Lydgate's Life of Our Lady

This material is held atNational Library of Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru

  • Reference
    • GB 210 NLW MS 21242C [RESTRICTED ACCESS]
  • Alternative Id.
      (alternative) vtls004934968
  • Dates of Creation
    • [mid-15 cent.]
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English English.
  • Physical Description
    • 102 ff. : Parchment ; 245 x 165 mm. Written space 150 mm. 28 lines.
      Apparently original thongs, the original boards wanting. The lower thongs are now tied into holes cut into an old oak board (270 x 180 mm., bevelled edges) which has holes and grooves showing earlier use for another book.
  • Location
    • ARCH/MSS (GB0210)
      DE/SOUTH SA/OPEN SHELVES

Scope and Content

Lydgate's Life of our Lady, 'O thoughtful! herte plunged indistresse ...' (ff. 2-102 verso). The text includes 'The white lillie of the chosen vale' (f. 3 verso), 'That al maydens myzte ensample take' (f. 4), 'The beutee causith to be of more delyte' (f. 25 verso), and 'Amydeys this welle from fylthe of synne cold ...' (f. 26). The text is defective at two points due to the loss of leaves. It breaks off in ch. I (after f. 3) and resumes near the end of ch. 2; it breaks off again in ch. 19 and resumes in ch. 20. The tags follow the text in the hand of the scribe. It has not yet been possible to compare the text with the edition of J. A. Lauritis, R. A. Klinefelter and V. F. Gallagher.
Written in one hand, an Anglicana formata with Secretary influence, professional-looking. On f. 2 is a 10-line historiated initial O (birth of the Virgin, the picture somewhat rubbed) with a full page frame and border of foliage, flowers and sprays (gold, maroon, blue, white, green, orange), reproduced in the Christie's catalogue (see below). Blue initials for chapters, with red penwork, mostly 2-line, a few 3 or 4-line. Alternating red and blue paragraphs marks with contrasting penwork. Chapter numbers in red at the head of each page, with blue paragraph mark and red penwork. Sidenotes in red with blue paragraph marks.

Access Information

Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.

Note

Formerly Mostyn MS 85.

Collation: 1 [8] (wants 1, 3, 6, 7), 2-3 [8], 4 [8] (wants 6, 7, 8), 5-13 [ 8], 14 [8] (wants 6, 7, 8, probably blank). Catchwords.

Sec. fol. Bysshopis (capitula) So lat (text).

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 21242C [RESTRICTED ACCESS].

Other Finding Aids

The description is also available, with a few additional details, in NLW, Catalogue of Mostyn MSS Purchased in 1974 (1975), pp.7-8, available at the Library.

Alternative Form Available

Available on microfilm at the Library.

Custodial History

Written in England, mid-fifteenth century. Among marginal scribbles the following names occur: Rys Llwyd vab John ap Howel, XVIc (f. 102), Thomas Som[er]e (in a legal hand, f. 99), Robert Salsbry (f. 36 verso), Jhon ap Ievan Lloyd (f. 42), Rees Powell and Rhes Thomas (f. 58), all XVI or XVIIc., Robert Humpherey (f. 42), Margeret Wenn (95. 79, 100 verso), Margry Baugh (f. 100 verso), John Lloyd (ff. 87 verso, 89 verso), John Davis (f. 82), E.H. (f. 50), all XVIIc. Appears as MS 85 in HMC Cat. and on f. 1, as lot 75 in the Mostyn sale at Sotheby's 13 July 1920 when it was presumably bought in. Lot 1480 in the Christie's (Mostyn Sale), 24 October 1974.

Additional Information

Published