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Sentences of the philosophers

Title
Sentences of the philosophers.
Created
England, [ca. 1475-1476]
Physical Description
32 leaves : parchment ; 155 mm x 107 mm
Language
Latin
Notes
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.
Script: main text in a humanist hand, possibly that of George Hermonymus. Later English and Latin verses in three early modern hands.
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.
Layout: single column of 14 lines.
Binding: original, worn velvet over wooden boards.
In Latin and English.
Provenance
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.
Access and use
Material is open for research.
Summary
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.
Format
Archives or Manuscripts
Added to Catalog
July 19, 2018
References
Georgius Hermonymus, Sentences of the Philosophers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Cite as
Georgius Hermonymus, Sentences of the Philosophers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Genre/Form
Commonplace books - Great Britain - 15th century.
Manuscripts, Medieval - England - 15th century.
Citation

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