Add MS 40156

MARTYROLOGY, in Latin, 24 Dec.-23 Dec.; written for the Franciscan convent at Milan, as appears from the entry on f. 54 b: "Eodem die [29 May] consecratio altarium ecclesie fratrum minorum de Mediolano, fiat festum duplex maius." A marginal addition to the text for 16 May, afterwards erased, reads "Ipsa die fuit reconciliata ecelesia sanctorum Naboris et Felicis Mediolani: de consecratione flat festum duplex maius" (f. 49 b), and probably refers to the grant of the church and cloister of SS. Nabor and Felix to the friars by Alexander IV in 1255 (see Sbaralea, Bullarium Franciscanum, ii, pp. 15, no. xx, 58, no. lxxxi, and Cappelletti, Chiese d'Italia, xi, p. 202). Although the deposition of SS. Nabor and Felix (12 July) is not stated to be a feast of the highest class, these saints receive a much more detailed notice than is usual (f. 69 b), and the octave of the feast is recorded on f. 72. Their translation, on 17 May (f. 50), ranks as a greater double feast (see an extract inaccurately copied from this MS. in G. Trissinus, Acta S. Savinæ, 1627, p. 67, and cf. p. 91). Associated in this translation is St. Maternus, Bishop of Milan, whose body was discovered during the building of the refectory at the convent (cf. the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum, 18 July, p. 364). Other relies at the convent included the heads of SS. Desiderius of Langres (f. 52), Barnabas (f. 59), Matthew (f. 96 b), Candidus (f. 97), and Odilia, one of the Eleven Thousand Virgins (f. 108 b), and the body of St. Caius, Bishop of Milan (f. 99). In the main, the text is a corrupt version of the martyrology of Usuardus (Migne, Patr. Lat., cxxiii, cxxiv), with many features in common with Martyrologium sm. morê Romane curie, Venice, 1498. Interpolated throughout are entries, upwards of sixty in number, of purely local interest. Nearly half of these relate to the early bishops and archbishops of Milan; amongst the remainder are curious notices of SS. Peter and Laurence on 31 May (f. 55) and St. Thecla on 24 Sept. (f. 97 b). Special prominence is also afforded to the Franciscan festivals, a long account of St. Berardus de Carbio and his companions being included at 16 Jan. (f. 8 b). Since the translation of St. Bernardino of Siena is recorded on 17 May (f. 50), the date of transcription may be placed after A.D. 1472 (cf. Acta SS., 20 May, pp. 88*, 90*); see, too, the statement on f. 121 that the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin was confirmed by Sixtus IV [1471-841. The translation of St. Bonaventura (can. 1482) appears on 13 Mar. (f. 27), but his deposition is absent. While at the convent the MS. was consulted by several hagiographers, quotations appearing in G. Baldesano, Sacra Historia di S. Mavritio, 1604, p. 252 (ff. 93 b, 94), G. Trissinus, Acta S. Savnæ, 1627, p. 123 (f. 14, cf. also above), and P. P. Bosca, Martyrologivm Mediolanense, 1695, p. 183 (f. 65 b). At the end (f. 132) are "capitula que dicuntur per totum annum. ad absolutionem capituli" (imperfect; Temporale only, to Pentecost). These occur commonly in martyrologies of Franciscan houses (cf. Ehrensberger, Libri Litvrgici Bibl. Vaticanae, pp. 178-181), and appear in the editions of the Martyrologium sm. more Romane curie published at Venice in 1498 and 1522. Two leaves after f. 125 and the last gathering are wanting. Vellum; ff. ii + 134. 10.1/8 in. x 7.1/2 in. Written for the Franciscan convent at Milan, late xv cent. (after A.D. 1472). Gatherings of 8 leaves (xvi wants 6, 7), with catchwords; 22 lines to a page. See. fol. "-thomartiris." An historiated initial (rubbed) representing St. Francis on f. 1; other initials in red and blue. Italian binding of red morocco, gilt-tooled (? late 17th cent.). Bookplate of arms of the Archinto Library at Milan, 18th cent. (cf. Add. MSS. 25130, 25449, 25450, 25453, 25454, 31912), with printed book-label LXVII. Presented by John Wickham Legg, Esq., F.R.C.P.