Add MS 57533

FRANCIS WORMALD MANUSCRIPTS. Vol. VI. Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita S. Edwardi, Geoffrey, Abbot of Barton, Vita S. Modwenne, etc.; England, late 12th - early 13th cent. See A. G. Watson, 'Thomas Allen of Oxford and his manuscripts', in Medieval Scribes, Manuscripts and Libraries, ed. M. B. Parkes and A. G. Watson (1978). Ownership inscription and note of legal transaction of Hector Riding ('Ectori Rydyng'), late 14th-15th cent., f. iv. Probably owned by Thomas Allen of Oxford (b.1540, d.1632), initials 'AH' (according to Watson). From the Gloddaeth Library, bookplate (f. ii). Mostyn MS. 260, note on f. ii. Sold at Sotheby's, 13 July 1920, lot 1. Wormald's ownership inscription, dated Oct. 1945 (f. iii).

Vellum; ff. iv+113. Sec. fol.: '-tior'. 285 x 200mm. Paper pastedowns to front and back and one vellum flyleaf to front Gatherings (15) of 8, except xv2 (lacks 2, blank). Pricked and ruled (double bounding lines) in metal-point for single columns of 43 lines. Guide-letters (see f. 22), mostly trimmed. Written space 210 x 135mm. Script is a prickly early Gothic textualis rotunda. Text is above top line. 18th-century binding of white leather over card, with gilt tooling to spine.

Decoration consists of a 7-line coloured major initial 'M' with lion mask and foliate decoration in blue, yellow and red (f. 1). Further 4-line major initials in alternating red and blue with contrasting flourishing. Similar 2-line minor initials. From f. 89 this scheme gives way to alternating major and minor initials of green and red, although there does not appear to be a major textual break here.

Saints: Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Aelred, of Rievaulx: Geoffrey, Abbot of Barton: Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita S. Edwardi and Geoffrey of Barton, Vita S. Modwenne: late 12th - early 13th cent.: Lat.