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Manchester. The John Rylands Library, English MS 76

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Source
Manchester Digital Collections
Library
The John Rylands Library
Shelfmark
  • English MS 76
Biblissima authority file
Date
  • Beginning 15th century
Language
  • Middle English
Title
  • Later Version Wycliffe New Testament
Agent
Description
  • Extent:
    185 folios (iv+185+iii) Leaf height: 207 mm, width: 145 mm.
    Binding:

    19th century, full bound in tan leather (appears to be pigskin) with the John Rylands crest tooled in gold.


    Decoration:

    Initials

    2- and 3-line initials in blue ink with red penwork infill and flourishes, of indifferent quality introduce each book and chapters throughout:

    Pen-flourished initial ‘A’ on 82 folios. Examples: 13r, 66v, 131r, 183r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘B’ on 32 folios. Examples: 16r, 86v, 130v, 182r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘C’ on 2 folios: 120v and 148r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘D’ on 1 folio: 123r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘E’ on 2 folios: 118r and 142r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘F’ on 5 folios: 135v, 143r, 151r, 151v, 161r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘G’ on 2 folios: 138r and 161r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘H’ on 7 folios: 77r, 147r, 154r, 156r, 157r, 159r, 160r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘I’ on 17 folios. Examples: 11v, 57r, 103v, 158v
    Pen-flourished initial ‘J’ on 1 folio: 184v
    Pen-flourished initial ‘L’ on 3 folios: 56v and 138r, 150r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘M’ on 3 folios: 10r and 38v, 185v
    Pen-flourished initial ‘N’ on 1 folio: 15r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘O’ on 1 folio: 139v
    Pen-flourished initial ‘P’ on 14 folios. Examples: 53r, 131v, 154r, 156r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘R’ on 1 folio: 109v
    Pen-flourished initial ‘S’ on 4 folios: 122r, 128v, 141r, 145r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘T’ on 35 folios. Examples: 10v, 87v, 143v, 180r
    Pen-flourished initial ‘W’ on 6 folios: 105r, 110v, 111r, 111v, 125r, 156v


    Acquisition:

    Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands in 1897 from Henry Yates Thompson, 1838-1928, and later transferred to The John Rylands Library. Accession no. R4990. On the inner upper cover (pastedown) is the John Rylands Library bookplate, dated 1894, with the Latin motto "Nihill sine labore".


    Layout:

    Two columns, 35 lines, written below top line. Frame and line ruling in fine dark brown ink: double vertical bounding lines extending to the top of the page and into the lower margin; double horizontal bounding lines extending the full width of the page; horizontal lines not crossing the intercolumnar space; double vertical and horizontal bounding lines occasionally traversing the central margin. No evidence of pricking marks.

    Calendar: six columns, 36 lines. Single vertical and horizontal bounding lines (lower margin, double horizontal lines).

    Written height: 150 mm, width: 100 mm.
    Collation:
    Quire 15
    Quire 24 (folios 6-9)
    Quires 3-248

    Catchwords are present in the lower centre or inner margin of the verso of the final leaf of each quire: 17v, 25v, 41v, 49v, 57v, 65v, 73v, 81v, 89v, 67v, 73v, 105v, 137v, 145v, 169v, 177v.

    Secundo folio:in hir (folio 11r).


    Script:

    Written in gothic textura by a single scribe.


    Subject(s):
    Bible. English (Middle English) Versions Wycliffe; Christianity; Bible. New Testament; Bible. Apocrypha; Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles; Bible. Epistles of Paul--Theology
    Abstract:

    Later Wycliffite version of the New Testament, ending imperfectly at 1 James 2: 16. Preceded by a table of Lessons, Epistles and Gospels according to the use of Sarum.

    (1) Folios 1r-9v, (begins imperfectly at Thursday before Easter) '...Thus endiþ þe kalender of lessons. Pistils and gospels Of al the ȝere.' Forshall and Madden, iv. 686-98, but the text here and in English Manuscripts 77, 78, 80 and 91 differs substantially from theirs, which goes with the earlier Wycliffite version. A table for the common of saints is not provided here or in English Manuscripts 77, 78, 80 and 91: cf. Forshall and Madden, p. 696, footnote. The proper of saints is followed by commemorations for B.V.M., Holy Trinity, Holy Spirit, Holy Cross, angels, 'For briþren and sustryn and for saluacion of þe puple', peace, fine weather, rain, battles, 'A man for hymself', pestilence of beasts, pilgrims, weddings, sinners, and the sick. The word 'pope' has been erased; so too the name of St Thomas at 7 July.

    (2) Folios 10r-185v, New Testament in the later Wycliffite version, ending imperfectly 'liflode and' (1 James 2: 16). Not listed by Forshall and Madden. Usual prologues. A quire is missing after folio 161v, which ends with the catchword 'schal be' (Hebrews 2: 13); folio 162r begins `me of ihesu' (Acts 8: 12).


    Foliation:

    Foliated 1-185 (modern foliation)


    Format:
    Codex
    Material:
    Parchment
    Provenance:

    Scribbled names from the 16th century of John Hedgman on folio 98r; John Hedgem on folio 139r; John Dowty on folio 167r; Jarves on folio 185v.

    Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham, 1797-1878. Appendix no. 24.

    Henry Yates Thompson, 1838-1928. He purchased the Ashburnham Appendix in May 1897 and almost immediately resold the manuscript to Mrs Rylands.


    Additions:
    Library information written in pencil and ink on the inner upper cover (upper pastedown).
Place
  • Preferred form
    • England (United Kingdom)
    Original form
    • England
    Other form
    • Angleterre
    • Angleterre (?)
    • Angleterre.
    • Angleterre ?
    • Anglaterra
    • Inglaterra
    • Engeland
    • Angleterre (Salisbury ?)
    • Anglaterra (Salisbury?)
    • Inglaterra (Salisbury?)
    • England (Salisbury?)
    • [Oxford?]
    • [England]
    • England, Norwich?
    • England, Canterbury, St. Augustine's Abbey?
    • England, Cornwall?
    • England, St. Albans?
    • England, North?
    • England, York?
    • England, Witham?
    • England, Winchester or St. Albans
    • England, Reading or Leominster
    • England, Cirencester?
    • England, Sherborne?
    • England, Worcester?
    • England, Bury St. Edmunds?
    • England, Tewkesbury?
    • England, East Anglia?
    • England, Peterborough?
    • England, Mercia?
    • England, Canterbury, Christ Church?
    • England, Canterbury, St. Augustine's?
    • England, Winchester?
    • England, Oxford?
    • Flanders (possibly executed in England)
    • England and Netherlands
    • England, Canterbury?
    • England, West Midlands?
    • England, London?
    • England, Crowland?
    • England, Wessex?
    • England, Reading?
    • England, Northeast?
    • England, Southeast?
    • England, Ely?
    • England, Winchester or Hereford?
    • England, Salisbury?
    • England, Oxford or Salisbury
    • German (but made in England)
    • England, South East (?)
    • England. Peterborough (?) or Lincoln (?)
    • Hereford?, England
    • England, Durham ?
    • England, Durham?
    • England, probably Durham
    • England, Oxford (?)
    • England, possibly Oxford
    • England (?Oxford)
    • England, Durham (?)
    • England, London/Westminster
    • Unknown, possibly London and Cambridge
    • Royal Chancery, London; Cambridge
    • Engeland (?)
    • England (II)
    • I. England
    • [Engeland]
    • see more
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