Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – A 14th-century manuscript has been discovered in the library and archives of Shrewsbury School, identified as the only complete surviving copy of Richard Rolle’s original Emendatio vitae (The Emending of Life).
The manuscript was found by Dr. Timothy Glover, a researcher specializing in medieval literature. This discovery offers valuable new perspectives on the evolution of medieval Christian writing and English literary culture.
Dr. Glover has verified that the manuscript—catalogued at Shrewsbury as MS 25—preserves Richard Rolle’s text in its original form, unlike more than 120 other known copies worldwide, which contain later abridged versions. Notably, this unique manuscript was donated to Shrewsbury School in 1607, just one year after the Ancient Library was established.
Who Was Richard Rolle?
Richard Rolle (c. 1300 – 30 September 1349) was an influential English hermit, mystic, and religious writer. Often referred to as Richard Rolle of Hampole or de Hampole, he spent his later years near a Cistercian nunnery in Hampole, now part of South Yorkshire.
Rolle began his studies at the University of Oxford but left before completing a degree due to dissatisfaction with the curriculum and frequent disputes. He initially lived as a hermit on the estate of John Dalton of Pickering and later moved between various hermitages, likely leading a somewhat itinerant lifestyle. Despite encountering some opposition during his life, Rolle also gained considerable admiration for his spiritual insights.
Credit: Shrewsbury School
He maintained connections with several religious communities in northern England and is believed to have served as a spiritual adviser to the nuns at Hampole prior to his death there.
Rolle holds an important place in English literary history; he is often considered one of the earliest English authors whose vernacular works achieved significant religious authority and influence both locally and internationally. His reputation endured for centuries after his death—so much so that many northern English medieval religious texts were attributed to him until well into the nineteenth century due to his lasting influence.
Extraordinary Discovery Of The Only Surviving Copy Of Emendatio Vitae
“This is an extraordinary discovery for Shrewsbury School. We are honored to be the custodians of the original and only surviving complete version of Richard Rolle’s Emendatio vitae since it was gifted to the School in 1607. The manuscript reveals the text as it was actually written by one of the most influential English authors of the medieval period.
Credit: Shrewsbury School
It is also a powerful reminder of the depth and continuity of our Ancient ‘Taylor’ Library, founded in 1606 as a place of universal learning for the pupils of Shrewsbury School, and to share with the wider world.
The Library holds an exceptional range of material, including medieval manuscripts, incunabula printed before 1500, Newton’s Principia, and books and manuscripts associated with figures such as Samuel Butler and Old Salopian Charles Darwin. Shrewsbury School regularly opens the Taylor Library for members of the public to enjoy its treasures,” Headmaster of Shrewsbury School, Leo Winkley, said in a press release.
It’s such an important manuscript and it offers a direct connection with an author who deserves far greater recognition.
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Medieval people struggled with distractions as we do today. They were trying to still their wandering minds. Rolle offered practical strategies to help, and some people treated him like a saint for it,” Dr Tim Glover said.
Established in 1606, the Taylor Library is a significant academic resource at Shrewsbury School. It plays a vital role in preserving centuries of scholarship, supporting both teaching and research activities. The library is open to visitors who wish to explore its extensive collections, which include notable works such as Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and some of the earliest scientific and humanistic texts acquired by the School.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer