New Testament in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible with usual prologues and rubrics, Table of lections of Type II, A list of New Testament books in English — 15th century, first quarter; England

Title

New Testament in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible with usual prologues and rubrics, Table of lections of Type II, A list of New Testament books in English — 15th century, first quarter; England

Shelfmark

MS. Gough Eccl. Top. 5

Date

15th century, first quarter

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

251 leaves, c.

Hands

textura, black and brown ink; the table of lections is probably by a different scribe

Decoration

4- to 8-line blue initials with red penwork and penwork borders at the beginning of books; 3- to 4-line similar initials at the beginning of prologues, and 3- to 6-line similar initials at the beginning of chapters.

Rubrics in red ink; blue paraphs at the start of sections within the text.

Binding

Medieval oak boards covered with blue marbled paper. ‘John Wyklif’s Translation of The New Testament MS.’ handwritten in ink on spine; fragmentary paper label with ‘90(?)1’ on spine.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: bequeathed by Gough; received in 1809.

Provenance

Copy of the Latin will of Robert Thoft of St Botulph’s at Lincoln (?), dated 11 April 1415 (fol. 244v). Mentions hospital of St Catherine iuxta Lincoln, Richard Eston, Thomas Godney (or Gedney), guild of St Trinity, guild of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Juliana (wife) and William (son).

A 15th-century clerical (?) owner who marked the lections within the text and added Latin notes specifying the liturgical occasions when they were appointed to be read (see Text).

William Turner (1509/10–1568), naturalist and religious controversialist, dean of Wells, 1563; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Amen W T (fol. 96r); ‘1563’, Docter turner in Welles. 12. daye auguste Dean of Welles (fol. 243v). Also Jane Turner (fol. 1r) and Wennyfred Turner (fol. 246v). Corrections in the margins in an early modern hand (see Text).

William Mylett est nomen eius (fol. 246r), 16th century (?).

Daniel Waterland (1683–1740), theologian, rector of Walesby and Flixborough, Lincolnshire; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: note on fol. iii verso may be in his hand.

John Lewis (1675–1747), Church of England clergyman and antiquary; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: received the manuscript from Waterland and made it the base text of the gospels in Lewis (1731).

Ebenezer Mussel of Bethnal Green in London: purchased from the executors of Lewis for £4-0-0 (fol. iii verso).

William Herbert (1718–1795), bibliographer and printseller; see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: bought at Mussell’s sale (Langford of Covent Garden) in May 1766 (fol. iii recto) (see de Hamel (1997), p. 90 and n. 13). Lot 901 in his sale on 21 November 1798.

Richard Gough (1735–1809); see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Title

The New Testament in Wyclifs later translation, with prologues

Shelfmark

MS. Gough Eccl. Top. 5

Summary

The New Testament in Wyclifs later translation, with prologues: followed on fol. 235v by lists of 'the Pistlis & the Gospels of the Newe Testament.' On fol. 244v is a copy of the Latin will of Robert Thoft of St. Botulph's at Lincoln (?), 11 April, 1415.

Date

Written early in the 15th century

Language

English

Physical facet

On parchment, in the old oak boards, with coloured capitals, etc.

Physical extent

247 Leaves

Custodial history

Sixteenth century owners were 'W. T[urner?]', dean of Wells, 1563, 'lane Turner', 'Wennyfred Turner', and perhaps W. Mylett ('William Mylett est nomen eius'): subsequently dr. Daniel Waterland is stated to have owned the book (a note on fol. iiiv may be in his hand): then the rev. John Lewis of Margate, who published Wyclifs New Testament from this MS.: from his executors it was purchased 'by me Ebenezer Mussell': after his sale in 1766 it belonged to 'Wm Herbert.'.