MS. Laud Misc. 114

Summary Catalogue no.: 1547

Pershore Legendary; Pershore Abbey, 1160s × 1170s

Summary of Contents: A hagiographical collection, arranged in order of the calendar year, consisting of seven booklets made contemporaneously. Variations in page layout, hands, and decoration suggest that they may not have been conceived as a single volume, but a table of contents (fol. 1r) suggests that they were bound together soon after their creation.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: parchment

Extent: i (modern paper endleaf) + i (modern parchment endleaf) + 170 + i (modern parchment endleaf) + i (modern paper endleaf) leaves

Dimensions (leaf): 265 × 180 mm.

Foliation: Foliated 1–186: doubled fols. 23a–23b, 49a–49b, 65a–65b; omitted fols. 99, 111–19, and 121–9 (the two leaves after fol. 110 numbered 120 and 130, continuing with 131); fols. i, ii, 185 and 186 are flyleaves (the outer modern paper, the inner modern parchment).

Collation

1–3⁸ (fols. 1–23b) | 4⁸ (fols. 24–31), 5⁸ (fols. 32–38; 7th cancelled) | 6–9⁸ (fols. 39–68) | 10–11⁸ (fols. 69–84) | 12^8–1 (fols. 85–91; 1st wanting), 13–14⁸ (fols. 92–108), 15^6–1 (fols. 109–131; 6th wanting) | 16–19⁸ (fols. 132–163) | 20–21⁸ (fols. 164–179), 22^10–5 (fols. 180–184; 1st, 3rd–4th, 9th–10th cancelled). Catchwords for quires 12–14.

Hand(s)

English protogothic bookhands.

Decoration

Many marginal and two full-page pencil sketches added, 15th century, second half. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 151)

Binding

Contemporary endbands, blue and white.

Laudian binding, rebacked.

History

Origin: 1160s × 1170s ; Benedictine abbey of St Edburga, Pershore

The manuscript preserves the sole surviving copy of Osbert of Clare’s life of St Eadburh, which the monks of Pershore commissioned, according to his prologue. The contents on fol. 1r are written in the same hand as one in Oxford, St John’s College, MS 96, which was also at Pershore (see MLGB). Inscribed ‘pershor’, scribbled in a late medieval hand in the upper margin of fol. 23(b)r (the last leaf of De doctrina christiana).

Provenance and Acquisition

Sir John Prise: no. 40 in the list of Prise books in the 1602 college register. Neil R. Ker, ‘Sir John Prise’, The Library, 5th ser., 10, no. 1 (March 1955): 1–24.

Gregory Price (1535–1600): willed to Jesus College.

Jesus College, Oxford: Brian Twyne made extracts from Vita sancte Frideswide in MS. Twyne 22, fols. 53v–54r, when the book was still at Jesus College: ‘pertinuit olim ad D. Jo: Price. Extat in collegio Jesu Oxoniæ iste liber quem illic vidi’ (fol. 53v).

William Laud: inscribed, Liber Guilielmi Laud. Archiepiscopi Cantuar’. et Cancellarii Vniversitatis Oxon’ 1635 (fol. 1v).

Given to the Bodleian Library in 1635 as part of Laud’s second donation.

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 1–23(b)

Language(s): Latin

(fol. 1r)

Table of contents added in a late twelfth-century hand.

"|In hoc uolumine continentur Miracula sancti Andree apostoli. Et passio sancti Vincentii martiris. |Et Vita sancti Ignatii confessoris. Et passio sancti Blasii episcopi et martiris. Et Vita sancti Willelmi confessoris. |Et Vita. siue Miracula. beate uirginis Eadburge. Et uita sancte Frideswide uirginis. |Et Vita Wenefrede uirginis et martiris. Et Passio sancte Katerine uirginis et martiris."

Pen trials and a Laudian table of contents.

Two rough sketches of faces.

(fol. 1v)

Augustine, Retractiones 2.4.1

Incipit: Libros de doctrina cristiana. cum imperfectos comperissem

Explicit: siue de philosophia scripserit.

(fols. 2r–23(b)v)

Augustine, De doctrina christiana

Incipit: ⟨Sunt praecepta⟩ quędam tr⟨a⟩ctandarum scripturarum⹎ quae studiosis earum uideo

Explicit: interpretes fieri⹎ ut non||

(incomplete: copying ends at 2.12)

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 189 × 101 mm. Ruling in drypoint.

Decoration

Opening initial in red; space left for other initials and rubrics but left incomplete.

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 24–37

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 24r–37v)

Passio sancti Andree

Rubric: Incipiunt miracula in uita⹎ sancti Andree apostoli.

Incipit: Inclita sanctorum apostolorum trophea nullum credo

Explicit: Multa quidem et alia miracula meritis beati apostoli sui non solum in eodem loco. sed et in aliis in quibus eius memoria debita ueneratione colitur dominus operari non desinit ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui⹎ Qui uiuit et regnat in secula seculorum. Amen.

BHL 430

(fol. 38)

Blank, with Fuit homo pen trial written at foot of fol. 38v

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 192 × 130 mm. Ruling in plummet.

Decoration

Flourished simple puzzle initial in blue and green (fol. 24r).

Coloured initials alternating between red and green.

Rubrics.

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 39–68

Language(s): Latin

(fol. 39r)

Passio sancti Vincentii: Praeambulum II

Rubric: Incipit passio sancti Vincentii martiris.

Incipit: Probabile satis est ad gloriam uincentii martiris⹎ quod descriptis passionis ipsius gestis˷ titulo inuidit inimicus.

Explicit: uices sepe pontificis diligenter et oportune exequebatur.

BHL 8628

(fols. 39r–43v)

Passio sancti Vincentii

Incipit: Cum igitur apud cesaraugustam ciuitatem ut multorum sinceritas et signata ueritatis uerba testantur.

Explicit: Vbi meritis ipsius diuina multipliciter prestantur beneficia ad laudem et gloriam nominis cristi. qui cum patre et spiritu sancto uiuit. et regnat deus per i⟨n⟩finita secula seculorum amen.

BHL 8630

(fols. 43v–46v)

Aimoin of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Historia translationis sancti Vincentii Liber I

Incipit: Anno octingentesimo quinquagesimo quinto incarnationis domini nostri iesu cristi. regnante orthodoxo francorum principe katuolo hlodowici imperatoris filio.

Explicit: Tantoque potiti desiderio ac post paululum monacho pedis uigore pleniter recuperato. cum ymnis et gratiarum laudibus prout ratio et loci qualitas dictabat exeuntes ad propria redire domino ducente disponunt. cui est honor et potestas. uirtus et imperium. in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Huc usque de sancti corporis inuentione.

BHL 8644

(fols. 46v–49v)

Miracula in Hispania

Incipit: Quis tua criste salutifera que facis omnipotens opera tradere non cupiat titulis.

Explicit: Votaque consona proueniunt.

BHL 8648

(fols. 49v–52v)

Aimoin of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Historia translationis sancti Vincentii Liber II

Incipit: Ergo quia hactenus quę circa huius sancti leuite et martiris

Explicit: Quod et fecerunt⹎ ad gloriam et laudem dei et domini nostri iesu christi. qui in sanctis suis tanta potentia quando uult semper et ubique triumphat. Ipsi honor et uirtus et imperium. in secula seculorum amen.

BHL 8645

(fol. 52v–53v)

Gregory of Tours, Liber miraculorum 1.88–89

Incipit: Apud urbem tolsacium ferunt fuisse quendam antoninum nomine

Explicit: Homo quidam qui per annum integrum oppressus graui egritudine decubabat. inter suorum deportatur manibus. ut uelum quo sancte tegebantur fauille adorans suppliciter oscularetur. Hec mora compressa infirmitate. sanatus est⹎ unde deo et sancto martiri cum reliquis laudes reddidit.

(fols. 53v–54v)

Augustine, Sermon 276

Incipit: In passione que nobis hodie recitata est fratres karissimi⹎ euidenter ostenditur iudex ferox. tortor cruentus. martir inuictus.

Explicit: Sed in his et huiusmodi omnibus⹎ nihil est aliud nisi pretiosa semper in conspectu domini mors sanctorum eius. cui est honor et imperium cum patre et spiritu sancto in secula seculorum amen.

(fols. 54v–55r)

Augustine, Sermon 277A

Incipit: Vincentii martiris sancti fortissimam et gloriosissimam passionem celebrare sollenniter iuuat. et non segniter praedicare.

Explicit: Certe enim sic uexata sunt membra⹎ sic uiscera cruciata. tam crebre et tam crudeliter repetita tormenta. sic quemadmodum facta sunt ista. et si fierent multo grauiora⹎ non sunt condigne passiones huius temporis ad futuram gloriam quae reuelabitur in nobis.

(fols. 55r–61v)

Augustine, Sermon 277

Incipit: Oculis fidei certantem spectauimus martirem Vincentium et amauimus tortum. inuisibiliter pulchrum.

