John Walton's translation of Boethius' De consolatione philosophiae. Written on vellum
in Anglicana formata script in England in the first quarter of the fifteenth century.
The manuscript lacks the first quire, including the Preface and Prologue as well as
stanzas 1-67.
Ex libris Robert Godebowe. Ex libris Thomas Hyngham. Ex libris Sir William Turner.
Schøyen MS 615. Purchased from Bernard Quaritch, Ltd. on the James Marshall and Marie-Louise
Osborn Fund, 2005.
The manuscript was copied by a scribe whose hand is also seen in several other vernacular
manuscripts: Cambridge, Pembroke College, MS 207 (John Gower, Confessio amantis),
London, British Library, MS Arundel 119 (Lydgate, Siege of Thebes), and Tokyo, Private
Collection, MS 54 (South English Legendary, second hand).
Fifteenth-century inscription on front flyleaf recto (erased): "Ego domina Elizabeth
domina de [?riche] Mont[e?] lego istum librum Roberto Godebowe armigero."
Fifteenth-century inscription on front flyleaf recto (erased): "Memorandum quod Iohannis
Tr[...] istum librum de executum Roberti Godebowe [...]"
Fifteenth-century inscription on front flyleaf verso (erased): "Iste liebr constat
Iohanni."
Fifteenth-century inscription on front flyleaf verso: "Thome hyngham Monachi diui
Edmundi de Bury." The script of the inscription matches that of an inscription in
the Macro Plays manuscript (Folger Library, Washington, DC, MS V.a.354), which refers
to a "monachus Hyngham."
Decoration includes two- to four-line pen-flourished initials.
Binding: contemporary tawed leather on cushion wooden boards, re-backed and re-covered,
preserving original sides.
Colophon: "Explicit liber Boecii de Consolacione Philosophie de Latino in Anglicum
translatus Anno Domini Millessimo CCCCmo decimo per Capellanum Johannem et cetera"
(f. 104v).
John Walton, De Consolatione Philosophiae. James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn
Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Subjects:
Walton, John, d. 1410.
Poetry -- Early works to 1800.
Middle English poetry.
Philosophy and religion.
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library.
Turner, William, Sir, d. 1692
Foundation of the Free School and Hospital, -- Kirkleatham, Yorkshire