John Beleth, Richard Rolle — 15th century, early; England

Title

John Beleth, Richard Rolle — 15th century, early; England

Shelfmark

MS. Bodl. 554

Place of origin

England

Date

15th century, early

Language

Latin

Middle English (1100-1500)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

90 leaves, c.

Hands

textura (psalms) and Anglicana (glosses), black ink

Decoration

3- to 4-line blue initials with red penwork at liturgical divisions at psalms 26 (fol. 12r), 38 (fol. 19r), 52 (fol. 26v), 68 (fol. 34v), 80 (fol. 44r), 97 (fol. 52v) and 109 (fol. 62r).

2-line similar initials at the beginnings of psalms and canticles.

1-line plain red or occasionally blue initials at the beginnings of verses.

Rubrics in red ink.

Binding

Fifteenth-century binding, worn red leather over boards, fittings of two clasps, now lost, on both covers. Sewn on five cords. ‘554’ written on spine in black ink. Parchment pastedowns. A chain-staple mark on the lower edge of the upper board (Watson’s position 4) (Hanna (2010)).

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: probably a gift in 1607 of Sir Richard Wolseley described as Liber continens expositionem vel glossam in Psalmos Anglice. 4º. MS (Madan, F. and Craster, H. H. E., Summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, vol. 2, part I (collections received before 1660 and miscellaneous MSS acquired during the first half of the 17th century), nos. 1–3490 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922)). Earlier shelfmarks: ‘Th. P 914’, ‘NE E. 6. 7’.

Provenance

Fifteenth-century clerical (?) owners interested in liturgy (Latin extract from Beleth) and penitential practice (English extract from Rolle).

On the lower pastedown: precium x s, presumably ‘price 10 shillings’, 15th century. Inscription, possibly in the same hand, perhaps containing the name ‘John Beket’.

Sixteenth-century owner who added a medical recipe.

‘A. P. 7. 13’ on the upper pastedown.