Untidy book hand with some cursive elements and a gothica textualis rotunda responsible for 100r-v, 99v and 101v. Ars nova notation, probably written in England

99-101v

Parchment

RISM Supplement: 2 fols., possibly loose sheets, or part of a roll, in view of their format (fragmentary; now two leaves, foliated 100,101 (bound upside down), and a strip, foliated 99, which was formerly part of fol. 101; with other fragments, fols. 99-101 now form part of item H). Parchment. Leaves now 200 x 150 mm; strip 197 x 30 mm. Written space originally c. 155 x c. 190-195 mm; fol. 99+101 in three columns, each 60-65 mm wide (only two columns survive on fol. 100). Ruling: nine (fol. 99+101) and eight (fols. 100r-v, 99v+101v) freely-ruled brown five-line staves (11-14 mm); frame rules (verticals only). Script: an untidy book hand with some cursive elements responsible for fol. 99+101, and a gothica textualis rotunda responsible for fols. 100r-v, 99v+101v. Notation: Ars nova. Decoration: cues for initials, which have not been supplied.

Written probably in England. Used to form a rough cover for Lbl, Add. MS 41321, a collection of Lollard sermons that was written by two scribes, s. xv 1/2, and probably left unfinished. This book was rebound in 1927, when fragments from the binding and the vellum cover were placed in Add. MS 41340 ('Make-Up Volume', 1926) as item H, fols. 97-103. Other fragments include: (1) two leaves from an English breviary, s. xiii in. (fols. 97-98), containing parts of the offices for the first and second Sundays in Advent; (2) a draft will of Jane Ankurs of Ightfield, Shropshire, 12 April 1538 (fol. 102), and a letter from John Tenche, curate of Wrenbury, Cheshire, to the curate of Ightfield (fol. 103). The book is closely connected with the Mainwaring and Leche families of Ightfield, and with the surrounding area (see Cigman). The signature of John Mainwaringe of Over Peover, Cheshire (Cigman, p. xiv), s. xvi in., is on fol. 116v. Another John Mainwaring, rector of Ightfield, may have been responsible for fashioning the cover of Add. MS 41340; the cover appears still to have been intact in 1926, when the book was said to be 'bound in a leaf from an old manuscript on vellum with a flap' (Sotheby's Catalogue, p. 106). Signatures also of 'John Leche', 'John Jackson', 'Arthur Hussy', 'Parker' s. xvi (fols. 32v, 72v, 16v, 60v, 71v). Bought at the Sotheby's sale, 17-20 May 1926, lot 855. I am grateful to Mr Adrian Bassett for drawing my attention to this source.

NOTES ON CONTENTS

1-13 All incomplete, and probably all in two voices. 10 Is certainly a rondeau; 1,2,6,9, 11, 12 and possibly others, may also be rondeaux, further portions of whose texts are copied in run-on lines over the staves at the ends of these pieces. 1 Rondeau Donne. Two-line refrain includes'... folie ...'; strophe ends '... -gement'. 2 Virelai? Secunda pars begins 'Ce ...' or 'Or ...' ; strophe includes '... sideli... boneyre ... dame var-... -gure si- ... -ois'. 6 Rondeau Désir. Strophe begins 'Ben amer (?)', and includes '... amouer ... Damour ... une a-... plaie ... vol-oiruser ... -ueiend)'. 7 Remainder of text includes '... par mon- []greu-...'. 8 Text continues 'tres ... voir ... -ciant (end)'. 9 Rondeau Le ma-.... Strophe begins 'Quant ieo quide et pris venir'. 10 Rondeau Merci vous. Strophe begins 'Nuit et iour ensus' and continues 'vostre (?) ... crie ... Soccies moy en curtoisie / Esseray lo- ...'. 11 Rondeau. Refrain includes 'quant nous regard traitement ...'; strophe begins 'Sa este- (?)'. 12 Rondeau Joye. Refrain also in-cludes '... dune ...'; strophe almost illegible, but first line includes the word 'moy'.

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