Gilte Legende — 1438–60; English
MS. Douce 372
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Description
From Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.
Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries contains descriptions of all known Western medieval manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libraries, and of medieval manuscripts in selected Oxford colleges. Learn more.
Title
Gilte Legende — 1438–60; English
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 372
Date
1438–60
Language
Middle English (1100-1500)
Contents
Form
codex
Support
parchment
Physical extent
1-163 (=164) fols.
Decoration
Initials. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 901)
Acquisition
Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1834
Provenance
London, Priory of St John the Baptist, of Augustinian canonesses in Holywell (Shoreditch): (fol. 163v) "[b]e hit remembryd that Iohn Burton [c]itizen and mercer of London past oute of this lyfe the xx day of Novembr' the yere of oure Lorde Mill' cccc lx and the yere of kynge Henry the sixte after the conquest xxxix and the said ... Legenda Sanctorum the seyde Kateryne to have hit and to occupye to hir owne use and at hir owne liberte durynge hur lyfe and ... evermore they to pray for the saide John Burton and Johane his wife and alle crystene soyles. And who that lettithe the execucion [of thi]s bequest be the lawe standeth". (MLGB3: evidence from an ex-libris inscription or note of gift to an institution).
E. Trotter (s. xvii, fol. 8r). (MLGB3)
Cf. Horstmann, Altenglische Legenden, NF (1881) p. cxxx. (MLGB3)
Francis Douce, 1757–1834
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From Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts.
Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts contains descriptions of the Bodleian Libraries’ archival collections, including post-1500 manuscripts. Some manuscripts with records in other catalogues are also described here as part of a description of a larger archive. Learn more.
Title
English translation of adaptation of 'Legenda Aurea'
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 372
Summary
At end:' ... Here endith the Lives of Seintis that is callid in latynne Legenda Aurea, and in Englissh the Gilte Legend, the which is drawen out of Frensshe into Englisshe. The yere of oure Lorde M.CCCC. and xxxviij bi a synfulle wrecche ...' This work by Jacobus de Voragine begins in this English translation with 'knowliched that he was ouercome', in the Life of st. Anthony, and ends with ' The Life of Adam and of Eve. cap° c lxxxj°' (fol. 157) and 'The fyve wilis of Kinge Pharao' (fol. 160v).
The book is badly mutilated and has lost many leaves: mutilated are fols. 14, 29, 40, 41, 48, 62, 80, 101, 105, 116, 122, 128, 155, 157, 163, and margins only of fols. 22, 34, 49-50, 58, 63, 71, 74, 77, 97, 100, 112-3, 141, 143-4, 146, 158: losses are after fols. 26, 31, 32, 33, 34, 73, 76, 125, 127, 134, 140, 145, 146, 156, and probably elsewhere. A modern index of saints etc. is on fol. 165. A full description of the MS. is in C. Horstmann's Altenglische Legenden, neue Folge (1881), p. cxxx.
'[B]e hit remembryd that John Burton citizen and mercer of London past oute of this lyfe the xx. day of Nouember the yere ... Mill'. cccc. lx ... and the said John Burton bequethe to dame Kateryne Burton his douȝter a boke callyd Legenda Sanctorum ... and after hur decesse. to remayne to the Prioresse and the Couent of Halywelle [Holywell, in Shoreditch] for euermore, they to pray for the saide John Burton and Johanne his wife ...' ' E. Trotter' (17th cent.) is on fol. 8.
Date
written in A.D. 1438
Language
English
Physical facet
On parchment, with illuminated capitals, etc., mutilated
Physical extent
170 Leaves
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
English translation of adaptation of 'Legenda Aurea'
