Manuscript Studies
Medieval manuscripts
Theological treatises and sermons, notably by Robert Holcot (MS 657)
This is a manuscript volume written in Latin using several secretary hands, probably in Norfolk during the 15th century, comprising of 181 paper leaves and six parchment leaves. It contains eleven theological works, including Robert Holcot's Convertemini, the Speculum Christiani, and numerous sermons. The initials are omitted, except on p.1, where the decoration is blue with red ornaments. The twenty-nine strips of parchment which were separating and down the middle of each quire of the volume have been removed, and are taken from at least five documents of 15th century origin containing places and individuals connected with Norfolk. Several of the fragments appear to be from a letter of Archbishop Stafford to Gerald Hesyll, rector of Cley, and others. Some of the strengthening strips are written in a skilled secretary hand.
The manuscript also has two former pastedowns, which form part of a 13th century collectar containing the Sanctorale for masses from 21 October to 13 November and the common of a confessor, confessors and a virgin. The binding is medieval, probably also done in Norfolk, of wooden boards covered with white skin, repaired over the spine with modern brown leather, with four bands and two clasps. The collectar is rubricated and consists of twenty-one surviving lines on parchment decorated with two-line initials in red and blue with light grey and red ornament.
The manuscript contains inscriptions in the front relating to book purchases between William Hautboys, chaplain, and John Everard, chaplain (one of this name became rector of Aylmerton, near Cromer, in 1494) dating from the late 15th century. There is another inscription by Robert Sevyer, parish priest of Blakeney, Norfolk, on p. 362, written in the 15th-16th centuries.
The manuscript was formerly held at Helmington Hall (as Ms LJ.I.7), and was sold to the University of London at the Sotheby's sale of 14 June 1965 (lot 24).
Short biography of Robert Holcot (1290-1349)
Robert Holcot was a Dominican theologian and preacher. Born in Holcot, near Northampton, Holcot joined the Dominican Order and studied at Oxford. After gaining his doctorate in theology, he became Regent Master of Oxford University (1331-1333). It is also surmised that Holcot was Regent Master of Cambridge from 1334-1335. In 1343 he returned to the Dominican priory at Northampton, where he died of plague in 1349. Holcot wrote many theological works, including Commentaries on the Books of Wisdom, one of the best known works of the 14th century, which was printed in 1480 and went through seventeen editions.
