The Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers in London, Lambeth Palace Library, MS 265

The manuscript copy of Earl Rivers’ Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers extant in London, Lambeth Palace Library MS 25, produced for the King Edward IV and the royal family shortly after the issue of Caxton’s first edition of the work, preserves a version of the text that is traditionally described as presenting a still imperfect review, which would be completed three years later with the second edition. However, a collation with the prints, however, shows that the revision is much more careful and exhaustive than previously hypothesized; apart from prompting a redefinition of (at least part) of the textual tradition of the Dicts, this also lends support to Rivers’ direct involvement in the making of this manuscript, which would become the major manifestation of his role as patron and man of letters in Edward IV’s court.