De confessione amantis [manuscript], ca. mid-15th century.
Gower, John, 1325?-1408. author.; Sergeant, Jane, active 17th century, former owner.; Towneley, John, 1731-1813, former owner.; Smedley, William T. (William Thomas), 1851-1934, former owner.; Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872, former owner.; Folger, Henry Clay, 1857-1930, former owner.; Folger, Emily C. J. (Emily Clara Jordan), 1858-1936, former owner.
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Details
Title
De confessione amantis [manuscript], ca. mid-15th century.
Uniform title
Confessio amantis
Description
xii, 350 p. ; 388 x 284 mm
Associated name
Gower, John, 1325?-1408. author.
Sergeant, Jane, active 17th century, former owner.
Towneley, John, 1731-1813, former owner.
Smedley, William T. (William Thomas), 1851-1934, former owner.
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872, former owner.
Folger, Henry Clay, 1857-1930, former owner.
Folger, Emily C. J. (Emily Clara Jordan), 1858-1936, former owner.
Sergeant, Jane, active 17th century, former owner.
Towneley, John, 1731-1813, former owner.
Smedley, William T. (William Thomas), 1851-1934, former owner.
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872, former owner.
Folger, Henry Clay, 1857-1930, former owner.
Folger, Emily C. J. (Emily Clara Jordan), 1858-1936, former owner.
Material base
Manuscript on vellum (sheepskin).
Scope and content
A collection of around 100 tales and exempla on the treatment of courtly love written in Middle English verse by John Gower at the request of Richard II, King of England, who felt that not enough was being written in English. The collection appears to be, according to G.C. Macaulay's edition of Gower's work, the second rescension of the work; revised by Gower in 1392, replacing the dedication from Richard II to Henry of Lancaster (later King Henry IV).
Also included on the initial paper flyleaves: an astrological table; various Latin verses (also on the vellum stub formerly part of binding); and a copy of a dictionary entry on Gower.
Also included on the initial paper flyleaves: an astrological table; various Latin verses (also on the vellum stub formerly part of binding); and a copy of a dictionary entry on Gower.
Language Note
In Middle English with Latin.
Note
Manuscript codex.
Evidence of contemporary French manuscripts (writing in reverse) once pasted throughout manuscript at beginning and ending of parts.
Title from verso of leaf preceding p. i, "Io Gower de confessione amantis."
Verses on initial paper flyleaves listed in Folger index of first lines.
Collation: Leaves ii (new vellum) + ii (paper) + i (vellum stub) + i (paper) + 174 (paginated i-xii, 1-87, unnumbered, 88-89, 89-276, 289-340, 343-350) + ii (new vellum); text continuous between p. 87 and 88, and between p. 340 and 343; text missing and 6 stubs between p. 276 and 289; last 50+ lines and colophon missing after p. 350.
Layout: Written in 2 columns in 52 lines (dimensions of written space: 280 x 165 mm); ruling in crayon in places; prickings in outer margin; corrections and marginalia in an early modern hand.
Script: Written in Bastarda Bretagne (upright with heavy sloping f and s); hand on p. 38 same as Devonshire Chaucer (now in Japan).
Decoration: Initials in red ink; yellow and red highlighting of initial letters of lines of poem throughout.
Origin: Written in England in mid-15th century.
On recto of third paper fly leaf, "Jane Sergeant Heer Book God giue / Heer grace ther on to look & when she die / toll the bell tak this book & vse it well."
Shelfmark: Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, MS V.b.29
Evidence of contemporary French manuscripts (writing in reverse) once pasted throughout manuscript at beginning and ending of parts.
Title from verso of leaf preceding p. i, "Io Gower de confessione amantis."
Verses on initial paper flyleaves listed in Folger index of first lines.
Collation: Leaves ii (new vellum) + ii (paper) + i (vellum stub) + i (paper) + 174 (paginated i-xii, 1-87, unnumbered, 88-89, 89-276, 289-340, 343-350) + ii (new vellum); text continuous between p. 87 and 88, and between p. 340 and 343; text missing and 6 stubs between p. 276 and 289; last 50+ lines and colophon missing after p. 350.
Layout: Written in 2 columns in 52 lines (dimensions of written space: 280 x 165 mm); ruling in crayon in places; prickings in outer margin; corrections and marginalia in an early modern hand.
Script: Written in Bastarda Bretagne (upright with heavy sloping f and s); hand on p. 38 same as Devonshire Chaucer (now in Japan).
Decoration: Initials in red ink; yellow and red highlighting of initial letters of lines of poem throughout.
Origin: Written in England in mid-15th century.
On recto of third paper fly leaf, "Jane Sergeant Heer Book God giue / Heer grace ther on to look & when she die / toll the bell tak this book & vse it well."
Shelfmark: Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, MS V.b.29
Contents
Contents: [p. i] [rubr.] Prologus. Torpor ebes sensus scola p[ar]ua labor minimusq[ue] . . . [text] Of hem that writen vs tofore . . . Which noon butt only god maye stiere. [rubr.] Explicit Prologus. [p. 1] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Prim[us]. Naturato amor nature legib[us] orbe[m] . . . [text] I may not streche vnto the heuene . . . Thou shalt the spices as thei stonde. [rubr.] Explicit Liber Primus. [p. 38] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Secundus. Invidie culpa magis e[st] atrita dolore . . . [text] Now after pride the seconde . . . Thou mi[gh]t thiself the beter auise. [rubr.] Explicit Liber IId. [p. 76] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Tertius. Ira suis parib[us] est parfurijs Acherontis . . . [text] If thou the vices list to knowe . . . The pointez of Slouthe [tho]u shalt knowe. [rubr.] Explicit Liber Tercius. [p. 104] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Quartus. Dicu[n]t accidiam fore nutrice[m] vicior[um] [text] Upon the vices to procede . . . The forme bothe & the matere. [rubr.] Explicit Liber IIIIt[us]. [p. 144] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Quintus. Obstat auaricia nature legib[us] et que . . . [text] First whan [th]e high god began . . . With al my herte I you beseche. [rubr.] Explicit Liber Vtus. [p. 227] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Sextus. Est gula n[ostru]m maculaut p[ri]ma p[ar]ente[m] . . .[text] The sinne gret originall . . . In this mater hou it hath ferde. [rubr.] Explicit Liber Sixtus. [p.253] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Septimus. O[mn]ib[us] in causis sapiens doctrina salute[m] . . . [text] I Genius the prest of loue . . . I wol the telle and than hoo. [rubr.] Explicit Liber VIJus. [p. 314] [rubr.] Incipit Liber Octauus. Que fauet ad viciu[m] vet[us] h[ec] & reg[u]la confert . . . [text] The mi[gh]ti god vnbegonne . . . As Tullius somtyme wrot."
Publications about material
See G.C. Macaulay, Complete works of John Gower, vol. II, p. clxv for an account of this manuscript.
Binding information
Bound in 15th-century calf on boards with modern leather spine.
Provenance
Formerly owned by Jane Sergeant; Towneley (bookplate); Phillipps; Smedley (bookplate) MS.
Source of acquisition
Purchased as part of the Smedley Collection in 1924 by Henry Clay Folger.
Cited/described in
Phillipps, T. Phillipps manuscripts, 8942
Ricci, S. de. Census of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the United States and Canada, SM.1
Ricci, S. de. Census of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the United States and Canada, SM.1
Linked resources
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England.
Item Details
Call number
V.b.29
Folger accession
Smedley 1