New Testament in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible — 15th century, first quarter; England

Title

New Testament in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible — 15th century, first quarter; England

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 361

Date

15th century, first quarter

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

224 leaves, c.

Hands

textura, black ink

Decoration

5- to 6-line ‘puzzle’ initials in red and blue, with red and purple penwork, at the beginnings of Matthew and John; 4-line similar initials at the beginnings of other books (3-line initials at the beginnings of Mark and most Catholic epistles).

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

Rubrics in red ink.

Binding

English roll stamped binding, c.1530(?). Worn brown leather over wood boards. Blind roll border round the outer edge and blind roll rectangular decoration at the centre of both covers. Includes Oldham CH. c.(6). Fittings of two clasps, now missing on both covers. Three fragmentary paper labels on spine, with typewritten ‘Laud I 6.’ and ‘Laud’. Parchment pastedowns.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: first donation from Laud, 22 May 1635. Earlier shelfmark: ‘J 6’ (upper pastedown, binding).

Provenance

Added cross-references to Old Testament books in the margins, 15th century.

ffoxe Elzabeth C your own owne… (?), William Cutler (?), 16th century (fol. 222r); George Leveret (Georgius Leveretus), Richard Hall (Ricardus Hall), 16th century (fol. 223v).

William Laud (1573–1645); see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Liber Guilielmi Laud Archiepiscopi Cantuar’: et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxon. 1633 (fol. 1r).

Title

New Testament, later Wycliffite version

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 361

Date

15th century

Language

English

Physical facet

English roll stamped binding, c. 1530 (Oldham)

Physical extent

223 Leaves

Custodial history

Manuscript 2051 acquired by the Bodleian Library