Royal MS 1 A IV

I A. iv NEW TESTAMENT, in English, of the revised Wycliffite version. A table of lections (f. 3) is prefixed, with the title, 'Here bigynneþ a rule pat telliþ in whiche chapitris of þe bible ye may fynde þc lessouns. pistlis and gospels. Pat ben red in þe chirche aftir þe vss of

salisburi. markid wiþ lettris of þe a. b. c. at þe bigynnynge of þe chapitris toward þe myddil or eende; aftir þe ordre as þe lettris stonden in Pc a b c ffirst ben sett sundaies and ferials togidere. and aftir Pat þe sanctorum þe propre and comyn togidere of al þe zeer and þanne last þe commemoraciouns. þat is clepid þe temperal of al þe zeer / ffirst is writen a clause of þe bigynnynge of þe pistil and gospel. and a clause of pc endynge þerof'. The table of lections follows (ff. 3-9), with the colophon 'Here eendiþ þe dominicals and ferials togidere of al þe yeer'; then the Proprium and Commune Sanctorum (ff. 9-14), beg. 'Now bigynneþ þe rule of þe sanctorum. Doþe propre and comyn togidere', ending 'here endiþ þe rule of pc sanctorum boþe propre and comyn togidere'; the Temporale (ff. 14, 15), beg. 'And now here bigynneþ þe temperal þat is þe commemoraciouns of þe zeer. Now bigynne we first þe commemoracioun of oure ladi', and ending 'here eendiþ þe rule of þe temperal'. The whole calendar concludes with the colophon, 'Thus eendiþ þis kalender of lessouns pistlis and gospels of al þe zeer'. The books are arranged thus: Gospels, Pauline Epistles, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Apocalypse. They are provided with the prologues usually found in the Vulgate, which are here ascribed to Jerome. The beginnings and endings of lections are indicated in the margin. The translation is of the later version, i. e. Wyclif's original version as revised by john Purvey (cf. Forshall and Madden, The Holy Bible ... in the earliest English versions . by John Wycliffe and his followers, 1850, i, pp. xxi-xxix). The MS. is described, op. cit. i, p. xxxix. Vellum; ff. 269. 5.75 in. x 3.75 in. Early XV cent. Gatherings of 8 leaves, lettered at the beginning, with catchwords. Double Columns Of 34 lines. Initial letters in blue and red, with filigree work. On f. 2 is inscribed, in a 16th cent. hand, a note of receipt by one 'Robard' from 'master Ryche'. Probably from the Theyer collection (sale-cat., no. 62 ; CMA. 6473).