Egerton MS 3277

'Bohun Psalter'. Psalter and Hours, written for a member of the Bohun family.

Contents:

ff. 1r-6v, Calendar, in gold, blue or purple, red, and black. All the feasts are among those in the composite Sarum calendar, but not the Visitation (2 July) (indicating a date before 1389) , St Winifred (3 November) nor Sts David and Chad (1, 2 March).

ff. 7r-98v, Psalter (the Gallican version). Imperfect, wanting the first leaf and single leaves after ff. 20, 37, 56, 83 and 90 (stubs remain). Where a Psalm ends near the foot of a page (ff. 12v, 18v, 20v, 43v, 46r, 60v), all or part of the Gloria is added.

ff. 98v-107r, Canticles. Imperfect, wanting a leaf after f. 106 (end of Benedictus, Magnificat, Nunc Dimitis, and beginning of Quicunque Vult).

ff. 107r-110v, Litany and prayers. The list of saints is similar to that in Exeter College, Oxford, MS. 47, with a few omissions and the addition of Sts Botulph, Petronilla, Genovefa, Prisca, Tecla, Affra, Editha, Anne, Susanna, Elizabeth and Ursula. Two leaves are wanting after f. 110, containing the end of the present section and the beginning of the following one.

ff. 111r-132r, Hours of the Virgin (Sarum use). Imperfect, wanting the beginning of Matins (see above) and two leaves after f. 124, containing Sext and the beginning of None. Memorials at the end of Lauds (f. 118r) of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Cross, Sts Michael, John Baptist, Peter and Paul, John, Mary Magdalene, Catherine and Margaret, All Saints, and Peace.

ff. 133r-137v, Penitential Psalms.

ff. 137v-141v, Litany and prayers. The list of saints is similar to that in the litany following the Penitential Psalms in the Roman breviary.

ff. 142r-159v, Office of the Dead (Sarum use).

ff. 160r-165v, Memorials of the Apostles, Sts Peter, Paul, John, Andrew, James, Thomas, Philip, James the Less, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, Jude, Matthias, Barnabas, Luke, Mark, Mary Magdalene (followed by two short prayers), Joachim and Anna, Jerome and Augustine, the Guardian Angel, St Ursula, and the Virgin Mary. The words 'servus (al. famulus) tuus Himfridus' occur in six memorials (of Sts Peter, John, Thomas, James the Less, Simon and Mark).

ff. 166r-168v, 'Cest confessioun fist seint Roberd li eueske de nichole [i.e., Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln 1235-1253] de set mortels pecchez.' Incipit, 'Sire dieu omnipotent tut puissant donez moy dreite creance'.

ff. 169r-170v, The four Gospel-lessons.

The illumination in the manuscript includes 15 very large historiated initials with three-sided bar borders in colours and gold at the beginning of Psalms 38, 68, 97, 101, 109 and other divisions, and at Lauds, Prime, Terce, Vespers and Compline of the Hours of the Virgin, and other divisions, including the Penitential Psalms and the Office of the Dead (ff. 29v, 46v, 67, 68v, 78r, 87r, 98v, 114r, 120v, 123, 126v, 129r, 133r, 142r, 145v). 12 large 'KL' letters, historiated with the labours of the months, with marginal roundels of zodiac symbols, some damaged, each in colours and gold (ff. 1r-6v). Numerous large histoirated initials in colours and gold, on nearly every folio. Numerous partial bar barder in colours and gold, most inhabited by animals, hybrids, and/or people, on every folio. Line fillers in red, blue, white and gold, some with patterns, masks, animals, or hybrids. Text in red, blue, purple, or gold in the calendar.

The subjects of the historiated initials are as follows:

f. 7r, Samuel identifying Saul.

f. 7v, Samuel anointing Saul, holding a sword.

f. 8r, Philistines being slaughtered.

f. 8v, Sheep, oxen and calves being killed and eaten.

f. 9r, Saul and Jonathan standing before an altar.

f. 9v, Samuel anointing Saul as king.

f. 11r, Saul being directed to slay Amalec.

f. 11v, Bar border of animals and figures and historiated initials 'S'(aluum) at the beginning of Psalm 11: Saul spares Agag (I Samuel 15:8); historiated initial 'U'(squequo) at the beginning of Psalm 12: Saul and Samuel (I Samuel 15:20).

f. 12r, Saul being rejected.

f. 12v, Samuel and his sacrificial calf.

f. 13r, Samuel arriving at Bethlehem with his horn.

f. 13v, David being anointed by Samuel.

f. 14r, David playing the harp for Saul.

f. 16r, Goliath at the camp of the Philistines.

f. 16v, Goliath challenging the Israelites.

f. 17r, David killing the lion and the bear.

f. 17v, David telling Saul he will fight Goliath.

f. 19r, David slays Goliath (I Samuel 17:49-50); Goliath decapitated (I Samuel 17:51).

f. 19v, David taking Goliath’s head to Jerusalem.

f. 20v, Women of Jerusalem rejoicing at the death of Goliath.

f. 21r, Achimelech gives David Goliath’s sword.

f. 21v, David, Achis and his servants.

f. 22r, David, afraid to face Achis, fleeing to the cave of Odollam.

f. 23v, David’s brethren coming to him at the cave of Odollam.

f. 24r, Saul and his servants at Gabaa.

f. 24v, Doeg killing the priests of Nobe.

f. 25v, David slaughtering Philistines and saving Celia.

f. 27r, Philistines invading.

f. 28v, David at Engeddi.

f. 29v, Large historiated initial 'D'(ixi) of four scenes in the life of David, in which Saul enters a cave to relieve himself, the cave in which David and his men are hiding, David cuts a corner of Saul's robe off, David calls after Saul with the corner of his robe and Saul speaks to David, confessing that he believes David will soon be king, at the beginning of Psalm 38, The Canticle of David.

f. 30v, Samuel’s death.

f. 32r, A man and followers before a seated lady.

f. 32v, Abigail before David (I Samuel ); Abigail’s servants and provisions (I Samuel 25: 18-19).

f. 33v, Abigail and Nabal.

f. 34v, Abigail bowing in front of David’s servants.

f. 35r, Abigail rides to join David (I Samuel 25:42); Saul and his men in Ziph (I Samuel 26:2).

f. 35v, David taking a spear and a cup of water from Saul while he sleeps.

f. 36v, Two soldiers and a kneeling man.

f. 37r, Saul and David.

f. 38r, Burial of Saul; two men approaching a city.

f. 39r, The battle at Gabaon.

f. 39v, Abner killing Asael.

f. 40r, David and Abner making a league.

f. 40v, David and Abner.

f. 41r, Joab killing Abner at the gates of Hebron.

f. 41v, David following Abner’s bier.

f. 42r, David at Abner’s grave.

f. 42v, Rechab and Baana kill Isboseth as he sleeps.

f. 43r, Rechab and Baana show the head of Isboseth to David (II Samuel 4:8); David orders Rechab and Banaa to be killed (II Samuel 4:12).

f. 44r, David being anointed King of Israel.

f. 44v, David defeats the Philistines at Baal Pharism (II Samuel 5:20); God strikes the Philistines (II Samuel 5:23-24).

f. 46v, Large historiated initial 'S'(alvum) at the beginning of Psalm 68 ('Salvum me fac Deus'), with scenes showing the bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem, and to the left of the initial, King David stands holding his harp, and a small hybrid musician plays under his feet.

f. 48r, David praying before Christ.

f. 48v, David’s victories, at the beginning of Psalm 70.

f. 49v, David and Joraml, at the beginning of Psalm 71.

f. 50r, David and Miphiboseth, at the beginning of Psalm 72.

f. 51r, David’s servants.

f. 52r, Joab and Abisai fighting the Syrians and Ammonites.

f. 52v, David killing the Syrians, at the beginning of Psalm 75.

f. 53r, David seeing Bathsheba bathing, at the beginning of Psalm 76.

f. 53v, Bathsheba being brought to David, at the beginning of Psalm 77.

f. 56r, Urias sleeping by the gate, from the beginning of Psalm 78.

f. 57v, At the beginning of Psalm 81: David after the death of his child (II Samuel 12:18-19); at the beginning of Psalm 82: David breaks his fast (II Samuel 12:20-23).

f. 58r, David and Bathsheba, at the beginning of Psalm 83.

f. 58v, The birth of Solomon, at the beginning of Psalm 84.

f. 59r, Joab besieges Rabbath, at the beginning of Psalm 85.

f. 60r, At the beginning of Psalm 86: David takes the crown of the king of Rabbath (II Samuel 12:30); at the beginning of Psalm 87: David visits Ammon (II Samuel 13:6).

f. 61r, Thamar brings a mess to Ammon, at the beginning of Psalm 88.

f. 62v, Ammon ravishes Thamar, at the beginning of Psalm 89.

f. 63v, Ammon drives Thamar away, at the beginning of Psalm 90.

f. 64r, Absalom and Thamar, at the beginning of Psalm 91.

f. 64v, A dinner table scene and 'D'(eus) of the king adjusting his robe, at the beginning of Psalms 92 and 93.

f. 65v, Joab and the wise woman of Thecua, at the beginning of Psalm 94.

f. 66r, David and the woman of Thecua, at the beginning of Psalm 95.

f. 66v, Absalom kissing David, at the beginning of Psalm 96.

f. 67r, Large historiated initial 'C'(antate) at Psalm 97 with scenes of Absalom by the gate (II Samuel 15:2), Absalom asking leave to go to Hebron (II Samuel 15:14), David leaving Jerusalem (II Samuel 15:16-18), Absalom in battle (II Samuel 18: 6-9), and a group of clerics and a man playing the organ in the border.

f. 67v, Historiated initial of a man being speared.

f. 68r, Two soldiers at sea(?); a man before a castle gate. Figures in the bar border: one swinging incense, the other at a table, holding an animal head aloft.

f. 68v, Large historiated initial 'D'(omine) at Psalm 101: Joab and a mourning David (II Samuel 19:4-5), David sitting at the gate (II Samuel 19: 8), Semei before David (II Samuel 19:18), David sparing Semei (II Samuel 19:23), and, in the border, a seated King of France handing a sword to the King of England mounted on a lion below, with a bas-de-page scene of the capture of Jean le Bon.

f. 70v, At the beginning of Psalm 103: Joab stabs Amasa.

f. 72r, At the beginning of Psalm 104: the dead body of Amasa (II Samuel 20:11).

f. 73v, At the beginning of Psalm 105: the wise woman of Abela speaks to Joab (II Samuel 20:16).

f. 75r, At the beginning of Psalm 106: Seba's head is thrown to Joab (II Samuel 20:22).

f. 76v, At the beginning of Psalm 107: Joab and the head of Seba (II Samuel 20:22).

f. 77r, At the beginning of Psalm 108: Gad and David (II Samuel 24:11-13).

f. 78r, Large historiated initial 'D'(ixit) at the beginning of Psalm 109: David and Abisag (I Kings 1:3), Adonias making a sacrifice (I Kings 1:9), Bathsheba and Nathan telling David of Abishai (I Kings 1:22), Solomon on David’s mule (I Kings 1:38), and men climbing a ladder towards God the father and God the son in the border.

f. 78v, At the beginning of Psalm 110: Sadoc anointing Solomon (I Kings 1:39).

f. 79r, At the beginning of Psalm 111: Solomon’s coronation (I Kings 1:39).

f. 79v, At the beginning of Psalm 113: Solomon and David (I Kings 2:1); at the beginning of Psalm 114: David's burial (I Kings 2:10).

f. 80v, At the beginning of Psalm 114: Solomon upon the throne of David (I Kings 2:12); at the beginning of Psalm 115: Adonias and Bathsheba (I Kings 2:13).

f. 81r, At the beginning of Psalm 116: Bathsheba pleads with Solomon (I Kings 2:19).

f. 82r, At the beginning of Psalm 118: Joab flees into sanctuary (I Kings 2:28); at Psalm 118: Banaias slays Joab (I Kings 2:34).

f. 82v, In Psalm 118: Joab's burial (I Kings 2:34).

f. 83r, In Psalm 118: Semei is slain (I Kings 2:46); Psalm 118: Solomon's dream (I Kings 3:5).

f. 83v, In Psalm 118: Solomon offers holocausts before the ark of the covenant; Solomon and his govenors.

