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Manuscript Description Cambridge, Cambridge University Library MS Ii.1.38, part 1 | |
| Title: | Boece |
| Author: | Chaucer |
| Contents: | Boethius; Aretino's Latin translation of Demosthenes' Orationes |
| Language: | English |
| Date Range: | 1400-1425 |
| Scribal Hands: | Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.               |
| Material: | Parchment |
| No of Folios: | i parchment stub + i parchment flyleaf + i paper flyleaf + 69 parchment leaves + i parchment flyleaf (Chaucer) [part 2 + 71-159 parchment leaves + 1 parchment flyleaf] |
| Pagination: | Each of the five books is indicated in contemporary numbers in the middle of the top margin, with punctus point on each side; modern pencil foliation in upper outer right corner. |
| Quiring: | Chaucer = 1-8(8), 9(8) (missing 7 and 8); 2nd part = 1-8(10), 9(10) (missing 10) |
| Signatures: | None |
| Catchwords: | None |
| Page Size: | 250 x 160 |
| Frame: | Square in brown crayon, ruled within; horizontal lines within the frame frequently exceed boundaries. |
| Writing Space: | 200 x 125 |
| Incipits and Explicits: | Explicits and Incipits to each Book in red ink and surrounded by a square of red ink with bracket-like ends. |
| Marginal Headings: | Headings for each section in Latin in red ink, and again surrounded by red box |
| Title by Scribe: | In red ink by the scribe 'Incipit Liber boecij de consolacone Philosophie' |
| Paragraph Marks: | Blue and red and in places red virgules and red tipping of letters. |
| Flourished Initials: | Blue initials with red pen-work flourishing for the opening of Books I and IV; first folio has small initials in red and blue; for the majority of text, blue initials remain unadorned; face inside letter 'T' on f23v. |
| Miscellaneous Info: | Hand is similar to the Peniarth Boece. On f69(/), at the end of the Boece, is 'Explicit Liber boecij' and a mark like three balloons with cords which come down and unite beneath; each separate circle houses an initial - g - r - u(v); each initial has two or three circles around it all within the balloon; all executed in black ink. |
| Further Information: | Seymour, M. C. A Catalogue of Chaucer Manuscripts, vol. 1, Works Before 'The Canterbury Tales', p. 50, Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1995. |