Explicit: Conetur unusquisque quantum potuerit corpus conuertere in spiritum⹎ dum tamen in corpus non conuertat deum.

(fols. 61v–65(b)v)

Passio sancti Ignacii

Rubric: Incipit uita siue passio sancti Ignacii episcopi. Quod est kalendas Februarii.

Incipit: Cum traianus romanorum suscepisset imperium. ignatius discipulis sancti iohannis apostoli et euangelisti uir in omnibus apostolicus˷ secundus post apostolos factus.

Explicit: Passus est autem consulatu attici et marcelli kalendas februarii⹎ quo die etiam memoria eius a fidelibus solenniter celebratur. Praestante domino nostro iesu cristo. qui uiuit et regnat in secula seculorum amen.

BHL 4257

(fols. 65(b)v–68v)

Passio sancti Blasii

Rubric: Incipit passio sancti Blassii episcopi et martiris.

Incipit: Millenis uicibus scripturarum bibliothecas perscrutauimus. et semper ubique legimus. quod ille hostis antiquus a primordio mundi ex quo eum de polorum culmine in tetra uoragine legimus cecidisse contra humanum dimicare solet.

Explicit: mandans omnibus ut commemorationem iam dicti martiris omni tempore agant. Passus est autem beatus blasius episcopus et martir sub die tercio nonarum februarii. sub agricolano preside regnante domino nostri iesu cristo cui est honor et gloria cum patre et spiritu sancto in secula seculorum amen.

BHL 1376

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 189 × 125 mm. Ruling in plummet and pencil.

Decoration

Flourished initials in green with red penwork (fol. 39r, 44v).

Coloured initials alternating between green and red.

After opening rubric, further rubrics were intended for each work (see trimmed guide for rubricator on fol. 48v) but left incomplete.

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 69–84

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 69r–81v)

Vita Willelmi ducis

Rubric: Incipit uita sancti Willelmi confessoris. v kalendas Iunii

Incipit: Inclite laudis ac perhennis memoris⹎ pipini Regis tempore natus est beatus Willelmus.

Explicit: Vnde datur intelligi quia amor et gratia omnipotentis dei⹎ uolebat reuelare insolitis miraculis merita dilecta sui⹎ ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui⹎ qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

BHL 8916

Ends with two prayers, the first of which is also found in Göttweig, Benediktinerstift, Cod. 61: Da nobis quesumus domine beatum confessor est tuum Willelmum imitari quem colimus. ut secularibus expediti negotiis. te largiente celestibus ditemur donis. Per. Suscipiat clementia tua domine quesumus de manibus nostris munus oblatum⹎ ut per sancti confessoris tui Willelmi orationes ab omnibus nos emundet peccatis. Per.

(fols. 82r–84r)

Vita sancti Audoeni

Incipit: Conditor mundi omnipotens deus⹎ sicut speram celestem multis sed diuersis distinxit syderibus⹎ ita ecclesiam adhuc in terris peregrinantem quasi quibusdam luminibus irradiare non desinit.

Explicit: Qui cum uirum dei magno exultantes gaudio suscepissent⹎ et uenerabilibus obsequiis placere satagerent inter cetera saluti et ceterar que se||

BHL 751

Text incomplete, ending in the first chapter. First begun at the foot of fol. 81v and then effaced and recopied on fol. 82r. In the same hand as the foregoing text, but a different decoration scheme suggests it is a slightly later addition.

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 189 × 129 mm. Ruling in plummet and pencil.

Musical Notation: Neumes sketched at the foot of fol. 79r.

Decoration

Coloured initials alternating between green and red.

Flourished paraphs for added words (fols. 72r, 77r, 80r) and other descenders (fol. 78v).

A more involved decoration scheme was planned for fols. 82r–84r, with space for six- and seven- line drop capitals (left incomplete)

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 85–131

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 85r–120r)

Osbert of Clare, Vita sancte Eadburge uirginis

Rubric: Incipit epistula in uita et translatione et miraculis beate uirginis Ædburge premissa.

Incipit: Fidelibus sanctę matris ęcclesię filiis in anglorum regno per loca dispersis. conciuis et cooperator eorum per eam que in spiritu sancto est adoptionem et fidem⹎ osbertus municipii clarensis appellatus indigena. utriusque uitę felicitatem et pacem.

Explicit: Conuertamus itaque ad ilia puritatis nostre preconia. et solennia beate uirginis eadburge mentis immolemus uota. eadburga nobis in ore. nobis eadburga semper uersetur in pectore. eadburgam habeamus omni tempore celebrem. ipsaque uirgo custodiat populum sue translationis solennia deuotis excubiis dignis laudibus celebrantem. per regem et sponsum suum dominum nostrum ihesum cristum. qui uiuit et regnat cum patre et spiritu sancto deus in secula seculorum amen.

BHL 2385

(fol. 120v)

Passio sancti Thome

Incipit: ⟨Q⟩uoniam multi sermonis prolixitatem et obscuritatem abhorrent⹎ ideo succinctæ et leui oratione perstringatur thome sanctissimi cantuariensis archiepiscopi quod me presente qui hec refero et aliis quam plurimis actum fuisse deo testante dinoscitur;

Explicit: ecclesiam cantuariensem orbatam pastore reliquit. Congregato||

BHL 8189

Addition in a contemporary but smaller hand; incomplete.

(fols. 130r–131v)

Added sketches of men and women in sixteenth-century garb; with caption on fol. 131r, Cor non est letum dum perstat ad hostia letum.

Walther, Proverbia, no. 3415a

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 189 × 101 mm. Ruling in pencil.

Decoration

Simple puzzle initials (fols. 85r, 107v), some flourished with penwork in varying styles (fols. 86v, 87v, 88v).

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 132–163

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 132r–140r)

Robert of Cricklade, Vita sancte Frideswide uirginis

Rubric: Incipit prologus in uita sancte Frideswide uirginis.

Incipit: De uita et uirtutibus beatissime et omni ueneratione dignissime uirginis Frideswidę fratres karissimi quę addiscere potui in chronicis et preter hec in quibusdam autenticarum hystoriarum uoluminibus siue in catholicis sanctorum anglie⹎ in unum cohartare uolumen curaui.

Explicit: Inibi quippe tot tantaque per illius merita facta sunt mirabilia. ut nec hominum ea fides apere⹎ nec scriptorum posset colligere sollicitudo prestante domino nostro iesu cristo. cui est honor et imperium in secula seculorum amen.

BHL 3162

(fols. 140r–158r)

Robert of Shrewsbury, Vita sancte Wenefrede

Rubric: Incipit prologus in uita sancte Wenefrede uirginis et martyris.

Incipit: Domino et patri Guarino reuerendo priori wigornie. Rothbertus suus filius uita peccator.

Explicit: et omnes fere aduenientes uotis suis se potitos per eam gloriatur. ad laudem domini nostri iesu cristi. Qui cum patre. et spiritu sancto uiuit et regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum amen.

BHL 8849

(fols. 158r–163v)

Translatio sancte Wenefrede

Incipit: Igitur postquam beata Wenefreda innumeris effulgens uirtutibus cęlestia migrauit ad regna⹎

Explicit: et fiunt innumere uirtutes. ad gloriam et laudem dei. honor. deus. imperium per eterna secula seculorum amen.

BHL 8851

Physical Description

Layout

Frame for written area 191 × 130 mm. Ruling in pencil.

Decoration

Coloured initials alternating between red and green, some with simple flourishing.

MS. Laud misc. 114, fols. 164–184

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 164r–184r)

Passio sancte Katerine

Rubric: Incipit prologus in uita sancte Katerine uirginis.

Incipit: Cum sanctorum fortia gesta ad memoriam posterorum transcribimus.

Explicit: Passa est ergo beata katerina mense nouembrio. uicesima quinta die. feria sexta⹎ hora tercia. seruans uidelicet diem et horam qua cristus pro mundi redemptione ad passionem properauit⹎ cui honor et laus. gloria et potestas est per immortalia secula amen.

BHL 1663

Divided at the end into five lessons for the second and third nocturns (fols. 181v–183v).

Physical Description

Dimensions (leaf): 260 × 167 mm.

Layout

Frame for written area 180 × 110 mm. Ruling in drypoint.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red (one in green, fol. 183v).

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description by Andrew Dunning (January 2020). Previously described in the Quarto Catalogue (H. O. Coxe, Laudian Manuscripts, Quarto Catalogues II, repr. with corrections, 1969, from the original ed. of 1858–1885).

Quarto Catalogue, col. 122

Quarto Catalogue, col. 123

Quarto Catalogue, p. 547

Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 1, p. 66

Bibliography

Printed descriptions:

Pächt and Alexander (1973).

S. J. P. van Dijk, Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, vol. 2: Office Books (typescript, 1957), p. 187

Online resources:

MLGB3: Medieval Libraries of Great Britain

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2020-01-20: Andrew Dunning Revised with consultation of original.