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

MS. Douce 1

Summary Catalogue no.: 21575

Prayer book in Latin and English; England, c. 1460

Contents

Summary of Contents: Prayer book in Latin and English. Prayers from the Middle English section of the manuscript are present in a small collection of other late medieval devotional books, see Erler (2008) p.514 for details. Nearly all the English section has been transcribed by J. C. Hirsh (1970).
1. (Fols. 2r-3r)
Language(s): Latin
Excerpt from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1.26-38).
2. (Fols. 3v-4v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Stella celi extirpavit

Hymn (Chevalier 19438) with accompanying prose meditation. For edition see Surtees Society v.132 (1920) p.69.

3. (Fols. 4v-5v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Ave rosa sine spinis

Hymn (Chevalier 2084). For edition see Surtees Society v.132 (1920) p.136.

4. (Fols. 5v-7v)
Language(s): Latin
Two versions of the hymn 'Ave Maria ancilla sancte trinitatis'

The second is Chevalier 1872; editions of both can be found on Surtees Society v.132 (1920) p.137.

5. (Fols. 7v-9v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Stabat Mater dolorosa

Hymn (Chevalier 19416). Edition on pp.134-135 of Surtees Society v.132.

6. (Fols. 9v-10r)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Interveniat pro nobis, quesumus, Jesu Christe

An intercessional prayer. See Surtees Society v.132 (1920) p.147.

7. (Fols. 10v-12v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Crux xpi sit mecum

Short prayer expressing adoration for the Cross. Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, The Royal Library, Ms. GkS 1612 4° (See transcription of fol.34).

8. (Fols. 12v-13r)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Aspice ad me infelicem pietas imensa

A prayer; see Surtees Society v.132 p.174.

9. (Fols. 13r-14v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Deus propicius est michi peccatori

A prayer; see Surtees Society v.132 p.125.

10. (Fols. 15r-18v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Domine iesu christi qui septem verba ultimo

A prayer; see Surtees Society v.132 pp.141-2.

11. (Fols. 18v-23v)
Language(s): Latin
Four prayers praising the Holy Name
Incipit: O bone iesu o dulcis iesu
Incipit: O rex gloriose inter sanctos tuos
Incipit: Deus qui gloriosum nomen iesu christi
Incipit: Sanctifica me domine iesu christe

See Surtees Society v.132 pp.82-85.

12. (Fols. 23v-26v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Angele qui meus es custos

A prayer for protection from the angels. Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.100v-101r).

13. (Fols. 26v-28r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Sebastian
Incipit: O quam glorios refulgent gracia sebastianus dei martir

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.103r-103v).

14. (Fols. 28r-29r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Christopher
Incipit: Martyr christofore pro salvatoris honore

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.104r-104v).

15. (Fols. 29v-30v)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. George
Incipit: O Georgi martyr inclite te decet laus

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.104v-105r).

16. (Fols. 31r-31v)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Anthony
Incipit: O Anthoni pastor inclite qui cruciatos reficis

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.106v-107r).

17. (Fols. 31v-32r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to the Blessed Virgin and St. Anne
Incipit: Ave maria qui plena dominus tecum tua gratia

A short, simple prayer; text in Blackburn (1999), p.174 note 22.

18. (Fols. 32r-33r)
Language(s): Lain
A prayer to St. Anne
Incipit: Celeste beneficium introivit in annam

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.108v-109r).

19. (Fols. 33r-34r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Apollonia
Incipit: Virgo christi egregia pro nobis apolonia

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.110v-111r).

20. (Fols. 34r-35r)
Language(s): Latin
Two prayers to St Dorothea
Incipit: Salve virgo dorothea audi queso vota mea
Incipit: Omnipotens sempiterne deus in cuius nomine gloriosa virgo

The first is n.896 in F.J. Mone (1855) Vol.3; the second can be found in Horstmann (1880), p.328.

21. (Fols. 35r-36v)
Language(s): Latin
Prayers for protection and against plague
Incipit: Per signum thau a peste epidimie libera nos iesu

Similar, but not identical, to the prayer against the common plague printed in an anthology of prayers against sickness by Paul Bush (d.1558), available here.

22. (Fols. 36v-38r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Roche in time of plague

Text and translation are printed in J. Patrick (1674) 'Reflexions upon the devotions of the Roman church with the prayers, hymns and lessons themselves' (available here), p.248.

23. (Fols. 38r-40v)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer to St. Erasmus

See edition on pp.128-9 of Surtees Society v.132.

24. (Fols. 40v-41v)
Language(s): Latin
Psalm 1
25. (Fols. 41v-42r)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Maria pepit christum anna mariam elizabeth Iohannem

Charm for protection in childbirth. See L'Estrange (2005).

26. (Fols. 42r-43r)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Veni creator spiritus

A common hymn (Chevalier 34378). Text can be found, for example, in S. Harrison Thomson (1939).

27. (Fols. 43r-43v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Deus cui omne cor patet

Short prayer; see p.98 of Surtees Society v.132.

28. (Fols. 43v-46v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Omnipotens dominus christus messias sother

Meditation on the names of Christ. See p.126 of Surtees Society v.132.

29. (Fols. 46v-51r)
Language(s): Latin
Excerpts from the Old Testament

Including: Exodus 15:2, Exodus 15:11-13, Genesis 24:27, Numbers 6:34-6, Jonah 1:3-8, Psalm 12:4-5, Psalm 30:6, Psalm 38:5, Psalm 115:7-8, Psalm 141:5-6, Psalm 85:17, Psalm 4:7, Psalm 31:5, Psalm 12:5-6.

30. (Fols. 51r-51v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui ezechie regi

A prayer to be read after reading scripture. Text printed in W. H. Black and T. Brampton (1842) ' A paraphrase on the seven penitential Psalms in English verse' (available here ).

31. (Fols. 51v-52r)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Iesu fili dei omnium conditor adiuva me

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fol.134r).

32. (Fols. 52r-54r)
Language(s): Latin
A prayer against thunder
Incipit: Titulus triumphalis iesus nazarenus rex iudeorum crucifixus

Text can be found at manuscripts.org, a transcription of Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek CMB Pergament 19 4° (See transcription of fols.134v-135r).

33. (Fols.54v-55v)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: O Glorius god redemer of mankynde

DIMEV 3908. See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

34. (Fols. 56r-69v)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: O vernicle I honor him and thee

DIMEV 4083. See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

35. (Fol. 70r-70v)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Ave vulnus lateris nostri saluatoris

Hymn (Chevalier 24031). See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

36. (Fols. 70v-71r)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: The numbre of the droppes of blode

DIMEV 5425. See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

37. (Fols. 71v-76v)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: Gracious lorde for thy bitter passion

DIMEV 1655. See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

38. (Fols. 77r-77v)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: Blessed mary moder virginall

DIMEV 868. See Hirsh (1970) for transcription.

39. (Fols. 77v-80r)
Language(s): Middle English
A prayer to St. George
Incipit: Of saynt George oure ladyes knyght

Introductory couplet listed as DIMEV 4204) with subsequent prose meditation. Edition of both in Hirsh (1970).

40. (Fols. 80r-81v)
Language(s): Middle English
A prayer to St. Sebastian
Incipit: Of the blessyd martir saynt Sebastyane

Introductory couplet listed as DIMEV 4216 with subsequent prose meditation. Edition of both in Hirsh (1970).

41. (Fols. 81v-82v)
Language(s): Latin with introductory couplet in Middle English
A prayer to St. Roche
Incipit: Of the blessyd confessor Saynt Roche

Introductory couplet is DIMEV 4215. Fol. 82v is badly rubbed and hard to read: perhaps chants associated with the feast of St Roche; see feast record in cantusdatabase.org.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: i + 82 + i
Dimensions (leaf): 70 × 50 mm.
Foliation: Folio numbers added in pencil. Some folios also have numbers added in ink, which appear to be older, and are occasionally erroneous.

Collation

Hard to ascertain: too tightly bound. Perhaps mostly in quires of 8 as argued by Hirsch.

Condition

Geneally good with occasional small stains, smudges and fading. Hirsh describes a bookplate of Douce's that was attached to the inner front cover; this has since fallen out or been removed, leaving the frontpaper slighlty damaged. Leather is worn and slightly cracked in places.

Layout

One column of 12 or 13 lines except where there are illustrations. Written space 51 × 35 mm. Ruled in red ink.

Hand(s)

A clear textura quadrata

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 1064, pl. C:

Painted miniature on fol. 1v. Standing figure of St. Luke holding a book. Painted with red, blue, and green. Faded.

Simple illuminated initials used throughout; gold with either red or blue backgrounds. Gold is faded or completely worn in some places.

The English prayers are illustrated with simple pen drawings.

  • Fol. 54v Christ carrying the cross (faded).
  • Fol. 55v Vernicle.
  • Fol. 57r Pelican bleeding for her young.
  • Fols. 57v-69r illustrations depicting scenes from the Passion, and the instruments in particular.
  • Fol. 71r Christ sitting with bound hands.
  • Fols. 72r-76r the Five Wounds of Christ.
  • Fol. 78r St George slaying the dragon.
  • Fol. 80r St Sebastian shot with arrows.
  • Fol. 81v St Roche.

Additions: Along with the summary catalogue number and current shelfmark on the verso side of fol. (i), there is also a faint addition in pencil: 'No 26.'

Binding

Red leather, French, late eighteenth-century, probably attributable to Richard ('David' or 'Davy') Wier for Count Justin MacCarthy Reagh (see Provenance),. Embossing on the spine reads 'EVANGIL / LATIN / ET ANG. / MSS / SUR VELIN'.

History

Origin: c. 1460 ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Count MacCarthy Reagh: his binding; likely identifiable with 'Gospels in Latin and English with drawings in 24°' that is lot 1556 in the McCarthy Sale of May 1789. Douce's personal copy of the sales catalogue (Douce CC 301) indicates he paid 15s 8d for the item.

Francis Douce, 1757–1834.

Bequeathed by Douce to the Bodleian in 1834.

Record Sources

Description by Ruth Allen, Oct. 2024; date follows Pächt and Alexander III (1973), 1064.

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (4 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

    B. Blackburn (1999), 'The Virgin in the Sun: Music and Image for a Prayer Attributed to Sixtus IV', in Journal of the Royal Musical Association 124.2 (1999), pp.157-195.
    M. Erler (1999), 'Devotional Literature' in Hellinga and Trapp, The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain Vol. 3
    S. Harrison Thomson, 'Three Anglo-Norman Translations of "Veni Creator Spiritus" ', Medium Aevum 8.1 (1939), pp.33-39.
    J. C. Hirsh (1968), 'Two English Devotional Poems of the Fifteenth Century', Notes and Queries 15.1 pp.4-11
    C. Horstmann, 'Prosalegenden', Anglia 3 (1880), pp.293-526.
    E. L'Estrange, 'Anna peperit Mariam, Elizabeth Johannem, Maria Christum: Images of Childbirth in Late-Medieval Manuscripts', in B. Dekeyzer and J. Van der Stock (eds.), Manuscripts in Transition: Recycling Manuscripts, Texts and Images (Paris : Peeters, 2005) pp. 335-46.
    F. J. Mone, Lateinische Hymen des Mittelalters, Vol. 3 (Freiburg im Breisgau : Herder 1855)
    Surtees Society (1920), Horae Eboracenses: The prymer or hours of the blessed virgin mary according to the illustrious church of York, Publications of the Surtees Society Vol. 132

Last Substantive Revision

2024-10: New description by Ruth Allen.