Hard-coded id of currently selected item: . JSON version of its record is available from Blacklight on e.g. ??

Metadata associated with selected item should appear here...

Add MS 59855

Record Id:

032-001998325

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-001998325

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100000000036.0x00025a

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Add MS 59855

Title:

THE GOWER MISSAL: noted Missal of Sarum Use; produced in England; circa 1440-1450. Latin. See F. H. Dickinson (ed.), Missale ad usum . . . ecclesiae Sarum (1861-1883). Contains square neumatic notation of red four-line staves. Alan G. Thomas and D. H. Turner tentatively identified it as the 'one large new missal' bequeathed to the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overy (now Southwark Cathedral) by John Gower in 1408, but Kathleen Scott's mid 15th-century dating (see Later Gothic Manuscripts, vol. II. p. 380) does not support the connection. The Gower arms are incorporated into the decoration at the foot of f. 9v. Ex libris of Nathaniel C. S. Poyntz inside upper board, along with bookplates of John Comerford (b.1762?, d.1832?) (f. ii), C. H. St John Hornby (b.1867, d.1946) (f. i) (his MS. 67, although the M.109 which appears inside the upper board may also relate to his ownership), and Major J. R. Abbey (1933) (f. iii) (J.A. 3240). Purchased of Alan G. Thomas, 9 March 1977.

Vellum; ff. iv+281. Sec. fol. : 'KL primus mandentem'. 337 x 230mm. Gatherings (36) of 8 except i6, xvii8 (lacks 2, cancelled) and xxxi4. There are a vellum flyleaf and stub and a vellum pastedown at the end of the volume. Ruled (ink) for 2 columns of 37 lines. Written space: 209 x 180mm. Script and rubrication are in a Gothic textualis semi-quadrata by one principal scribe who gives a colophon at f. 280v: 'nomen scriptoris est Iohannis plenus amoris'. Contemporary marginal corrections have been erased and replaced by formal corrections by the scribe. Guideletters for initials and litterae notabiliores. Catchwords. Quire numeration on the last verso of the quire. Quire signatures. Original binding of bevelled boards covered with white leather with kermes stained turn-ins. Sewn on seven split cords. Remains of two fore-edge clasps. Vellum tabs serve as fore-edge book-marks.

Contents:

1. ff. 1-6v. Calendar (Sarum Use).

2. ff. 7-9v. Exorcismus aquae. Benedictio salis et aquae. Processio.

3. ff. 9v-116v. Temporale (to Benedictio fontium).

4. ff. 116v-127v. Ordinary of the Mass.

5. ff. 128-139v. Canon of the Mass, with conclusion of the Mass and prayers.

6. ff. 139v-191v. Temporale (from Easter day).

7. ff. 191v-241v. Sanctorale (Sts Andrew to Linus).

8. ff. 242-254. Commune Sanctorum.

9. ff. 254-280v. Votive Masses and prayers.

The decoration consists of one decorated and eighteen small historiated initials with full or partial foliate bar borders, all in gold and colours, viz:-

1. f. 7. Exorcismus aquae. 'Omnibus dominicis'. Liturgical scene.

2. f. 9v. Temporale. 'Ad te levavi'. Kneeling figure before God.

3. f. 25. Temporale. 'Puer natus est'. Nativity.

4. f. 32. Temporale. 'Ecce advenit'. Adoration of the Magi.

5. f. 127. Ordinary of the Mass. 'Per omnia secula'. Decorated P.

6. f. 128. Canon of the Mass. 'Te igitur'. Sacrifice of Abraham.

7. f. 139v. Temporale. 'Resurrexi'. Resurrection.

8. f. 154. Temporale. 'Viri galilei'. Ascension.

9. f. 158. Temporale. 'Spiritus domini'. Pentecost.

10. f. 164. Temporale. 'Benedicta sit'. Crucifixion and God the Father.

11. f. 165v. Temporale. 'Cibavit eos'. Two kneeling angels supporting the Eucharist.

12. f. 189v. Temporale. 'Terribilis est locus'. Dedication of a church.

13. f. 191v. Sanctorale. 'Dominus secus'. Martyrdom of St Andrew.

14. f. 200. Sanctorale. 'Suscepimus deus'. Purification of the Virgin.

15. f. 212. Sanctorale. 'De ventre matris'. St John the Baptist.

16. f. 213v. Sanctorale. 'Nunc scio'. Sts Peter and Paul.

17. f. 224. Sanctorale. 'Gaudeamus omnes'. Assumption of the Virgin.

18. f. 229. Sanctorale. 'Gaudeamus omnes'. Nativity of the Virgin.

19. f. 238. Sanctorale. 'Gaudeamus omnes'. Coronation of the Virgin surrounded by All Saints.

Pen flourished initials in blue and red mark other textual divisions throughout.

Scope & Content:

Liturgies LATIN: Music: Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Noted Missal (The Gower Missal): circa 1440-1450: Lat.

Collection Area:

Western Manuscripts

Project / Collection:

Additional Manuscripts

Hierarchy Tree:

[{ "id" : "032-001998325", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Add MS 59855: THE GOWER MISSAL: noted Missal of Sarum Use; produced in England; circa 1440-1450. Latin. See F. H. Dickinson (ed.), Missale ad usum . .…" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-001998325

Is part of:

not applicable

Hierarchy:

032-001998325

Container:

not applicable

Record Type (Level):

Fonds

Extent:

1 item

Digitised Content:

Languages:

English
Latin

Scripts:

Latin

Start Date:

1435

End Date:

1450

Date Range:

c 1440-1450

Era:

Access:

Please request the physical items you need using the online collection item request form.

Digitised items can be viewed online by clicking the thumbnail image or digitised content link.

Readers who have registered or renewed their pass since 21 March 2024 can request physical items prior to visiting the Library by completing
this request form.
Please enter the Reference (shelfmark) above on the request form.

If your Reader Pass was issued before this date, you will need to visit the Library in London or Yorkshire to renew it before you can request items online. All manuscripts and archives must be consulted at the Library in London.

This catalogue record may describe a collection of items which cannot all be requested together. Please use the hierarchy viewer to navigate to individual items. Some items may be in use or restricted for other reasons. If you would like to check the availability, contact our Reference Services team, quoting the Reference (shelfmark) above.

User Conditions:

Letter of introduction required to view this manuscript

Custodial History:

Major John Roland Abbey, book collector, d.1969: Owned, 20th cent.

Charles Harry St John Hornby, printer and collector: Owned, 19th-20th cent.

John Comerford, artist: Owned, 18th-19th cent.

Nathaniel Poyntz: Owned, 17th cent.

John Gower, writer: [Presented, in 1408?].

London; Southwark. St Mary Overy Priory: [Owned, 15th cent.?].

Material Type:

Archives and Manuscripts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)

Names:

Abbey, John Roland, Major book collector d1969
Comerford, John, artist
Gower, John, former owner of a missal, fl 1408
Hornby, Charles Harry St John, printer and collector
Poyntz, Nathaniel
St Mary Overy Priory, Southwark, London