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Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 217

Date created

[ca. 1375 - 1399]

Language

Latin

Material

Vellum

Height (mm)

160

Width (mm)

110

Writing

Writing and decoration Avignon

Foliation

ff. i + 1-217 + ii

Provenance

Early owner in the neighbourhood of Cordes-sur-Ciel, near Albi. A note of the building of the Château de Cordes in 1222 is added on November 7th in the Calendar. The town was fortified at that time by Raymond VIII, count of Toulouse, following the sack by Simon de Montfort in 1215 during the Albigensian Crusade. Given to the College by Almeric Hugh Paget, First Baron Queenborough, in 1923. A label on f. ir records this. It came up for sale at Sotheby's on 21 November 1923, lot 403, with a description wrongly dating the manuscript to 1340-48 which is based on an indulgence promulgated in 1348 on f. 213v, and ascribing, also wrongly, the illumination to the artist of the Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, queen of France. Sir Geoffrey Butler, Fellow Librarian, wrote to Lord Queenborough on 31 October 1923, "You asked me from time to time to report to you when anything of interest turned up in Sotheby's catalogues", drawing his attention to various items, including lot 403. The letter is enclosed in Lord Queenborough's copy of Masters' History of Corpus 1831 now in the library at Leeds Castle, Kent. The manuscript may have interested Butler from the apparent similarity to MS 324 which may have been illuminated for Jeanne d'Evreux. Lord Queenborough agreed, he bought the manuscript for £100 and gave it to the College.

Decoration

Framed miniatures, illuminated ornamental initials, line endings and borders. The style of all these can be compared with Avignon illumination of the late fourteenth century as noted by C. de Hamel in The Parker Chronicle, 3, 2007, pp. 12-13. He considers it is likely that the book was made at Avignon c. 1390-1400, and notes that the text is consistent with Books of Hours from Avignon, with two citations of papal indulgences from there, including that of 1348. Also, the illustrated Hours of St Catherine, fols. 163r-166v, is a feature of books from Avignon (others include Paris, BnF, ms. lat 10527, fols. 59r-67v, Vienna, ÖNB cod. s.n. 9450, fols. 189r-196v, and New York Public Library, Spencer ms 49, II, ff. 17v-27v). These three manuscripts and about half a dozen others are all related in style to Corpus MS 540; some of them are by the artist Giovanni de Tolosa, or Jean of Toulouse, recorded in the accounts of Clement VII, antipope in Avignon 1378-94.

Binding

Binding of 19th cent. stamped with fleur-de-lis.

Summary

This Book of Hours, CCCC MS 540, of c. 1390-1400, was given to Corpus Christi College by Lord Queenborough (1861-1949) in 1923. It was made in Avignon and is decorated by the same group of artists as three other Books of Hours, Paris, BnF MS lat. 10527, Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek MS ser. nov. 9450, and New York, Public Library MS Spencer 49. It contains eight half-page miniatures and many decorative ornamental borders. One of the artists involved in the illumination may be Jean de Toulouse, documented as working in Avignon 1378-94. A note in the calendar records the anniversary of the building of the castle of Cordes-sur-Ciel, near Albi, and the owner very likely lived in that region.

Contents

Indulgence and prayers to St Sebastian --

M.R. James Date

late 14th cent.

Augmented James Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:gr501yk5898/540.pdf

Contains

• Indulgence and prayers to St Sebastian. 1r-3v

  Note

  By a different scribe, probably added at a later date than that of the main text
  (1r) Indulgence for attending masses

  Incipit

  (1r) Si quis vult clemenciam altissimi salvatoris exorare

  Note

  Gives an offer of an indulgence of 100 days for attending certain masses which are listed with the texts of their introits: De adventu - Ad te levavi; De nativitate - Puer natus; De apparicione Domini (i.e. Epiphany) - Ecce advenit; De dominica lx (i.e. Sexagesima) - Exurge quare; De resurrectione (Easter Sunday) - Resurrexi; De ascensione - Viri Galilei; De pentecoste - Spiritus Domini; De cruce (Invention of the Holy Cross) - Nos autem gloriari; De Maria - Vultum tuum; De assumpcione - introit not listed; De apostolis - Mihi autem; De angelis - Benedicite dominum. The list ends on f. 2v

• Suffrage for St Sebastian. 3r-3v

  Incipit

  O martir beatissime miles Christi

• Calendar. 4r-15v

  Note

  Calendar written in red and black with the KL's in gold with blue and pink red frames and infills with short extensions of gold ivy leaves. Contains saints of the region of Albi and Rodez, and an added note on Nov. 7th records the building in 1222 of the castle of Cordes. Cordes is between Albi and Rodez. This suggests that the owner of the book perhaps lived in or near Cordes
  July 23rd Sigolena - born in the seventh century near Albi
  Sept. 6th Eugenius Ep. - died at Albi in 505 - the feast of the translation of his relics
  Sept. 7th Carissima - born at Albi in the fifth century
  Sept. 10th Salvius Ep. - bishop of Albi in the sixth century
  Oct. 16th Gratus - martyred c. 316 in the diocese of Rodez
  Nov. 4th Amancius Ep. - the first bishop of Rodez d. c. 445
  Nov. 5th Martiana - born at Albi in the eighth century - her relics were preserved at the cathedral
  Nov. 7th Anno domini 1222 fuit edificatum castrum de Cordua albigensii per comitem tholosani
  Nov. 13th Dalmacius Ep. - Bishop of Rodez, d. c. 581
  Dec. 11th Paul of Narbonne - patron of the neighbouring dioceses of Carcassonne and Narbonne
  f. 16r-16v blank

• Readings from the Four Gospels. 17r-21r

  Note

  All beginning with two line initials of gold with blue and pink red frames and infills with short extensions of gold ivy leaves
  (17r) John

  Incipit

  (17r) In principio erat verbum

  Note

  (18r) Luke

  Incipit

  (18r) In illo tempore missus est angelus Gabriel

  Note

  (19r) Matthew

  Incipit

  (19r) Cum natus esset Ihesus in Bethleem Iude

  Note

  (20v) Mark

  Incipit

  (20v) In illo tempore recumbentibus undecim discipulis apparuit illis Ihesus

• Invocations in honour of the Virgin Mary. 21v-21v

  Note

  These to be said daily in case of dying without confession. Added in a different hand than the main text

  Incipit

  (21v) Pater digna Dei venie

• Hours of the Virgin Mary of the Use of Rome. 22r-69v

  Note

  (22r) Matins. Two thirds page framed miniature of the Annunciation with a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves in part set on a gold ground. The miniature has a background of gold rinceaux on red. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold
  (32r) Lauds begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking
  (43r) Prime begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking
  (47r) Terce. Two thirds page framed miniature of the Nativity with a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves. The miniature has a background of gold rinceaux on pale green. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold
  (51v) Sext. Two thirds page framed miniature of the Adoration of the Magi. The miniature has a background of gold diaper pattern on pale green. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold
  (56r) None begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking
  (58v) Vespers begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking
  (59r) Compline begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking

• Psalms and antiphons of the Virgin. 70r-77v

  Note

  To be read on various days of the week

  Rubric

  (70r) Isti tres psalmi sequentes cum suis antiphonis dicuntur die martis et die veneris

  Note

  (70r) Antiphon: Specie tua et pulchritudine tua. Psalm: Eructavit cor meum
  (72r) Antiphon: Adiuvabit eam Deus vultu suo. Psalm: Deus noster refugium
  (73r) Antiphon: Sicut letancium omnium nostrum. Psalm: Fundamenta eius

  Rubric

  (73v) Isti tres psalmi sequentes cum suis antiphonis dicuntur die mercurii et die sabbati

  Note

  (74r) Antiphon: Gaude Maria virgo. Psalm: Cantate Domino canticum novum
  (75r) Antiphon: Dignare me laudare. Psalm: Dominus regnavit
  (76v) Antiphon: Post partum. Psalm: Cantate Domino canticum novum

• Hours of the Virgin Mary. 77v-84r

  Note

  Variants for the liturgical year

  Rubric

  (77v) Sabbato ante primam dominicam de adventu usque ad vigiliam nativitatis Domini mutatur officium beate Marie
  (78v) Ad matutinas invitatorium hymnus et omnia alia non mutantur usque ad lectiones

  Note

  Then follows a listing of variant lessons, responsories, versicles, antiphons, capitula and collects

  Rubric

  (81v) Et nota quod supradicte orationes antiphoni et versus ad omnes horas dicuntur usque ad vigiliam nativitatis Domini
  (82v) Istud officium beate Marie virginis mutatur a vigilia nativitatis Domini usque ad festum purificationis
  (83v) Notandum quod a vigilia pasche usque ad ascensionem Domini fit officium beate Marie virginis sicut ante adventum

• Mass of the Virgin Mary. 84v-86r

  Rubric

  (84v) Missa de beata Maria

  Incipit

  (84v) Salve sancta parens

• Seven Joys of the Virgin. 86v-89r

  Note

  (86v) Revelation of the Virgin Mary to St Thomas of Canterbury regarding the Seven Joys

