Add MS 82949

Contents:

ff. 2r-26v, A dialogue on hawking between Cosmas and Ypocras, incipit, 'Thys boke folwyng treteth of all maner nature of hawkys fyst of all hawkes of the ere and her sekenesse', explicit, 'that othyr flech of fowles is noght holsum bot yif it be bete for the betyng maketh the flech better to induce and defye as it is entretyd in the tretys of castying.';

ff. 26v-28v, Treatise on salves for hawks, incipit, 'Her begynneth a good tretise off salves and this in especial is the best that may be for yowr hawke' explicit, 'make power of the flowrys of prymerose the wych ye shul gader in march and menge the two powders to gedyr';

ff. 28v-31r, Treatise on plumage, incipit, 'Her begynneth the tretyse of plumach wych ye shul execute on this wyse take the skynne', explicit, 'And if the flech of any of thes afor said be colde it shul be tempryd wit hote water and that shul make your hawke more fayre and lusty. Explicit';

ff. 31r-v, Charms and Recipes, incipit 'Vincit leo de tribu iudia' explicit, 'flewme from the hawke.';

ff. 32r-59v, On the Crafte of Fawconrye and Haukynge, incipit, 'Ye shal devyse yow of all the crafte of Fawconrye and Hawkynge and off the sporte thereof and of all the kyndys of hawkys'; explicit, 'I nowye for to kepe a fawcon and sparhawke he xal have no need for to kepe and governe to seke right ferre other haukis what evir that they ben so that he love hem. Explicit.';

ff. 59v-79v, Pseudo-Symmachus, De regimine et medicinis falconum, incipit, 'Thys chapiter tretyth of the governawnce and of medycynes of hawkis specialy for fawconys'[…] 'And be war that she have no mete or she have cast tham. Explicit tractatus sive libellus tractans Symacus de regimine et medicinis falconum austerum ceterarum que avium rapacium.'

Scott notes that the text has the East Anglian form 'xal' together with 'shal' for 'shall' (see Scott, Later Gothic Manuscripts (1996), p. 258).

Decoration:

2 full-page miniatures (f. 1r-1v). 3 half-page miniatures (ff. 31v, 59v, 79v). Many full borders with blue, pink, and green acanthus leaves, gold bezants, and floriate spray, some with various hunting accoutrements or animals (ff. 1v, 2r, 32r, 33r, 34r, 35r, 42r, 45r, 48r) as well as on a consecutive series of rectos (ff. 49r-55r, 57r-58r). Partial borders with the same decoration, some with animals (ff. 2v, 33v, 38v, 40v, 55v, 61v, 76v) as well as on a series of versos (ff. 49v-53v, 57v-59v). One historiated initial 'T'(hys) in pink on a gold ground with the Kerdeston shield in the middle (f. 2). Many 'champ' initials throughout.

The subjects of the miniatures are:

f. 1r: A richly-dressed man in a red and grey costume with gold spurs and a falcon on his wrist against a green background; he sits atop a grey horse with a decorative bridle and saddle [?]. Behind him is a castle and in front of him, a river with fish and birds. Below this scene is a standing man in black dress, also with a falcon and one woman and three men, one kissing the standing man's feet, against a red patterned background and a building. The lower image may be one of sick people seeking cures from Ypocras (Hippocrates);

f. 1v: The Roman senator Cosmas, in red and ermine robes and matching crown with three hawks on his wrist, against a patterned background of green and gold. Ypocras sit below him with a book on his lap and a pointer next to a stream with birds. Below are three hunters, two with spears in one hand and three hawks in the other; the other hunter releases three hawks. Both Ypocras and Cosmas' names are labelled in gold;

f. 31v: Ypocras sitting on a stool writing with a dog at his feet. Three hunters, each with a spear and three hawks on his arm stand in front of Ypocras. Two buildings are at the top of the miniature, with Kerdeston's arms in the upper centre;

f. 59v: Cosmas, Ypocras below, and two men with spears and three hawks on their arms, with Kerdeston's arms. Background of red and yellow;

f. 79v: Symmachus in blue academic robes sitting with pointer in one hand and a scroll in the other against a patterned red background with Kerdeston and his wife's arms in the upper corners. Below are two men with spears and hawks, and a dog.