MS. Dutch f. 1
Summary Catalogue no.: Not in SC (late accession)
Private devotions; Netherlands, late 15th cent.
Contents
Language(s): Middle Dutch
Prayers and meditations for private use
[Items 1–3 occupy Quire I]
(fols. 1–11v)
Hours of the Passion Rubric: Hier beginnient die getijde van den lijden ons lieven heren Ihesus Christus
Incipit: Gedenck des bermentlicken affscheidens dat ons lieve Here (vespers)
Incipit: O lieve gemijnder sueter Here (prayer for vespers)
2. (fols. 11v-15r)
Prayers A series of seven prayers, here attributed to Pope Innocent V, carrying an indulgence
Rubric: Die paus Innocentius quintus dichte dese oracien op die seven getijden der heiliger kercken
Incipit: Du schoen god und licht alle onser duijsternisse Suete here Ihesus christus weest ons een geleide in deser ellendiger werlt
3. (fols. 15r-17r)
Short hours of Our Lady's Passion Rubric: Dijt sijnt die getijden op onser liever vrouwen druk die sante Clemens die paus gemacket hevet…
Incipit: Toe metten tijt wart Maria gebaetschopt
Another MS. is Brussels, Bibl. Royale 21953, fol.365, see M. Meertens, De Godsvrucht in de Nederlanden VI, 1934, p. 139. Fol. 17v–18v are blank.
4. [Items 4–5 occupy quires II-IV]
(fols. 19r-40v)
Prayers Twenty-two prayers on the life of Christ.
Rubric: Hier begijnnen suverlicke gebeder enn oeffinge von den leven enn liden ons lieven heren Ihesus Christus
The first begins:
Incipit: O ewige almechtich Got ic aenbede dijn gotlicke moegentheit
The last (fol. 39) begins:
Incipit: O barmhertige Godes soen o suete here Ihesus
Final rubric: Hier ennden die gebeder von der kijntheit Ihesus enn van synre wandelinge mytten mynschen in der erden
5. (fols.40v-54v)
Prayers Twenty-six prayers on the Passion
Rubric: Hiernae volgen die gebeder van der passien Christus
The first begins:
Incipit: Ick gebenedie enn danck du here I.C. barmhertige verloesser der geloinger
6. [Items 6–8 occupy quires V-VI]
(fols. 55r-77v)
Meditation consisting of twenty-eight prayers Rubric: Hier begijnt eijn devoete medetacie des berch van Calu(a)rien…
First prayer:
Incipit: O guedertieren here I.C. alre sacht moedichste lemken
Second prayer:
Incipit: O myn behalder
Third prayer:
Incipit: West gegruet berch van Caluarien
Fourth prayer:
Incipit: O guede Ihesus gij wart in den cruce verhaven
Most of the remaining prayers begin with formulae similar to the third and fourth
7. (fols. 77v-78r)
Prayer Incipit: Ick doepe my alle dage seven werff
8. (fol.78v)
Rubric: Dit naegeschreven gebedeken wart sante Augustijnus geapenbaert…
Incipit: O alre lieffste here I.C. om die alre suetste wonde
9. [Items 9–11 occupy quire VII]
(fols. 79r-80v)
Rubric: Dyt gebet plach die heilige vader sante Bernardus
Incipit: O guede Ihesus, O mijlde Ihesus
The Latin text is pr. Leroquais, Livres d'heures II.345
10. (fols.81r-84v)
Prayer Rubric: Hier begijnt cen suverlick gebet van den sueten gebenediden naem Ihesus
Incipit: O du barmhertige Ihesus
11. (fol.85r)
Prayers relating to the childhood of Christ (fol. 85r)
Rubric: Eyn gebet tot onsenheren Ihesus
Incipit: O Ihesus du alre myldeste enn begerlicste kyndekyn
(fol. 85r)
Rubric: gebet
Incipit: O mynnenclicke Ihesus O begerlicke Ihesus
(fol. 85v, rubric on 85r)
Rubric: gebet
Incipit: Gegruet sustu mijn alre liefste brudegom alre sueste Ihesus
(fols. 85v-86r)
Rubric: Eyn gebet tot Ihesus
Incipit: Gegruet moestu sijn O Ihesus alre suuerlichste Alre genoechlichste
(fols. 86r-87v)
Rubric: Dyt es gebet vanden geboerten ihesus
Incipit: O gemynde Ihesus dijn gebuerte moet my neder bugen tot ortmodicheit
(fols. 87v-88v)
Rubric: vanden geboerten Ihesus gebet
Incipit: O alre sueste guedertierenste enn (?) mynlicste kynt Ihesus woe groet is die volheit dynre mylder sueter barmherticheit in dijnre dancbariger toe comst
12. [Items 12–13 occupy quire VIII]
(fols.89–98r)
Rubric: Hier begijnt eyn schoen gebet van den liden ons lieven heren
Incipit: (preface) Nu begeet ic aen te sien Christus liden enn myn leven
Incipit: (text) O alre lieffste mylde barmhertige genedige suete gemynde here I.C.
13. (fol.98v)
Rubric: Eyn gebet van onsen lieven heren
Incipit: O myn gemynde rotvercoeren rotdusenden ic offer dujr die onspreckelicke sueticheit die van ewicheit rot dynen gotlicken herten gebloeten heest in den vader
14. [Items 14–21 occupy quires IX-X]
(fols. 99r-103v)
Prayers to the Trinity Rubric: Hier begijnt eijn schoen oeffinge enn dancberheit Doer die wecke toe der heiliger drieuoldicheit enn is seer guet gelesen die mannendach
One for each day of the week, the first (for Monday) beg.:
Incipit: O almechtich ewige got, O heilige drievoldicheit
15. (fols. 103v-107r)
Meditation on the Pater Noster and Ave Maria Incipit: (preface) Onse lieve here sprack
Incipit: (text) Vader ons… Ick offer dij lieve here hemelsche vader.
Also in Brussels Bibl. Royale MS.11231–6, fol.184v, see Neertens op.cit. VI.65
16a. (fol.107r-108r)
Prayer Rubric: Soe wije dit gebet leest mit ennen pater noster voer onser lieuer vrouwen beelt ter noet die verdient xxx dusent iaer aflaets pater noster
Incipit: Ic offer dij fonteijne der genaden (?) Dit pater noster enn aue maria
16b. (fol.108r-v)
Prayer Rubric: Soe wie dit gebet leest mit eijnen pater noster voer dat gecroende hoest ons lieuen heren die verdient drie dusent iaer aflaits
Incipit: O lieve here ic gruet dijn heilige hoeft gecroent mit dornen
17. (fol.108v)
Rubric: Als gij in die kerc komt so seget aldus’
Incipit: O lieve here ic valle u te voeten
18. (fols. 109r-116v)
Rubric: Hier begijnt een alte suverlicke gebet van onser liever vrouwen
Incipit: O alre genedichste here I.C. ic danck dich verloesser der werlt.
There follow seven prayers to Our Lady, each followed by Ave Maria, the first beg.:
Incipit: O Maria du bis eijn sal
Followed by three further prayers, the first:
Incipit: O wee eyn geboeren soen troester
19. (fol.117)
Rubric: Hier begijnt eyn ynnich gebet totter moder Godes voer die ontfenckenisse des heiligen sacrements
Incipit: Ick biddij gebenedide vrouwe Maria hemelsche keiserijnne
20. (fol.117v)
Rubric: Heir begijnen vijff ave marien voer die ontfenis
Incipit: O lieve Maria ic vermane u der ontfenckenisse
Taken from St. Mechtild's Liber specialis gratiae I.43.
