A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Bodl. 531

Summary Catalogue no.: 2249

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

Contents

Language(s): Middle English with Latin

Fol. i is a paper flyleaf blank apart from modern notes.

1. (fols. 1r–37v)
Table of lections of Type I
Rubric: Here bigynneþ a reule þat telliþ in whiche placis of þe byble ȝe may fynde þe gospels. pistlis & lessouns þat ben rad in þe chirche at masse aftir þe vss of salisbury / þe lessouns & pistlis þat ben in þe olde testament ben writun alout as þei ben rad in ordir & cootid & þe gospels & pistlis þat ben in þe newe testament ben markid in what book & capytle þei ben wiþ lettris as þei stonden in þe abc & þis rule bigynneþ at þe firste sonedai in aduent

Old Testament readings are written out in full, many preceded by introductory statements, such as ‘Þe lord god seiþ þes þingis’. Entries for New Testament readings consist of the name of the liturgical occasion in red, abbreviated reference to a book and chapter of the New Testament, an indexing letter in red, the opening words of a reading, ‘ende’ in red, the closing words of a reading and double strokes in red. Includes feasts characteristic of the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible (Forshall, J. and Madden, F. (eds), The Holy Bible … in the earliest English versions made from the Latin Vulgate by John Wycliffe and his followers, 4 vols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1850), vol. 4, pp. 683, 690–6), apart from Giles (1 September). Some Old Testament readings derive from the Earlier Version of the Wycliffite Bible (e.g., Ecclesiasticus 24, Genesis 24), whereas other from the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible (e.g., Jeremiah 14, Jeremiah 23, Ecclesiasticus 44) (see MS. Douce 265-a).

Includes the temporal, followed by commemorations and the sanctoral. The temporal is imperfect because of the loss of leaves after fol. 2: missing readings from Saturday of the third week in Advent to Friday of the fourth week after the octave of Epiphany. Commemorations are in the following order: the Virgin Mary, Trinity, Holy Ghost, Cross, Angels, ‘of briþeren & sistris & salus populi’, peace, clear weather, rain, ‘In time of batels’, ‘A man for him silf’, ‘ffor deeþ of bestis’, pilgrims, weddings, sinners, sick, ‘Pistils at masse of requiem’, ‘Gospels at masse of requiem’. The sanctoral is preceded by a rubric, ‘Here enden þe commemoraciouns & bigynneþ þe sancrorum boþe of þe comyne and propre to gidre’ (fol. 28r).

Final rubric: Here endiþ þe kalender wiþ þe lessouns of þe olde lawe to gidere

Running titles in red with blue paraphs, e.g., ‘þe þridde sundai in aduent’. Corrections in a contemporary hand.

2. (fols. 37v–236r)
New Testament in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible with usual prologues

Missing Matthew 9:33–12:39, because of the loss of leaves after fol. 44. Running titles in red preceded by blue paraphs, most consisting of an abbreviated title of the biblical book on the verso and a chapter number on the recto. Chapter numbers in red usually in the form ‘Cᵐ’ followed by a Roman numeral. Indexing letters in the margins, entered at the beginnings of readings rather than consistently; double strokes in the margins at the ends of readings. The beginnings and ends of readings are also highlighted red in the text. Added material within the text is underlined in red. No marginal glosses. Corrections in a contemporary hand.

(fol. 37v)
Prologue to Matthew
Rubric: Here bigynneþ þe prolog on þe gospl[sic] of matheu
Incipit: Mathew þat was of iudee
(fol. 38r)
Matthew
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on matheu seiþ al þis
(fol. 62r)
Prologue to Mark
Rubric: Here endiþ þe gospel of matheu and bigynneþ þe prolog on þe gospel of mark
Incipit: Mark þe gospeller was þe chosene seruaunt
(fol. 62v)
Mark
Rubric: Al þis seiþ Ierom in his prolog on þe gospel of mark & here bigynneþ þe firste capitle
(fol. 79v)
Prologue to Luke
Rubric: Here endiþ þe gospel of mark and bigynneþ þe prolog on þe gospel of luyk
Incipit: Luyk was a man of sirie (fol. 79r)
(fol. 79v)
Luke
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þe gospel of luyk seiþ al þis þe firste capitle
(fol. 107r)
Prologue to John
Rubric: Here endiþ þe gospel of luyk & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe gospel of Iohn
Incipit: This is Joon euaungelist
(fol. 107v)
John
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on Iohn seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 127v)
Prologue to Romans
Rubric: Here endiþ þe gospel of Iohn & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe epistle to romayns
Incipit: Romayns ben in þe cuntre
(fol. 127v)
Romans
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on romayns seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 138v)
Prologue to 1 Corinthians
Rubric: Here endiþ þ[sic] epistle of poul to romayns & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe firste epistle of poul to corinthis
Incipit: Corynthis ben men of acaie
(fol. 138v)
1 Corinthians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis firste pistle to corinthis seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 148v)
Prologue to 2 Corinthians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste epistle of poul to corinthis & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe secunde
Incipit: Afftir penaunce
(fol. 148v)
2 Corinthians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 155r)
Prologue to Galatians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe secunde pistle to corinthis & bigynneþ þe prolog to galathies
Incipit: Galathies ben greekes
(fol. 155r)
Galatians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 158r)
Prologue to Ephesians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to galathies & bigynneþ þe prolog to effecies
Incipit: Ephesians ben of asie
(fol. 158r)
Ephesians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 161v)
Prologue to Philippians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to effecies & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe epistle to philipencis
Incipit: Philipensis ben of macedonye
(fol. 161v)
Philippians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis epistle seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 164r)
Prologue to Colossians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to ffilipencis & bigynneþ þe prolog to colocencis
Incipit: Colocensis ben laodicencis also
(fol. 164r)
Colossians
Rubric: Ie[sic] in his prolog on þe pist[sic] to colocencis seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 166v)
Prologue to 1 Thessalonians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste pistle to colocensis & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe firste pistle to tessalonycensis
Incipit: Tessalonicencis ben macedonies
(fol. 166v)
1 Thessalonians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 168v)
Prologue to 2 Thessalonians
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste pistle to tessalonycensis and bigynneþ þe prolog on iiᵉ
Incipit: The apostle writiþ
(fol. 168v)
2 Thessalonians
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 169v)
Prologue to 1 Timothy
Rubric: Here endiþ þe secunde pistle to tessalonicensis & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe firste to timothe
Incipit: He enformeþ and techiþ
(fol. 169v)
1 Timothy
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 172v)
Prologue to 2 Timothy
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste pistle to tymothe and bigynneþ þe prolog on þe secunde pistle to hym
Incipit: He writiþ also
(fol. 172v)
2 Timothy
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 174v)
Prologue to Titus
Rubric: Here endiþ þe secunde pistle to tymothe & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe pistle to tite
Incipit: He warneþ tite
(fol. 174v)
Titus
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þis pistle to tite seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 175v)
Prologue to Philemon
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to tyte & bygynneþ þe prolog on þe epistle to ffilomon
Incipit: He makiþ famyliar
(fol. 175v)
Philemon
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog seiþ þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 176r)
Prologue to Hebrews
Rubric: Here endiþ þe pistle to ffilomon & bigynneþ þe prolog on ebreus
Incipit: First it is to seye
(fol. 176r)
Hebrews
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þe epistle to Ebrewis seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 184v)
Prologue to Acts
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to ebrewis & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe dedis of Apostlis or actus apostolorum
Incipit: Lvk of Antioche (fol. 184r)
(fol. 184v)
Acts
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on actus apostolorum seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 211v)
The Catholic epistles. Prologue to James
Rubric: Here endiþ þe dedis of apostlis & bigynneþ þe prolog on þe pistlis of cristen feiþ þat ben seuene in ordre
Incipit: The ordre of seuene epistlis
(fol. 212r)
James
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on þes epistlis seiþ al þis firste Iames Cᵐ pᵐ (fol. 211v)
(fol. 214r)
1 Peter
Rubric: Here endiþ þe epistle to Iames & bigynneþ þe firste pistle of petre Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 217r)
2 Peter
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste pistle of petre & bigynneþ þe secunde pistle Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 218v)
1 John
Rubric: Here endiþ þe secunde pistle of petre & bigynneþ þe firste pistle of Ion Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 221r)
2 John
Rubric: Here endiþ þe firste of ion & bigynneþ þe secunde Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 221v)
3 John
Rubric: Here endiþ þe secunde pistle of Iohn & bigynneþ þe þridde Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 221v)
Jude
Rubric: Here endiþ þe þridde epistle of Iohn and bigynneþ þe epistle of Iudas Cᵐ pᵐ
(fol. 222v)
Prologue to the Apocalypse
Rubric: Here endiþ þe pistle of Iudas & bigynneþ þe prolog of apocalips
Incipit: Alle men þat wolen
(fol. 223v)
Apocalypse
Rubric: Ierom in his prolog on apocalips seiþ al þis Cᵐ pᵐ

At the end added in a different hand: ‘Deus qui eximie castitatis’ (15th century, second half (?)), the opening words of a prayer to St Cuthburga, the first abbess of Wimborne (printed in Perkins (1899), p. 5).

3. (fols. 236v)

Note signed ‘By me Ryc(ardus) merton chanon’, late 15th century (?), denying a charge brought against him: ‘where as hyt was alegyt agaynyst me by the malytyose mynde of marget mukkulton to myltiply wordys as concerninge the bronunge of thomas donsturfyld howse whyc I vtterly deny by fathe and pristehode neuer to speke to hym in the cause nor neuer to haue knolege in cause lyk that hyt sholde be soo’. Pen trials, some by the same hand.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment, paper flyleaves
Extent: 239 leaves, c.
Dimensions (leaf): 205 × 142 mm.
; leaves were trimmed in rebinding, frequently causing the loss of text and decoration in the margins
Foliation: modern in pencil, i + 1–238

Collation

(fol. i) paper flyleaf conjoint with the upper pastedown | (fols. 1–4) I (8–4 (?)) missing 3–6, loss of text | (fols. 5–44) II–VI (8) | (fols. 45–49) VII (8–3) missing 1–3, loss of text | (fols. 50–233) VIII–XXX (8) | (fols. 234–236) XXXI (8–5 (?)) missing 4–8 (?), no loss of text | (fols. 237–238) paper bifolium. Quires are numbered in Arabic numerals in the lower right corner, probably in the original workshop (see the use of blue on fols. 82r, 188r, 194r); catchwords survive; leaf signatures occasionally survive.
Secundo Folio: ‘þou schalt be’ (fol. 2r)

Layout

ruled in ink for two columns with double bounding lines in the upper, left and right margins, and single bounding lines in the inner and lower margins, all extending the full height and width of page; a further set of double bounding lines in the lower margin; 36–8 lines per page; written space; c. 103 × 148 mm.

Hand(s)

textura, black ink

Decoration

5- to 6-line red and blue ‘puzzle’ initials and penwork borders at the beginnings of books.

2- to 4-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginnings of prologues and chapters.

Rubrics in red.

Binding

Brown leather over pasteboard, c. 1600 (?), made for Edwin Sandys (?) (see Provenance). Gilt and blind fillet-line border round the outer edge of both covers. Gilt decoration with a medallion, filled with diamond-shaped figures, at the centre of covers. Six raised bands on spine, framed by gilt fillet lines. Gilt decoration on the panels between the raised bands. ‘531’ written in white paint on spine. Fragments of two ties on both covers. Paper pastedowns and flyleaves.

History

Origin: England ; 15th century, first quarter

Dialect survey:

  • ony(6)/eny(4), eche(8)/ech(2), fier(10), ȝouun(8)/ȝouen(1)/ȝyue(1), lijf(9)/ lyf(1), lijk(10), myche(8)/moche(2), siȝ(4)/sawȝ(1)/saiȝ(2)/saie(1) (sg.), saien(4)/ seien(1)/seie(1) (pl.), silf(10), suche(7)/such(1)/siche(2), þouȝ(8), þourȝ(6)/ þurȝ(3)/þorouȝ(1)
  • -iþ(7)/-eþ(3) (pres.ind.3sg.), -en(10) (pres.ind.pl.), -ynge(5)/-inge(5) (pres. part.), she(10) (3sg.fem.pronoun, nom.), þei(10) (3pl.pronoun, nom.), hem(10) (3pl.pronoun, oblique), her(10) (3pl.pronoun, possessive)

Provenance and Acquisition

Added line from a collect to St Cuthburga in Latin, 15th century, second half (?) (see Pfaff, R. W., The liturgy in medieval England: a history (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), pp. 381–4).

Late 15th-century addition by Richard Merton, canon, mentioning Marget Mukkulton and Thomas Donsturfyld (fol. 236v). See Elizabeth Solopova, ‘Manuscript Evidence for the Patronage, Ownership and Use of the Wycliffite Bible’, in Form and Function in the Late Medieval Bible, ed. Eyal Poleg and Laura Light, Library of the Written Word 27 (Leiden: Brill, 2013), 345–46.

Mary Pygott…’, 16th century (?), added before the leaves were trimmed in rebinding, partially erased (fol. 187v).

John Auncelle’; ‘T. Levrett off Chearnys’; half-erased note ‘And ther was a man god saue…’, 16th-century, lower pastedown.

Sir Edwin Sandys (1561–1629); see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and Owners of Incunabula.

Bodleian Library: gift of Edwin Sandys in 1603 (Madan, F. and Craster, H. H. E., Summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, vol. 2, part I (collections received before 1660 and miscellaneous MSS acquired during the first half of the 17th century), nos. 1–3490 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922)). Earlier shelfmarks: ‘Th. T. 11. 1’ (fol. i recto); ‘NE E. 1. 2’ (fol. i verso); ‘2’ written in black ink on the fore-edge of textblock.

Record Sources

Elizabeth Solopova, Manuscripts of the Wycliffite Bible in the Bodleian and Oxford College Libraries, Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2016), no. 5. Previously described:

Bibliography

    Forshall, J. and Madden, F. (eds), The Holy Bible … in the earliest English versions made from the Latin Vulgate by John Wycliffe and his followers, 4 vols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1850), vol. 1, p. xlvii.
    Perkins, T., Wimborne minster and Christchurch priory (London, 1899).
    Madan, F. and Craster, H. H. E., Summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, vol. 2, part I (collections received before 1660 and miscellaneous MSS acquired during the first half of the 17th century), nos. 1–3490 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922), no. 2249.
    Hudson, A., ‘Lollard book production’, in Griffiths, J. and Pearsall, D. A. (eds), Book production and publishing in Britain 1375–1475 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), pp. 125–42, p. 140 n. 29.
    Dove, M., The first English Bible: the text and context of the Wycliffite versions (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007), pp. 59 n. 116, 298.

Last Substantive Revision

2023-03-24: Add Solopova description.