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Oxford. Bodleian Library, MS. Eng. poet. a. 1

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Source
Digital Bodleian (Oxford University)
Library
Oxford. Bodleian Library
Shelfmark
  • Bodleian Library MS. Eng. poet. a. 1
Biblissima authority file
Date
  • 1381–1400
Language
  • Latin
  • Anglo-Norman
  • Middle English
Title
  • The Vernon Manuscript
Agent
Description
  • This manuscript, famously known as the Vernon Manuscript, is an impressive book in every respect. Its imposing size equals the extent of its vernacular Middle English texts whilst its plentiful decoration and illumination serve to highlight its luxury status. An extensive collection of Middle English religious and didactic texts, the manuscript runs to over 350 items and has been termed a 'typical medieval one-volume library' by Görlach (1974, p. 102). The manuscript is thought to date from c. 1390.
    Contents: South English Legendary and related texts (ff. 1r-104v). La Estorie del Evangelie, Miracles of the Virgin, etc. (ff. 105r-166v). Northern Homily Cycle and other texts (ff. 167r-318r). Miscellaneous prose and verse (ff. 319r-406v). The Vernon Lyrics (ff. 407r-413v).
    Extent: viii + 342 + i (incomplete). Originally viii + 413, 71 leaves thought to be lost. 544 × 393 mm.
    Collation: Normally eights.
    Layout: Double and triple columns with 80 lines. Ruled in brownish plummet. Inner and outer margins are pricked for horizontal ruling.
    Hand: Scribe 1: An anglicana hand. Scribe 2: Steady set round anglicana.
    Decoration: Seven miniatures survive in La estorie del Evangelie (ff. 105r-105v) although it is thought that others would have decorated the texts contained in the seven leaves now missing from the end of the Evangelie. Nine miniatures remain in The Miracles of Our Lady (ff. 124r-126v), though it is probable that the manuscript carried thirty-three illustrations before the loss of forty-one leaves. c. 3250 illuminated initials and c. 365 flourished initials, including: one-line coloured (normally blue or red) or gold initials; two-line indented initials, in gold or deep crimson or blue grounds begin secondary divisions of text or Latin quotations; four or five-line initials start primary divisions; one twenty-two-line historiated initial for the Prick of Conscience on f. 265r. One full border and c. 340 border extensions. Historiations are present in a number of borders including a grotesque head and grotesque animals, columbines, animal heads and a lion mask. Diagrammatic text in the form of a grid with the seven petitions of the Pater Noster presented in relation to the seven gifts of the spirit, the seven virtues and their contrary virtues (f. 231v).
    Binding: Not medieval; nineteenth century. Covered in crushed russet leather with rectangular gold frame around the edge tooled in blind. Bevelled oak boards, possibly medieval. Sewn with six double spine cords, probably in the position of the medieval thongs. Depressions of two clasps are visible on the outer edge of the upper cover of the exterior.
    Provenance: The origin and patronage of the manuscript are still debated, but not before 1381. Sixteenth century: Walter Vernon (?) (f. 413v). Seventeenth century: 'Thomas Brooke the senior' (f. 413v); f. 'Mary Harpur' (f. 53r). Given to the Bodleian by Colonel Edward Vernon in c. 1677, probably on the occasion of the award of his honorary D. C. L. degree by the University of Oxford.
Place
  • Preferred form
    • England (United Kingdom)
    Original form
    • England, West Midlands?
    Other form
    • Angleterre
    • Angleterre (?)
    • Angleterre.
    • Angleterre ?
    • England
    • 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, 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
    Biblissima portal
    Biblissima authority file
  • Preferred form
    • West Midlands (United Kingdom) (?)
    Original form
    • England, West Midlands?
Rights
  • Photo: © Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. Terms of use: CC-BY-NC 4.0. For more information, please see http://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/terms.html.
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