Merton College MS. 299
Former shelfmark: H. 3. 1
PIERRE BESUIRE, JOHN SEWARD &c.; S. XV
Contents
Language(s): Latin
Fols. i-ii blank. On f. iiv is a table of contents in a hand of s. xv which writes several different kinds of script, mostly types of humanistica, including some Greek.
Pr. Paris 1509 &c. (as by Thomas of Wales); Glorieux, Théol. 322v.
, nos 1–7. Followed by a list of Cicero’s works, f. 135.
Numbered 1–316. The full text ed. V. Romano (Laterza, 1951). This is the earliest copy of Boccaccio in an English manuscript.
Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314; one of three copies, unpr.
Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314, one of three copies.
Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314; one of two copies, unpr.
Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314, the unique copy.
Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314; the unique copy.
Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 313, the unique copy.
Diagrams of the gods and their relationships arranged by books.
Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 314, the unique copy.
nos. 7–12
Fols. 326v, 327v-8, 329 blank. On f. 327 are pen trials, including the name ‘Jaspar Colmer’, s. xvi. Several members of this family were at Oxford, but not Merton, in the first half of the 16th cent. (BRUO 1501–1540, pp. 131–2).
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Ruled with crayon in 29 long lines. Fols. ii and 328–9 of thick, stiff parchment.
Hand(s)
A single proficient Continental, probably Low Countries, scribe, writing a formal cursive influenced by humanistica.
Decoration
Plain blue initials.
Binding
Oxford, c. 1600, repaired: blind-stamped calf over reverse-bevelled oak boards with slightly-projecting squares, recently rebacked under the old spine cover and resewn on four bands; formerly two straps from recesses in the front board to catches at the back. The binder used Oldham rolls MW. d(10), in its damaged state after c. 1590, and HM. h(2), used c. 1590–1604. The outermost leaves were formerly pastedowns. Formerly chained from near the foot of the front board.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
At the head of f. iiv, in the usual humanistic hand (see above, MS 69), is ‘liber collegii ex dono magistri Thome Bloxham’. For Bloxham, fellow c. 1449–61, see MS 41.
On f. 328v, upside down, are ‘32’ and ‘14us liber’.
Seen at Merton by John Bale (Appendix C, no. 24).
At the head of f. 1 is the James no. ‘142’, s. xvii in. ‘1’ is inked on the foredge.
On f. iivis ‘Q. 3. 1. Art;’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced with ‘H. 3. 1 (299)’ in red; the College bookplate.
Record Sources
Availability
For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact Merton College Library.
Bibliography

Funding of Cataloguing
Conversion of the printed catalogue to TEI funded by the Warden and Fellows of Merton College .
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2019-10-25: First online publication