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Parts of four old English romances, written in 1564 by E. B. (?)

 File
MS. Douce 261
Held at the Weston Library

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Comprises:

  1. (fol. 1) '... the hystorye of the valyaunte knyght Syr Isenbras': beg. 'Lordynges lysten and youe shall heare': ends imperfect '... ere was sett.'
  2. (fol. 8) '... the treatyse of Syr Degore': the beginning is lost: the part preserved beg. 'Syr Degore stode in study than.'
  3. (fol. 15) '... the Jeaste of Syr Gawayne': the beginning is lost: the part remaining beg. 'And sayde I dreede no threte.'
  4. (fol. 26) '... Syr Eglamoure of Artoys': wanting the first part: the existing piece beg. 'Than hys doughter so free.'.

There are several roughly coloured pictures: on fol. 48v the date '1564', and on fol. 25v 'E. B.', perhaps the scribe. Several leaves are injured by tearing.

Douce notes that ' this MS. was purchased by some bookseller at the sale of the Fairfax library at Leeds castle in 1831.'.

Dates

  • Creation: written in 1564 by E. B. (?)

Extent

51 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 261

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 21835

Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. Douce.

Physical Facet

On paper, with rude pictures, imperfect

Dimensions

7 5/8 × 5 3/4 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom