Fragment of Kyng Alisaunder

A vellum bi-folium containing part of the Middle English poem Kyng Alisaunder , probably dating from 1330-1340. This fragment, much worn through use as a wrapper, contains parts of lines 6676-6850 and 7214-7388 (according to the edition by G.V. Smithers), though the last five or six lines in each column have been cut away. The fragment is foliated 43 and 44 in a 14th century hand.

Kyng Alisaunder is a long and sophisticated thirteenth century romance poem, written in Middle English, about the life of Alexander the Great.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Given by Miss W.A.Myers in 1963.

See R. Watson 'Descriptive list of fragments of medieval manuscripts in the University of London Library' (1976).

The University of London Library also holds a set of ultra-violet photographs of the fragment.

Written in two columns, with 39 lines surviving. The capitals at the beginning of each line are touched in red; there are red and blue paraphs.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Other fragments of the Auchinleck MS have been identified in the library of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland (Ref: PR 2065.A.15 and PR 2065.R.4) and Edinburgh University Library (Ref: Ms 218). A full manuscript of Kyng Alisaunder is held at The Bodleian Library, Oxford University (Ref: MS Laud Misc 622).

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

The fragment seems originally to have formed part of the Auchinleck Manuscript held at the National Library of Scotland (Advocates MS.19.2.1) and dated 1330-40.

G.V. Smithers 'Another fragment of the Auchinleck Manuscript', Medieval Literature and Civilization: Studies in memory of G.N. Garmondsway , ed. D.A. Pearsall and R.A. Waldron (London, 1969).See also J.C. Cunningham 'Notes on the Auchinleck Manuscript', Speculum , Vol XLVII, 1972. Kyng Alisaunder was edited by G.V.Smithers for the Early English Text Society, Original Series nos.227 and 237 (1952-57), from the Bodleian Library MS.Laud Misc.622.