MS. Canon. Liturg. 271

Summary Catalogue no.: 19373

Portable Psalter with Antiphons, Carthusian Use; Italy, Milan (?), 15th century, third quarter

Psalter (Carthusian) (portable psalter with antiphons)

Fols. i–ii are blank paper fly-leaves.

[item 1 occupies quire I]

1. (fols. 1r–6v)

Carthusian calendar for the use of Garegnano Charterhouse, virtually identical to the calendar of another 15th-century psalter from the same house, MS. Canon. Liturg. 378. The calendar is laid out one month per page, written in red and black, approximately one-third full, graded to 12 lessons and ‘Candelarum’. The feast of relics is on 8 November and ‘Dedicatio ecclesie cartusie M(edio)l(an)i’ on 22 April, both in red. The feasts of Benedict (21 March), Hugh, bishop of Lincoln (17 November) and Ambrose (7 December) are in red. Also includes Thomas Aquinas (7 March), Hugh, bishop of Grenoble (1 April), Christina (24 July), Dominic (5 August), Bernard of Clairvaux (20 August) and Francis (4 October). Additions in several contemporary and later hands include trentals, ‘Regine francie et mariti et filiorum’ (2 March), ‘episcopi mauriani’ (29 April), and feasts: Catherine of Siena (6 May, canonized 1461), Bonaventure (14 July, canonized 1482), Columban (21 November), Barbara (4 December) and ‘officium clunianensium’(19 October). The feast of the Presentation of Our Lady is added by the main scribe (?) (21 November). Each page headed with a note on the length of the solar and lunar months.

[items 2–7 occupy quires II–X]

2. (fols. 7r–70r)

Psalms 1–150, laid out as prose, with titles ‘psalmus’ or ‘psalmus dauid’, without numbers. Punctuated throughout with colon used to mark metrum and minor pauses, and punctus used to mark the ends of verses. Psalms are in the biblical order, accompanied by antiphons, versicles and responses with rubrics which refer to monastic use. There are textual divisions at psalms 20, 26, 32, 38, 45, 52, 59, 68, 73, 79, 85, 95, 101, 104, 109, 118, 129, 134, 138, 141 and 144: 10 (psalms for the first (20, 32, 45, 59, 73, 85, 101) and second (26, 38, 52, 68, 79, 95, 105) Nocturns of Matins on Sunday and during the week, and for Vespers on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (129, 134, 138, 141, 144: 10, 109) in monastic use; see ‘Decoration’). Psalms 1 and 109 are the only to begin with historiated initials. Subdivisions within psalms are marked with 2-line initials and rubrics ‘diuisio’ or ‘psalmus dauid’ at 9: 20 (fol. 9v), 17: 26 (fol. 12v), 36: 27 (fol. 21v), 68: 17 (fol. 34r), 77: 36 (fol. 39r), 88: 20 (fol. 44r), 103: 25 (fol. 50v), 104: 23 (fol. 51v), 105: 32 (fol. 52v), 106: 25 (fol. 53v), 138: 11 (‘Et dixi ...’) (fol. 66r), 143: 9 (fol. 68r) and 144: 10 (fol. 68v). Antiphons sometimes follow the first part. Psalm 118 is subdivided into twenty-two 8-verse units.

3. (fol. 70r–74r)

Weekly canticles with titles, each followed by antiphons:

(1) Confitebor tibi domine (Isaiah 12) (‘Canticum ysaie prophete’);
(2) Ego dixi (Isaiah 38: 10–21) (‘Canticum ezechie regis’);
(3) Exultauit cor meum (1 Samuel 2: 1–11) (‘Canticum anne matris samuelis prophete’);
(4) Cantemus domino (Exodus 15: 1–20) (‘Canticum moysi’);
(5) Domine audiui (Habakkuk 3) (‘Canticum abachuch prophete’);
(6) Audite celi (Deuteronomy 32: 1–44) (‘Canticum moysi’) with subdivision marked at verse 22, ‘Ignis succensus ...’; rubric ‘diuisio’.

4. (fols. 74r–76v)

Daily canticles, prayers and creeds, some with titles:

(1) Benedicite omnia opera (‘Canticum ananie azarie et misaelis’) (fol. 74r);
(2) Te deum laudamus (‘Canticum sanctorum ambrosij et augustini’) (fol. 74v);
(3) Benedictus dominus deus (‘Canticum zacharie prophete’) (fol. 75r);
(4) Magnificat (‘Canticum gloriose uirginis marie’) (fol. 75r);
(5) Nunc dimittis (‘Canticum simeonis iusti’) (fol. 75v);
(6) Pater noster (fol. 75v), written in red;
(7) Apostles’ Creed (Credo in deum ... ) (‘Symbolum apostolorum’) (fol. 75v);
(8) Athanasian Creed (Quicumque uult ... ) (‘Symbolum athanasij’) (fol. 75v).

5. (fols. 76v–82r)

Canticles for the year, some with rubrics:

(1) Ecce dominus in fortitudine ueniet et brachium eius dominabitur (Isaiah 40: 10–17); (‘In aduentu domini cantica ad matutinas diebus dominicis’);
(2) Cantate domino canticum nouum laus eius ab extremis terre (Isaiah 42: 10–16) (‘Canticum’);
(3) Hec dicit dominus redemptor israel sanctus eius ... (Isaiah 49: 7–13) (‘canticum’);
(4) Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris uidit lucem magnam ... (Isaiah 9: 2–7) (‘In natiuitate domini nostri iesu christi Canticum’);
(5) Letare ierusalem et diem festum agite ... (Isaiah 66: 10–16, non-Vulgate text) (‘Canticum’);
(6) Urbs fortitudinis nostre syon saluator ponetur in ea ... (Isaiah 26: 1–12) (‘Canticum’);
(7) Deducant oculi mei lacrimas per diem et noctem ... (Jeremiah 14: 17–21) (‘In quadragesima Canticum’);
(8) Recordare domine quid acciderit nobis intuere et respice obprobrium nostrum ... (Lamentations 5: 1–21) (‘canticum’);
(9) Tollam quippe uos de gentibus et congregabo uos de uniuersis terris ... (Ezekiel 36: 24–28) (‘canticum’);
(10) Quis est iste qui uenit de edom tinctis uestibus de bosra ... (Isaiah 63: 1–5) (‘In resurrectione domini’);
(11) Uenite et reuertamur ad dominum quia ipse cepit et sanabit nos ...(Hosea 6: 1–6) (‘Canticum’);
(12) Expecta me dicit dominus in die resurrectionis mee in futurum ... (Zephaniah 3: 8–13) (‘Canticum’);
(13) Domine miserere nostri te enim expectauimus esto brachium ... (Isaiah 33: 2–10) (‘Dominicis diebus ab octaua penthecostes usque ad aduentum et ab octaua epiphanie usque ad quadragessimam Cantica’);
(14) Audite qui longe estis que fecerim dicit ... (Isaiah 33: 13–16) (‘Canticum’);
(15) Miserere domine plebi tue super quam inuocatum est nomen tuum ... (Sirach 36: 14–19) (‘Canticum’);
(16) Uos sancti domini uocabimini ministri dei nostri ... (Isaiah 61: 6–9) (‘Cantica in festis apostolorum euangelistarum et plurimorum martirum’);
(17) Reddidit deus mercedem laborum sanctorum suorum ... (Wisdom 10: 17–20) (‘Canticum’);
(18) Fulgebunt iusti et tanquam scintille in arundineto discurrent ... (Wisdom 3: 7–9) (‘Canticum’);
(19) Beatus uir qui in sapientia morabitur ... (Sirach 14: 22 and 15: 3–6) (‘In festo unius martiris uel confessoris’);
(20) Benedictus uir qui confidit in domino ... (Jeremiah 17: 7–8) (‘Canticum’);
(21) Beatus uir qui inuentus est sine macula (Sirach 31: 8–11) (‘Canticum’);
(22) Audite me diuini fructus ... (Sirach 39: 17–21) (‘In festo uirginum canticum’);
(23) Gaudens gaudebo in domino et exsultabit anima mea ... (Isaiah 61: 10–62: 3) (‘canticum’);
(24) Non uocaberis ultra derelicta ... (Isaiah 62: 4–7).

