Troilus & Creseid

Single Item

MS. Add. C. 287

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'Troilus & Creseid, written in fiue Books by ... Geofrey Chauser. Donn into Lattine with the Comments [in English and Latin] by Sir Fra: Kynaston Knight 1639. Begun August 21 Anno 1639': this title is set in an allegorical drawing with medallion portraits (one of Kynaston): at end is 'Finis. Quarto Maij 1640' and 'Jmprimatur Tho: Wykes, Jun: 2, 1640.'

The first two books without commentary were printed at Oxford in 1635: but this MS. contains not only the usual five books but also (p. 175) 'The Sixt & last booke ... written by Mr Robert Henderson [or Henryson] and called by him The Testament of Creseide', with Latin translation and notes.

The Latin, which is rhythmical and rhymed, follows each English stanza: but the whole is apparently copied by a scribe, for an autograph letter of Kynaston, Jan. 5, 1629/30, has been added at p. ix, in no way resembling the other writing.

At p. vii is also a letter of his father sir Edward Kynaston, reporting his appointment of Thomas Hopkins as rector of Hordley in Shropshire, Aug. 29, 1627.

Dates

written in A.D. 1639-1640

Extent

536 pages

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Add. C. 287, pp. 1-2]

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Shelfmark:

MS. Add. C. 287

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 20017

Additional Description

Overview

Troilus & Creseid, written in A.D. 1639-1640.

Biographical / Historical

Sir Francis Kynaston (1586/7–1642) was a writer and the founder of an academy of learning.

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. 29640.

Custodial History

Owned by:

Henry Aldrich, dean of Ch. Ch., Oxford (d. 1710);
John Haddon Hindley;
Francis G. Waldron, who purchased it in Hindley's sale on March 9, 1793 (lot 1215), and who in 1796 published a specimen of the commentary;
S. W. Singer (see note by him on inner front cover);
James Crossley, who purchased it in Singer's sale on Aug. 3, 1858 (lot 134), and wrote a note on p. vi;
B. Quaritch, who purchased it in the sale of Crossley's library on June 20, 1886 (lot 2951) for £10 10s.