Royal MS 19 A XIX

'LIVRE de la cite des dames', by Christine de Pisan. Not printed in full, but extracts and an analysis are given by Madlle de Keralio, Coll. des meilleurs Ouvrages composés par des Femmes, 1787, iii, p. 22 (cf. E. M. D. Robineau, Christine de Pisan, sa vie, ses œuvres, 1882, p. 302). An English translation by Bryan Anslay was printed by Pepwell in 1521. Each of the three parts is preceded by a table of contents, not always, owing to the scribe's carelessness, in agreement with the headings of the chapters. The text agrees in the main with Harley MS. 4431, ff. 290 b-372, with some variations of order, e.g. pt. i, ch. xxi of the Harley MS. is here ch. xxv. Beg. 'Selon la maniere que iay plus en vsaige'; ends 'qui ainsi le vous octroit. amen' . Colophon, 'Explicit la troisiesme et derreniere partie du liure de la cite des dames'.

Vellum; ff. 172. 111/4 in. x 8 in. Third quarter of XV cent. (before 1460 ?). Double columns. Gatherings (beg. f. 2) of 8 eaves (xi⁷), lettered. Sec. fol. in table 'Item demande'; in text 'Examinez'. Each part has an illuminated initial and ivy-leaf border with corn-flowers and marguerites in French style. Other initials flourished in blue and red or gold and black. In the border of f. 4 are introduced the white rose and the fetter-lock, perhaps indicating Richard, 3rd Duke of York (d. 1460), father of Edward IV. For the use of the fetter-lock (without a falcon) as his badge cf. his seal drawn in Cotton MS. Julius C. VII, f. 177. On f. 1 are the title and press-mark (15th cent.) 'La cite des dames k.' and old large numbering 93; cat. of 1666, f. 14 b; not in CMA.