A metrical Old Testament history and Thirty-five rhymed 'narrationes', Written about the middle of the 15th century
File
MS. Selden Supra 52
Held at the Weston Library
- Fol. 2. A metrical Old Testament history in 12-line strophes: beg. 'God fader in heuyn of myghtes most'. The books taken are the Pentateuch, Joshua (fol. 25), Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Sam. (fol. 44), 1 and 2 Kings, Job (fol. 129v), Tobit, Esther, and Judith. At fol. 162v follow two poems from Maccabees, 'De matre cum vij filijs' and 'De Anthioco' (Antiochus, fol. 167): both printed from this MS. by W. Heuser in Anglia xxxi (1908), 6-24. A love-song with refrain (beg. 'Thayr ys no myrth under the sky') has been added in a late 15th cent. hand on fol. 168v.
- Fol. 172. Thirty-five rhymed 'narrationes' for the Sundays of the Church year from the Northern Homilies collection, with three added tales: a list of them with incipits is in Carleton Brown's Register of Middle English Verse I. pp. 41-4. Fols. 208-13 should come in after fol. 195. Fols, i, 240 are parchment leaves of a Latin 14th cent. proser. [Cr.]
Dates
- Creation: Written about the middle of the 15th century
Extent
240 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MS. Selden Supra 52
Arrangement
Old Selden mark = 52
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. II, no. 3440
Custodial History
Belonged early in the seventeenth century to Samuel Purchas; cp. MS. Arch. Selden A. 1.
Manuscript 3455 acquired by the Bodleian Library
Physical Facet
On paper, binding, plain brown leather on boards, clasp lost, contemporary English work
Dimensions
8 3/4 × 6 1/8 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk