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Manuscript Description
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Bodley 414
 
MS Appellation:Bo1 (Manly and Rickert); SC 27880
Title:Canterbury Tales
Author:Chaucer
Contents:Canterbury Tales
Language:English
Date Range:1450-1475
Scribal Hands:
Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Dialect:Norfolk
Material:Paper with vii and 435 in vellum
No of Folios:i-vii +1-218 (numbered 1-435)
Pagination:Sometimes two sets in the top right corner recto, both in black ink. One set numbers 1-435, the second 1-235-6.
Quiring:1 (8) (f1 missing), 2-12 (8), 13 (6), 14-27 (8) (6 missing)
Signatures:Signatures for 'a' in red, thereafter 'b-yogh' in brown ink sometimes with sleigh in red. First four folios of quire in bottom right corner of recto folios.
Page Size:295 x 205
Frame:Red ink margin to f40, brown crayon on f33. After f40, dry point; not ruled.
Writing Space:215 x 115
Marginal Headings:Headings for most tales rubricated and names of pilgrims in red.
Table of Contents:On verso of folio numbered 433 and 435. Later addition with page references.
Paragraph Marks:Red and blue paraphs for stanzas and other textual markers in prose tales; line initials highlighted in red; some underlining of names also in red as is bracketing for the Tale of Thopas.
Flourished Initials:3-4-line spaces left for initials which were never inserted.
Other Names (not owners):'Iohan Paston' on verso of old vellum cover. On ff1, 5 'W Reimes' and on ff84v, 142v is 'Edmundum Reymes' with a possible scrivener/notary mark on f142v; 'Thomas Reimes' is on f175; the name Reymes also occurs on ff168, 178 and 214. Iohn Deye on ff12, 16, 60 and 198. On f129 may be 'I.hs Pastuns boke'. f191 has Bryston. R. Marham on ff1 and 391
Miscellaneous Info:According to Manly and Rickert and Seymour, this is the same scribe as in Bodmer 48 (formerly Ph2).
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP