RICHARD MIDDLETON; S. XIV in.

Title

RICHARD MIDDLETON; S. XIV in.

Shelfmark

Merton College MS. 139

Place of origin

England, Oxford

Date

S. XIV in

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

Parchment

Physical extent

225 leaves (i + 223, incl. 14A) The edges savagely retrimmed, with loss of running heads and marginalia, and spattered with red.

Hands

Proficient English gothic rotunda bookhands of university type.

Decoration

Red and blue flourished initials; blue initials flourished in red; red or blue paraphs; running heads in the colours.

Binding

Standard Merton s. xvii, sewn on six bands; formerly chained from the usual position. The outermost leaves were pastedowns in an earlier binding. On fol. i are marks of two straps, with nails of both brass and iron.

Provenance

Probably professionally made in Oxford.

At the head of fol. 223v, in the same hand as the inscription on fol. i, is ‘Liber Willelmi de Haryngtone ex empt’ prec’ x. s. In quo continentur 47 Quodlibete Ricardi de Media uille de 3 de ’. Harington (BRUO 874) was fellow 1320–1 until 1335, d. by Aug. 1349.

At the foot of fol. 1v, in the usual hand (see above, MS 69), is ‘Liber collegii ex dono Magistri Thome Bloxham’. For Bloxham, fellow c. 1449–61, see MS 41.

On fol. iv is ‘B lier .7.us’, in the usual hand (see above, MS 60), and a table of contents, s. xv. ‘11’ is inked on the foredge.

Inside the front board is a sheet of paper with ‘D. 8, 6’ (canc.) and a title, s. xvii, ‘O. 3. 11. Art:’, canc. and replaced with ‘L. 1. 10 (CXXXIX)’ in red; the College bookplate.