Genesis–Psalms in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible without prologues, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 3 Kings, 4 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, 1 Ezra, 2 Ezra, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalms, Breviary — 14th century, end–15th century, early; England

Title

Genesis–Psalms in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible without prologues, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 3 Kings, 4 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, 1 Ezra, 2 Ezra, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalms, Breviary — 14th century, end–15th century, early; England

Shelfmark

MS. Bodl. 296

Place of origin

England

Date

14th century, end–15th century, early

15th century

Language

Latin

Middle English (1100-1500)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment, paper flyleaves

Physical extent

i–vi + 1–199 leaves, c.

Hands

Anglicana; smaller script is used from fol. 15r onwards; black and brown ink

Decoration

Simple red and blue penwork border at the beginning of Genesis (fol. 1r).

2- to 5-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginning of books; 2- to 3-line similar initials at the beginning of chapters. Initials in a different style (plain red or blue) on fols. 49r–72v (quires VII–IX).

Rubrics in red.

Binding

Brown leather over wood boards, 18th century. Blind floral roll and fillet-line border round the outer edge of both covers. Six raised bands on spine. Gold lettering on spine: ‘296’. Modern paper pastedowns; modern and laid paper flyleaves. A fragment from a 15th-century noted breviary of English origin at fol. vi. Fol. 198 was a pastedown of an earlier binding.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: given by Herbert on 15 June 1666. Earlier shelfmark: ‘NE F. 10’.

Provenance

Fulford iesus maria ffuit homo missus a deo cui nomen erat Ioannes, 15th century (fol. 198r).

Thomas Herbert, first baronet (1606–1682), traveller and government official; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: ‘T. Herbert’ (fol. 1r).