Sloane MS 2027

Sloane 2027

Paper, in folio, ff. 108, XV Century.

1. A translation of the work of Flavius Vegetius Renatus intitled, De re militari, with a preface. (Imperfect at the beginning and end.) ff. 1-36.

The preface begins, 'Here begynnyth a schort tretys, the wich … Erle Renate sone wrote to the Emperor.'

The translation begins, 'In old tyme hytt was the m … scholde be drawyn and redacte.'

2. An old English poem, beginning thus, —

'In nomine Patris God kepe me

Et Filii for charitie

Et Spiritus Sancti where y be

On lond or on see

An usscherre y am as ye may se

To a prynce of hygh degre

For my condicions to teche

And forme all theym that woll thee.' ff. 37-52.

The poem is divided under the following heads: —

'Panter, yeman, off the selerre, botlar, and ewere,'

'Le Kervere off fflessche,'

'Le Kervere off ffyssche.'

'Le Sewere,'

'Le Chambirleyn,'

'Le Marchall.'

3. A book falsely ascribed to Aristotle, called Secretum Secretorum or Secrets of Philosophers, in English verse, by John Lydgate. ff. 53-92.

It is intitled, 'This is the booke off the governaunce off Kyngis and pryncis.' It begins: — 'God Almyghti save and consserve oure Kyng.'

In this MS. there are thirty six additional stanzas, as compared with the copy of the same poem in the Arundel MS. 59, f. 90; which begin thus: —

'Ferthur y woll thu Knowe yn this partye.'

At the end 'Explicitur librum Aristoteles ad Alexandrum Magnum.'

4. An introduction to the Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, giving an account of Dioclysian and his thirty three daughters, who after murdering their husbands came to England and called it after the eldest daughter Albion, etc. f. 96b.

Begin: — 'In the yer ffro the begynnyng off the world 3990 ther was yn the noble land of Grece.'

5. The Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester from the seige of Troy to the death of King John (Imperfect). ff. 98-169.

Begin: —

'From the begynnyng of the world to tyme that now is.'

It differs much from Hearne's edition of this Chronicle.

6. Fragment of a chronicle of England from the reign of John to that of Richard II. ff. 170-188.

Begin: — 'Whan Kyng John had don hys omage the enderdytyng was relesyd thurgwh all England.' (This as well as article 4, differs much from Caxton's Chronicle, and also from many MSS. in the Harleian Collection with which they have been collated.)

includes:

• ff. 1-36 b Flavius Vegetius Renatus: De re militari; in Engl.: 15th cent.: Imperf.
• ff. 37-52 b John Russell, Usher in chamber, and marshal in hall, to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester: Book of Nurture: 1462.
• ff. 37-52 b Manners and Customs: Poem on the duties of servants: 15th cent.
• ff. 53-92 Aristotle SUPPOSITITIOUS WORKS: English metrical version by Lydgate and another of his Secreta Secretorum: 15th cent.
• ff. 53-92 b John Lydgate: Poem called Secretum Secretorum Aristotelis: 15th cent.
• ff. 96 b-169 b England General Chronicles and History: Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester: 15th cent.
• ff. 98-169 b Robert, of Gloucester; chronicler: Chronicle: 15th cent.: Imperf.
• ff. 170-188 England General Chronicles and History: Chronicle of England from John to Richard II.: 15th cent.: Imperf.