f. 84r, In Psalm 118: the ark is carried into the temple; the glory of God fills the temple.

f. 84v, In Psalm 118: Solomon before the altar; God appears to Solomon.

f. 85r, In Psalm 118: the queen of Sheba enters Jerusalem; Solomon and the queen of Sheba.

f. 85v, In Psalm 118: Solomon and the queen of Sheba exchange gifts; Solomon's throne.

f. 86r, In Psalm 118: the navies of Solomon and Hiram going to Tharsis; Solomon with his wives and concubines.

f. 86v, In Psalm 118: God is angry with Solomon.

f. 87r, Hstoriated initial 'A': Ahias divides his garment (I Kings 11:30-31); Large historiated initial 'A'(d) at Psalm 119: Jeroboam and the man of God (I Kings 13: 4), the prophet from Bethel meeting the man of God (I Kings 13:11-14) and, in the border, an angelic pope and a half-naked man struggle with hybrids.

f. 87v, At the beginning of Psalm 120: the prophet invites the man of God back; at the beginning of Psalm 121: God comes to the prophet.

f. 88r, At the beginning of Psalm 122: the man of God departs; at the beginning of Psalm 123: the man of God is attacked by a lion.

f. 88v, At the beginning of Psalm 124: the prophet brings back the body of the man of God; at the beginning of Psalm 125: the man of God is buried.

f. 89r, At the beginning of Psalm 126: Jeroboam tells his wife to consult Ahias; at the beginning of Psalm 127: Jeroboam's wife and Ahias.

f. 89v, At the beginning of Psalm 128: ravens feed Elias; at the beginning of Psalm 129: Elias greets the widow of Sarephta.

f. 91r, At the beginning of Psalm 135: the prophets of Baal calling upon their god.

f. 91v, At the beginning of Psalm 136: Elias prepares the bullock; at the beginning of Psalm 137: water is poured on the burnt offering.

f. 92r, At the beginning of Psalm 138: the fire of God consumes the holocaust.

f. 93r, At the beginning of Psalm 139: Elias slays the prophets of Baal.

f. 93v, At the beginning of Psalm 140: Elias and his servant wait for rain.

f. 94r, At the beginning of Psalm 141: Ahab and Jezebel.

f. 94v, At the beginning of Psalm 142: Elias sleeps under the juniper tree.

f. 95r, At the beginning of Psalm 143: Elias and the angel.

f. 95v, At the beginning of Psalm 144: Elias at the mouth of a cave.

f. 96v, At the beginning of Psalm 145: Elias finds Eliseus ploughing.

f. 97r, At the beginning of Psalm 146: Ben-hadad besieges Samaria; at the beginning of Psalm 147: messengers come to Ahab.

f. 97v, At the beginning of Psalm 148: Ahab and the ancients of the land.

f. 98r, At the beginning of Psalm 149: a prophet comes to Ahab; at the beginning of Psalm 150: Ahab mustering troops.

f. 98v, Large historiated initial at Canticles: Ahab and his men (I Kings 20:15); Ben-hadad and the kings drinking (I Kings 20: 16); Ahab and his men slaying the Syrians (I Kings 20:21); Ben-hadad and the kings fleeing on horseback (I Kings 20:20); and David praying in the border.

f. 99r, A man of God comes to Ahab (I Kings 20:28).

f. 99v, The Israelites slaying the Syrians (I Kings 20:29).

f. 100r, Aphec (I Kings 20:30).

f. 101r, Benadad's servants before Achab (I Kings 20:32).

f. 102r, Benadad in Achab's chariot (I Kings 20:33).

f. 104r, A man is slain by a lion (I Kings 20:36).

f. 105r, The prophet is wounded by a man (I Kings 20:37).

f. 105v, The prophet disguises himself and meets the king (I Kings 20:38).

f. 107r, Two men accuse Naboth of blasphemy (I Kings 21:13), with the Litany of saints.

f. 110v, Naboth is stoned to death; Jezabel tells Ahab to take possession of Naboth's vineyard (I Kings 21:15).

f. 111r, The birth of John the Baptist.

f. 111v, The circumcision of John the Baptist.

f. 112r, The decree of Caesar Augustus.

f. 112v, The Nativity; the Annunciation to the Shepherds.

f. 113r, The Adoration of the Shepherds; Christ being circumcised.

f. 114r, Large historiated initial 'D'(eus) at the beginning of Lauds: the Presentation in the Temple, Simeon holding Christ, Christ and his parents arriving at Jerusalem for the passover, Mary finding Christ among the doctors and, in the border, a pope wearing a crown and holding a scepter, two half-figures of the Man of Sorrows, and angels with instruments of the Passion.

f. 114v, John the Baptist reproves Herod; the Baptism of Christ.

f. 115r, John the Baptist is put into prison.

f. 115v, The first temptation of Christ.

f. 116r, The second temptation of Christ.

f. 116v, The third temptation of Christ.

f. 117r, The devil departs from Christ; Christ arrives in Nazareth; Christ in the synagogue at Nazareth.

f. 117v, Christ is kicked out of Nazareth.

f. 118r, The Virgin feeds Christ (Virgo lactans); the Trinity (Gnadenstuhl).

f. 118v, The Pentecost; the Crucifixion.

f. 119r, Michael; John the Baptist; Peter and Paul.

f. 119v, John the Evagelist; Noli me tangere.

f. 120r, Catherine; Margaret; the Coronation of the Virgin.

f. 120v, Large hstoriated initial 'D'(eus): the faifhful pray, historiated initial 'D'(eus) at Prime: Christ healing a man possessed (Luke 4:35), Christ healing Simeon's wife's mother of a fever (Luke 4:39), Simeon's wife's mother feeding Christ (Luke 4:39), Christ healing the sick (Luke 4:40), and, in the border, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the incredulity of Thomas.

f. 121r, Christ by the lake of Genesareth; Christ boards Simon's boat.

f. 121v, Christ tells Simon to let down his nets; Christ on Simon's boat.

f. 122v, Simon follows Christ; Christ and the leper.

f. 123r, Large historiated initial 'D'(eus) at Terce: a man with palsy being healed by Christ (Luke 5: 19), the healed man departing with his bed (Luke 5: 25); Christ calling Matthew (Luke 5:27), the apostles being chosen (Luke 6:13), and, in the border, two Marian legends and the Virgin and Child, historiated initial 'V'(eni) with Christ receiving the centurion's message.

f. 123v, Christ and the widow of Naim; Christ brings the widow's son to life.

f. 124r, A sinner wipes Christ's feet with her hair.

f. 124v, Christ asleep on a boat; Christ stills a storm.

f. 125r, Christ holds the hand of a child; Christ teaches his disciples to pray.

f. 125v, The man travelling to Jericho is robbed; the Samaritan brings the robbed man to an inn.

f. 126r, The Samaritan with the robbed man; the robbed man comes to a town.

f. 126v, Large historiated initial D'(eus) at Vespers: the servant returns (Luke 14:2)1 and the poor, the feeble, the blind, and the lame come in (Luke 14:21), Christ eating with the publicans and sinners (Luke 15:1-7), the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-12), and, in the border, a bishop and two scenes of the miracle of Theophilus; historiated initial 'L'(etatus) with the prodigal son leaving.

f. 127r, The prodigal son tends swine; the prodigal son and his father are reunited.

f. 127v, Dives and Lazarus; the death of Lazarus.

f. 128r, Dives in a hellmouth; Dives sees Abraham holding Lazarus.

f. 128v, Christ heals lepers; the Samaritan thanks Christ.

f. 129r, Large historiated initial 'D'(omine) at the beginning of Compline: Christ speaks to Zacheus who is in a tree (Luke 19:5), Zacheus recieves Christ with joy (Luke 19:6), Christ sends his disciples to find the colt (Luke 19:30), the colt, and, in the border, a bishop at prayer and two scenes of the miracle of the userer's soul.

f. 129v, The colt is brought to Christ; garments are put on the colt.

f. 130v, Christ expels traders from the temple; the tribute penny; the widow's mite.

f. 131r, Christ fortells the end of the world; the Virgin and Child; the Second Coming.

f. 131v, A woman kneeling in prayer.

f. 132r, A man kneeling in prayer; a man kneeling in prayer.

