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Manuscript Description
London, British Library MS Harley 172
 
Title:Lerne to Die
Author:Hoccleve
Contents:Anthology of verse and prose, including Lydgate, Peter Idle & Hoccleve, including ascribed to the latter: item 10, ff62-65r, ascribed to Hoccleve by Stow (f62), beginning, ' [B]ehold my child yf thou lyste for to lere In this processe some whate may ye fynde item 12, ff73-85v, ascribed to Hoccleve by Stow (f73), beg., [S]ythen al men naturally desire To konne & knowe O eterne sapience... item 13, ff85v-88r, ascribed to Hoccleve by Stow (f88r), 'Lerne to Die', (IMEV 3121). beg. [N]owe lerne for to dye I me purpose
Language:English
Date Range:1475-1525
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:Combination
No of Folios:1 marbled + 1 parchment originally ?first of first quire handwriting matches f2, now numbered 1* looks like tipped in between 1* and 1 + 1 parchment stitched of three pieces written on recto only, now numbered 1 + text block of paper and parchment folios 2-92 + 2 paper flyleaves + 1 marbled so i+ 92
Pagination: Modern pencil foliation, usual place, through volume.
Quiring:12s with parchment inner and outer bifolia, other four paper.
Signatures:Signatures of letter plus roman numerals through first half of quire, lower outer corner, beginning with 'a' in first quire, through 'fol.vj' on f66, then next quire is 'o' on first folio, 'oo' on second, 'ooo' on third, etc. and no further signatures visible in rest of volume.
Catchwords:By the scribe, in the usual place, no embellishment.
Page Size:158 x 110
Frame:2 x vertical, 4 x horizontal enclosing top and bottom lines, ladder within, fine grey ink lines.
Writing Space:ca. 125 x 72
Marginal Headings:None
Table of Contents:None
Flourished Initials:Spaces left for initials not filled in; (some 2-line black lombard initials on f92 in portion not written by main scribe); no coloured ink in MS.
Other Names (not owners):After Greek inscription on f20v, 'Symonde Dewes'. ['Peter Idle Esquire of Kent' (top f21) and 'Quod peter Idle Esquire' on f51v, perhaps by Stow indicating author].
Miscellaneous Info:NB The hand of John Stow, eg writes 'John Lydgat' bottom f3, writes crossed-out 'John lydgat' on f52.ff88v, 89r, 90v, 91v and 92r-v have added texts by later hands.
Further Information:Harley Catalogue, 1.60-61. The Winchester scribe also copies: London, British Library, Additional 60577, the 'Winchester Anthology'.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP