Egerton MS 1993

LIVES of the Saints, etc., in English verse,according to the order of the calendar; possibly, as suggested by Sir F. Madden, "Havelok the Dane," 1838, p. lii, by the author of the metrical chronicle attribute to Robert of Gloucester. This and other copies, more or less identical (of which the earlier and more important are in Harl. MS. 2,277, and Ashmole MS. 43, Laud MS. 108, and the Vernon MS. in the Bodleian), are minutely described and compared by Dr. Carl Horstmann, "Altenglische Legenden," Paderborn, 1875. See also Warton's "History of English Poetry," ed. 1840, vol. i. pp. 13-20. The contents are:-

1. Selections from Old and New Testament history, from the Creation to the Crucifixion, intended apparently for Advent; beginning, "Whanne hit comep on my Pouzt. Pe muchele sor and sunne," and ending, "Ne mizte Pc sonne schine lengore. Pan he to depe drow," f. 1. The latter part of the poem differs from the copy in the Vernon MS.; see Horstmann, pp. xiv, xx, and Warton, vol i. p. 20.

2. The birth and childhood of Christ, preceded by the history of Joachim and Anna, etc.; beginning, "Of ioie aud blisse is now mi pouzt. care to bi leue," f. 27. Printed by Horstmann, p. 64, from the present copy and Ashmole MS. 43.

3. Lives of saints and commemorations of festivals, beginning with St. Andrew [30 Nov.], instead of the Circumcision [l Jan.], as in most copies, and ending imperfectly in the middle of the life of St. Francis of Assisi [4 Oct.]. The prologue, f 41, begins, "Now blowep Pis newe fruit. þ^t late bigan to springe." Printed in part, but from other copies, by the Philological Society, ed. Furnavall, 1862, the Early English Text Society, ed. Morris, 1871, Warton, ed. 1840, vol. i. pp. 14-17, and Horstmann p. 151. The order is as follows:-

Andreu pe apostel, f. 42. Nicholas, f. 44 b. Lucie, f. 50. Thomas þe apostel, 52. Steuene, f. 57 b. Jon þe wangelist, f. 58. Thomas [Becket], f. 64. zeres day [Circumcision], f. 91 b. Twelfpeady [Epiphany], f. 92. Hillari, f. 92. Tolotou, bischop of Wircestre, f. 93 b. Fabian, f. 96. Sebastian, f. 96. Agnes, f. 97. Vincent, f. 99. Julian pe confessour, f. 101. Julian pe gode herbiger, f. 101 b. Brido, f. 103 b. Blase, f. 106. Agaee [Agatha], f. 108 b. Scolaee [Scholastica], f. 110. Valentin, f. 111. Juliane, f. 111 b. Mathei þe apostel, f. 114. Oswold, f. 114 b. Chadde, f. 117. Gregori þe confessour, f. 118. Longes, f. 119. Patrik. Including St. Patrick's Purgatory or Owain Miles. Bee the Catalogue of Romances. f. 119 b. Cutbert, f. 128. Benet, f. 129. Seinte Maridai in lente, f. 131. Festes meble [Moveable feasts], f. 131 b. Lente, f. 131 b. þe holi feste of heater, f. 133 b. Marie egipciak, f. 134. Alfe [Alphege], f. 138 b George, f. 141. Marc þe gospeller, f.142. Letanie, f. 142 b. Peres þe frere prechour, f. 143. S. Phelip and S. Jacob, f. 143 b. þe hole Rode. Including the Invention, Exaltation, and the legend of S. Quiriac. f. 144 b. Dunston, f. 151 b. Ailbrizt þe holi king, f. 154. Aldelm, f. 155 b. Austin, f. 156 b. Purnele [Petronilla], 157 b. Barnabe pc apostel, 158 b. Eadborw pat holi maide, f. 160. Botulf le holi monk, f. 161. Albon, f. 162. Aeldri of Eli, f. 163. Jon pc holi baptist, f. 163 b. Peter, f. 165. Poul, f. 171. Swiphan, f. 174. Mildride, f. 176. Kenelm, f. 178. Margarete, f. 182. Mari Magdalein, f. 185 b. Cristene, f. 190. Jame þe apostel, f. 194. Cristofore, f. 196. Seuen slepares, f. 198 b. Martha, f. 201 b. Justine, f. 203 b. Dominic, f. 206. Oswald þe holi king, f. 210. Lauerence, f. 210 b. Ypolit þe martir, f. 213. Marie Godes moder: the Assumption, f. 214. Barthlome pe apostel, f. 216 b. Giles, f. 219 b. Egwine, f. 221 b. Matheu þe apostel, f. 222 b. Michel þe archan-el: three parts, f. 224 b. Jerom, f. 232 b. Leger, f. 234 b. Franceis þe frer menour, f. 235

Vellum; xivth cent. From the library of Lord Charlemont. Small Folio.