MS. Holkham misc. 42

Summary Catalogue no.: Not in SC (late accession): no detailed description available

Latin scriptural quotations with French commentary.

Language(s): Old French and Latin

Form: codex

Support: Parchment (fols. 1–45) and paper (fols. 46–80).

Extent: iii (paper) + 132 + iii (paper).

Dimensions (leaf): 170 × 115 mm.

Dimensions (ruled): 127–9 × 86 mm.

Foliation: Modern pencil: i-iii, 1–135.

27–8 written lines per page; in 2 columns.

Neat medium grade gothic bookhand, by more than one scribe.

Pen-flourishes on fols. 120r and 122v are in the form of fish and a human head.

Bound in typical Holkham polished brown leather, the boards framed in gilt and with the Coke crest stamped in the centre of the upper cover.

Origin: French (?); 13th century

Sir Henry Spelman (c.1564–1641) (on whom see DNB), inscribed 'Henrici Spelman.' in the top margin of fol. 1r.

With the gilt booklabel of 'THOMAS WILLIAM COKE', and signed 'Thos. Willm Coke' (fol. i verso), formerly Norfolk, Holkham Hall, MS. 661.

Preliminary description by Peter Kidd, late 1990s

2017-07-01: First online publication.