Piers Plowman, ‘B’ text; London (?), 1390s × 1400s
MS. Laud Misc. 581
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
Piers Plowman, ‘B’ text; London (?), 1390s × 1400s
Shelfmark
MS. Laud Misc. 581
Date
1390s × 1400s
Language
Latin
Middle English (1100-1500)
Contents
Form
codex
Support
parchment
Physical extent
iii + 93 leaves
Hands
Gothic cursiva antiquior.
Decoration
Initial letters at beginnings of passus are 3–5-line initials in blue with red flourishing. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 781)
Passus titles rubricated. The text is divided by blue paraphs. Latin verses and words, proper names, and marginal additions boxed in red.
Binding
Standard Laudian binding, brown tanned calf over laminated pulpboard; rebacked.
Acquisition
Part of Laud’s first donation, 22 May 1635.
Provenance
R L (fol. 92r).
Liber Ricardi Iohnson (fol. 92r); a different hand from the Richard Johnson of MS. Laud Misc. 739.
Ralph Coppinger (d. 1551). Inscribed, Raffe Coppynger (fol. 93r), probably 1530s × 40s. He also makes two notes: Robart langeland borne by malbovrne hilles (fol. 1r, head); Memorandum þat I haue lent to Nicholas brigham the pers ploughman which I borowed of Mr. Le of Addyngton (fol. 93r, beneath the signature). On Nicholas Brigham (d. 1558), see James Alsop, ‘Nicholas Brigham (d. 1558), Scholar, Antiquary, and Crown Servant’, Sixteenth Century Journal 12 (1981): 49–67. ‘Mr. Le of Addyngton’ is likely Nicholas Leigh (1495–1581), lord of the manor of Addington (Surrey). See Ralph Hanna, ‘Two New (?) Lost Piers Manuscripts (?)’, The Yearbook of Langland Studies 16 (2002): 169–77.
Sir John Thynne (d. 1580). Inscribed, In desire spede is tariaunce. Ion Tynne (fol. 92r).
T. Long of Dorchester (fol. 92r), late 16th or early 17th century; Ralph Hanna suggests that this could have been the widow of Ralph Coppinger.
William Laud (1573–1645). Inscribed, Liber Guilielmi Laud Archiepiscopi Cantuarij et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxoniensis 1633 (fol. 1r, lower margin), with his shelfmark E.64 (fol. 1r, upper leading edge).
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
William Langland, Piers Plowman ('B' Text)
Shelfmark
MS. Laud Misc. 581
Date
c. 1400
Language
English
Physical facet
Original cover was wrapper from a medieval law book
Physical extent
93 Leaves
Custodial history
Manuscript 2037 acquired by the Bodleian Library
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
William Langland, Piers Plowman ('B' Text)
