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Alternative title

Henry of Lancaster, Liure des Seintes Medicines

Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 70 + 2

Date created

[ca. 1375-1399]

Language

French, Middle (ca. 1400-1600), Latin

Material

Vellum

Layout

41 lines to a page

Height (mm)

260

Width (mm)

165

Collation

a(2) i(8)-vii(8) viii(12) ix(2).

Writing

very clearly written

Foliation

Unfoliated at present

Research

Another copy of art. 1 is at Stonyhurst College (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1st Report , p. 145). The author was probably the second Henry of Lancaster, who died in 1361. It should be noted that he was looked upon in early times as the Founder of the College: he is so described, for instance, in the earliest Inventory of the College plate (about 1376). See also Lamb's ed. of Masters's History, pp. 22, 23.

Summary

Still in its original binding, CCCC MS 218, dating to the period c. 1354-75, contains the Le livre des seintes medicines of Henry of Grosmont (c. 1310-61), first duke of Lancaster. This is one of three extant copies, the other two being in Stonyhurst College 24, and Aberystwyth, NLW Peniarth 388.2. It is a devotional text containing an allegory in which the sickness of the body is parallelled with the sickness of the soul. Christ, as the doctor, heals the five senses from infection by the seven deadly sins. The book is of particular importance to the College because Henry of Lancaster played an important role in its foundation in the middle years of the fourteenth century and is commemorated as one of its great benefactors.

Contents

Le livre des seintes medicines -- Monitiones to his son Philip

M.R. James Date

xiv late

Downloadable James Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:jq429kn2722/MS_218.pdf

Superseded Interim Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:qp514db6130/218.pdf

Contains

• Henry, Duke of Lancaster, Le livre des seintes medicines. 1r-68r

  Nasmith

  Livre de seintes medicines. 1r-68r

  Author

  Henry, Duke of Lancaster

  Note

  Cest liuere estoit comence et parfait en lan de grace mill. CCCLIIII et le fist un fol cheitif pechour qi len appelle ERTSACNAL ED CUD IRNEH, a qi diex sez meffaitz pardoint. Amen. Amen. Amen.
  Ex hac inscriptione apparet autorem fuisse Henricum ducem Lancastriae; verba enim Ertsacnal ed cud irneh si a dextra ad sinistram legantur, sonant Henri duc de Lancastre

  Rubric

  (1r) In nomine patris, etc.
  (1r) Tres douz sire Jesu crist ceo qe ieo par laide de vous pense cy en apres a escrire Jeo vous pri et requer Sire humblement qil vous plaise a moy doner grace de ensi cest eneure comencer et accompler qe ceo soit a la plaisance de vous et al honour de vostre tres douce mere et al loange de toutz les seins et seintes de paradis. Amen

  Incipit

  (1r) Beau sire diex de trois choses vous sui ieo principalment tenuz a dire

  Note

  The whole treatise is addressed to Christ and the Virgin
  Ends

  Explicit

  (68r) Seins apostles martires confessours virges et veues Ensi soit il amen par seinte charite. Amen Amen

  Note

  (68r) Then the colophon as given by Nasmith above

• Louis IX of France, Monitiones to his son Philip. 68r-70v

  Nasmith

  Monitiones quas Ludowicus rex Francorum in castris juxta Cartaginem moribundus fecit Philippo filio suo et manu propria scripsit. 68r-70v

  Author

  Louis IX of France

  Note

  Then in another hand

  Incipit

  (68r) A. d. mill. ccmo septuagesimo obiit apud

  Note

  (69r) Ending

  Explicit

  (69r) Ad ipsum videndum amandum et laudandum sine fine Amen, finis

  Note

  On 70v is written
  (69v) Mayster ffletewood R. ff. (?)

TJames

vac.

Stanley

Lib. ab Al. 15

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 218

Use and reproduction:

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License:

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