Richard
Sharpe b. 17 February 1954–d. 22 March 2020
2020
2019
Focused primarily on the nine copies of Francis O’Molloy’s Lucerna Fidelium (Rome, 1676) that were transferred from the Franciscan House of Studies to UCD in 2017, the discussion shows how they reflect the two phases in the distribution of the book, initially from Rome in the first thirty years after publication, and then in a second phase following the purchase of the unsold stock by Hodges & Smith in 1845. A copy now in Collegio S. Isidoro in Rome provides evidence for contemporary despatch to religious houses in Ireland, while the later distribution supplied many modern Franciscan houses in Ireland. In changed times these institutions have closed or given up their libraries, and the books were centralized at the House of Studies until that too ceased to function. UCD Special Collections has become their place of safety, but Catholic books remain at risk in many small institutions.
Focused primarily on the nine copies of Francis O’Molloy’s Lucerna Fidelium (Rome, 1676) that were transferred from the Franciscan House of Studies to UCD in 2017, the discussion shows how they reflect the two phases in the distribution of the book, initially from Rome in the first thirty years after publication, and then in a second phase following the purchase of the unsold stock by Hodges & Smith in 1845. A copy now in Collegio S. Isidoro in Rome provides evidence for contemporary despatch to religious houses in Ireland, while the later distribution supplied many modern Franciscan houses in Ireland. In changed times these institutions have closed or given up their libraries, and the books were centralized at the House of Studies until that too ceased to function. UCD Special Collections has become their place of safety, but Catholic books remain at risk in many small institutions.
2018
2017
2016
2015
2013
2010
2009
2008
In 1698 Humfrey Wanley examined a manuscript at Gresham College, which had been described as a history of Pictland in the Pictish language. The book (now British Library, MS Arundel 333) contains titles to this effect added in the late sixteenth century, but, as Wanley realised, its texts are Irish medical translations from Latin, made at the beginning of the sixteenth century. A longer note about Pictish provinces, added by the same hand, and the identity of the writer are investigated; the hand is that of the owner of the book, Lord William Howard, rather than the historian William Camden as was thought in the past. Wanley’s correction appears in William Nicolson’s Scottish Historical Library in 1702 and in correspondence between himself and Edward Lhuyd in the same year. In 1702 Lhuyd discovered the englynion in the Cambridge copy of Juvencus, exchanging views with Wanley and others on this and further manuscripts containing early Brittonic words. Between 1702 and 1707 Lhuyd developed a theory that the Juvencus manuscript was written in the land of the Picts and that its Welsh verses, the oldest monuments of Hen Brythoneg, were in the Pictish language. He saw himself as uncovering both linguistic and manuscript evidence for British writing across the full range of British territory from south to north, Brittany to Caledonia. Lhuyd’s idea that Pictish was similar to British was followed by Innes, but modern Pictish scholarship has not recognised that the idea goes back so early.
In 1698 Humfrey Wanley examined a manuscript at Gresham College, which had been described as a history of Pictland in the Pictish language. The book (now British Library, MS Arundel 333) contains titles to this effect added in the late sixteenth century, but, as Wanley realised, its texts are Irish medical translations from Latin, made at the beginning of the sixteenth century. A longer note about Pictish provinces, added by the same hand, and the identity of the writer are investigated; the hand is that of the owner of the book, Lord William Howard, rather than the historian William Camden as was thought in the past. Wanley’s correction appears in William Nicolson’s Scottish Historical Library in 1702 and in correspondence between himself and Edward Lhuyd in the same year. In 1702 Lhuyd discovered the englynion in the Cambridge copy of Juvencus, exchanging views with Wanley and others on this and further manuscripts containing early Brittonic words. Between 1702 and 1707 Lhuyd developed a theory that the Juvencus manuscript was written in the land of the Picts and that its Welsh verses, the oldest monuments of Hen Brythoneg, were in the Pictish language. He saw himself as uncovering both linguistic and manuscript evidence for British writing across the full range of British territory from south to north, Brittany to Caledonia. Lhuyd’s idea that Pictish was similar to British was followed by Innes, but modern Pictish scholarship has not recognised that the idea goes back so early.
2007
2005
2002
2001
2000
1996
The Benedictine abbeys were renowned for containing the finest libraries of medieval England. Among the 120 documents brought together in this volume, there are a significant number of catalogues from major libraries in every century from the 12th to the 16th, including a unique 15th-century index catalogue, recently identified as coming from St Mary's Abbey, York. The documentary evidence recorded here varies greatly in form, including not only catalogues and inventories but also records of books borrowed, account rolls detailing expenditure on book production, memoranda on the contributions of individual abbots or priors, wills and simple lists of texts seen by visitors to the libraries. This volume encompasses the whole range of Benedictine libraries, including those which best illustrate what was typical of Benedictine learning in medieval England.
The Benedictine abbeys were renowned for containing the finest libraries of medieval England. Among the 120 documents brought together in this volume, there are a significant number of catalogues from major libraries in every century from the 12th to the 16th, including a unique 15th-century index catalogue, recently identified as coming from St Mary's Abbey, York. The documentary evidence recorded here varies greatly in form, including not only catalogues and inventories but also records of books borrowed, account rolls detailing expenditure on book production, memoranda on the contributions of individual abbots or priors, wills and simple lists of texts seen by visitors to the libraries. This volume encompasses the whole range of Benedictine libraries, including those which best illustrate what was typical of Benedictine learning in medieval England.