Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This Flavius Vegtius Renatus Epitoma rei militaris manuscript was produced circa twelfth century on vellum.

Epitoma rei militaris. [Incipit] Flauij. vegetii. renati. viri illustris epitoma instituto rei militaris. de cōmentarijs catonis augusti. Traiani. adriani. et erumptorii [i.e. Frontini] Libri numero. iiii.

This Flavius Vegtius Renatus, Epitoma rei militaris manuscript was produced circa 12th century on vellum. It is 63 leaves (plus 2 blank), with small characters; the titles of books and chapters are in red, and some capitals are drawn in red or green. This copy was executed in Europe (likely Northern France or England). The first leaf contains the name "Sir Simeon Stuart Bart." (18th century). A fragment of a contemporary manuscript (1 leaf at the beginning and 1 at the end) was supplied for protection. The binding is 19th century brown morocco, blind tooled, with gilt edges, by W. Pratt.

The treatise is divided into four books, concerning army reform, the duties of soldiers and officers, military maxims, fortifications and sieges, and naval matters.

Log book kept by G.A. Rooke of the Royal Navy while aboard four different ships: the HMS Camperdown, the HMS Rodney, the HMS Australia, and the HMS Champion. Various manuscript maps, watercolors, and sketches of scenery and ships illustrate the log.

This log, spine marked "S. 625 Log Book for use of Junior Officers Afloat," is a 266-page manuscript volume written by G.A. Rooke. Rooke maintained the log from August 1, 1891 to September 30, 1893 while aboard four different ships: the Battleship HMS Camperdown; the Admiral class barbette ship HMS Rodney; the Royal Naval Coastguard ship HMS Australia; and the HMS Champion. The log itself consists of entries made three times daily and includes information regarding wind, weather, barometric pressure, temperature, and additional remarks. A typical entry reads "Mustered by Divisions. Read Prayers. Training class at gun drill. Exercised maneuvers. Ordinary Seamen at Seamanship…" (pg. 108). Within the volume are 58 illustrations and 2 photographs. The illustrations include 15 original watercolor paintings of Flagships (Philadelphia, Charleston, Baltimore, and Newark, among others), seven watercolors of mechanical equipment and machinery, 29 maps of ship routes, one pencil sketch, five ink drawings of ships and scenery, and one ink drawing of a person. The maps are almost exclusively of shipping routes around Northwestern Europe, with the exception of three: one from Gibraltar to Bermuda; one map of Bermuda; and the third from Bermuda to the Chesapeake Bay. The text written on the maps matches the handwriting of Rooke, though none of the illustrations are signed. Most of them are initialed by both a Captain and a Naval Inspector. One of the photographs is of the HMS Rodney, and the other is of the half-sunken HMS Howe. Included in the log is a four page description of the stranding of HMS Howe and the methods used to lighten its load and remove it from the rocks (pgs. 160-163).