Add MS 41070

LEGENDARY, in Latin, compiled in alphabetic order by Johannes Aegidii, Franciscan of Zamora (fl. 1280), and stated by the author in the prologue to be excerpted for the convenience of the friars from his more voluminous work entitled "Historia canonica et civilis." See G. Cirot, De operibus historicis Iohannis Aegidii Zamorensis, 1913, pp. 15, 57, who knows the legendary only from the notice in J. a S. Antonio, Bibliotheca Universalis Franciscana, ii, 1732, p. 117, of a copy then in possession of J. M. Pantoja. The opening rubric runs : "Incipiunt legende sanctorum et festiuitatum aliarum de quibus ecelesia solle[m]pnizat, quas frater Iohannes Egidij doctor fratrum minorum Zamorensium compilauit secundum ordinem alphabeti, ut artificialius scribantur, subtilius [habe]antur, facilius inueniantur, forcius imprimantur, diucius et indelebilius retineantur et custodiantur." The prologue begins "Almifluus eterni patris filius," and is followed by a list of ten tituli in double column for the letter A from "Adueiltus Christi in carnem ystoria" to "Assumpcionis virginis in celum ystoria." Text beg. "Aduentus almiflui del filii." The transition to the letter B is worded (f. 86 b) "Expliciunt legende ab ista litera. a. incipientes. Et incipiunt ab haelitera. b. inchoantes quorum tituli sunt buiuscemodi qui sequntur," and this formula is repeated between each letter. Part of the legend of St. Hildefonsus, from "Aldeffonsi beatissimi" to "gutur tumidum et inflatum" (ff. 18-25) is printed from a Madrid MS. by F. Fita as "Traslacion é invención del cuerpo de San Ildefonso" in Boletin de la Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, vi, 1885, pp. 60-71, including a section (§ 21) which does not occur in the present MS. Among the saints Dominic, abbot of Silos, is given (f. 174), but no account of the founder of the Dominicans. Authorities are seldom quoted by name, Guillaume d'Auxerre (d. 1230) on f. 279 and John Beleth on f. 345 b being exceptions. Vellum; ff. ii + 465. 7.1/4 in. x 5 in. xiv cent. Gatherings of 12 or 16 leaves (last 14) with catchwords. See. fol. "[innuen]dum ecclesia." Page of 25-28 lines. A leaf is missing after f. 291 with the end of St. Lucy and the beginning of St. Mark, and St. Ypolitus breaks off imperfectly at the end of the last gathering. Initials in red and blue, flourished. At f. 285 b a later hand, commenting on the words: "Campanas pulsamus ut demones cuncti territi fugiant," has added in the margin the verses : Sex in campana dicuntur comoda sana. post. Laudo deum verum. voco populum. congrego clerum. Satanam fugo. defunctos ploro. festaque decoro. For the last two lines, quoted in the Tractatus primus de Canticis of Jean Charlier de Gerson, Opera, ed. 1706, vol. iii, 628, cf. the variants collected by H. Otte, Glockenkunde, 1884, p. 126. Bookplate (crest and monogram) of Mitchell Henry, M.P., of Kylemore Castle, co. Galway, and Stratheden Ho., Knightsbridge (f. i), and on f. ii the names J. A. Neilson and Geo. Neilson.