Notes on Manuscripts and Editions

This English book exists in two Manuscripts: No. 30 of the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (Bibliotheca Bigotiana, 388), and No. 2499 Sloane, in the British Museum.

This English book survives in two manuscripts. One is No. 30 in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (Bibliotheca Bigotiana, 388). The other is No. 2499 Sloane in the British Museum.

The Paris Manuscript is of the Sixteenth Century, the Sloane is in a Seventeenth Century handwriting; the English of the Fourteenth Century seems to be on the whole well preserved in both, especially perhaps in the later Manuscript, which must have been copied from one of mixed East Anglian and northern dialects. This manuscript has no title-page, and nothing is known as to its history. Delisle's catalogue of the Biblioth. Bigot. (1877) gives no particulars as to the acquisition of No. 388. The two versions may be compared in these sentences:—

The Paris Manuscript dates from the sixteenth century. The Sloane manuscript is written in a seventeenth-century hand. On the whole, both seem to preserve the fourteenth-century English well. Perhaps the later manuscript preserves it especially well. The later manuscript must have been copied from one written in a mixture of East Anglian and northern dialects. It has no title page, and nothing is known about its history. Delisle's catalogue of the Biblioth. Bigot. (1877) gives no details about how No. 388 was acquired. The two versions may be compared in these sentences:

Chap. II., Paris MS.: "This revelation was made to a Symple creature unlettyrde leving in deadly flesh the yer of our Lord a thousande and thre hundered and lxxiii the xiii Daie of May."

Chapter II, Paris MS.: "This revelation was made to a simple, uneducated person living in mortal flesh, on May 13, 1373."

Sloane: "These Revelations were shewed to a simple creature that cowde no letter the yeere of our Lord 1373 the xiij day of may."

Sloane: "These revelations were shown to a simple person who could not read, on May 13, 1373."

Chap. LI., Paris MS.: "The colour of his face was feyer brown whygt with full semely countenaunce. his eyen were blakke most feyer and semely shewyng full of lovely pytte and within hym an heyward long and brode all full of endlesse hevynlynes. And the lovely lokyng that he lokyd on his servant contynually. And namely in his fallyng ÷ me thought it myght melt oure hartys for love. and brek them on twoo for Joy."

Chapter 51, Paris manuscript: "His face was a fair brownish white, and his expression was very graceful. His eyes were black, very beautiful and graceful, and full of loving pity. Within him was a high space, long and broad, all full of endless heavenly beauty. He looked lovingly at his servant all the time, especially when the servant fell. It seemed to me that his loving look could melt our hearts with love and break them in two with joy."

Sloane: "The color of his face was faire browne, with ful semely features, his eyen were blak most faire and semely shewand ful of lovely pety and within him an heyward long and brode all full of endles hevyns, and the lovely lokeing that he loked upon his servant continuly and namely in his fallyng me thowte it myte molten our herts for love & bresten hem on to for joy."

Sloane: "His face was a fair brown, with very handsome features. His eyes were black, most beautiful and pleasing, and showed a heart full of loving pity. Within him was a high expanse, long and broad, all full of endless heavens. He looked lovingly at his servant continually, especially when the servant fell. I thought his look could melt our hearts with love and burst them in two for joy."

The Sloane MS. does not mention the writer of the book, but the copyist of the Paris version has, after the Deo Gratias with which it ends, added or transcribed these words: Explicit liber Revelationem Julyane anatorite [sic] Norwyche cujus anime propicietur Deus.

The Sloane MS. does not name the book's author. But the copyist of the Paris version added or copied these words after the Deo Gratias that ends the text: Explicit liber Revelationem Julyane anatorite [sic] Norwyche cujus anime propicietur Deus.

Blomefield, in his History of Norfolk (iv. p. 81), speaks of "an old vellum Manuscript, 36 pages of which contained an account of the visions, etc.," of the Lady Julian, anchoress at St. Julian's, Norwich, and quotes the title written by a contemporary: "Here es a Vision shewed by the godenes of God to a devoute Woman: and her name is Julian, that is recluse at Noryche, and yett is on life, Anno Domini mccccxlii. In the whilke Vision er fulle many comfortabyll words, and greatly styrrande to alle they that desyres to be Crystes Looverse"—greatly stirring to all that desire to be lovers of Christ. This Manuscript, possibly containing the writing of Julian herself, was in the possession of the Rev. Francis Peck (1692-1743). The original MSS. of that antiquarian writer went to Sir Thomas Cave, and ultimately to the British Museum, but his general library was sold in 1758 to Mr T. Payne (of Payne & Foss), bookseller, Strand, and this old Manuscript of the "Revelations," which has been sought for in vain in the catalogues of public collections, may perhaps have been bought and sold by him.¹ It may be extant in some private library.

Blomefield, in his History of Norfolk (iv. p. 81), mentions an old vellum manuscript. Thirty-six pages contained an account of the visions and other matters concerning Lady Julian, an anchoress at St. Julian's, Norwich. He quotes the title written by a contemporary: "Here is a vision shown by the goodness of God to a devout woman. Her name is Julian, and she is a recluse at Norwich, still alive in the year of our Lord 1442. In this vision are many comforting words, greatly stirring to all who desire to be lovers of Christ." This manuscript, which may have contained Julian's own writing, belonged to the Rev. Francis Peck (1692-1743). The original manuscripts of that antiquarian writer went to Sir Thomas Cave and eventually to the British Museum. But his general library was sold in 1758 to Mr T. Payne (of Payne & Foss), a bookseller in the Strand. People have searched the catalogues of public collections in vain for this old manuscript of the "Revelations." Perhaps Payne bought and sold it.¹ It may still exist in a private library.

Tersteegen, who, in his Auserlesene Beschreibungen Heiliger Seelen, gives a long extract from Julian's book (vol. iii. p. 252, 3rd ed. 1784), mentions in his preface that he had seen "in the Library of the late Poiret" an old Manuscript of these Revelations. Pierre Poiret, author of several works on mystical theology, died in 1719 near Leyden, but the Manuscript has not found its way to the University there.

In his Auserlesene Beschreibungen Heiliger Seelen, Tersteegen includes a long extract from Julian's book (vol. iii. p. 252, 3rd ed. 1784). In his preface, he mentions seeing an old manuscript of these Revelations "in the Library of the late Poiret". Pierre Poiret wrote several works on mystical theology and died in 1719 near Leyden. But the manuscript has not found its way to the University of Leyden.

Poiret himself refers thus to Julian and her book in his Catalogus Auctorum Mysticorum, giving to her name the asterisk denoting greatness: "Julianae Matris Anachoretae, Revelationes de Amore Dei. Anglice. Theodidactae, profundae, ecstaticae." (Theologiae Pacificae itemque Mysticae, p. 336. Amsterdam, 1702.)

In his Catalogus Auctorum Mysticorum, Poiret refers to Julian and her book as follows. He marks her name with an asterisk to indicate her greatness: "Julianae Matris Anachoretae, Revelationes de Amore Dei. Anglice. Theodidactae, profundae, ecstaticae." (Theologiae Pacificae itemque Mysticae, p. 336. Amsterdam, 1702.)

The earliest printed edition of Julian's book was prepared by the Benedictine Serenus de Cressy, and published in 1670 by permission of his ecclesiastical Superior, the Abbot of Lambspring, under the title of Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love. It agrees with the Manuscript now in Paris, but the readings that differ from the Sloane Manuscript are very few and are quite unimportant. This version of de Cressy's is in Seventeenth Century English with some archaic words, which are explained on the side margins; it was re-printed in 1843. A modernised version taken from the Sloane MS. was published, with a preface, by Henry Collins in 1877 (T. Richardson & Sons).

The earliest printed edition of Julian's book was prepared by the Benedictine Serenus de Cressy and published in 1670. His ecclesiastical superior, the Abbot of Lambspring, gave permission for its publication under the title Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love. The edition agrees with the manuscript now in Paris. Its readings differ very little from those of the Sloane Manuscript, and the differences are quite unimportant. De Cressy's version uses seventeenth-century English with some archaic words, which are explained in the side margins. It was reprinted in 1843. In 1877, Henry Collins published a modernized version based on the Sloane Manuscript, with a preface (T. Richardson & Sons).

These three, the only printed editions, are now all of great rarity.

These three are the only printed editions, and all are now very rare.

For the following version, the editor having transcribed the Sloane MS., divided its continuous lines into paragraphs, supplied to many words capital letters, and while following as far as possible the significance of the commas and occasional full stops of the original, endeavoured to make the meaning clearer by a more varied punctuation. As the book is designed for general use, modern spelling has been adopted, and most words entirely obsolete in speech have been rendered in modern English, though a few that seemed of special significance or charm have been retained. Archaic forms of construction have been almost invariably left as they are, without regard to modern grammatical usage. Occasionally a word has been underlined for the sake of clearness or as a help in preserving the measure of the original language, which in a modern version must lose a little in rhythm, by altered pronunciation and by the dropping of the termination "en" from verbs in the infinitive. Here and there a clause has been put within parentheses. The very few changes made in words that might have any bearing on theological or philosophical questions, any historical or personal significance in the presentment of Julian's view, are noted on the margin and in the Glossary. Where prepositions are used in a sense now obscure they have generally been left as they are (e.g., of for by or with), or have been added to rather than altered (e.g., for is rendered by the archaic but intelligible for that, rather than by because, and of is amplified by words in square brackets, as [by virtue] of, [out] of rather than changed into through or from). The editor has desired to follow the rule of never omitting a word from the Manuscript, and of enclosing within square brackets the very few words added. It may be seen that these words do not alter the sense of the passage, but are interpolated with a view to bringing it out more clearly, in insignificant references (e.g. "in this [Shewing]"), and once or twice in a passage of special obscurity (see chap. xlv.).

For the following version, the editor transcribed the Sloane MS. and divided its continuous lines into paragraphs. The editor also added capital letters to many words. While following the meaning of the original commas and occasional periods as closely as possible, the editor used more varied punctuation to make the meaning clearer. Since the book is intended for general use, it uses modern spelling. Most words no longer used in speech have been rendered in modern English, though a few with special significance or charm have been retained. Archaic sentence structures have almost always been left unchanged, regardless of modern grammar. Occasionally, a word has been underlined for clarity or to help preserve the rhythm of the original language. A modern version must lose some of that rhythm because of changes in pronunciation and the removal of the ending "en" from infinitive verbs. Here and there, a clause has been placed in parentheses. The very few changes to words that might affect theological or philosophical questions are noted in the margin and in the Glossary. So are changes to words that might have historical or personal significance in the presentation of Julian's view. Prepositions used in a sense that is now obscure have generally been left unchanged, such as of for by or with. Otherwise, words have been added to them rather than changing them. For example, for is rendered as the archaic but understandable for that, rather than as because. And words in square brackets have been added to of, as in [by virtue] of and [out] of, rather than changing it to through or from. The editor has aimed never to omit a word from the Manuscript and to enclose the very few added words in square brackets. These words can be seen not to change the meaning of the passage. They have been added to bring out the meaning more clearly in minor references, such as "in this [Shewing]". They have also been added once or twice in a particularly obscure passage (see chap. xlv.).