MINIATURE PSALTER

The Book of Psalms (metrical version by Sternhold and Hopkins). A miniature book, written in shorthand by Richard Hill. The psalms are written in the system of shorthand invented by the stenographer John Willis (d. 1625), Rector of St Mary Bothaw, London, and afterwards of Bentley Parva, Essex. In the 1622 edition of his 'School-maister to the art of stenography', Willis recommended the reader to write out the psalm book in English metre as a shorthand exercise. The 1628 edition of the same work refers to 'the Psalme booke printed in stenographicall characters', but no copy of this printed work has ever been found. Richard Hill's manuscript appears to have been inspired by Willis's recommendation. ff. 1-6. Flyleaves, blank, except for inscription at f. 2r recording the presentation of the book to Sion College by Benjamin Willis (see Custodial History field). f. 7r. Title page. 'The whole booke of Davids Psalmes. London by me Richard Hill 1628'. f. 8r. Inscription in Latin and English identifying the owner of the book as 'Richardus Hillius' [Richard Hill], written in gold, red and green inks. Painted above is a coat of arms (argent, three water-bougets and a chevron sable). Not in shorthand. f. 9. Blank. ff. 10r-16r. 'Veni Creator', 'The humble suite of a sinner', Venite exultemus' and other texts found prior to the psalms in Sternhold and Hopkins. In shorthand. ff. 17r-108v. 'The psalmes of David'. In shorthand. Ends (f. 108v) with a decorated inscription, 'The end of the psalmes of David', set within the heads of two winged cherubs drawn in red ink. In shorthand. ff. 109r-113r. 'A songe to be sunge before morning prayer' and other texts found after the psalms in Sternhold and Hopkins. In shorthand. f. 113v. Blank. ff. 114r-116v. 'A godly prayer to be said at all times'. Followed by 'A confession for all estates and times'. As found in Sternhold and Hopkins. Not in shorthand. ff. 117-118. Blank. f. 119. Pasted in is a coat of arms painted on vellum (cloves, a chevron gules). These are the arms (amongst others) of the Worshipful Company of Grocers of London. ff. 120-121. Blank.

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