tyngnovile [Tignonville] knyght, late provost of the Citee of Paris, and sith now late translated out of Frensche tunge in to Englisch tunge the yere of Crist M1.cccc.L to John Fostalf [Fastolf] knyght for his contemplacion and solace Bi Stephen Scrope Esquyer son in lawe [i.e. step-son] vn to the said Fostalf'; beg. 'Sedechias was the first philosofer'; at end 'And this sufficithe of the translacione of the moral saiengis of Philosophres. Explicit liber sapiencie.'
There are miniatures of each philosopher, and illuminated capitals, etc.
Dates
- Creation: written in the 2nd half of the 15th century
Extent
107 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MS. Bodl. 943
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. V, no. 27703.
Custodial History
Owned perhaps by Anthony Locksmith, mercer of London in 1541 (fols. 98v, 103v), in the 17th century perhaps by 'Thomas Dutton' (fol 12), by William Abberley in 1649 (fol. 73, 104), and by Hugh Ford in 1655 (fol. 50).
This is probably the volume owned by Robert Burscough in about 1697 (Bernard's Catalogus MSSrum 1697, tom. ii, pt. 1, no. 7705).
An M N conjoined as a monogram is on fol. iii.
Physical Facet
On parchment, illuminated
Dimensions
9 × 7 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk