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Manuscript Description
Cambridge, Cambridge University Library Dd.1.17
 
MS Appellation:Liber Glastoniensis
Title:Piers Plowman, B version
Author:Langland
Contents:See Luard 1.15-26, most of volume in the main hand is chronicles in Latin but four English texts described Luard pp. 24-25, i.e. items 18-21, which are: Piers Plowman, B-text, How men that ben in Hele sholde visite sike folk (4 chapters, prose), and prose Mandeville's Travels, similar to that in Ff.5.35. and the romance, Seven Sages of Rome.
Language:English and Latin
Date Range:Second half fourteenth century.
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:1-661 comprising several portions originally separate items
Pagination:Modern pencil in upper outer corners recto; after f261, this consecutive numbering crossed through and starts again at next medieval folio, once 299, with part 2, f1, continues to 93 which was once 489; at f491, part 3, f1, continues to 87 which was once 661.
Quiring:12s
Catchwords:By the scribe, a bit right of centre under second column, with box around and 6 extensions from box from corners and centre top and bottom, lines broken by 3 slashes and squiggles at ends, then hook or curl (on 12v, 24v, 36v, 48v).
Page Size:460 x 320
Frame:In Piers, 4 x vertical enclosing two columns, 6 x horizontal enclosing top and bottom lines and in lower margin for catchword on every page even though these only occur on last leaf of quire, verso; ruled within columns, fine grey lines; pricking does not survive on any edges, outer, top or bottom.
Writing Space:In Piers (f505 / (part 3, f8), 353 x 253 covering both columns; or 353 x 125 + 10 +118
Marginal Headings:Headings for new passus in wide space left between lines of text, but in same ink and hand as text just much larger script, eg 'Passus septimus de visione vt supra' on f10ra, no explicits.
Running Titles:Running titles read 'Piers' on verso and 'Plowman' on recto by hand of scribe. In the Mandeville, just 'Maundeville' on both recto and verso; no running titles on ff31rb-32rb for the text 'How men that ben in hele sholde visite sike folk'.
Borders:On f1, bar border alternating red and blue along left margin has harpoon hooks along left edge and a red boss at bottom left of page before penwork flourishing reaches along bottom margin.
Illuminated Initials:Huge initial I on first leaf, blue with white incising inside forming foliage, with red veins for leaves, flourishing follows shape of letter.
Paragraph Marks:Alternating red and blue paraphs several per column, red underlining of Latin and of explicits and incipits, fine red boxes around marginal notes and running titles.
Flourished Initials:3-line blue lombard initials with red penwork flourishing.
Further Information:Luard, 1.15-26 especially 24-25.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP