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Manuscript Description
Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Additional 4325
 
Title:Piers Plowman, C version
Author:Langland
Contents:Piers Plowman, C version
Language:English and Latin
Date Range:An early 'C' text, perhaps late 14th century based on the script.
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:LP : N/A; Grid : N/A; County : NW Gloucs
Material:Parchment
No of Folios:Original binding, soft leather. 2 original parchment flyleaves, foliated 1, 2 + ff3-83 text, 2 flyleaves numbered [87 crossed through] 85 and 87v, the latter partly torn off at upper outer corner.
Pagination:Modern pencil foliation in upper outer corner recto of each leaf, becomes confused at end where last leaf of text should be 83 but older pencil has '85' then crossed through and replaced by '83
the following, a blank flyleaf, originally '87' now crossed through and replaced by '85' [sic].
Quiring:8s
Catchwords:Sometimes/usually, by scribe in lower margin last leaf verso, but far to left side of the lower margin, not right side/gutter side as usual; begins about 10 mm from left frame line. Most have black double frame around and projections from lower corners as if short table legs but probably intended as scroll curls; this frame and legs written over in red and decorated with polka dots or slashes.
Page Size:263 x 175
Frame:Square frame to edges of pages, ruled inside, grey lines; top line of page within frame, scribe sometimes doesn't write last ruled line.
Writing Space:Ruled for 205 x 118, lines usually not this long
Incipits and Explicits:Explicits and incipits for passus; just ends on f83 'Explicit passus secundus de dobest', no indication of author or title.
Title by Scribe:On f2 (original flyleaf) 'p plouman' by hand of 14th-15th century, centred in top half of the page, possibly same as scribe of the text.
Borders:Odd ribbon-like illuminated frame with flowers on the ribbon on f3r, (possibly added later?)
Paragraph Marks:Small blue paraphs before explicits, red underlining for Latin and for proper names, odd red 'B' shape at ends of Latin passages, red highlighting initials of explicits and incipits.
Flourished Initials:3-line blue lombard initials with red penwork flourishing, the ground following shape of letter instead of box.
Other Names (not owners):On f83v, top, hand of late 15th-16th c: 'Iste lyber partenth ad Magyster Thome Lovell' (copied by a later hand below it); on f85 (facing 83v), just above middle by another hand of late 15th-16th c, very current, 'Hye that one thys bocke beleuythe hye schall newyr i[n] the se there to potte I myseld (?); on f85v, written sideways bottom toward top, 'Thomas thapostle' and more lines about he who reads this book never coming to grief, written 16th-17th century?; facing this, on what is numbered f87v, but the recto side, part of page torn away at upper outer corner but at tear part of a monogram or symbol survives, possibly like two hearts one upside down intersecting one another and small circles drawn in each space thus created. Inside front cover by 14th-15th c hand, 'Gule in 1-mo libro in 4-to fol' may refer to the gold used for frame on what is now f3, possibly accounting to be repaid for this.
Further Information:Unpublished catalogue of Additional MSS
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP