Stowe MS 950

CONFESSIO Amantis, by John Gower. Imperfect, both the beginning and the end being lost, including both passages by which the editions are distinguished. The text begins near the commencement of the 1st book, with the line "He hyde it nought, for yif thou feynest" (Pauli, i. p. 47), and ends in the middle of the vision in the 8th book, with the line "Which hadden bee fortuned sore" (Pauli, iii. p. 361). Several leaves have been cut out and lost in the course of the volume, viz., one in book i. (after f. 16), one in book ii. (after f. 35), two in book iii. (after. f. 44), three in book v. (one after f. 97 and two after f. 108), and two in book vii. (after f. 136); while f. 168 has been cut out, but remains, though the lower margin and the bottom line have been cut away. The Stafford MS. additions are not found here. Vellum; ff. 177, including two modern paper leaves at the beginning and end. Written in double columns in several hands, of the earlier half of the 15th cent. Initials of paragraphs are in blue, occasionally flourished with red. The Latin summary which accompanies the text is in red, and the Latin verses are underlined in red. Bound in thick oak boards covered with leather, stamped with small roses, etc. On the inner side of the boards are pasted leaves of vellum covered with cramped and much abbreviated writing apparently of a legal description. On the margin at the top of f. 62 are some Latin verses signed W. Bury and dated 157³/₄ and 1575. On the inside of the cover is the name of Frauncis Normann, and on ff. 2, 73, those of Gualterus Harting and Henry Swynbourne, all of the 16th cent. Folio.

John Gower: Confessio Amantis: 15th cent.