Tobit in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible — 15th century, first half; England

Title

Tobit in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible — 15th century, first half; England

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 36

Date

15th century, first half

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment, paper flyleaves

Physical extent

38 leaves, c.

Hands

textura, black ink

Decoration

5-line gold initial on blue and pink background at the beginning of the book.

2-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginnings of chapters.

Binding

Red leather over pasteboard, 18th century. Double gilt fillet lines round the outer edge of both covers. Gilt rectangular decoration with floral cornerpieces on both covers; the one on the front cover contains stamped lettering ‘IOSEPH AMES’. Four raised bands on spine; gilt floral decoration on the panels between the bands. Fragments of a label at the bottom of the spine. Gilt edges of text block. Marbled paper pastedowns.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: received in 1834 with bequest of Douce.

Provenance

‘Hen: Jeffreyes’ (fol. 10v), early 18th century.

Joseph Ames (bap. 1687, d. 1759), bibliographer and antiquary; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: ‘July 26th 1728 Examined this MS. by Wickliffs in Queen’s College Oxford, and find it ye same Jo: Ames’ (fol. 10r). Armorial book-plate of Ames of Norfolk (fol. 10v); lot 825 at his sale 5 May 1760 (Rogers (1975)).

Mark Cephas Tutet: contained armorial book-plate according to Madan, F., Summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, vol. 4 (collections received during the first half of the 19th century) nos. 16670–24330 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1897), currently missing; lot 500 at his sale 15 February 1786 (Rogers (1975)).

Gustavus Brander (1719/20–87), merchant and antiquary; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: ‘Gustavus Barnder 1786 27’, followed by a note in Douce’s hand: ‘Who paid £1..2..0 for this MS. at Mr Tutets sale’ (fol. 1v). Lot 1085 at his sale in 1790, paid for 16/- by Douce (Rogers (1975)).

Francis Douce (1757–1834); see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: ‘This agrees with No 2249 Harl. MS. but differs from the book of Tobit in my MS. Wicliffis bible F. Douce’ (fol. 10r); armorial book-plate (fol. 1r); added engravings (fols. 27v–34v).

Title

The book of Tobit in a Wyclifite version

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 36

Summary

'Here bigynneth the bok of Tobie'. Douce has inserted at the end some engravings from printed books illustrating the history of Tobit.

Date

written in the first half of the 15th cent.

Language

English

Physical facet

On parchment

Physical extent

38 Leaves

Custodial history

Owned successively by 'Hen. Jefferyes' (early 18th cent.), 'Jo: Ames' (1728: armorial book-plate of his family), Mark Cephas Tutet (armorial book-plate) and 'Gustavus Brander, 1786.'.