Manuscript Description Cambridge, Cambridge University Library MS Hh.4.12 | |
| Author: | Chaucer and Lydgate |
| Contents: | Several separate booklets; Cato (ME translation); Minor works of Lydgate and Chaucer; Former Age (Chaucer); Parlement of Foules (Chaucer) |
| Language: | English |
| Scribal Hands: | Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.                 Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.                 |
| Dialect: | Last quarter 15th century. |
| Material: | Paper with outer and inner bifolia parchment. |
| No of Folios: | ii newer paper + 102 mixed + ii new paper |
| Pagination: | Modern pencil, confused and most crossed through and new numbering in pencil. |
| Quiring: | 12s |
| Signatures: | Signatures show separate booklets; for example, f61 'a ja', f62 'a ija', 63 a iija', etc. through f66 'a vim', and f73 begins another set for quire b, but none on f84 onwards. |
| Catchwords: | Not always, but if so, by whichever scribe wrote page. |
| Page Size: | 206 x 140 but variable |
| Frame: | 2 x vertical, 2 x horizontal enclosing top line, no bottom line and on many leaves so faint as to be indistinguishable anyway; on paper leaves looks like drypoint, on parchment very faint grey lines. |
| Writing Space: | Varies, f24 is 135 x 80 (ruled for), heading extend further than width, lines of text c. 70 |
| Incipits and Explicits: | Some explicits black large with red highlights, as for example on f30r, 'Explicit liber parui Catonis 'Chaucers' on f44. |
| Paragraph Marks: | Alternating red and blue paraphs. |
| Flourished Initials: | Red and blue flourished initials as large as 5 lines, blue lombards with red cut into them, red flourishing elaborate inside letter, extenders into margins. |
| Other Names (not owners): | On f47v (Luard uses old f44v), 'Thes boke howthe John Peter þe menstrell', earlier script than beginning of a dating clause at bottom of this leaf, dating in reign of Henry VIII.; f48 (Luard uses old so f45 for him), 'John Yarrade' and 'Wylliam Bryan', both 15th c. or possibly 16th. |
| Miscellaneous Info: | Hand 2; signature in red ink on f47 'Stok. T.' |
| Further Information: | Luard catalogue, vol. 3, pp 292-295. Seymour, M. C. A Catalogue of Chaucer Manuscripts, vol. 1, Works Before 'The Canterbury Tales', pp. 27-29, Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1995. |