H (the earliest extant manuscript of the English Apocalypse) and P (another early copy which predates the Wycliffite LV) supply alternate readings for apparent scribal errors in MS. Significant deviations from MS are also noted here, including those places where MS exhibits influence from LV. LV Apocalypse quotations in these notes are taken from the edition that appears as Appendix A in this volume.
Prologue, Paragraph 1
Seynt. The first word
of the Prologue and of each chapter begins with a rubricated initial letter.back to note source
and seeth and understondith and seeth the tribulaciouns. So MS. H: seiȝ and understood þe tribulaciouns and þe
sorouȝes.back to note source
Prologue, Paragraph 2
Prologue, Paragraph 3
Prologue, Paragraph 4
Prologue, Paragraph 5
sevene sightis. MS:
sevene sevene siȝtis. Scribal error. MS has a note in the bottom
margin which is apparently a correction: sevene
siȝts.back to note source
tellen. So MS. H
adds: And God almiȝtful be at oure bigynnyng ȝif
it be his wille. Amen.back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 1
Apocalips. The first
word of each chapter begins with a rubricated initial letter. The first page of the
biblical text, fol. 204r, features a second scribal hand with a smaller and tighter
textura script, which runs from verse 1:1 to the middle of the gloss following verse 1:16
(1.¶8). The following page, fol. 204v, returns to the original scribal hand from the
Prologue, which continues to the end of the Apocalypse.back to note source
God. As noted in the
introduction to this edition, the Plimpton manuscript in general does not contain
illuminations, and even its rubricated initial letters tend to be understated. The one
slight exception to this rule is this first page of the biblical text (fol. 204r), which
is written in a more formal textura hand than the rest of the Apocalypse. The stems of
several letters on the top line have flourishes which curve into the margin, in particular
the two iterations of the word which(e) and the initial s of servauntis. The h
in Jhesu, appropriately, extends above the top line and curves into
a shape resembling a shepherd’s crook. The d of God becomes a circle with what appear to be two eyes, a nose, and a frowning face.
(See Figure 1 on p. vi.)back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraphs 1–4
Apocalips of Jhesu Crist . . . to comynge, almyghti. So MS, following LV. H, P,
and other early manuscripts of the English Apocalypse omit verses
1:1–8. MS continues to follow LV in verses 1:9–16 and 3:12–22 (see textual notes, below,
for 1.¶5, 1.¶7, And Y turnede, 3.¶4–5, And
to the aungele, and 3.¶¶7–9, And to the
aungele; these textual notes provide alternate readings from H, whose translation
predates LV).back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 5
I, Joon, youre brother .
. . to Loadicia. So MS, following LV. H verses 1:9–11: [9] Ich,
Johan, youre broþer and partinere in tribulaciouns and duelle in
pacience in Jhesu Crist, was in an yle of the see that is cleped Pathmos and was exiled for Goddes wordes and for I bare witnesse of Jesu Crist. [10] And on a
Sonenday, in gost Ich herd a grete voice biside me as it were þe
soune of a trumpe [11] þat seide to me, “Write in þe book þat þou seest and sende it to þe seven chirches of
Asye, þat is to wyte to Ephesie, Smirme, Pargame, Tiatire, Carde,
Philadelphe, & Laodice.”back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 6
Glose. MS marks the
start of glosses here and in 1.¶8 with the word glose in red. The
glossed sections are inconsistently labeled thereafter; this edition standardizes
them.back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 7
Texte. MS marks the
beginning of each section of biblical text with the word texte or
tixte in red; this edition standardizes the spelling. The one
exception is chapter beginnings, which are marked with a rubricated initial capital and
the chapter number in the margin.back to note source
And Y turnede . . . in his vertu. So MS, following LV. H verses 1:12–16:
[12] And I tourned me to see þe voice þat spaak
to me, and I seiȝ seven candelstickes. [13] On þat semed the
maidens son þat was cloþed in an aube riȝth unto the erþe and gird under his tittes wiþ a girdel of
golde. [14] His heued and his here was white as wolle and as
snow, and his eiȝen as flaume of fyre, [15] and his feet as
gleedes brennande. His voice was as voice of many watres,
[16] and he had in his riȝth honde seven sterres, and out at his mouþe com a swerd kervyng on boþe
parties. And his visage was as þe sonne whan it shyneþ
briȝttest.back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 8
Chapter 1, Paragraph 9
Chapter 1, Paragraph 10
of Asie. So MS. H
omits, following AN and Vulgate. MS marks the end of many sections of biblical text,
starting here, with the word ende in red. The label is
inconsistently applied; this edition omits it and standardizes Glose to mark the beginning of the glossed sections.back to note source
Chapter 1, Paragraph 11
Chapter 2, Paragraph 1
for the synnes of the puple. So MS. H: for þe synnes of þe folk. Every manuscript of the English Apocalypse includes a variation on this phrase, but it is not in the
AN or Vulgate. It appears to be an interpretive addition original to the Middle English
translator.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 2
Chapter 2, Paragraph 5
and art blasfemed . . .
these thingis whiche thu schalt suffre. So MS, following LV.
The script from here to the end of the folio page is written in a darker ink and runs into
the lower margin, suggesting a later addition or correction. H: þe
assaut of fals folk þat blasfemen þee.back to note source
and he that
overcometh. So MS and H. Four manuscripts of the English
Apocalypse follow the AN and Vulgate in starting verse 11 with he þat haþ eris, here he what þe spirit seiþ to þe chirchis (Fridner, p. 14).back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 6
Chapter 2, Paragraph 7
and thu holdist . . .
where Satanas dwellith. So MS in a marginal addition, following LV. H omits.back to note source
In as moche ye have forsake my lawe. So MS. MS and H translate this line from the
AN, but it is not in the Vulgate. It appears to be an interpretive addition original to
the AN translator.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 8
o thinge. So MS. H:
oo þing. Both follow AN: une chose [one thing] (Fridner, p. 16). LV follows the Vulgate: a fewe thingis. See also textual note for 2.¶12, below.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 9
“And to hym.” So MS.
H: unto hym. LV follows the Vulgate in starting verse 17 with He that hath eeres, here he what the Spiritt seith
to the chirchis, which none of the English
Apocalypse manuscripts do. The AN manuscript that Fridner transcribes does not
include the start of this verse, but he supplies it from one that does (Fridner, p. 16),
so it may be that the Middle English translator was working from a corrupt AN copy.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 10
blisse of heven, and that
is manna. So MS. H: mete of hevene, and þat is manna aungels mete.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 11
thi charité. So MS
and H. LV adds, following the Vulgate: and thi service and thi
pacience.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 12
o thing. So MS and
H, following AN. LV follows the Vulgate: a fewe thingis. See also
textual note for 2.¶8, above.back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 13
“To you . . . the develis
techynge.” So MS and H, following AN. LV follows the Vulgate in expanding on this
phrase: and to other that ben at Tiatire, who
ever han not this teching and that knewen not the highnesse of
Sathanas, hou thei seyn. See also explanatory note.back to note source
And he that overcometh . . . dai sterre. MS and H remove a clause from verse 26
and omit verses 27 and 29. LV: [26] “And to him
that shal overcome and that shal kepe til in to the ende my
werkis I shal gife power on folkis [over mankind], [27] and he shal governe hem in an yren
yarde [rod], and thei shulen be broken
togider, as a vessel of a potter, as also I resceyvede of my
Fadir. [28] And I schal gife to him a morewe sterre [morning
star]. [29] He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.”back to note source
Chapter 2, Paragraph 14
Chapter 3, Paragraph 1
seven sterris. So MS
and P. Vulgate: septem spiritus Dei et septem stellas [seven
spirits of God and seven stars].back to note source
and thou lyvest. So
P. MS omits, an apparent scribal error. All other manuscripts follow the Vulgate’s word
order: vivas et mortuus es [you live and you are dead] (Fridner, p.
21).back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 2
aungels. MS and P
omit verse 3:6. LV: He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt
seith to the chirchis.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 3
Chapter 3, Paragraphs 4–5
“And to the aungele . . . my newe name.” So MS, following LV. P verses
3:7–12: [7] Unto þe chirche of Philadelphe, write
þis, seiþ he þat þat seith, þe holy and soþfast þat haþ David
þe keye þat openeþ and noman ne schetteþ. [8] I wot ȝoure werkes, and hath ȝoven ȝou þe dore
open þat non ne may schetten. Forþi þat þou has a litel vertu and
haste kepte my word and nouȝth forsaken my lawe. [9] Loo, I schal ȝive þee þe synagog of Sathan þat
seien þat þai ben Jewes and ne ben nouȝth. And I schal do hem
comen and fallen before þi feete in worschipp, and þai schullen
witen þat þai loven þee. [10] And for þat
þou hast kepte þe comaundementz of pacience, I schal kepe þee fro
þe temptacioun þat schal come overal in þe werlde þat tempteþ hem
þat wonen in erþe. [11] Holde þat þou hast
non ne take thi coroune. [12] And hym þat Ich þus overcome, I
schal make hym piler in þe temple of my God, and þe name of
my God, and þe name of þe cité newe Jerusalem þat com adoun from hevene, and my newe name.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 5
newe name. MS and P
omit verse 3:13. LV: He that hath eeris, here he
what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 6
Chapter 3, Paragraph 7
that is medicyne . . . that thou see. So MS; this definition is added by
the LV translators and not in the Vulgate. See textual note for 3.¶5 of Appendix A.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 8
“Whom I love, I reprove
and chastise.” MS: I whom I love, reprove
and chastise. Apparent scribal error. Compare LV: I repreve and chastise whom I love.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 9
Chapter 3, Paragraphs 7–9
“And to the aungele . . . seyn to chirchis.” So MS, following LV. P verses
3:14–22: [14] Unto þe bisschopp of Laodyce, write þat seiþ he þat is sooþ witnesse writen trewe and verrey. [15] I
wot wel þine werkes for þou art neiþer hot ne colde. [16] Bot
for þou art bytwene two, þou makest me to wlaþþen [feel nauseated]. I schal bigynne to cast þee out of my mouþe by þe fore feete. [17] For þou
seist þat þou art riche and hast mester [need] of noþing, and þou ne wost þat þou art wrecched and
pouere and blynde and naked. [18] And forþi I rede þat þou bye of my golde tried and proved forto
bicome riche, and þat þou cloþe men in white cloþing þat þi
schame ne schewe nouȝth þat þou art naked. And grese þine eiȝen wiþ þis oyle forto seen. [19] I blame and
chastise hem þat I love. And þerfore do penaunce. [20] Stondeþ
atte þe dore and beteþ that hereþ my voice and openeþ me
þe ȝate and I schal entre unto hem and make þere my sopere wiþ hem and he wiþ me. [21] He þat
overcometh I schal do hym sytte by me in my throne as Ich have
overcomen and sytt with my fader. [22] Who þat haþ eren hereþ what þe spiryt seiþ to þe chirche.back to note source
Chapter 3, Paragraph 10
deef heed. So MS. P:
tewedes [lukewarm]. MS, P, and LV, as well as the AN and Vulgate,
make no mention of deafness in the preceding biblical passage.back to note source
castyng. So P. MS:
castthing. A possible scribal error due to the line break at cast/thing.back to note source
levynge of seine forevere. So MS. P: schrift. MS seine is apparently an alternate spelling of sinne, though not attested by MED.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 1
sardines. MS and P
omit the second half of verse 4:3. LV: and a reynbowe was in the cumpas
of the seete, lyk the sight of smaragdyn [emerald].back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 2
biforn Jhesu Crist and
sweren of his blod. So MS. P: and ansueren
bifore Jesu Crist of blood.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 3
lightynge and
thundrynge. So MS. H: liȝtnesse and
þondrynge. Neither MS nor H translate the Vulgate et voces
[and voices] in the middle of this phrase. AN has voiz (Fridner, p.
31) and LV voicis. Fridner notes that one late English Apocalypse manuscript, Bodley MS Rawlinson C.750, has voyses. See explanatory note for 4.¶4, Bi the
voisis.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 4
Chapter 2, Paragraph 14–Chapter 4, Paragraph 4
heretikis that lyven . . . that ben confermed thorough. So MS. H is missing the
manuscript page that would contain these lines; P supplies alternate readings for this
section.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 4
thorough tribulacioun. H resumes after the missing page with the second half
of þo|rouȝ.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 5
Chapter 4, Paragraph 6
meknesse withyne in hert and charité. So MS. H: sorouȝ of herte and shrift of mouþe.back to note source
Chapter 4, Paragraph 7
Chapter 4, Paragraph 8
Chapter 5, Paragraph 1
Chapter 5, Paragraph 2
Chapter 5, Paragraph 3
Chapter 5, Paragraph 4
That thei hadden the
violis of gold ful of swete odoures bitokeneth. So MS. H
omits.back to note source
ende. So MS. H
adds: Jhesu Crist graunte us grace so forto don þat we mowen comen into his regne and dwellen wiþ hym.
Amen.back to note source
Chapter 5, Paragraph 5
the foure and twenti grete and the foure bestis. So MS and H. Vulgate and AN omit
the specific numbers. LV: of the beestis and of
the eldir men.back to note source
to resceyven vertu.
So MS and H. All manuscripts of the English Apocalypse omit the
next item in the list: Vulgate divinitatem [divinity]; AN devinité (Fridner, p. 43); LV godheede.back to note source
honour. MS and H
omit most of verse 5:13. LV: And ech creature
that is in hevene and that is on erthe and undir erthe and the
see and wiche thingis ben in it, I herde alle seynge to him that
satt in the troone and to the lomb, “Blessing and onour and glorie and power in to worldis of worldis.”back to note source
Chapter 5, Paragraph 6
Chapter 6, Paragraph 2
Chapter 6, Paragraph 3
Chapter 6, Paragraph 4
Chapter 6, Paragraph 5
Chapter 6, Paragraph 6
Chapter 6, Paragraph 7
Chapter 6, Paragraph 8
Chapter 6, Paragraph 9
of her britheren.
So MS and H, following AN. Vulgate: conservi eorum et fratres eorum
[their fellow-servants and their brothers]. LV: of her felowis and of
her bretheren.back to note source
Chapter 6, Paragraph 10
Chapter 6, Paragraph 11
stirynge. MS: furynge. An apparent scribal error, in which the scribe crossed the
wrong bar to make the long s look like an f
and the ti look like a u. The word furynge is not attested in the MED. H: stiriȝing.back to note source
Chapter 6, Paragraph 12
Chapter 6, Paragraph 13
Chapter 7, Paragraph 1
stiyende up fro the
risyng. So MS, possibly influenced by LV. H: unto þe
estward.back to note source
the servauntis of oure
God in ther forhedes. So MS. H: þe tokne of þe Lorde in þe
foreheuedes of his servauntz.back to note source
an hundride foure and
fourti thousende. So MS. H: foure þousande and fourty
hundreþ.back to note source
Chapter 7, Paragraph 2
Neptalym, as many . . .
Manasse, as manye. So MS. H follows AN and the Vulgate in placing Manasse directly after Neptalym.back to note source
Chapter 7, Paragraph 3
Chapter 7, Paragraph 4
Chapter 7, Paragraph 6
Chapter 7, Paragraph 7
Chapter 7, Paragraph 8
Chapter 7, Paragraph 9
Chapter 8, Paragraph 1
Chapter 8, Paragraph 2
Chapter 8, Paragraph 3
Chapter 8, Paragraph 4
Chapter 8, Paragraph 6
Chapter 8, Paragraph 7
frist prechinge that was
prechide. So MS. H: predicaciouns [preaching] þat weren first made.back to note source
Chapter 8, Paragraph 8
is seide Wermwede . . .
and manye. So MS, possibly following LV. H: is made Alors
[Wormwood] þat is bitter, and mychel folk.back to note source
Chapter 8, Paragraph 9
alle bitter as wermwede
and lest manye. So MS. H: often of bitter tast as Alors and leseþ
many þat drynken.back to note source
Chapter 8, Paragraph 10
in erthe. MS and H
omit the second half of 8:13. LV: “. . . of the other voicis of thre
aungelis that shulen trumpe aftir.”back to note source
Chapter 8, Paragraph 11
Chapter 9, Paragraph 1
Chapter 9, Paragraph 2
Chapter 9, Paragraph 3
Chapter 9, Paragraph 4
Chapter 9, Paragraph 5
Chapter 9, Paragraph 6
Chapter 9, Paragraph 7
neddris. MS and H
omit the final phrase in 9:19. LV: serpentis havynge heedis, and in hem
thei noien [torment].back to note source
Chapter 9, Paragraph 8
Chapter 9, Paragraph 9
Texte. This is the
only textual passage in the English Apocalypse that is not followed
by a gloss. Chapter 10 begins immediately after verses 9:20–21 in all manuscripts of the
English Apocalypse (see Fridner, p. 74).back to note source
ther menslyngis ne of
her venym doyngis ne of her fornicaciouns. So MS, possibly
following LV. H: his unsiþes [crimes] ne of his
hounters [hunting] ne of his leccherie. MED (unsith [n.], sense 1) cites unsithes as a possible “error for homicide” (omicydes). For
more on hounters, see explanatory note for 21.¶3.back to note source
Chapter 10, Paragraph 1
Chapter 10, Paragraph 2
comynge. So MS. H:
connyng [skill, knowledge]. Likely a scribal error, since H is
the only manuscript with this reading.back to note source
Chapter 10, Paragraph 3
Chapter 10, Paragraph 5
Chapter 10, Paragraph 6
Chapter 11, Paragraph 1
And also . . . many
kyngis. MS and H mark the beginning of Chapter 11 here; modern convention assigns
this first verse to the end of Chapter 10.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 2
Chapter 11, Paragraph 3
soget to my soule . . .
reprevable. So MS. H: buxum to my soule,
and I ne lett nouȝth to prechen to oþere.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 4
Thei han power to close
hevene . . . wounde hou often thei wiln. So MS. H: þat han pouste to tourne þe water into blood and
forto smyten þe erþe wiþ what wonder þat þai willen.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 5
manas of the proude
mighti. So MS. H: manace þat he manaceþ þe wicked proude þat ben miȝthful.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 8
ther ben slayn in erthe stirynge the names of men seven thousende. So MS. H:
seven þousandes shullen ben sleyn of men.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 10
Chapter 11, Paragraph 12
thin halewis,
prophetis. So MS and H. AN: a tes serfs prophetes & a
seinz [to your servants the prophets and saints] (Fridner, p. 88). Vulgate: servis tuis prophetis et sanctis [your servants the prophets and
saints]. LV: thi servauntis and profetis and halowis.back to note source
Chapter 11, Paragraph 13
Chapter 12, Paragraph 1
voises and thundres and
erthe movynge. So MS, possibly following LV. H: voices stiryng.back to note source
And the temple . . . and
haile. MS and H mark the beginning of Chapter 12 here; the Vulgate assigns this
first verse to the end of Chapter 11.back to note source
Chapter 12, Paragraph 2
Chapter 12, Paragraph 3
Chapter 12, Paragraph 4
Chapter 12, Paragraph 5
the ten hornes the richesse . . . Ten Comaundementis. So MS. H: By þe ten hornes ben bitokned þe Ten Comaundementz
of God.back to note source
Chapter 12, Paragraph 6
Chapter 12, Paragraph 7
Chapter 12, Paragraph 8
Chapter 12, Paragraph 9
bi a tyme. So MS.
H: by oo tyme and two tymes and half a tyme,
following AN and Vulgate.back to note source
And out of his mouthe .
. . bytraped of the flode. So MS. H: Þhan
þe serpent sent out at his mouþe a watere as it were a flood forto bitrayen hir þorouȝ.back to note source
and stode hymself . . .
the see. MS and H place this sentence at the end of Chapter
12, following the Vulgate; the Authorized Version and most modern versions of the Bible
assign it to the first half of 13:1.back to note source
Chapter 12, Paragraph 10
cast out at his mouthe after the woman resceyvede. So MS. H: Þe water þat þe serpent sent out at þe mouþe after
þe womman bitokeneþ þe tribulaciouns þat þe womman
resceyveþ.back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 1
on his hedis names of blasfemye. So MS, possibly following LV. H: many blastynges [curses].back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 2
Chapter 13, Paragraph 3
slayn, and the heede deede was helid. So MS. H: sleyn
oiþer ded, and þe wounde of þe dede was
heled.back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 4
loude and to gyve . . . and his tabernacle. So MS. H: aloude
and to ȝiven blastyng aȝeins God and to blastengen his name and his thabernacle.back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 5
swerd. MS and H
omit the second half of verse 10. LV: This is the pacience and the feith
of seyntis.back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 6
Job . . . of the
unpitous. So MS. H: Jobes book, “And in þat þe erþe is ȝoven into wickednesse.”back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 7
or his name or the
noumbre of his name. So MS, possibly following LV. H: oiþer of
his name.back to note source
Chapter 13, Paragraph 8
Chapter 13, paragraph 9
his mark in her hond . .
. marke in the forhede. So MS. H: þe merk
in þe hond privelich and afterward in þe forhede
openlich.back to note source
perdicioun . . . leden
hem to perdicioun. So MS. H: lernesse [emptiness; fig.
perdition] whan he shal come forto desceyven þe
folk and leden hem to lernesse.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 1
Chapter 14, Paragraph 2
Chapter 14, Paragraph 3
Chapter 14, Paragraph 4
Chapter 14, Paragraph 5
Chapter 14, Paragraph 6
wyn of Goddis wraththe .
. . the cuppe. So MS. H: wyn and of þe water of God þat is menged [mixed] wiþ þe bitternesse of
þe chalice.back to note source
holi chirche. So
MS. H: þe holy, following AN seinz (Fridner,
p. 113) and Vulgate sanctorum.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 8
travels, for the werkes
of hem suen hem. So MS. H: werkes, forwhi
her werkes shullen folowen hem.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 9
Chapter 14, Paragraph 10
the maidenes sone
Marie. So MS and H, following AN come le Fiulz de la virge
[like the Son of the virgin] (Fridner, p. 116). Vulgate: similem Filio
hominis [like the Son of Man]. LV: lyk the sone of
man.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 11
kunnyng of God . . .
that is kervynge. So MS. H: juggement þat
is comande. H drops a line here between two repetitions of the word bitokened which MS preserves, demonstrating that both are working
from an earlier copy text.back to note source
the corun. The word
þe is an addition in the left margin of MS whose intended
placement in the line is unmarked. This is the only position in the line (yvele and . . . berne that is) which makes sense in context, though
it may instead be a scribal error repeating the from the previous
line (the yvele). H: his corne.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 12
fier and water. So
MS and H, following AN. The Vulgate mentions only ignem [fire].
Interestingly, the LV also disagrees with the Vulgate and lists fyr and
water, a rare instance of possible influence from the English
Apocalypse, in either its Anglo-Norman or Middle English form, on the Wycliffite
translators. See also textual note for 19.¶9, Goddis Sone,
below.back to note source
horsis. MS and H
omit the last phrase in verse 14:20, following AN. LV follows the Vulgate: bi furlongis a thusand and sixe hundrid. See
explanatory note for 14.¶13, the thousynde pas.back to note source
Chapter 14, Paragraph 13
pas and sixe
hundrid. So MS. H: part and seven hundreþ, an apparent
error. See explanatory note.back to note source
Chapter 15, Paragraph 4
Chapter 16, Paragraph 3
“Lord, rightful thou art
. . .” So MS and H, following AN: Vulgate adds: qui es et qui
eras sanctus [who is and who was holy]. LV: that art and were holi.back to note source
Chapter 16, Paragraph 4
Chapter 16, Paragraph 5
Chapter 16, Paragraph 6
Chapter 16, Paragraph 8
and therfore thei blasfemen. So MS. H: for her holynesse and
forþi þai blastenged.back to note source
the est. So MS. H
adds: God sende us grace þat we mowen comen to þat waie ȝif it be his wille. Amen.back to note source
Chapter 16, Paragraph 9
And. MS begins this
section of biblical text with a rubricated letter A, a style
normally reserved for chapter beginnings, and erroneously marks it as the start of Chapter
17 with the note C. xvii tixte. It marks the true start of Chapter
17 in an identical way two pages later (fol. 226r).back to note source
foule spiritis. So
MS and H. AN: trois espiriz orz [three foul spirits] (Fridner, p.
