Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 411: Psalter
Description
Abstract/Contents
- Summary
- 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.
- Contents
- Psalter
Bibliographic information
- M.R. James Date
- x
- Downloadable James Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:cj433jc6703/MS_411.pdf
- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:mj423by1552/411.pdf
- Contains
-
- Psalter. ir-146v
- Note
-
ff. ir-iir blank
(iiv) On ff. iiv, iiir in hand of cent. xii, with music on 4-line stave, are the notations for Benedicamus domino, Ite missa est
The music continues on f. iiiv with short texts from the Passions as follows: - Rubric
- (iiiv) Dominica in palmis
- Incipit
- (iiiv) Hely, hely, etc.
- Note
- The same for
- Rubric
- (iiiv) Feria tertia
- Note
- For
- Rubric
- (iiiv) Feria IIII
- Incipit
- (iiiv) Pater in manus tuas
- Rubric
- (iiiv) Feria VI
- Incipit
- (iiiv) Consummatum est
- Note
-
Some original leaves have gone before the present fol. 1r
On f. 1r is the end of the pseudo-Augustinian passage Canticum psalmorum animam decorat (CXXXI 142, CXLII 46). It begins here at - Incipit
- (1r) cor laetificat etc.
- Note
- ending
- Explicit
- (1r) animam suam in caelo mirificabit in saecula saeculorum. Amen
- Note
-
On f. 1v a fine frame in colour with panels of excellent interlaced work and some birds' heads at the angles. Within it is a fine full-length figure in outline in the Anglo-Saxon style of a bearded man with fillet about his head, holding a book. The drapery is excellent
(1v) Below, the initials W. S., very small
(2r) The text of the Psalter begins f. 2r: plain gold initial to Beatus. The words Beatus vir in red and green capitals
Initials to verses alternately in red and a peculiar green. Titles of Psalms are in red rustic capitals
The first few Psalms have copious interlinear glosses in Latin, but after about Ps. xii these become very scanty
(40r) Ps. li Quid gloriaris has full-page frame with interlaced work (white on black) and large initial with similar work. Green and yellow-brown are conspicuous colours here
(81v) Ps. ci Domine exaudi has also a full-page frame with panels of interlaced work. This is specially interesting because the colours have to a large extent not been put in, and the pattern remains in outline. Purple is the only colour which has been added: part of the outline here is in red
(94v) Dixit dominus has a larger initial than the rest, but it is quite a plain one
After Ps. cl: in red capitals - Rubric
-
(123v) Alleluia. Expliciunt psalmi
(123v) Psalmus ipsi Dauid - Incipit
- (123v) Pusillus eram
- Note
-
(Ps. 151)
(124r) Cantica
On f. 130r are two corrections very plainly in the Christ Church hand
The Cantica end with: Benedictus, Magnificat, Te deum, Nunc dimittis, Ymnus angelicus (i.e. Gloria in excelsis), Pater noster, Credo, Fides Sancti Anasthasii episcopi - Rubric
- (137r) Pura oratio ad dominum cum intercessionibus sanctorum omnium
- Incipit
- (137r) Suscipiat pietas tua domine deus meus humilitatis meae praeces
- Rubric
- (137r) Incipiunt Letaniae
- Note
-
(137v) Apostles: Petre in capitals Martyrs: Stephane in capitals, line, clete, clemens, sixte, laurenti, yppolite, dionisi, rustice, eleutheri, corneli, iuste, cypriane Confessors: Siluester (capitals), gregori, hilari, martine, ambrosi, geronime, augustine, remegi, benedicte, paule, antoni, machari Virgins: Felicitas (capitals), perpetua, agatha, lucia, agnes, cecilia, petronella, eufemia, anastasia, scolastica
Suffrage - Incipit
- (138r) Ut congregationem nostram
- Note
- On f. 138v a series of prayers
- Rubric
- (138v) Oratio ad nouem ordines angelorum
- Incipit
- (138v) Deus qui lapso lucifero
- Rubric
-
(138v) Oratio ad patriarchas et prophetas
(138v) Oratio ad chorum apostolorum
(139r) Oratio ad chorum sanctorum martyrum
(139r) Oratio ad omnes confessores - Note
- (Gregory and Augustine mentioned)
- Rubric
-
(139r) Oratio ad sanctam mariam et omnes sanctas virgines
(139v) Pro nostris infirmitatibus
(139v) Pro pace postulanda
(139v) Pro uenia populi - Note
- f. 140r is in a beautiful upright round hand of cent. xi
- Rubric
- (140r) Incipiunt Letaniae
- Note
-
(140r) Apostles: Petre II (capitals) ... simon, iuda , mathia, marce, luca, marcialis Martyrs: Stephane, maximiane, iustine, contestor, line, clete, ... laurenti, uincenti II (capitals), apollonaris, geruasi, protasi, christophore, georgii, dionisii cum sociis, eustachii cum sociis (capitals), herasme, osuuolde Confessors: Benedicte II (capitals), martine, hilarii, siluester, gregori, augustine, cuthberhte, remegi, germane, maure, placide, columbane, antoni, arseni, machari, caurentine Virgins: Felicitas, perpetua, maria magdalena, scolastica, agatha, agnes, cecilia, lucia, brigida, eugenia, eulalia, petronella Here it ends imperfectly
Then follow, in a black Christ Church hand of cent. xi, xii, several liturgical gospels with red and blue initials - Rubric
- (141r) In vigilia nativitatis Domini secundum matheum
- Incipit
- (141r) Cum esset desponsata
- Rubric
- (141r) In die secundum Iohannem
- Incipit
- (141r) In principio
- Rubric
- (141v) Secundum Marcum
- Note
- (Easter)
- Incipit
- (141v) Maria magdalena ... emerunt aromata
- Rubric
- (142r) In assumptione Sancte Marie secundum Lucam
- Incipit
- (142r) Intrauit Ihesus
- Rubric
- (142r) In passione Sancti Elfegi Archiepiscopi secundum Iohannem
- Incipit
- (142r) Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis Ego sum pastor bonus
- Rubric
- (142v) Secundum Iohannem
- Incipit
- (142v) Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis Ego sum uitis uera
- Note
-
ff. 143r-146v blank
The three martyrs Maximian, Justin and Contestor in the second Litany are obscure to me
- Psalter. ir-146v
- TJames
- 174
- Stanley
- N. 10
- Location
- https://purl.stanford.edu/sk996tb4970
- MS 411
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC).