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Manuscript Description
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ashmole 45
 
Title:Cook's Tale
Author:Chaucer
Contents:1. Romance of Gyles of Toulouse; originally a separate booklet. 2. The Life of William Fitz-william, son of John Fitz-william of Sprodburrough 3. Of Knighthode and Bataile 4. The Cook's Tale 5. Poetical Astrology by John Glanvill.
Language:English
Date Range:1525-1550
Scribal Hands:
Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Dialect:At the end on f31v, the scribe writes 'finis' and then his elaborate scribal mark with 'M' and 'D' on either side of it, with probably a date '1500'? or his initials; followed by 'sic transit gloria mundi'.
Material:Paper
No of Folios:The first of 4 MSS of various dates; ff2-31v +
Pagination:Modern pencil foliation on upper outer corners of rectos ff1-41; quires lettered 'A' on f2, 'B' on f8, 'C' on f12, 'D' on f16, 'E' on f20, 'F' on 24, 'G' on f28 by scribe in the lower margin of the recto.
Quiring:4 except first quire which is 6, ff2-7.
Catchwords:None
Page Size:210 x 150
Frame:2 x drypoint verticals, apparently no horizontals.
Writing Space:138 x 75
Incipits and Explicits:Title on f2 and 'finis' and scribal mark on f31v; the text has already incorporated 'Amen Amen for charite'.
Marginal Headings:After the strapwork initials, a further word or words in enlarged bold script in black ink.
Flourished Initials:On f2 pen drawing of author presenting book to a lady; flesh painted flesh colour and shoes and fur on robes in brown; large strapwork initial 'T' on f2 and large strapwork 'I' on f3; on shaft of 'I' are the three scrolls on which are written 'mo-rga-nus' presumably the name of the scribe; thereafter smaller strapwork initials.
Other Names (not owners):In the scroll above the pen drawing on f2 is 'Prenes en gre
below the figures in drawing are two monograms 'MAID MARIA' thus possibly written for a lady named Mary/Maria at the time of her marriage; signature of owner 'Wm Browne' at the top of f2.
Miscellaneous Info:The initial on f3 has little bars or banners breaking up the principal downstroke in which the word 'Mo / rga / nus' is written.
Further Information:Ashmole Catalogue, cols. 69-70 for this booklet and 69-71 for the whole volume.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP