Ps.-Bonaventure — 15th century, first half; England

Title

Ps.-Bonaventure — 15th century, first half; England

Shelfmark

MS. Bodl. 578

Place of origin

England

Date

15th century, first half

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

paper

Physical extent

iii + 50 leaves

Hands

Written in a clear Anglicana. We find the distinctive two compartment a(alongside a Secretary one). The letter dhas two forms, one Anglicana with a looped ascender, the other a form with a triangular body, and an ascender consisting of the lengthening of the right hand side of the triangle. This ascender is straight and has no loop, and shows the Secretary influence in the hand. The g is still the typical 8-shaped two compartment one of Anglicana. Of the letter rwe find four forms, the long r, and three 2-shaped varieties, resembling v, z and 3respectively. Initially and medially we find long s, finally short s. The letters y and thornare clearly distinguishable. The y is not dotted but has a descender curving to the right and is differently shaped from the thorn. Yogh is used and has the flat-topped 3-shape, much like the z. This hand does not feature any Anglicana forms of w, but consistently has the simple Secretary variety. It is a firm and clear, upright script. The loops are generally rounded rather than angular. These features combine to suggest a date around the middle of the fifteenth century (Blom-smith, 'The lyf of oure Lord and the Virgyn Mary', p. lvi)

Acquisition

According to an inscription on fol. iii, given by Dr John Brabournein 1720: 'NE.F. 9. 20. EN. 91 / A.D. 1720 / Bibliothecae Bodleianae d.d. / Joannes Brabourne S.T.P. / Aulae Nov. Hospitii / Principalis' (from Blom-smith, 'The lyf of oure Lord and the Virgyn Mary', p. lv). See also a similar inscription in MS. Bodl. 43