130). Vulgate: spiritus tres immundos [three unclean spirits]. LV:
thre unclene spiritis.back to note source
Chapter 16, Paragraph 11
be clepid not. So
MS. H: ne slepe nouȝth. H translates AN que nos ne saum endormi [that we are not asleep]. MS appears to be a
mistranslation, but the reading is attested in another early manuscript, British Library
MS Harley 3913.back to note source
“risynge
temptatiouns.” So MS. H: risyng to temptacioun. A large
blank space between these two words in the MS may indicate that the scribe intended to
insert to.back to note source
Chapter 16, Paragraph 12
blasfemeden Gode for
the plage of the hayl. So MS. H: blastengen God for his hevynesse [severity].back to note source
Chapter 16, Paragraph 13
Chapter 17, Paragraph 1
bordelrye. MS and H
follow AN bordelere [bordello, brothel], which mistranslates the
Vulgate meretricis [prostitute]. LV: hoore
[whore].back to note source
here leccherie. So
MS. H follows AN in adding: and þai þat wonen in
erþe þat ben dronken of þe wyne of his botrye [buttery, wine
cellar], but botrye is a mistranslation of AN bordelerie [brothel] (Fridner, p. 137). Fridner suggests that H mistook the word
for botelrie [bottle shop], perhaps led by the suggestion of wyne (Fridner, p. 236n). LV: and thei that duellen
in the erthe ben made drunken of the wyn of hir
leyccherie.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 2
with gold. MS and
H, following AN, omit the phrase that follows in the Vulgate: et
coccino [and scarlet]. LV: and reed [red].back to note source
hir, Mysterie Babilon, the gret moder of fornicaciouns. So MS, possibly following
LV. H: þe prince of Babiloyne, þe grete see of þe
see of leccherie. The mistranslation prince may be a
misreading of privité, which appears in most other English Apocalypse manuscripts (Fridner, p.
139) — Plimpton is the only manuscript to use Mysterie, which
parallels the LV. H’s see [sea] is likely a misreading of the AN
mere [mother] as mer [sea].back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 3
The grette see . . . schewide to Seynt Jon. So MS. H: Þat þe aungel shewed to Seint Johan þhe dampnacioun of þe grete bordelrie.back to note source
after her likyng. That
the name of priveté. So MS. H: and turnen after her lyvyng. Þat
þe name of þe prince.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 4
And. MS begins this
section of biblical text with a rubricated letter A, a style
normally reserved for chapter beginnings.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 5
world. MS and H
omit the final phrase in verse 17:8. LV: seynge the beest that was and is not.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 6
sevene. MS and H
omit the final phrase in verse 17:11. LV: and shal go into
periysshing.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 7
power as kyng is oon
our. So MS. H: her kyngdomes, ac kyng is a lite [little] houre.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 8
that thou hast seien
wher the bordelrie . . . hornes that thou seie in the
beeste. So MS. H: þat þou seiȝ oure best.back to note source
her wille. So H and
MS. AN: que lur plest [what they pleased]. Vulgate: quod placitum est illi [what was pleasing to them]. LV: that that is pleesaunt to him.back to note source
Chapter 17, Paragraph 9
Chapter 18, Paragraph 1
the marchaundis of erthe
been. MS and H omit part of verse 18:3. LV: and kingis of the
erthe and marchandis of the erthe diden fornicacion with hir, and
thei ben.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 2
fleischli wisdam that
is for wynnynge, and that is coveitise. So MS. H: fleshlich delyt. Wisdom is bitokned coveitise
by.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 3
Yeldith to hir as sche yeld to hem. So MS. H: Ȝelde hem as þai ȝelden to þee. Throughout this passage, H uses both
singular and plural pronouns for Babylon. See explanatory note for 14.¶5, his leccherie.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 4
Chapter 18, Paragraph 5
Chapter 18, Paragraph 6
purpre. MS and H
omit the second half of verse 18:12 and verses 13–14, and these also do not appear in most
AN manuscripts (Fridner, p. 240n). LV: [12] “. . . and of silk and
coccyn [scarlet cloth] and eche tre
tyme [cypress] and alle vessels of yver [ivory] and alle vessels of precious stoon and of bras and
of iren and of marbil [13] and canel [cinnamon] and amonye
[aromatic plants] and of swete smellinge thingis
and oynementis and encense and of wyn and of oile and of flour
and of wheete and of werk beestis and of sheep and of horsis and
of cartis and of servauntis and other lifes of men. [14] And thine applis of the desir of thi lyf wenten
awei fro thee, and alle fatte thingis and ful clere periysshiden
fro thee.”back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 7
Chapter 18, Paragraph 8
ech governoure and alle
. . . maryneres and thei that werken. So MS. H: in hym þat governed hem þat weldeþ hem alle and þai
þat wrouȝtten.back to note source
“Suche a citee was nevere.” So MS and H, following AN. Vulgate: Quae similis civitati huic magnae? [What is similar to this great
city?]. LV: What is lyk this greet
citee?back to note source
Joieth upon hym . . .
dome of hir. So MS, possibly influenced by LV. H: Hevene is
heiȝer upon hym and þe apostles and þe prophetes, whi God jugged ȝoure juggement upon hem. And þai shullen have joye that God haþ venged hem. Fridner (p. 241n) notes that AN
contains only a paraphrase of this passage, so H’s translation (and mistranslation) is
taken directly from the Vulgate.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 9
and the holy
maken joye. MS: maken joye and the
holy. Emended for sense. H: and þe holy forto make
joye.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 10
vois of
mynstralsie. So MS. H: ne voice ne no
mynstralcye ne shal neuermore ben herd in hire. MS and H both omit the second half
of verse 22. LV: And ech crafti man [craftsman] and ech crafte shal no more be founden in it, and the vois
of mylnestoon [sound of the millstone] shal no more be herd in thee.back to note source
in hir venym
doyngis alle folkis han errid. So MS. H: he in his vanités florissheþ alle men. Fridner notes that
H’s mistranslation comes from a corruption in AN, which uses vanitez for venims (pp. 157, 241n).back to note source
founden in it. So
MS. H: founden in hym. MS and H both omit the second half of verse
24. LV: and of alle men that ben slayn in
erthe.back to note source
Chapter 18, Paragraph 11
here servyse as knyghtis. So MS. H: þe servise of þe clerkes. Fridner proposes H clerkes is a
mistranslation of AN chevaler [knight] (p. 242n).back to note source
aughten to techen . . .
bi preysyng and lordschipe. So MS. H: shulden governen oþere and techen.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 1
Chapter 19, Paragraph 5
grete troupe. So
MS. H: grete trumpe. H accurately translates AN grant boesine (Fridner, p. 160); MS may be a scribal error for troumpe or may be translating Vulgate turbae magnae [great
crowds]. LV: greet trumpe.back to note source
“Alleluia.” So MS.
H: Alleluya, id est saluum me fac deus [that is, God save me]. This
phrase in H is written in a separate scribal hand and is perhaps a later addition.back to note source
the weddyngis of the
Lomb. So MS, possibly following LV. H: richesses of soule. H
is a mistranslation.back to note source
it is gove to hir that
sche clothe hir with bisse clene. So MS. H: hir is ȝoven hylyng of his lyf cloth
clere.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 6
Chapter 19, Paragraph 7
Worschip thou God.
So MS, following LV. H: and worschipen God. MS and H omit the last
phrase of verse 19:10. LV: for the wittnessing of
Jhesu is spiritt of profecie.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 8
bitokeneth that thei ben
clepid . . . and wele lyven. So MS. H: to
his bridale in þis lyve, þoo ben þai þat stedfastlich bileven and wel loven.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 9
Goddis Sone. So MS
and H, and all other manuscripts of the English Apocalypse,
following the AN. However, the Vulgate reads Verbum Dei [Word of God]. Remarkably, the LV also has the Sone of Godde, possibly a rare instance of the English Apocalypse influencing the Wycliffite
translators. See also textual note for 14.¶12, fier and water,
above.back to note source
white hors. MS: þe white hors. The marginal addition þe is in
a separate hand and alters the accurate sense of the passage, that all the host of heaven
ride white horses. H: white horses.back to note source
tredith the pressoure of the wyne of Goddis wraththe. So MS. H: hath the pressoure of Goddes wraþþe.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 10
lyven. So MS. H:
bileven. Both words have the same meaning and translate AN croere [to believe].back to note source
bi quentise . . .
vertues and of good werkis. So MS. H: and
wiþ coveitise aȝein þe werlde, and wiþ pacience aȝein adversites and richesses, fiȝtten wiþ queyntise aȝein the flesshe, and wiþ discrecioun and abstinence and sternesse of penaunce and in clennesse stonden in vertu of gode werkes.back to note source
as robes that ben clade
with right bileve. So MS. H: his robes þat he is cloþed wiþ, bileven.back to note source
Chapter 19, Paragraph 11
kyngis. So MS. H:
kynges and þe flesshe of þe cheventaynes [governors] and þe flesshe of þe stronge, following AN and Vulgate.back to note source
Chapter 20, Paragraph 1
And. MS: nd. The large rubricated initial that would normally appear at the
start of the chapter is missing here, but three lines are indented to leave space for
it.back to note source
Chapter 20, Paragraph 2
Chapter 20, Paragraph 3
Chapter 20, Paragraph 4
sitte on the heyghest of
erthe. So MS. H: stiȝen up [ascended] upon
þe heiȝest of þe erþe. Each manuscript translates just a
portion of the AN original: munterunt & se apoerunt sure la
hautesce de la terre [they mounted up and sat themselves on
the height of the earth] (Fridner, p. 172). Vulgate: ascenderunt super latitudinem terrae [they ascended over the breadth of the
earth]. LV: thei stieden up on the broodnesse of erthe.back to note source
Chapter 20, Paragraph 5
setten her power . . .
that God loveth. So MS. H: ben sett al
aboute þe holy houses and þe cités þat God loveþ bitokneþ þat þai shullen setten her power aȝein the bileve
and aȝein alle þe sacrementz of holy chirche as þorouȝ prechyng
and fals wondres and tourmentz.back to note source
Chapter 20, Paragraph 6
deed men. So MS,
with a marginal note adding men in a separate scribal hand. H
omits.back to note source
in helle. And thei been
sent. So MS. H: And
helle and þe dede ben sent. In MS, the word
and appears before in helle with a
strikethrough, and a slash appears after helle to denote a phrase
ending. This could indicate a scribal error or a deliberate revision of the original
phrase; in either case, it is a departure from both AN and the Vulgate, which H follows.
LV: And helle and deeth weren sente.back to note source
Chapter 20, Paragraph 7
Chapter 21, Paragraph 1
And. The large
rubricated initial that would normally appear at the start of the chapter is missing in
MS, but three lines are indented to leave space for it, and a small a appears in the left margin.back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 2
“Writ thou, for these
been most trewe wordis and verrey.” So MS. H: Write. Þise wordes ben faiþful and
trewe.back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 3
Chapter 21, Paragraph 4
schal do awey. MS:
do au. H omits awey, but it is attested by
several manuscripts (Fridner, p. 180).back to note source
and overcomen. So
MS. H: and overcomen þe werlde and oure flesshe,
and þat is þat he seiþ he shal overcomen. The omission may
be deliberate but is likely a copying error.back to note source
been to hem God, and
thei schulen benn my sones. So MS. H: be
his God, and he shal be my son.back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 5
ferde. MS: is an ferde. An apparent scribal error; see MED, faren (v.), sense 14: “To be, appear, or seem (like
something else).” Emended for sense. H: semed.back to note source
northhalf. So MS.
H: southward þre ȝates and to þe northward.
The omission is a clear error, since MS later comments on the southern gates in the gloss
(21.¶7).back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 7
Chapter 21, Paragraph 9
Sardonycle. So MS.
H: Sardoyne [sard, carnelian], an apparent error. See explanatory
note, Sardonycle that is of thre coloures.back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 10
Chapter 21, Paragraph 11
And the folkis . . .
glorie and honour. So MS, possibly influenced by LV. H: And þe kynges of erþe shullen gon into hym into his
blis and in her honoures.back to note source
daye, and nyght schal not be there. So MS, following LV. H: niȝth, for þere ne shal be no niȝth.back to note source
thei schulen bryng
glorie and honour of hethene men into hir. So MS, possibly
influenced by LV since AN is missing this verse (see explanatory note). H: þe folk schal goo into her glorie and into her
blis.back to note source
Chapter 21, Paragraph 12
Chapter 22, Paragraph 1
ech cursid thing schal
no more be. So MS, following LV. H: wreþþing [anger, cursing] ne shal be no more.back to note source
serven hym. So MS.
A line that follows is struck out: and þei schulen servene
hym.back to note source
Chapter 22, Paragraph 2
Chapter 22, Paragraph 4
It is expouned
biforn. So MS. H: Þe understondyng of þis
may wel ben understonden, for it is seide bifore and þerfore it
is no myster [need] to writen it. An addition to the Vulgate
that originates with AN (Fridner, p. 199).back to note source
Chapter 22, Paragraph 5
nygh. He that noiez . .
. be halewid yit. So MS, following LV. H: nere honde. [11] Þat
anoieþ ȝete and þat is in filþe, in filþe is ȝete, and holy shal be holy ȝete.back to note source
Chapter 22, Paragraph 6
Chapter 22, Paragraph 7
Chapter 22, Paragraph 9
seith, “Kum.” MS
and H omit the sentence that follows. LV: And he that heerith [hears], seie he, “Come thou.”back to note source
Chapter 22, Paragraph 10
Chapter 22, Paragraph 11
Chapter 22, Paragraph 13
Chapter 22, Paragraph 14
Maries. So H. The
word in MS contains an erasure that removes part of the r and i.back to note source
with stedfast bileve and
bynd it with trust hope. So MS. H: þorouȝ
riȝt bileve and bynde it wiþ stedfast hope.back to note source
Amen. MS ends here.
The following line begins the next text in the Plimpton MS, titled The
Proverbes, which is a list of proverbial sayings and paraphrases from the Old
Testament. H adds: The Apocalips on Englissh here now makeþ ende. / Unto
þe blis of heven, God grante us grace to wende.back to note source