General Layout

• 1 roll (2 membranes/pieces of parchment)
• Single column on both sides
• Dorse
  • Minimum width of text: 29mm
  • Maximum width of text: 111mm
  • Margins primarily on left side with minimal variation (approx. 18mm throughout)
  • Variation in width primarily at the end of the first membrane/piece and the first verse of the second membrane/piece
  • Decoration width (margin through initial frame): 35mm (with variation among initials)
  • Number of large decorated initials: 5
  • Text layout
    • Primarily black text with two separate and significantly long sections of red text
    • Several lines of red text and both blue and red color initials
• Recto
  • Minimum width of text: 16mm
  • Maximum width of text: 115mm
  • Margins primarily at on left side with some variation
    • Maximum margin: 26mm
    • Minimum margin: 20mm
  • Variation in width primarily at the end of the first membrane/piece and the first verse of the second membrane/piece
  • Decoration width (margin through initial frame):
    • Maximum width: 48mm
    • Minimum width: 31mm
  • Number of large decorated initials: 7
  • Text layout
    • Primarily black text with five interspersed lines of red text two separate and significantly long sections of red text
    • Large number of red letter decoration passim

Bibliography

Bledsoe, Jenny C. “A Late Medieval Macaronic Prayer Roll: UPenn MS Roll 1563.” Notes and Queries 63:2 (June 2016): 196–199.

Latin, Middle English (red rubric)

Prayers to Christ (Virgin Mary, Trinity) with reference to the elevation of the Host.

Decoration:

Ink Colors: red (rubric, initials, decoration), black (text), blue (initials).

Decorated Initials: Three capital Ds in blue ink, with leaf pattern inside of initial in red ink, also with flourishes in red ink along left margin. Two As in blue ink with decorative lines in red ink inside of initial, flourishes on left margin with profile of human faces at center.

Damage:

Fading of ink throughout, worsening as text approaches bottom of the scroll. Bottom of scroll damaged, text is lost—parchment is darkened with abrasions to surface. Small holes scattered throughout. Abrasions along left edge of parchment. Large red stain (ink?) at top of scroll covering over thirteen lines of text. Some dark smudges throughout.

• Script type: Gothic Textura (quadrata)
• Size: Ruled lines of 5mm for text body; decorated initials 10-12mm, rubricated initials with layered descenders within the 5mm ruling
• Quirks: Biting [do], long descenders on [h], two-shaped/rounded [r], dotted [y]
• Ink colors: black, blue, red
• Hands: likely one scribe
• Likely no additions, alterations, mistakes
• Provenance: early 1400s (15th c.) England (probably London/East Midlands)

Measurements :137cm x 13cm at longest/widest
Ruling: Ruling throughout
Pricking: No obvious pricking
Writing Support: Parchment