[Religious prose andverse]: manuscript, [between 1450 and 1467]
Contributor
Lydgate, John, 1370?-1451? Maidstone, Richard, -1396 Sabin, Frank T., -1915, former owner Bement, Clarence S. (Clarence Sweet), 1843-1923, former owner
Ms. codex of religious prose and verse by Richard Maidstone, John Lydgate and others. Title from printed catalogue. Parchment, ff. ii (modern paper) + 62 (61, a flyleaf; 62, tipped-in strip of paper) + loose parchment strip (art. 25) + iii (modern paper); 255 × 170 (170 × 100) mm. 18(-7, before f. 7) 28(-4, before f. 11) 38(-1, 6, before ff. 15 and 19) 4-88. Written in England in the middle of the fifteenth century, in textura quadrata scripts by 2 main scribes: i, ff. 1-49; ii, ff. 49v-59v and 60 line 20-60v, apparently by T. Werken, whose name, decorated with knot-like and flower flourishes, and the date 1467 are on f. 60v. 1. ff. 1-6v: [Lydgate, Calendar in verse]. 2. ff. 7-10v: [Arma Christi]. 3. ff. 11-14: [15 O’s]. 4. f. 14r-v: Pater noster, Ave Maria and Credo. 5. ff. 15-16: [Litany in verse]. 6. f. 16r-v: [Prayer to Christ]. 7. ff. 16v-17v: [Richard de Caistre]. 8. ff. 17v-18v: Oracio. 9. ff. 18v-19: [Prayer to the Virgin from the Speculum Christiani]. 10. f. 19r-v: Septem gaudia beate marie. 11. ff. 19v-20: [Five Joys of the Virgin]. 12. ff. 20v-21: [Lydgate, verse paraphrase of the Pater Noster]. 13. ff. 21-22v: [Lydgate, Prayer to the Virgin]. 14. ff. 22v-41v: [Richard Maidstone, verse paraphrase of the penitential psalms]. 15. ff. 41v-44v: [Litany in verse]. 16. ff. 45-47v: [Meditation on the Passion]. 17. ff. 48-49v: [Meditation on the Passion]. 18. ff. 49v-54v: Beatus Ieronimus vero hoc modo composuit psalterium sicut angelus domini docuit eum per spiritum sanctum et propter hoc abbreviatum est… 19. ff. 54v-58: [Psalms of the Passion, 21-30 v. 6]. 20. ff. 58-59v: Incipit letania de beata virgine maria a beato bernardo edita quicumque eam cotidie devote cantaverit ipsa in die obitus sui ei apparebit. 21. ff. 59v-60v: [Suffrage of Erasmus]. 22. ff. 59v-60: [Suffrage of Gabriel]. 23. f. 61r-v: Lists of the 7 capital sins, the 5 senses, the 7 works of mercy, the 10 Commandments ... 24. f. 62: 4 appellations each for God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the Virgin. 25. [Prayer or charm for protection for the household; previously loose in volume, now in custody of Curator]. Eighteen colored or grisaille illustrations to the Arma Christi (art. 2), ca. 25 × 30 mm. placed at the left of the text, within the bounding line. One surviving 6-line initial, f. 22, in particolored blue and pink on a gold ground, infilled with a richly shaded flower, with a full bar and foliage border; similar initials and borders may have begun arts. 2, 3, 5, 9 (leaves now missing). 3- and 2-line gold initials on white-patterned blue/pink grounds, with floral sprays ending in green and gold leaves; these initials without sprays in the Arma Christi. 1-line initials alternating gold with blue flourishing or blue with red. On f. 14r-v (art. 4) and ff. 49-60 (second scribe), spaces reserved for initials; blank spaces of 18 lines on f. 50, 16 on f. 54v, 12 on f. 58v, 15 on f. 60 (filled by subsequent text, art. 22), presumably reserved for miniatures. Rubrics in red; major feasts in the calendar (art. 1) in blue; no rubrics on ff. 49-60. Binding: Bound in 19th century in half blue straight grain morocco over pasteboards, gold tooled. HM 142. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Catholic Church--Prayers and devotions Didactic literature, English (Middle) Didactic poetry, English (Middle) Litanies--Catholic Church--Texts Manuscripts, Medieval--California--San Marino Manuscripts England 15th century. (aat)
Source
Manuscripts, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Belonged to Clarence S. Bement of Philadelphia; not identified in his sales (28 February, 29 March 1923); apparently acquired by Henry E. Huntington before 1916.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
