Fragments of the Prose Chronicle by Guillaume le Breton, late 14th century (c 1380)
Scope and Contents
These are two leaves from a vernacular French version of the Prose Chronicle, by Guillaume le Breton. The vernacular translation of this chronicle seems to have been unknown until C. Borland's work on this fragment in the early 20th century. Folio 1 starts with 'Puiz vous fis de Garenne Conte' and ends with 'Qui lavoit demande en part'; folio 2 starts with 'Freres le roi qui at eu', and ends with 'Et s'en revint ainsinc delivres'
Dates
- Creation: late 14th century (c 1380)
Creator
- Guillaume, le Breton, ? 1165-? 1226 (French chronicler and poet) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
French
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
2 folios
Custodial History
On f. 1r-v there are inscriptions that indicate the fragments were in England by the mid- 16th century, as part of the binding, a fly-leaf probably, of a book which belonged to a George Gascoigne.He was probably the famous writer of The Steele Glas, and he presented the book to Thomas Hutton or Hatton at some point. In the 17th century the margins of f. lv were used for jottings by someone using Law French (the book they were attached to was probably a law book), and the book was either bought or sold in 1670 for £1, 15s. Afterwards the leaves were pasted down as end-pieces.
Previous reference
MS 217
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland’s catalogue: 'Chronicle.
Bibliography
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum
Dimensions
23.20 cm x 31.20 cm
Lines to a page
double columns, 32 lines to a page
Creator
- Guillaume, le Breton, ? 1165-? 1226 (French chronicler and poet) (Author, Person)
Source
- Gascoigne, George, d 1577 (poet) (Former owner, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk