Knyvett’s notes

The ordinarye of Crysten men
London: Wynkyn de Worde, 1502

Knyvett’s library was listed in detail in a manuscript catalogue produced shortly after his death, with each book’s shelfmark written on the final leaf. Like Moore, he rarely annotated his books beyond adding his name to the title pages, but made an exception in this case, adding his own criticisms of the ritual of exorcism of salt (used in baptism), that it is not ‘so nobly consecrated’–as the text has it–but ‘rather so vylie conjured’.

Sel.5.47, ff. ci v–cii r (Royal Library)

To view a digitised copy of this book, click “Open Digital Library”

Thomas Knyvett’s notes in this volume are unusually detailed: he is critical of the old Catholic rituals, noting ‘where is yt found in St Augustine?’ and ‘this geare doth hang together like fethers and winde’. Like Moore after him (and indeed all private book collectors), Knyvett’s library expresses his personal interests and this volume gives an insight into his religious beliefs. Most of his books bore few annotations, the most common being his signature in the title page and, quite frequently, a note of when he had finished reading a particular work.

Extended captions