Add MS 40769

RICHARD ROLLE, translation and exposition, verse by verse, with the Latin text, of the Psalter, followed by the six Old Testament canticles and the Magnificat, in the original and uninterpolated version as printed by H. R. Bramley, The Psalter translated by R. Rolle of Hampole, 1884. Begins imperfectly in Ps. lxxxix. 8 with "to ponisch it," and ends imperfectly in the Magnificat, last verse, with "drough us oute." The dialect maintains a severely northern cast, while the other two MSS. of this version in the Museum, Harley MS. 1806 and Arundel MS. 158, illustrate a progressive substitution of more southern forms. A convenient survey of the various problems connected with this work, along with a list of MSS. and other bibliographical information, will be found in H. E. Allen, Writings ascribed to R. Rolle, Hermit of Hampole, and Materials for his Biography, 1927, pp. 169-192. On the final blank half-page (f. 113 b) have been copied in two 17th cent. hands:-(1) Part of the prayer for the High Court of Parliament, in the 1625 version (cf. F. E. Brightman, The English Rite, 2nd ed., 1921, i, p. 192);-

(2) The couplet: "Auncient of dayes to whome all times are now Before whose glory seraphims doe bowe." Vellum; ff. 113. 9.1/2 in. x 7 in. Early xv cent. Gatherings of 12 leaves (last^4, 4 cancelled and 3 cut in half), with catchwords. Between gatherings iii and iv two separate leaves are inserted with Ps. cviii. Double columns normally of 35 lines, for the last three gatherings normally of 41 lines; flourished initials, coloured in red and blue.