William Langland — 15th century, second half; English

Title

William Langland — 15th century, second half; English

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 323

Associated place

England

Bodleian Libraries, Oxford

Place of origin

English

Date

15th century, second half

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

paper

Physical extent

vi + 168 + ileaves

Hands

Anglicana in a dark brown ink, from fols. 1–160

Anglicana in a dark brown ink, from fols. 160–168

Decoration

Miniature (coloured drawing). (Pächt and Alexander iii. 1148)

Acquisition

Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1834

Provenance

Fol. 101v, arms sable a saltire engrailed ermine between four roses (?) argent (the colours doubtful), with the name 'iohannes tubantisville', as though the scribe or owner (John of Trumpington?).

Belonged to William Dupre (Du pre), a specimen of whose intended metrical paraphrase of art. 2 in modem English is prefixed: sold by him to Douce, who has inserted notes of his own, chiefly also about art. 2.

Francis Douce, 1757–1834

Title

Old English pieces

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 323

Summary

Comprises:

(fol. 1) The Brut Chronicle 10 A.D. 1332: beg. 'In the noble lande of Surrye': at end is 'Deo gracias', with the arms sable a saltire engrailed ermine between four roses (?) argent (the colours doubtful), with the name 'iohannes tubantisville', as though the scribe or owner (John of Trumpington?)

(fol. 102) At end:--'Explicit liber Petri Plouman', by William Langland: this contains the Prologue and Passus i-xi of the A-text

(fol. 140v) 'Here is the book that speketh of a place that is called the Abbey of the Holy Gost ...', a moral treatise: at the end is a coloured view of the abbey!

(fol. 160) A religious legend of 'Ipotyce', a child at Hadrian's court, in verse: beg. 'Alle that will of wysdom lere', ends, abruptly, some leaves being lost, 'And thanketh God al his wille.'.

Date

written in the second half of the 15th cent.

Language

English

Physical facet

On paper

Physical extent

168 Leaves

Custodial history

Belonged to William (?) Du Pre, a specimen of whose intended metrical paraphrase of fol. 140v in modern English is prefixed: sold by him to Douce, who has inserted notes of his own, chiefly also about 'Explicit liber Petri Plouman', by William Langland here.