Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 411: Psalter

purl.stanford.edu/sk996tb4970

Title:

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 411: Psalter

Alternate Title:

Psalterium (Cantuariense)

Language:

Latin

Extent:

ff. 3 + 146

Dimensions:

210 Height (mm) and 145 Width (mm)

Approximate Date:

[ca. 900 CE - 999 CE]

Provenance:

Probably written at Tours, but with some ornament added in England. The emphasis laid on Vincent and Benedict in the second Litany points to an abbey dedicated to the former saint. It is plain that the book was in England in cent. xi when the drawing on f. 1v was added. The occurrence of the Gospel for the feast of St Elphege confirms the tradition that the book was at Canterbury.

Table of contents:

Psalter

Description:

This Psalter gives interesting evidence of relations between England and the Continent in the late tenth century. It has some very Franco-Saxon decoration, but seems to have been written by the English scribe also responsible for CCCC MS 214, and has a line-drawing of a standing man (David?) in a very English style, perhaps an early addition to provide a frontispiece, in one of its Franco-Saxon frames. The Franco-Saxon style of illumination draws heavily on earlier Insular decoration, particularly in its use of interlace and beast heads, but was developed on the Continent rather than in any part of the original Insular homelands. This manuscript probably attests to Continental influence on English book-production at Christ Church, Canterbury in the late tenth century, but it has alternatively been supposed that it was made abroad, perhaps at Tours, and imported early into England. English additions were made to the book in the eleventh century, including a second litany and the drawing of the standing man. An early modern note claims that the book, once decorated with silver gilt and jewels, was owned by two archbishops of Canterbury including Thomas Becket (d. 1170). Parker does not seem to have celebrated the association with this saint, whose influence on English affairs he is unlikely to have considered positive.