21. (fol.118v)
Prayer to Our Lady Incipit: O Marie eijn rosen bloym der kuysheit
22. [Items 22–23 occupy quires XI-XIII
(fol.119)
Devotional work prescribing prayers and meditations for use by religious throughout the day Incipit: Des morgens toe vier uren soe richt u wackerlic
Explicit: soe gedijncket der geboerte des alren soetste soen gotz
23. (fol.151)
Devotion of seven Pater Nosters and Ave Marias According to the rubric given by an angel to a pilgrim on the road to Rome during the ‘annus aureus’
Incipit: Dat erste Pater Noster enn Ave Maria soldij sprecken in der eeren
24. [Items 24–26 occupy quires XIV-XV]
(fol.153)
Prayers on the Passion Incipit: O mijn alre liefste here I.C. alset sich nakende was dijnre bitterre passien
25. (fol.174v)
Dialogue between Christ and a good man Incipit: Eijn guet mensche eerden ons Heren geboert enn sijn leven
26. (fol.177)
Instructions on preparation for confession Incipit: Item als die mensche sijn bicht doet soe heeft hij mijt gode gerekent enn sijn scholt bekeen
27. [Items 27–30 occupy quires XVI-XVII]
(fols. 177r-178r)
Instructions on penitence Rubric: Van den berou
Incipit: Retouwe ey schet groeten druck enn suchtynge des herten om dat hy vertoernet heest synen schepper
28. (fols. 178r-190v)
Instructions on how to go to confession Rubric: Van der bichten
Incipit: Nu verstant wael hoe een mensche bichten sal op dat die bicht doge tot salicheit sijnre sielen
29. (fols. 190v-193r)
Rubric: Van voldoen
Incipit: Nader bicht coemt voldoen Dat is die beteringe die een doen sal nae den wille
30. (fol.193v)
Homily Rubric: Een suverlicke leeringe van den religiosen hoe hy leven sal
Incipit: Sante Pauwels seyt recht als die doede heeft verloeren
Explicit: nyet daer tegen werdigen en mach
28. [Items 28–32 occupy quire XVIII]
(fol.201)
Devotion Incipit: Bystu een getrouwe bruit soe en laet die wapen
29. (fol.203)
Rubric: Hier begijnnen drie punten die sant Bernardus synen broederen liet aen synen lesten eynde toe eenen testament
Incipit: Dat eerste is dat ich nyemant schandelisieren
30. (fols. 203v-204r)
Rubric: noch vyf punten liet hy synen broederen
Incipit: Dat eerste was dat hy sich nye geergert en had aen geynnen dyngen
31. (fol. 204r-v)
Incipit: Item onse lieue here deit vyf deynck den die myt synen bedroeffenysse tot om comet Dat eerst is dat hy om alle syn sonden vergeuet
32. (fols. 204v-212v)
Prayers Incipit: Sante pauwels spreckt alsoe duck bespies du dynen got als du dynen broeder
33. [Items 33–36 occupy quires XIX-XXII]
(fol.213)
Prayers on the sacrament Incipit: Here I.C. connick der engelen
(fol.216)
Incipit: O here I.C. connick der glorien
(fol.218)
Incipit: Gebenedit moetstu wesen suete here I.C. levendige broet
(fol.220v)
Incipit: O here I.C. tys huden een dach
(fol.221)
Incipit: O heilige broet, O levendige broet
(fol.221v)
Incipit: Here ich biddy dattu my wilste geven
(fol.221v)
Incipit: O myn Got enn myn here enn myn schepper
(fol.222)
Incipit: O mynlicke here I.C., O ewige woert
(fol.222v)
Incipit: O alre mechtichste enn alre barmhertichste God
For other MSS. see Meertens op.cit. VI.14
(fol.224)
Incipit: O here I.C. ic gruet dy vleische geheiliget in der ewicheit
(fol.226)
Incipit: Alle creatueren helpet my dancken
(fol.227v)
Incipit: Dank seg ich dy here I.C. dattu my armen onwerdigen sonder
see Meertens VI.94
(fol.228)
Incipit: Ich danck dy enn love dy werde suete hemelsche vader
(fol.229)
Incipit: O here I.C. ich segge dy overbloedigen danck
(fol.230)
Incipit: O ewige hemelsche vader ich bid dy doer dynen gemynden soen
(fol.231)
Incipit: O here I.C. ich arme sundige mensche bid dy
(fol.231v)
Incipit: O och zaerte mynlike here I.C.
(fol.232v)
Incipit: O hemelsche vader wie bin ich dat gy my innen eengeboeren soen gegeven hebt
(fol.233v)
Incipit: O suete here I.C. want du my myt dynen heiligen licham
(fol.234)
Incipit: O here I.C. want ich dy
(fol.234)
Incipit: O mynlike here I.C. nu bid ich dy om die mynlike werdicheit
(fol.234v)
Incipit: O alre suetste mynlichste I.C. ich noede u
(fol.235v)
Incipit: O du edel gast mynre selen
34. (fol.236v)
Meditation on the sacrament Incipit: In tween manieren ontfangen wy onsen lieven heren
Explicit: van vorten gelaeten
35. (fol.241)
Rubric: Van den heiligen sacrament
Incipit: Eyn mensche die gerne toe ons heren licham geit
36. (fol.242v)
Exemplum, in which Christ appears to a good man in the form of a child, and promises him life everlasting
Rubric: Eyn leringe
Incipit: Eyn guet mensche die plach te eren
37a. [Items 37–34 occupy quire XXIII]
(fol.245)
Prayer Incipit: O utfruchtende enn verschrecklick Got
37b. (fol.245v)
Prayer for all souls Incipit: Weest gegruet alle gelouyge selen
The Latin is pr.Leroquis Livres d'heures II.341. For other MSS. of this version see Meertens VI.43
38. (fol.245v)
Litany of the dead Incipit: O here vader genadige Got wanttu eyn troester
39. (fol.247v)
Prayer to St. Anthony the abbot Incipit: O heilige vader sante Anthonyus du biste eyn marscalck des heiligen levens
40. (fol.249)
Rubric: Dijt sal eyn mensche sprecken of hoeren voer synen dode
Incipit: O mijn Got enn o myn here vader alre barmherticheit
41. (fols. 250r-251r)
Rubric: Dijt sint die eynde woert Enn daer nae spreck drij werf of duyt vermachs die eynde woert
Incipit: Here gewaer vader in dyne hande beuele ich mynen geist
42. (fol.251v)
Prayer after communicating Rubric: Eyn guet gebet nae der ontfenckenys
Rubric: O here hemelsche vader du heb ick ontfangen
43. (fol.252)
Prayer after communicating Rubric: O here nu heb ick ontfangen dynen heiligen licham
Physical Description
Secundo Folio: alsoe haistu
Form: codex
Support: paper coat of arms showing three fleur de lys (two varieties, the second on fol. 92 and 245), cf. Briquet 1813–6 letter J, not in Briquet letter P, cf. Briquet 8615 tower, cf. Briquet 15908–11
Extent: vi (original paper) + 252 + v (original (?) paper) leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 140 × 100 mm.
Dimensions (written): 95–105 × 65–80 mm.
Foliation: Foliated in modern pencil: i-vi, 1–257.
Collation
I16+2 ? (uncertain; last two leaves inserted?) (fols. 1–18) | II-IV12 (fols. 19–54) | V-VI12 (fols. 55–78) | VII10 (fols. 79–88) | VIII10 (fols. 89–98) | IX-X10 (fols. 99–118) | XI-XII12 (fols. 119–142), XIII10 (fols. 143–152) | XIV-XV12 (fols. 153–176) | XVI-XVII12 (fols. 177–200) | XVIII12 (fols. 201–212) | XIX-XXII8 (fols. 213–244) | XXIII8 (fols. 245–252); quire I loose, detached at the foot. no catchwords or quire signatures visible. Traces of leaf signatures remain on fols. 1–8 (ai-aviii in black ink), fols. 153–158 (apparently a, ai-aiii, aiiii in red ink), fols. 165–170 (bi-biiiiii in red ink).
Layout
18 – 20 long lines. Partly frame ruled in pale leadpoint, apparently with only the top and side lines ruled; ruling often invisible; the ruled space variable, but typically about 70 mm. wide.
Hand(s)
Written by several scribes in scripts of varying quality and size
Decoration
Decorative initials. (Pächt and Alexander i. 250)
Large red initials, some with green and violet (fol.1) penwork.
- One 5-line initial in red, with reserved areas, with purple penwork (fol. 1r); similar 3-line (fol. 11v) and a 2-line (fol. 79r) initials.
- One 5-line initial in red, with reserved patterns, with pale purple penwork, some interstices filled with green (fol. 89r); one similar 4-line initial (fols. 89v).
- One 4-line initial in red, with purple penwork, some interstices filled in with green or yellow (fol. 99r); three similar 3-line initials (fols. 19r, 55r, 119r, ); and a similar 3-line initials without yellow (fol. 153r).
- One 4-line initial in red, with reserved patterns, infilled with plain brown ink penwork (fol. 218r); and a similar 3-line initial (fols. 216r).
- Occasional 2-line iniitals in blue, one infilled with red penwork, fols. 220v-233v.
- 1-, 2-, and 3-line initials in plain red, some with reserved areas/patterns (e.g. fol. 81r, 230r, 232v); one similar 5-line initial (fols. 245r).
Rubrics in red.
Binding
Sewn on four bands, with (modern?) endbands; bound in (original?) wood boards with chamfered edges, recovered in plain modern brown leather, the spine unlettered; pastedowns of original(?) paper.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Bought, 1962.
Record Sources
Typescript description by Bodleian library staff, partly revised from draft description by Peter Kidd, late 1990s
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (1 image from 35mm slides)
Bibliography
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2017-07-01: First online publication.