![]() ![]() A general inventory of the palace made in 1542 contains an inventory of its Upper Library, which comprised both books and manuscripts (nos 1-908). In 1536 the refurbished palace of Whitehall (which incorporated parts of the Westminster palace destroyed by fire) was declared the King’s principal seat by an Act of Parliament. The declaration of the royal supremacy over the English church led to a complete dissolution of monasteries and in consequence to the sequestration or acquisition of their books, either directly or indirectly. At this time the antiquary John Leland was granted a commission to search libraries of religious institutions for relevant texts (15). The first influx of monastic books that took place in the early 1530s resulted, in part, from Henry’s search for legal and exegetical texts to support the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. viii, but the vast majority of books assembled by him were of monastic origin and of more modest quality. Henry commissioned or was presented with lavishly illuminated manuscripts (such as Royal 2 A. At that time, the King’s libraries were also flourishing at other royal palaces and residences, such as Whitehall, Hampton Court and Greenwich. The King’s first librarian, Giles Duwes, was appointed to his office specifically at Richmond, but his successor, William Tyldesley, who took up the job in 1534, was ‘the keeper of the King’s library in the manor of Richmond or elsewhere’. Henry’s manuscripts came mainly from three sources: inheritance, gifts and new commissions, and acquisitions from the libraries of dissolved monasteries. The first surviving inventories of books and manuscripts of some of the royal libraries also date from his reign. Xenophon, translated by Claude de Seyssel, AnabasisĪround 20 % of the Old Royal library manuscript holding entered the collection under Henry VIII (1509-47), more than can be associated with any other monarch. Miroir des dames (Durand de Champage, Speculum dominarum)Īldobrandinus of Siena, Livre de physique (Régime du corps) Imaginacion de vraye noblesse, attributed to Hugues de Lannoy, with a preface by Quentin Poulet However, the king is mostly known for his purchases of printed books including around 20 volumes from the shop of the Parisian printer Antoine Vérard, some of which are printed on vellum and illuminated.Ĭharles, Duke of Orléans, Poems, and other texts The collection may have remained in the palace until the mid-17th century.Īt least 19 illuminated manuscripts acquired by Henry VII survive in the Old Royal library. The first surviving Tudor inventory of books, a list of French books at Richmond which was compiled by a French visitor to England in 1535 reflects perhaps the contents of this library. Henry appears to have moved the collection of Edward IV’s Burgundian manuscripts to Richmond, merging it with his new acquisitions. He may have also furnished libraries at the Tower, in Windsor and Greenwich. The King’s main library was established at the new palace of Richmond built on the site of Henry V’s manor house at Sheen, which perished in fire of 1497. In 1492, he appointed a dedicated librarian, Quentin Poulet, a scribe and illuminator from Lille. In contrast, from the beginning of his reign Henry VII (1485-1509) was keen to continue building up an impressive royal library. xii) and the Grandes chroniques de France which he owned as the Duke of Gloucester ( Royal 20 C. Only two books in the Old Royal library can be firmly associated with the Yorkist King: a copy of Vegatius’s De re militari in English ( Royal 18 A. The brief reign of Richard III (1483-1485) did not make any significant impact on the surviving collection of royal manuscripts. ![]() Henry VII: Formalization of the Royal Library Later Tudor Acquisitions: Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I Henry VIII: The Old Royal Library at the Dissolution of Monasteries The Royal Library under the Tudors Henry VII: Formalization of the Royal Library The Royal Collection of Manuscripts Introduction ![]()
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