  Rubric

  (87v) Incipiunt gaudia per dictum sanctum super hiis ordinata

  Incipit

  (87v) Gaude flore virginali

  Note

  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with small partial border

• Gospel Reading of the Passion and a Prayer. 89r-90v

  Rubric

  (89r) Passio domini nostri Ihesu Christi secundum Iohannem

  Incipit

  (89r) In illo tempore apprehendit Pylatus Ihesum et flagellavit

  Rubric

  (90r) Oratio

  Incipit

  (90r) Deus qui manus tuas et pedes tuas

• Penitential Psalms. 91r-102v

  Note

  (91r) Two thirds page framed miniature, badly damaged, of David kneeling in prayer before God

  Incipit

  (91r) Domine ne in furore tuo

  Note

  Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with full border of the same type as for Matins of the Virgin

• Litany. 103r-108r

  Note

  Does not contain any significant local saints

• Mass of the Holy Trinity. 108v-110v

  Rubric

  (108v) Missa de sancta trinitate

  Incipit

  Benedicta sit sancta trinitas

  Note

  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Mass of the Holy Spirit. 110v-113r

  Rubric

  (110v) Missa de sancto spiritu

  Incipit

  (110v) Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum

  Note

  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Mass of the Holy Cross. 113r-115r

  Rubric

  (113r) Missa de sancta cruce

  Incipit

  (113r) Nos autem gloriari

  Note

  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Mass of the Dead. 115r-117v

  Rubric

  (115r) Missa pro defunctis

  Incipit

  (115r) Requiem eternam

  Note

  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Salutations to be said at the elevation at mass. 117v-118r

  Rubric

  (117v) Iste salutationes dicuntur ad elevationem corporis Christi

  Incipit

  (117v) Ave domine Ihesu Christe verbum Patris filius virginis

  Note

  Ornamental initial of three lines of the same type as the Readings from the Four Gospels

• Prayer to be said at mass. 118v-118v

  Rubric

  (118v) In presencia corporis Christi oratio

  Incipit

  (118v) Domine Ihesu Christi qui hanc sacratissimam carnem

  Note

  Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Hours of the Passion. 119r-154v

  Note

  (119r) Two thirds page framed miniature of the Man of Sorrows standing in the tomb, flanked by standing Mary and John, and behind the Cross and the Arma Christi. There is a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves
  At the beginning of each hour there is an ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with small partial border
  (125v) Lauds
  (130r) Prime
  (132v) Terce
  (137r) Sext
  (141v) None
  (146v) Vespers
  (150r) Compline

• Short Hours of the Cross. 155r-158r

  Note

  (155r) Two thirds page framed miniature of the Crucifixion with a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves
  158v blank

• Short Hours of the Holy Spirit. 159r-162r

  Note

  (159r) Two thirds page framed miniature of Pentecost set against a blue ground with gold stars. There is a full border of gold, blue and pink ivy leaves with interlace at the corners. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves.
  162v blank

• Hours of St Catherine. 163r-166v

  Note

  (163r) Two thirds page framed miniature of St Catherine standing holding sword and wheel set against a green ground with gold rinceaux. There is a full border with acanthus leaves against gold. Ornamental initial of three lines with blue and pink ivy leaves.

• Office of the Dead of the Use of Rome. 167r-209r

  Note

  (167r) Vespers begins imperfectly. The leaf containing the miniature at the beginning is lacking
  (173v) Matins. Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border
  (196r) Lauds. Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with partial border

• Short Office of the Dead. 210r-212v

  Rubric

  (210r) Incipit officium mortuorum in brevi compendio

  Incipit

  (210r) Salutiferis meritis

  Note

  (hymn at Matins)
  Ornamental initial of four lines with blue and pink ivy leaves on gold with small partial border

• Instructions regarding a vision of Christ. 212v-212v

  Note

  Added by a different hand than the main text

  Rubric

  (212v) Nota qua cito merita attribuuntur homini propter visionem Christi.

  Incipit

  (212v) Primo necessaria vite illa die sibi ministrantur

  Note

  Seven other instructions follow

• Missa pro morte evitanda. 213v-216v

  Note

  Added by a different hand than the main text

  Rubric

  Missa pro morte evitanda a domino papa data anno domini millesimo cccxlviii

  Note

  Gives an indulgence of 210 days to those hearing the mass and portare in manu sua missam audiens unam candelam ardentem per quinque dies continuos sequentes. Et sic mors subitanea eis non nocebit. Et hoc est certum et probatum in Avinione et in aliis partibus

  Incipit

  (213v) Recordare domine testamenti tui

  Note

  217r blank

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 540

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