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Manuscript Description
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 35
 
MS Appellation:SC 6916
Title:Confessio Amantis
Author:Gower
Contents:Confessio Amantis (A version)
Language:English and Latin
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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Dialect:County; Herefords
Material:Paper
No of Folios:18 blank paper flyleaves + text block folios 1-182 (the last missing whole outer column and parts of inner column) + f183 parchment flyleaf (partly torn away, with writing on recto) + 20 blank paper flyleaves
Pagination:Modern dark pencil in upper outer corners recto, foliating 1-183.
Quiring:12s
Catchwords:By scribe on verso last leaf each quire, in lower margin near bottom edge of page, running into gutter, with 'sleigh' under in same ink as text, the sleigh having a loop at top of right side, looping down and crossing its own stalk; after the loop further into gutter same hand and ink numbers the quire, eg 'vii' on f79v, 'viij' on f91v.
Page Size:348 x 233
Frame:2 x vertical marking left margin for each of the two columns + 2 x horizontal at base line of top and bottom lines (so top line mostly written above the frame line), no ruling for lines, just uses chain lines.
Writing Space:255 x 170 mm (ruled for, in two columns, 88 + 82 with no ruled space between and sometimes first column text runs into second column)
Incipits and Explicits:Explicits and incipits for the books of Confessio are written by scribe in slightly larger script but same black ink as text, to right leaving space at left for initials or paraphs not filled in. No Latin, instead rubric summaries at beginnings of the sections of books, eg f92ra, 'Here he sheweþ an example and telleþ howe frederik þe emperoure herd ij beggers chidyng þen one seid wel is him þat a kyng makeþ riche þe oþer seid wel is him þat god makeþ riche þo þe kyng bad hem to mete and ordeyned hem ij pasteys oon ful of gold þe oþer wiþ a capoun so he þat trusteþ to god toke at auenture þe gold þe oþer þe capoun'.
Marginal Headings:NB no indication of when Amans or Confessor speak.
Running Titles:Running titles, eg 'Liber 5' on f92, on rectos in upper margin by a later hand.
Title by Scribe:Text begins and ends imperfectly so no overall title or identification of work or author.
Flourished Initials:1-line plain lombard initials in red, some spaces left for initials not filled at all.
Other Names (not owners):On f183r, accounts in red crayon; beginning of a poem welcoming someone to London in 16th c. hand, note in Greek; f183v has 'Robertus' in 16th c. hand and 'Robt Stew' or 'Robt Flem' in 16th c. hand upside-down.
Further Information:Ashmole catalogue
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP