MS. Lat. liturg. a. 1
Summary Catalogue no.: 30553
Secular Ferial Choir Psalter with Antiphons, Use of Rome; Italy, North, 15th century, middle
Contents
Matins, Lauds and Prime.
Fol. i is a blank paper fly-leaf.
[items 1–2 occupy quires I–XX]
Hymns for Matins on Sundays during the year with rubrics and music (square notation on staves of four red lines): Primo dierum omnium (Chevalier, no. 15450); Nocte surgentes uigilemus (Chevalier, no. 12035). Antiphons with music for different seasons.
Psalms for Matins, Lauds and Prime on Sundays, and Matins and Lauds during the week in secular use, written as prose, preceded by rubrics ‘psalmus dauid’ or ‘psalmus’, and numbers in Roman numerals up to fol. 79r. Punctuated throughout with colon used to mark metrum, punctus flexus used to mark minor pauses, and punctus used to mark the ends of verses. Punctus flexus is accompanied by a sign in the margins, similar to number ‘2’. Psalms are accompanied by antiphons, versicles, responses, etc. with rubrics, and music (square notation on staves of four red lines). Subdivisions within psalms are not indicated, apart from psalm 118, subdivided into 8-verse units. Subdivisions in psalms 9, 17, 36, 67, 68, 77, 88, 103, 104, 105, 106 are marked in a 16th-century (?) hand. Fol. 197v is ruled but blank. Psalms, creeds, canticles and hymns are in the following order: Sunday Matins (fol. 2v)
- 1–20
- Te deum laudamus with music (fol. 31r)
Sunday Lauds (fol. 35v)
- 92, 99, 62, 66
- Benedicite omnia opera (‘trium puerorum’) (fol. 38r)
- 148–150
- Benedictio et claritas (Revelation, 7: 12) (‘capitulum’) (fol. 42r)
- Eterne rerum conditor (Chevalier, no. 647)
- Ecce iam noctis tenuatur umbra (Chevalier, no. 5129)
- Benedictus dominus deus (‘Canticum zacharie patris sancti iohannis baptiste’) (fol. 44r)
Prime (fol. 45r)
- 21–25, 53, 117, 118: 1, 118: 9, 118: 17, 118: 25
- Athanasian Creed (Quicumque uult ... ) (‘Simbolum athanasij’) (fol. 56v)
- Sumno refectis artubus (Chevalier, no. 19210)
Monday Matins (fol. 61r)
- 26–37
Monday Lauds (fol. 81v)
- Confitebor tibi domine (Isaiah 12) (‘psalmus’) (fol. 83r)
- Nox precessit dies (Romans, 13: 12–13) (‘Capitulum’)
- Splendor paterne (Chevalier, no. 19349)
- Consors paterni luminis (Chevalier, no. 3830)
Tuesday Matins (fol. 85v)
- 38–41, 43–49, 51
Tuesday Lauds (fol. 102r)
- Ego dixi (Isaiah 38: 10–21) (‘canticum’) (fol. 102v)
- Ales diei nuntius (Chevalier, no. 795)
- Rerum creator optime (Chevalier, no. 17322)
Wednesday Matins (fol. 105v)
- 52, 54–61, 63, 65, 67
Wednesday Lauds (fol. 120v)
- Exultauit cor meum (1 Samuel 2: 1–11) (‘psalmus’) (fol. 121v)
- Nox et tenebre et nubila (Chevalier, no. 12402)
- Nox atra rerum (Chevalier, no. 12396)
Thursday Matins (fol. 124r)
- 68–79
Thursday Lauds (fol. 144v)
- Cantemus domine (Exodus 15: 1–20) (‘canticum’) (fol. 146r)
- Lux ecce surgit (Chevalier, no. 10811)
- Tu trinitatis unitas (Chevalier, no. 20713)
Friday Matins (fol. 149r)
- 80–88, 90, 93, 94, with antiphon Venite adoremus with music inserted between verses, 95–96
Friday Lauds (fol. 167v)
- Domine audiui (Habakkuk 3) (‘psalmus’) (fol. 168v)
- Eterna celi gloria (Chevalier, no. 609)
- Summe deus clementie (Chevalier, no. 19636)
Saturday Matins (fol. 171v)
- 97–108
Saturday Lauds (fol. 191r)
- Audite celi (Deuteronomy 32: 1–44) (‘canticum’), subdivided at verse 22, ‘Ignis succensus’;
- rubric ‘diuisio’ (fol. 192r)
- Aurora iam spargit (Chevalier, no. 1633)
- Hec dies quam fecit dominus (Chevalier, no. 7585), opening lines with music.
[item 3 occupies quires XXI–XXIV]
Hymnal with rubrics and music (square notation on staves of four red lines) comprising hymns for the year from Advent to Pentecost, followed by hymns for feasts and saints’ days (Trinity, Corpus Christi, Transfiguration, the Virgin Mary, Sts Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Michael) and the Common of Saints. Two hymns for St Christopher occur on fols. 222v and 223v: Militantis ecclesie (Chevalier, no. 11535) and Miranda res et caritas (Chevalier, no. 29656).
(fols. 198r–205v) Uerbum supernum prodiens a patre (Chevalier, no. 29391), Uox clara ecce intonat (Chevalier, no. 22199), Christe redemptor omnium ex patre (Chevalier, no. 2960), A solis ortus cardine (Chevalier, no. 26), Hostis herodes impie (Chevalier, no. 8073), Ex more docti mistico (Chevalier, no. 5610), Iam christe sol iustitie (Chevalier, no. 9205), Pange lingua gloriosi prelium Chevalier, no. 14481), Lvstris sex qui iam peractis (Chevalier, no. 10765), Rex sempiterne domine (Chevalier, no. 17518).
(fols. 205v–206v) Aurora lucis rutilat (Chevalier, no. 1644), incomplete because of the loss of a leaf after fol. 205, ending at ‘Cum rex’. The missing text and the first line of Ad cenam agni prouidi (Chevalier, no. 110) with music are supplied in a later hand (16th century (?)) on fol. 206r. Fol. 206v is blank.
(fols. 207r–237v) Eterne rex altissime (Chevalier, no. 654), Yhesu nostra redemptio (Chevalier, no. 9582), Iam christus astra (Chevalier, no. 9215), Beata nobis gaudia (Chevalier, no. 2339), Adesto sancta trinitas (Chevalier, no. 487), O trinitas laudabilis (Chevalier, no. 13829), Sacris solemnijs (Chevalier, no. 17713), Uerbum supernum prodiens nec patris (Chevalier, no. 21398), Fons pietatis (Chevalier, no. 6446), Yhesus postquam monstrauerat (Chevalier, no. 9736), Quem terra pontus ethera (Chevalier, no. 16347), O gloriosa domina excelsa (Chevalier, no. 13042), Doctor egregie paule mores (Chevalier, no. 4791), Qvodcunque uinclis super terram strinxerit (Chevalier, no. 16918), Iam bone pastor petre (Chevalier, no. 9196), Antra deserti teneris (Chevalier, no. 1214), O nimis felix meritique celsi (Chevalier, no. 13311), Iam bone pastor petre (Chevalier, no. 9196), opening lines with music, Doctor egregie paule mores (Chevalier, no. 4791), Nardi maria pistici (Chevalier, no. 11846), Militantis ecclesie (Chevalier, no. 11535), Miranda res et caritas (Chevalier, no. 29656), Petrus beatus cathenarum (Chevalier, no. 14885), Tibi christe splendor (Chevalier, no. 20455), Christe sanctorum decus (Chevalier, no. 3000), Christe redemptor omnium conserua tuos famulos (Chevalier, no. 2959), Iesu saluator seculi redemptis (Chevalier, no. 9677), Eterna christi munera apostolorum gloriam (Chevalier, no. 590), Exultet celum laudibus (Chevalier, no. 5832), Deus tuorum militum (Chevalier, no. 4533), Martyr dei qui unicum patris (Chevalier, no. 11228), Eterna christi munera et martyrum uictorias (Chevalier, no. 598), Rex gloriose martyrum (Chevalier, no. 17453), Iste confessor domini sacratus (Chevalier, no. 9136), Yesu redemptor omnium perpes (Chevalier, no. 9628), Yesu corona celsior (Chevalier, no. 9494), Uirginis proles opifexque matris (Chevalier, no. 21703), Yesu corona uirginum (Chevalier, no. 9507), Urbs beata ierusalem dicta pacis (Chevalier, no. 20918), Angularis fundamentum (Chevalier, no. 1082).
Fol. 238 is a paper fly-leaf, blank apart from modern notes.
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Ruled in ink for tops and bottoms of minims, with single vertical and horizontal bounding lines extending the full height and width of page; 16 lines per page; written below the top line; written space: c. 350 × 243 mm.
Hand(s)
Large formal Gothic book hand; black and brown ink; rubrics, antiphons, versicles, responses, etc. are in a smaller script.
Square notation on staves of four red lines.
Decoration
Historiated initials on gold background, decorated with foliage, gold discs and filigree scrolls, and borders at the beginnings of hymns and canticles and at liturgical divisions:
- fol. 1r Hymns (initial P(rimo)) 6-line initial with God, seated, holding an orb, surrounded by rays of light.
- (border, upper, left and lower margins) Panel with half-figures of two tonsured clerics in blue habits, looking up at rays of light.
- fol. 3r Psalm 1 (initial B(eatus)) 9-line initial with King David, kneeling in prayer next to his psaltery, looking up at God in triple papal crown, in clouds, blessing; in a landscape.
- (border, upper, left and lower margins) Two tonsured clerics in blue habits, kneeling in prayer.
- Fol. 31r Te deum (initial T(e)) 4-line initial with half-figures of two nimbed bishops in prayer (presumably Augustine and Ambrose).
- Fol. 35v Psalm 92 (initial D(ominus)) 4-line initial with half-figure of a young man and rays of light shining from above.
- Fol. 44r Benedictus dominus deus (initial B(enedictus)) 5-line initial with half-figure of Zachariah looking up at rays of light.
- Fol. 45r Psalm 21 (initial D(eus)) 4-line initial cut out. Sprays of foliage, filigree scrolls and gold discs survive in the margin.
- Fol. 61r Psalm 26 (initial D(ominus)) 5-line initial with half-figure of the psalmist (?) pointing to his almost-closed eyes; light shining from above.
- Fol. 81v Psalm 50 3-line initial on gold background, decorated with foliage.
- Fol. 85v Psalm 38 (initial D(ixi)) 5-line initial with half-figure of a layman in blue cloak and coif, covering his mouth with his hand.
- Fol. 105v Psalm 52 (initial D(ixit)) 5-line initial with half-figure of the Fool, tonsured (?), holding a club.
- Fol. 124r Psalm 68 (initial S(aluum)) 5-line initial with half-figure of the nude psalmist (?), praying in waters, looking up at rays of light.
- Fol. 149r Psalm 80 (initial E(xultate)) 5-line initial with half-figure of a bearded man playing lute with plectrum, looking up at rays of light.
- Fol. 171v Psalm 97 (initial C(antate)) 5-line initial with half-figures of two angels, singing from a book with music.
Borders: see above.
Decorated initial: see above.
2-line alternately red and blue initials, decorated with contrasting blue or red penwork at the beginnings of psalms, hymns, canticles, etc. Penwork decorations include flowers, fruit, human, bird and animal heads, faces and geometric designs. Head of Christ with cruciform halo on fol. 83v.
1-line alternately red and blue initials, decorated with contrasting blue or red penwork, at the beginnings of verses and periods.
Rubrics in red ink.
Binding
Brown leather over boards, Italian, 16th century. Blind roll border with vine decoration framed by double blind fillet lines round the outer edge of both covers. Floral blind roll rectangle with a diamond-shaped figure inside, both framed by double blind fillet lines, on both covers. Brass corners and bosses. Two raised bands on each cover with brass bosses to prevent the covers from rubbing against surface when lying flat. Two clasps with brass fittings. Five raised bands on spine. A band at the bottom of the spine is covered with a leather strap decorated with brass bosses (only fragments of a second such strap at the top of the spine now remain). Fleurs-de-lis decoration on panels between the raised bands (almost completely obliterated). Gilt lettering on spine ‘MS. || Lat. liturg. || a. 1’. Dark discoloration left by a label (?) on one of the panels. Probably resewn. Paper pastedowns and fly-leaves.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Made for a collegiate church dedicated to St Christopher (?): two rare hymns to St Christopher in the hymnal; secular use; images of tonsured clerics in blue (representing black (?)) habits on fols. 1r and 3r. Silverstrine, according to van Dijk (1958), because of the images of ‘Benedictines clad in blue habits’.
Still in use in the 16th century: liturgical notes in the margins, including added subdivisions in psalms which were recited in two parts in the monastic use.
'Found at the end of MSS. Liturg. in 1885'
Record Sources
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (1 image from 35mm slides)
Bibliography
Printed descriptions:
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2024-08: Convert full description from Solopova catalogue.