Although few concrete details exist about the fourteenth-century manuscript known as London, British Library MS Harley 2253, it contains one of the most important surviving literary collections from medieval England. In rarity, quality and abundance, its collection of secular love lyrics is unrivaled, accompanying delicate lyrics of religious devotion and contemporary political songs preserved in no other manuscript. Beyond these Middle English treasures are no less intriguing French and Latin works: four fabliaux (the largest set from medieval England), three Anglo-Saxon saints' lives, and numerous satires, comedies, debates, interludes, collected sayings, conduct literature, Bible stories, dream interpretations, and pilgrim guides. This phenomenal range owes to the Ludlow scribe, the manuscript's compiler and copyist, himself credited with authoring parts of the collection. Volume 1 presents Booklets 1 and 2 of the manuscript, containing the rich assortment of religious narratives in Anglo-French verse and prose copied by Scribe A.



Susanna Fein is Professor of English and coordinator of the Arts and Sciences minor in Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Kent State University. David Raybin is Professor of English at Eastern Illinois University. Jan Ziolkowski is the Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of Medieval Latin at Harvard University, and director of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection.



Acknowledgments



Introduction



MS Harley 2253: Texts and Translations



Booklet 1



1. Vitas patrum / The Lives of the Fathers



1a. Thais / The Story of Thais



Booklet 2



2. Herman de Valenciennes, La Passioun Nostre Seignour / Herman de Valenciennes, The Passion of Our Lord



3. De la Passioun Jhesu [L'Évangile de Nicodème, La Tradition A] / Of Jesus' Passion [The Gospel of Nicodemus, Tradition A]



3a. Epistle a Tiberie / The Letter of Pilate to Tiberius



3b. Epistle a Claudie l'emperour / The Letter of Pilate to Emperor Claudius



4. De seint Johan le Ewangeliste / The Life of Saint John the Evangelist



5. De seint Johan le Baptist / The Life of Saint John the Baptist



6. De seint Bartholomeu / The Life of Saint Bartholomew



7. Passioun seint Piere / The Passion of Saint Peter



Explanatory Notes



Textual Notes



Appendix: Full Contents of MS Harley 2253



Volume 1: Index of First Lines



Volume 1: Index of Manuscripts Cited



Volume 1: Index of Proper Names



Bibliography