Table of lections, Matthew 2:5–Jude 2:23 in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible, Old Testament lectionary of Type II — 15th century, first quarter; England

Title

Table of lections, Matthew 2:5–Jude 2:23 in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible, Old Testament lectionary of Type II — 15th century, first quarter; England

Shelfmark

MS. Ashmole 1517

Place of origin

England

Date

15th century, first quarter

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment; paper flyleaves

Physical extent

193 leaves, c.

Hands

at least two different scribes, one responsible for New Testament, writing large, even, upright, highly professional textura; the second responsible for the table of lections and Old Testament lectionary, writing a more informal textura; black and brown ink

Decoration

The gospels and the Epistle to the Romans originally had illuminated borders at the beginnings, now all missing (see Text).

4- to 6-line red and blue ‘puzzle’ initials with red and purple penwork at the beginnings of 1 Corinthians–Jude.

3-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginnings of chapters and prologues.

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

Binding

Light brown leather over pasteboard, late 17th or early 18th century. Double blind fillet lines round the outer edge and c.35 mm away from the spine on both covers. Geometric design on the edges of covers. Rebacked in the Bodleian: ‘W 5 – 12 – 59’ written in pencil on the lower pastedown. Five raised bands edged by double blind fillet lines on spine. Gilt lettering on spine: ‘Ash. 1517’. Laid paper flyleaves with watermarks, perhaps contemporary with the binding.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: transferred from the Ashmolean Museum in 1860.

Provenance

john m(?)[…]th (fol. 64r), possibly a reference to a missing beginning of St John’s gospel, 16th century (?).

Edmund peyson , 16th century (fol. 143r).

Flourished ‘I’ with the letters T, H, R, A, V written inside it, 16th century (fol. 192r).

Pen trials and names in several 16th-century hands, including: Hary Danyell of sancte martyns farmar vnto John Gylbard of London; wyllym storky, dunston chaypman, william breges (fol. 192v).

Elias Ashmole (1617–1692), see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: transcript of missing passages (see Text); autograph on fol. 1r.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford: donated by Ashmole to Oxford University in 1677.