Sir John Fortescue (attrib.) — 15th century, end - 16th century; English

Title

Sir John Fortescue (attrib.) — 15th century, end - 16th century; English

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 54

Date

15th century, end - 16th century

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

English

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

Not specified in catalogue

Physical extent

i + 86leaves

Acquisition

Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1834

Provenance

'Rychard Bettyson' (16th cent.) is on fol. 63v.

Francis Douce, 1757–1834

Title

A medley of recipes, for medicine, arboriculture, writing and illumination, chiefly in English

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 54

Summary

Up to fol. 45 the writing is of the close of the 15th cent. partly written by Thomas: 'finis quod Thomas' on fol. 45v: afterwards of the 16th cent.

One recipe is 'probatum per Rogerum Apleton', at fol. 10. Among these are found:

(fol. 1) 'Copia epistole misse a Deo in Ierusalem pro custodia Dominice diei', beg. 'Ego Dominus qui precepi vobis', with an account of its finding and preservation

(fol. 4) 'Optima de rege Arthuro fabula', beg. 'Contigit de nobili Rege', followed by some prayers (fol. 6v, cf. 35)

(fol. 36v) 'Horribilis quedam visio discriptationis inter corpus mortuum et animam damnatam', in Latin rhythmical verse, beg. 'Noctis sub silentio tempore brumali'

(fol. 43v) 'Amonitio notabilis in persona damnati, a similar poem, beg. 'O vos omnes qui transitis'

(fol. 45) 'Versus Brunonis Carthusican[i] de Morte', in elegiacs, beg. 'Mortales Dominus cunctos'

(fol. 45v) in the later hand: The Lord's Prayer in six tabellae, in Latin and English.

A recipe in partial cipher, proved by 'S. P.', is on fol. 61v.

'Rychard Bettyson' (16th cent.) is on fol. 63v.

Date

written in the close of the 15th and in the 16th cent.

Language

English

Latin

Physical extent

86 Leaves