Harley MS 6291

This manuscript contains works by the English poet John Gower (d. 1408). The version of Vox Clamantis found in this manuscript suggests it was completed c.1383 - c.1390 and the Cronica Tripertita after the death of Richard II (b. 1367, d. 1400), with Vox Clamantis having been revised to account for historical changes that occurred after it was initially copied (see Parkes, 'Patterns' (1995), pp. 82-86). The shorter poems were composed after Gower's death in 1408 (Parkes, 'Patterns' (1995), p. 89).

Contents:

ff. 1r-134v: John Gower, Vox Clamantis (beginning imperfectly).

ff. 134v-49v: John Gower, Cronica Tripertita.

ff. 149v-161r: Shorter poems.

The manuscript contains a few later additions:

f. 40r: A marginal gloss: 'Nota hic de bello Cleri tempere Regis Ricardi in fflandria quia tunc non solum seculares sed eciam Regulares presbiteri guerris ibidem mortalibus quasi laici insisterunt'; added in the 15th century.

f. 161v: A note on John Gower's authorship: 'Joh[annes] Gower tres edidits libros Speculum Meditantis Gallice / Vocem clamantis latine & metrice / Confessionem amantis Anglice'; added in the late 16th or early 17th century.

f. 163v: The name 'Johann[es]' (followed by an erased inscription) decorated with cadels; added in the 15th century.

f. 164r: Three Latin poems, beginning: ‘Presul ovile regis vbi morbus adest mac[u]larum';‘Dicunt scripture memorare novissima vite’; and ‘Cultor in ecclesia qui, deficiente sophia’(for these poems, see 'John Gower', in Arlima [online resource]); added by different hands in the 15th century.

Decoration:

3 large 'champ' initials with foliate tendrils extending into the margins (ff. 23r, 33r, 34v). 1 large initial in gold with purple pen-flourishing (f. 134v). Numerous large initials in blue with red pen-flourishing. Small initials in red and blue.