Later Version Wycliffe New Testament

Later Wycliffite version of the New Testament, ending imperfectly at 1 James 2: 16. Preceded by a table of Lessons, Epistles and Gospels according to the use of Sarum.

Contents: (1) ff. 1-9v, (begins imperfectly at Thursday before Easter) '...Thus endiþ þe kalender of lessons. Pistils and gospels Of al the ȝere.' Forshall and Madden, iv. 686-98, but the text here and in Eng. MSS 77, 78, 80 and 91 differs substantially from theirs, which goes with the earlier Wycliffite version. A table for the common of saints is not provided here or in Eng. MSS 77, 78, 80 and 91: cf. Forshall and Madden, p. 696, footnote. The proper of saints is followed by commemorations for B.V.M., Holy Trinity, Holy Spirit, Holy Cross, angels, 'For briþren and sustryn and for saluacion of þe puple', peace, fine weather, rain, battles, 'A man for hymself', pestilence of beasts, pilgrims, weddings, sinners, and the sick. The word 'pope' has been erased; so too the name of St Thomas at 7 July.

(2) ff. 10-185v, New Testament in the later Wycliffite version, ending imperfectly 'liflode and' (1 James 2: 16). Not listed by Forshall and Madden. Usual prologues. A quire is missing after f. 161v, which ends with the catchword 'schal be' (Hebrews 2: 13); f. 162 begins `me of ihesu' (Acts 8: 12).

Script: Gothic textura. Written space: c.150 x 100 mm. 2 columns, 35 lines.

Secundo folio: in hir (f. 11).

Decoration: 2- and 3-line initials in blue ink with red penwork infill and flourishes, of indifferent quality.

Other features: Catchwords are centred.

Description derived from N.R. Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, vol. III, Lampeter-Oxford (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983), p. 404. By permission of Oxford University Press.

Purchased by Mrs Enriqueta Rylands from Henry Yates Thompson in 1897, and later transferred to the John Rylands Library.

(1) Scribbled names from the 16th century of John Hedgman, f. 98r; John Hedgem, f. 139r; John Dowty, f. 167r; Jarves, f. 185v.

(2) Bertram, 4th Earl of Ashburnham. Appendix no. 24.

(3) Henry Yates Thompson. He purchased the Ashburnham Appendix in May 1897 and almost immediately resold the manuscript to Mrs Rylands. Accession no. R4990.

N.R. (Neil Ripley) Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, vol. III, Lampeter-Oxford (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983), p. 404.

G.A. (Godfrey Allen) Lester, The index of Middle English prose. Handlist 2, a handlist of manuscripts containing Middle English prose in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester and Chetham's Library, Manchester (Cambridge: Brewer, 1985), pp. 3-4.