f. 133r, Large historated initial 'D'(omini) at the Penitential Psalms: the priests give Judas money (Luke 22:5), Christ sends Peter and John to prepare the passover (Luke 22:8), the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, and the Last Judgement in the border.

f. 133v, The Betrayal.

f. 134r, Christ led away by soldiers.

f. 135r, Peter in the high priest's house.

f. 135v, The Mocking of Christ.

f. 136v, Christ before Pilate.

f. 137r, The Flagellation of Christ.

f. 137v, The bearing of the cross.

f. 140v, Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross; Christ and the women of Jerusalem; the two thieves being led out for crucifixion.

f. 141r, The Crucifixion; lots are cast for Christ's garments; Christ is offered vinegar; the Deposition.

f. 141v, The Entombment.

f. 142r, Large historiated initial 'D'(ilexi): the women at the sepulchre; an angel appears in the tomb; two men appear to the women; the women tell the disciples; and in the margin, scenes of the death and burial of Richard FitzAlan.

f. 142v, Peter looks into the tomb; the two disciples arrive at Emmaus.

f. 143r, Christ and his disciples; Christ breaks bread at Emmaus.

f. 143v, Christ displays his wounds to the apostles.

f. 144r, Christ is offered food.

f. 144v, Peter goes fishing; Jesus greets the fishermen.

f. 145r, Christ tells the fishermen where to cast their net; Christ manifests himself for the third time; Christ gives Peter the charge of his sheep.

f. 145v, Large historiated initial 'V'(irgine) at the Matins of the Office of the Dead: Noli me tangere, Christ showing his wounds to his disciples (John 20:20), the incredulity of Thomas, Christ and his disciples praying and, in the border, a tomb (perhaps the Earl of Arundel's), a grave with a shrouded corpse, two men putting treasure in a chest, and the arms of England (before 1340) and the arms of Bohun.

f. 146r, The Ascension.

f. 146v, The Pentecost.

f. 147v, Peter and John heal the lame man; Peter and John with the people; Ananias before the apostles.

f. 148r, The apostles being imprisoned.

f. 149v, Christ and the twelve apostles.

f. 150r, Stephen speaks before the council.

f. 151r, Philip and the eunuch of Queen Candace; Philip baptising the eunuch.

f. 152r, Saul is given letters.

f. 152v, The conversion of Paul.

f. 153v, Saul is led to Damascus; Ananias and Saul.

f. 154r, The Baptism of Paul.

f. 154v, Paul joins the apostles.

f. 155v, Peter is cast into prison.

f. 156r, Peter in prison.

f. 156v, An angel appears to Peter; the angel commands Peter to gird himself.

f. 157r, Peter follows the angel.

f. 157v, Peter follows the angel out of prison.

f. 158r, Peter realises that the Angel has saved him; Peter stands at the gate of Mary's house.

f. 158v, The arrest of an apostle.

f. 159v, A seated woman, a standing man and a small boy; a young boy, a man and a judge.

f. 160r, Christ in Majesty.

f. 160v, Peter holding a key.

f. 161r, Paul holding a sword; John the Evangelist holding a chalice and palm branch; Andrew holds a saltire.

f. 161v, James the Great; Thomas holding a spear.

f. 162r, Philip holding loaves; James the Less holding a fuller's club.

f. 162v, Bartholemew; Matthew reading; Simon.

f. 163r, Jude.

f. 163v, Christ; Luke the Evangelist and his bull; Mark the Evangelist with lion.

f. 164r, Mary Magdalene; Christ; three figures praying towards Christ above.

f. 164v, An embrace between Joachim and Anna; St Jerome in a red hat reading a book; a bishop with an open book.

f. 165r, Two figures before a vision of Christ.

f. 165v, Ursula; the Virgin Mary.

f. 166r, Nicholas kneeling before Christ.

f. 168v, A man kneeling before a bishop; a man kneeling before Christ.

f. 169r, Mark and the Evangelist with an angel behind him and a winged lion standing above him; Matthew the Evangelist, with a winged young boy behind.

f. 169v, Luke the Evangelist and a winged bull in front of him.

f. 170r, John the Evangelist, and an eagle standing before the lectern.