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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.
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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.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP