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Manuscript Description
Cambridge, Cambridge University Library MS Hh.4.12
 
Author:Chaucer and Lydgate
Contents:Several separate booklets; Cato (ME translation); Minor works of Lydgate and Chaucer; Former Age (Chaucer); Parlement of Foules (Chaucer)
Language:English
Scribal Hands:
Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Examples of the hand. Click on the link above for full details and images of individual letter forms.
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Dialect:Last quarter 15th century.
Material:Paper with outer and inner bifolia parchment.
No of Folios:ii newer paper + 102 mixed + ii new paper
Pagination:Modern pencil, confused and most crossed through and new numbering in pencil.
Quiring:12s
Signatures:Signatures show separate booklets; for example, f61 'a ja', f62 'a ija', 63 a iija', etc. through f66 'a vim', and f73 begins another set for quire b, but none on f84 onwards.
Catchwords:Not always, but if so, by whichever scribe wrote page.
Page Size:206 x 140 but variable
Frame:2 x vertical, 2 x horizontal enclosing top line, no bottom line and on many leaves so faint as to be indistinguishable anyway; on paper leaves looks like drypoint, on parchment very faint grey lines.
Writing Space:Varies, f24 is 135 x 80 (ruled for), heading extend further than width, lines of text c. 70
Incipits and Explicits:Some explicits black large with red highlights, as for example on f30r, 'Explicit liber parui Catonis
'Chaucers' on f44.
Paragraph Marks:Alternating red and blue paraphs.
Flourished Initials:Red and blue flourished initials as large as 5 lines, blue lombards with red cut into them, red flourishing elaborate inside letter, extenders into margins.
Other Names (not owners):On f47v (Luard uses old f44v), 'Thes boke howthe John Peter þe menstrell', earlier script than beginning of a dating clause at bottom of this leaf, dating in reign of Henry VIII.; f48 (Luard uses old so f45 for him), 'John Yarrade' and 'Wylliam Bryan', both 15th c. or possibly 16th.
Miscellaneous Info:Hand 2; signature in red ink on f47 'Stok. T.'
Further Information:Luard catalogue, vol. 3, pp 292-295. Seymour, M. C. A Catalogue of Chaucer Manuscripts, vol. 1, Works Before 'The Canterbury Tales', pp. 27-29, Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1995.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP