'Priceless' medieval school text found to be unique
Shrewsbury SchoolA "priceless" manuscript held in a school library has been confirmed as the only surviving complete version of a work by an early medieval writer.
Shrewsbury School said it was gifted a copy of Richard Rolle's Emendatio vitae - or The Emending of Life - in 1607 and it had been kept in its Ancient Library ever since.
Dr Timothy Glover, a specialist in medieval literature, said he was the "only person since the Middle Ages to have read [the book]" knowing that it was Rolle's original.
The discovery provided "fresh insight into the development of medieval Christian writing and English literary culture," said the school.
Rolle was one of the most influential English authors of the mediaeval period and more than 650 of his manuscripts survive.
Working at the University of Cambridge, Glover found that while there were more than 120 abridged versions of this work, the Shrewsbury book was the only one to preserve the full text, as Rolle had written it.
The university described the manuscript as a "priceless" text which offered "unique insights into how Rolle worked, disseminated his writing and who his initial reader was".
The text describes Rolle's spiritual life in 12 stages, starting with turning towards God and away from the world.
In the book, the hermit, who lived in Yorkshire, also gives advice on living virtuously, dealing with sin, praying and meditating, the university said.
Glover said it was important because it offered a direct connection with an author who deserved far greater recognition.
Headmaster Leo Winkley said it was an "extraordinary discovery" for the school.
"We are honoured to be the custodians of the original and only surviving complete version of Richard Rolle's Emendatio vitae."
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