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Richard Haydocke’s Oneirologia: A Manuscript Treatise on Sleep and Dreams, including the ‘Arguments’ of King James i

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Type

Article

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Authors

Marr, Alexander 

Abstract

jats:pRichard Haydocke’s manuscript treatise jats:italicOneirologia</jats:italic> (1605) is a learned account in English of the medical nature of sleep and dreams. This article presents a commented edition of the manuscript, an account of the circumstances that led to its composition, and a commentary on its contents. Apparently composed on the orders of King James jats:sci</jats:sc> (whose ‘arguments’ against rational discourse in sleep it includes), jats:italicOneirologia</jats:italic> is a significant document in the history of early modern erudition. The treatise reflects the orthodox physiognomic and psychological explanations of sleep and dreaming expounded in the universities, as well as its author’s experience as a writer on and practitioner of the visual arts. A product of the febrile political climate in England around the time of the Gunpowder Plot, jats:italicOneirologia</jats:italic> touches upon major themes in society and religion, including the nature of royal authority, jats:italicmens rea</jats:italic>, and divine revelation.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

4705 Literary Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 47 Language, Communication and Culture, 4303 Historical Studies, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5004 Religious Studies, Sleep Research

Journal Title

Erudition and the Republic of Letters

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2405-5050
2405-5069

Volume Title

2

Publisher

Brill