Fragment of Kyng Alisaunder

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0096 MS 593
Held at	: Senate House Library, University of London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections ›
Full title	: Fragment of Kyng Alisaunder
Date(s)	: 1330-1340
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: Single sheet
Name of creator(s)	: Unknown
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Kyng Alisaunder is a long and sophisticated thirteenth century romance poem, written in Middle English, about the life of Alexander the Great.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

A vellum bi-folium containing part of the Middle English poem Kyng Alisaunder, probably dating from 1330-1340. This fragment, much worn through use as a wrapper, contains parts of lines 6676-6850 and 7214-7388 (according to the edition by G.V. Smithers), though the last five or six lines in each column have been cut away. The fragment is foliated 43 and 44 in a 14th century hand.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
Middle English

System of arrangement:

Single item.

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Finding aids:

See R. Watson 'Descriptive list of fragments of medieval manuscripts in the University of London Library' (1976).

Archival Information

Archival history:

The fragment seems originally to have formed part of the Auchinleck Manuscript held at the National Library of Scotland (Advocates MS.19.2.1) and dated 1330-40.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given by Miss W.A.Myers in 1963.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Other fragments of the Auchinleck MS have been identified in the library of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland (Ref: PR 2065.A.15 and PR 2065.R.4) and Edinburgh University Library (Ref: Ms 218). A full manuscript of Kyng Alisaunder is held at The Bodleian Library, Oxford University (Ref: MS Laud Misc 622).

Publication note:

G.V. Smithers 'Another fragment of the Auchinleck Manuscript', Medieval Literature and Civilization: Studies in memory of G.N. Garmondsway, ed. D.A. Pearsall and R.A. Waldron (London, 1969).See also J.C. Cunningham 'Notes on the Auchinleck Manuscript', Speculum, Vol XLVII, 1972.Kyng Alisaunder was edited by G.V.Smithers for the Early English Text Society, Original Series nos.227 and 237 (1952-57), from the Bodleian Library MS.Laud Misc.622.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Oct 2001