6. (fols. 82r–88v)

Hymnal with rubrics, comprising hymns for the year, from Advent to Pentecost, followed by the hymns for feasts and saints’ days, including Corpus Christi, John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary and the Exaltation of the Cross: Conditor alme (Chevalier, no. 3733), Eterne rerum conditor (Chevalier, no. 647), Splendor paterne (Chevalier, no. 19349), Ueni redemptor gentium (Chevalier, no. 21243), Egressus eius a patre (Chevalier, no. 5268), Deus creator omnium polique (Chevalier, no. 4426), Audi benigne conditor (Chevalier, no. 1449), Uexilla regis (Chevalier, no. 21481), Arbor decora (Chevalier, no. 1268), Hic est dies uerus dei (Chevalier, no. 7793), Misterium mirable ut abluat (Chevalier, no. 11831), Optatus uotis omnium sacratus (Chevalier, no. 14177), O grande cunctis gaudium (Chevalier, no. 13071), Ueni creator spiritus (Chevalier, no. 21204), Iam christus astra (Chevalier, no. 9215), Impleta gaudent uiscera (Chevalier, no. 8506), Pange lin- gua gloriosi corporis (Chevalier, no. 14467), Sacris solempnijs (Chevalier, no. 17713), Uerbum supernum prodiens nec patris (Chevalier, no. 21398), Ut queant laxis resonare (Chevalier, no. 21039), Antra deserti (Chevalier, no. 1214), O nimis felix meritique (Chevalier, no. 13311), Aue maris stella (Chevalier, no. 1889), Misterium ecclesie hymnum christo (Chevalier, no. 11828), Uere gratia plena es (Chevalier, no. 21408), Crux fidelis inter omnes (Chevalier, no. 4018), Christe redemptor omnium conserua tuos famulos (Chevalier, no. 2959), Iesu saluator seculi redemptis (Chevalier, no. 9677), Iam lucis orto sydere (Chevalier, no. 9272), Nunc sancte nobis spiritus (Chevalier, no. 12586), Rector potens uerax deus (Chevalier, no. 17061), Rerum deus tenax uigor (Chevalier, no. 17328), Christe qui lux es et dies (Chevalier, no. 2934).

7. (fols. 88v–96v)

Chapters for the year (‘Incipiunt capitula per anni circulum’), ending imperfectly because of the loss of at least one quire after fol. 96. Fols. 97r–99v are blank paper fly-leaves.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: mine: singulariter in spe (psalter, fol. 8r)

Form: codex

Support: parchment; paper fly-leaves

Extent: 101 leaves

Dimensions (leaf): c. 150 × 113 mm.

Leaves were trimmed in rebinding, occasionally causing the loss of decoration.

Foliation: modern, in pencil; i–ii + 1–99.

Collation

(fols. i–ii) paper fly-leaves | (fols. 1–6) I (6) | (fols. 7–96) II–X (10) | (fols. 97–99) paper fly-leaves. Catchwords survive

Layout

Ruled in plummet for two columns with single vertical bounding lines extending the full height of page; 30 lines per page; written below the top line; written space: c. 94 × 69 mm.

Hand(s)

Small formal Gothic book hand, black and brown ink.

Decoration

Red and blue penwork KL monograms in the calendar.

Historiated initials, decorated with foliage, on gold background:

fol. 7r Psalm 1 (initial B(eatus)) 9-line initial with half-figure of King David, playing psaltery.
(border, left, upper and lower margins) Gold bar in the left margin with sprays of flowers, leaves and fruit in the upper and lower margins.
fol. 55v Psalm 109 (initial D(ixit)) 9-line initial with the Throne of Grace (God-the-Father seated, holding Calvary, white dove flying above Christ’s head).
fol. 88v Chapters for the year (initial E(cce)) 6-line initial with half-figure of a prophet holding a scroll.

Border: see above.

5-line pink initials (4-line after fol. 58r, apart from the hymnal) with white arabesque designs, on gold background, infilled with flowers, fruit and foliage, with sprays of foliage extending into the margins at the beginnings of psalms 20 (fol. 14r), 26 (fol. 16v), 32 (fol. 19r), 38 (fol. 22v), 45 (fol. 25v), 52 (fol. 28r), 59 (fol. 30v), 68 (fol. 33v), 73 (fol. 36v), 79 (fol. 40v), 85 (fol. 42v), 95 (fol. 47v), 101 (fol. 49r), 105 (fol. 52r), 118 (fol. 58r), 138 (fol. 66r), 141 (fol. 67r), 144: 10 (fol. 68v), canticles for the year (fol. 76v), hymnal (fol. 82r) and chapters (fols. 89r, 91v, 92r, 92v).

4-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginnings of psalms 129 (fol. 63v) and 134 (fol. 64v).

2- to 3-line alternating red and blue initials, with contrasting purple and red penwork, at the beginnings of psalms, canticles, hymns and chapters.

1-line plain red and blue initials at the beginnings of verses and periods.

2-line and larger initials are usually followed by a capital, often with penwork decoration and highlighted with yellow wash. Penwork decoration sometimes includes anthropomorphic and zoomorphic detail. The incipits of major psalms are written in alternating red and black inks.

Rubrics in red ink.

Binding

16th century, late, or 17th century, Italian: thin pasteboards; dark red leather, tooled with some blind lines but mostly gilt lines, stamps and a roll, framing centrepieces of the Virgin Mary on a crescent moon (front cover) or of a male saint in clerical robes (back); spine gilt, no title or label; two small clasps present at fore-edge, with brown leather straps and metal tips; edges gilt, gauffered. 153–155 × 103 × c. 20 mm. (book closed). The manuscript was probably made for the Garegnano Charterhouse, Milan, dedicated to St. Ambrose who might therefore be the saint on back cover.

History

Origin: 15th century, third quarter ; Italian, Milan (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Made for the Carthusian house of Garegnano (?) near Milan: ‘Monast(erium) cartusie(nse)’, the rest erased, ‘Ml’ni in gra(du)(?)) go Sig(natus)(?) B. 421’, according to the Summary catalogue, vol. 4, 15th century (fol. 8r). Compare MS. Canon. Liturg. 378 and MS. Add. D. 47, probably from the same house.

15th-century and later additions in the calendar; corrections and additions in the margins of the chapters for the year (fols. 90r–96r), including ‘Andreas’ written in the right margin and a paragraph mark added at the start of the chapter for the feast of St Andrew, 16th century (?) (fol. 93r).

Matteo Luigi Canonici of Venice (1727–c. 1806), but not from the libraries of Soranzo or Trevisan.

Bodleian Library: bought in 1817 from Canonici’s nephew Giovanni Perissinotti. Earlier shelfmark: ‘E codd. Bodl. Miscell Liturg. cclxxi’ (fol. 1r).

Record Sources

Adapted (July 2024) from:

Elizabeth Solopova, Latin Liturgical Psalters in the Bodleian Library: A Select Catalogue (Oxford, 2013), pp. 548–53

B. C. Barker-Benfield, Bookbindings of Canonici manuscripts : a survey of early and non-standard bindings, mostly Italian, in the Canonici collection of the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (Oxford, privately printed, 2020) [binding]

Previously described in the Summary Catalogue.

Summary Catalogue, vol. 4, p. 371

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (6 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Select bibliography:

Summary catalogue, vol. 4, no. 19373.

Frere, no. 188.

S. J. P. van Dijk, Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, vol. 2: Office Books (typescript, 1957), p. 101

Pächt and Alexander (1966–73), vol. 2, no. 742, pl. LXXI.

Ker (1969–2002), vol. 2, p. 591.

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2024-07: Encode full description from Solopova catalogue.

A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges