Old Testament, metrical paraphrase, Northern homily cycle — 15th century, middle; English
MS. Selden Supra 52
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
Old Testament, metrical paraphrase, Northern homily cycle — 15th century, middle; English
Shelfmark
MS. Selden Supra 52
Date
15th century, middle
Language
Middle English (1100-1500)
Contents
Form
codex
Support
paper
Musical notation
Notation on staves (see van Dijk 1957).
Binding
Plain brown leather on boards, clasp lost, contemporary English work.
Acquisition
Acquired by the Bodleian in 1659
Provenance
John Selden, 1584–1654
View full record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
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
A metrical Old Testament history and Thirty-five rhymed 'narrationes'
Shelfmark
MS. Selden Supra 52
Summary
Fol. 2. A metrical Old Testament history in 12-line strophes: beg. 'God fader in heuyn of myghtes most'. The books taken are the Pentateuch, Joshua (fol. 25), Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Sam. (fol. 44), 1 and 2 Kings, Job (fol. 129v), Tobit, Esther, and Judith. At fol. 162v follow two poems from Maccabees, 'De matre cum vij filijs' and 'De Anthioco' (Antiochus, fol. 167): both printed from this MS. by W. Heuser in Anglia xxxi (1908), 6-24. A love-song with refrain (beg. 'Thayr ys no myrth under the sky') has been added in a late 15th cent. hand on fol. 168v.
Fol. 172. Thirty-five rhymed 'narrationes' for the Sundays of the Church year from the Northern Homilies collection, with three added tales: a list of them with incipits is in Carleton Brown's Register of Middle English Verse I. pp. 41-4. Fols. 208-13 should come in after fol. 195. Fols, i, 240 are parchment leaves of a Latin 14th cent. proser. [Cr.]
Date
Written about the middle of the 15th century
Language
English
Physical facet
On paper, binding, plain brown leather on boards, clasp lost, contemporary English work
Physical extent
240 Leaves
Custodial history
Belonged early in the seventeenth century to Samuel Purchas; cp. MS. Arch. Selden A. 1.
Manuscript 3455 acquired by the Bodleian Library
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
A metrical Old Testament history and Thirty-five rhymed 'narrationes'
