Richard Coeur de Lion — 15th century, second half (script, watermarks); England, probably Norfolk
MS. Douce 228
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
Richard Coeur de Lion — 15th century, second half (script, watermarks); England, probably Norfolk
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 228
Date
15th century, second half (script, watermarks)
Language
Middle English (1100-1500)
Contents
Form
codex
Support
paper, each sheet folded repeatedly in folio to produce tall and narrow leaves in 'holster book' format. Watermarks indistinct because of position and the condition of leaves, but three types are identifiable: (1) bull's head with 6-pointed star, type Piccard, Ochsenkopf, VII.501-640; (2) anchor, type Piccard, Anker, I.11-38 (?); (3) horn with double ribbon (cf. Piccard, Horn, VIII.73-5 = Piccard Online 119337-9, used 1458-1460)
Physical extent
v (later paper) + 40 + i (later paper)
Hands
Current anglicana with some secretary forms; one hand.
Decoration
Occasional spaces for 2-line initials, not filled in; otherwise no decoration or rubrication.
Binding
18th-century (?) quarter leather and marbled pasteboard, the spine with floral motifts in gilt and the title.
Acquisition
Bequeathed by him to the Bodleian in 1834
Provenance
Dialect and later provenance suggest that the manuscript was written and circulated in Norfolk.
Francis Blomefield, 1705-1752, the historian of Norfolk; bookplate, front pastedown
Thomas Martin of Palgrave, 1697-1771, (signature, front pastedown), who acquired Blomefield's manuscript collections from his widow in 1755.
R. Farmer (front pastedown); Richard Farmer, 1735-97; his sale, 1798, lot. 8056 (Bibliotheca Farmeriana, p. 368)
Francis Douce, 1757–1834
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
The romance of Richard Cæur de Lion
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 228
Summary
Imperfect at beginning and end: beg. (about 270 lines being lost) 'Kyng Richard came out of a valey': ends 'Wynne oure annie for no nede' (about 445 lines being lost).
Date
written in the 15th cent.
Language
English
Physical facet
on paper, imperfect, and with some edges injured
Physical extent
41 Leaves
Custodial history
Owned by Francis Blomefield (armorial bookplate, 1736), Thomas Martin of Palgrave and dr. Richard Farmer.
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
The romance of Richard Cæur de Lion
