Typical marginal illustrations in the Lentaigne Manuscript This early fifteenth century manuscript, is so styled to honour Sir John Lentaigne, who presented it to the library of the Royal College of Surgeon in Ireland in March 1851. The manuscript itself is a copy of the works of the English surgeon, John of Arderne (1307-c1390). The Lentaignes were landowners in Normandy and Sir John's father, a physician, came to Dublin in 1792. Born in Dublin in 1805 Sir John was an M.D. of Trinity College, Dublin and a Fellow of the RCSI. A social-reformer he became Inspector-General of Prisons and in 1861 he became the Commissioner of National Education. He died in 1886. John of Arderne, a contemporary of Chaucer, served Edward III as an army surgeon at the battle of Crécy in 1346. He was also a favourite of Edward's eldest son, the Black Prince (who granted him land in Connaught). Arderne's writin...