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Summary:

"The fifteenth-century chronicler, topographer, and antiquary, William Worcester, composed his political treatise, 'The Boke of Noblesse', first around 1451, and subsequently revised it twice, around 1475, when he intended to present it to Edward IV, along with a 'Codicil' of documents about past wars, to encourage and advise the king in his plans to invade France after England's disastrous defeats under Henry VI. William's autograph of this revision survives. The treatise was later presented by William's son to Richard III, with a new preface, also included in this edition. The treatise draws on diverse sources: older English and French history; classical or pseudo-classical works, including a section translated from Cicero; recent French authors, including Christine de Pizan; and the history of the French wars under Henry V and Henry VI, including eyewitness reports by Worcester's former employer Sir John Fastolf (1380-1459). It offers a record of military history and political thought in the fifteenth century and changing literary tastes on the cusp of the Renaissance. In addition to the treatise, many manuscripts survive with William's annotations, revealing his many debts to other sources. With the copious surviving records of his life, they give a unique insight into this medieval author's research and working methods."-- [Taken from Amazon description]

Author/Creator:

Worcester, William, 1415-1482? , author

Contributors:

Nall, Catherine , editor

Wakelin, Daniel, 1977- , editor

Early English Text Society

British Library

Lambeth Palace Library

Society of Antiquaries of London

Languages:

English
English, Middle (1100-1500)
Latin

Language Notes:

'Boke of noblesse' in Middle English, codicil texts in English or Latin, editorial matter in English.

Main Work:

The boke of noblesse: and the English texts from its codicil [by Worcester, W.]

Related Works:

Manuscript [British Library] > Royal 18 B XXII

Manuscript [Lambeth Palace Library] > 508

Manuscript [Society of Antiquaries of London] > 41

Related Series:

Early English Text Society (Series) > Original series; no. 362

Alternate Titles:

Spine title: William Worcester's Boke of noblesse

Subjects:

Chivalry — Early works to 1800

Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453

Great Britain — History — Edward IV, 1461-1483

Manuscripts, English (Middle) — England — London — History

Hundred Years' War (1339-1453)

1339-1483

Manuscripts, English (Middle)

Chivalry

England — London

Great Britain

Genres:

History

Early works

General Notes:

Includes Manuscripts of: 1. London British Library, Royal MS 18 B. xxii -- 2. London Lambeth Palace Library, MS 506 -- 3. London Society of Antiquaries, MS 41
Includes bibliographical references (pages cix-cxxx) and index.

Physical Description:

cxxx, 288 pages : facsimiles ; 23 cm.

Physical Characteristics:

facsimile

Call Numbers:

PR1119 .A2 no.362

ISBNs:

9780198894513 (hardcover)
0198894511 (hardcover)

OCLC Numbers:

1374088980