The Book Switch Theory

[Jorge_Stolfi]

Jorge Stolfi spent time transcribing one of these, and he can comment how unlikely it is that Voynich read through that volume (it was only one of six volumes IIRC).

It is indeed very unlikely that Wilfrid would have found that biography of Jacobus by browsing through Schmidl's History of Jesuits in Bohemia -- by himself.  

But if he asked any Jesuits in Prague (directly of through any contact, Jesuit or not) about a "TepenecWhatever"from around 1600, they would have known that he was referring to Sinapius/Horciky, and would have known about that entry in Schmidl, and more.

My impression is that Jacobus was rather notable among the Jesuits -- first for being a great example of "rags to riches thanks to Jesuit education", and second for being a benefactor of their Order in Prague, having left his possessions to them in his will. (I am not sure now, but didn't he himself join the Order on his deathbed? It seems that it was a not uncommon occurrence in those times...)

All the best, --stolfi