This pocket-size book contains commentaries on the Psalms (fols 4v–7v) followed by an Old Testament chronology (fols 7v–45) with interpretations of Hebrew names and theological commonplaces. In one section, for example, is a list of popes besides which are written the changes they introduced to the mass. On what was presumably a blank page between the medieval texts (fol. 4r) are later scribbled verses in various 16^th-century hands, including notes by Thomas Symes, who donated the manuscript to the College.

Ultra-violet light reveals that Symes wrote his name over a previous donation inscription (fol. 1r), which reads ‘Liber collegii…Donum M’ Guilielmi…mani quondam socii eiusdem collegii’. This tells us that the manuscript once belonged to William Horman (c. 1440–1535), who became Headmaster of Eton College in 1485 before becoming Headmaster of Winchester in 1495. His ownership of the book is also indicated by the addition of a contents page to the front of the manuscript that conforms to those in his other books.

 

Literature: Neil R. Ker, ‘The Virgin and Child Binder, LVL, and William Horman’, The Library, Volume s5-XVII, Issue 1 (March 1962), pp. 77–85, 84–85; Neil R. Ker and Alan J. Piper, Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries, Volume IV: Paisley–York (Oxford, 1969), p. 604; Paul Yeats-Edwards, Winchester College (Warden and Fellows’ Library) Medieval Manuscript Collection: Brief History and Catalogue (London, 1978), p. 2; James M. W. Willoughby, The Libraries of Collegiate Churches, Vol. 2 (London, 2013), pp. 816–17.

Provenance: William Horman (Headmaster of Winchester College, 1495–1501); given to Winchester College by Thomas Symes, 1610.

Location: Fellows’ Library