Geoffrey Chaucer — 15th century, third quarter; England
MS. Barlow 20
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Description
From Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.
Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries contains descriptions of all known Western medieval manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libraries, and of medieval manuscripts in selected Oxford colleges. Learn more.
Title
Geoffrey Chaucer — 15th century, third quarter; England
Shelfmark
MS. Barlow 20
Date
15th century, third quarter
Language
Middle English (1100-1500)
Contents
Form
codex
Support
parchment
Physical extent
i + 261 (really 265) leaves
Decoration
Fine initials
Binding
17th-century English work, rebacked.
Acquisition
Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1691 by Thomas Barlow (Summary Catalogue, Vol. 2 Part 2, p. 1043)
Provenance
'Per me Iohannem Wekes', on fol. 259v, written in a late sixteenth-century hand. The same hand also wrote an English couplet and a prologue to a legal instrument dated 1591-1592. The couplet is written above the name 'Iohannem Wekes' and reads, 'Thy master's booke doth scorne thy name To scribble therin then cease for shame' ( MWM)
Beneath this, in a different hand is written, 'My masters booke will geve me lefe too scribble therin y ask no lefe' ( MWM)
'per me Thomas Weke' and other 16th century scribblings are on fol. 260v; Thomas Weke' (16th century, fol. 64r)
'Wyllyam Dubledaye' (followed by a 'sequent device, possibly a notary's mark', according to Seymour [1997], pp. 162-165)
On fol. 84r, a crude coat of arms has been drawn: two cross crosslets with space for a third, apparently a chief. According to Manly and Rickert, cross crosslets were used by some branches of the Weeks family (Manly and Rickert [1940], p. 57). On f. 73r, the shield is parted per pale, and only one cross crosslet drawn, with space for two more.
Thomas Barlow, 1607–1691
View full record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
From Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts.
Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts contains descriptions of the Bodleian Libraries’ archival collections, including post-1500 manuscripts. Some manuscripts with records in other catalogues are also described here as part of a description of a larger archive. Learn more.
Title
The Canterbury Tales, with the Prologue
Shelfmark
MS. Barlow 20
Summary
The Canterbury Tales, with the Prologue, described by W. W. Skeat in The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1914), vol. 4, p. xi, as 'A clearly written MS. of the D-type, including Gamelyn; imperfect after Sir Thopas, but contains a portion of the Manciple's Tale'. It contains the somewhat rare lines F. 679-80, which are quoted from it in the Six text (Chaucer Society, ed. Furnivall).
Date
Written early in the 15th century in England
Language
Middle English (1100-1500)
Physical facet
On parchment, binding, 17th-cent. English work, rebacked, with a few illuminated capitals, etc.
Custodial history
'per me Thomas Weke' and other 16th-cent. scribblings are on fol. 260v.
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
The Canterbury Tales, with the Prologue
