Royal MS 15 E II-III

15 E. II, III

'DES PROPRIETEZ des Choses': French translation by Jean Corbechon of the Liber de proprietatibus rerum (cf. 12 E. III) of Bartholomaeus Anglicus. In nineteen books. Printed, Lyons, 1482, &c. Cf. also Paulin Paris, Les MSS. François, i, p. 260, ii, pp. 217-222. Two volumes. Vol. i contains books i-xi; the table of rubrics prefixed had been carried further, but the continuation is crased. Vol. ii, books xi-xix, has prefixed to its table a short preface beg. 'Or auons par layde'. The chapters on number and music in bk. xix (some. times called bk. xx) are here omitted. Translator's preface beg. 'A treshault et trespuissant prince Charles par la diuine pouvueance'; author's preface (f. 9), 'Comme il soit ainsy que les proprietez des choses ensuyuent'; text (f. 10 b), 'En conuoitant a declairer'. Ends 'diligamment le visiteront. Amen. Le liure des proprietez des choses fut translate de latin en francois lan de grace mil ccc. soixante douze par le commande. ment de trespuissant et noble prince Charles le quint de son nom regnant en ce temps puissamment en France, et le translata son petit humble chapelain frere Jehan Corbechon de lordre saint Augustin, maistre en theologie de la grace et promotion dudit prince et seigneur tresexcellent. Escript par moy Jo. du Ries et finy a Bruges le xxv^e iour de May, anno 1482'.

Vellum; ff. 282, 294. 18¹/₂ in. x 13¹/₂ in. Written at Bruges (for Edward IV ?) A.D. 1482 by Jean u Ries (cf. 14 E. VI, &c.). Gatherings usually of 8 leaves, with catchwords either at right angles to the text or parallel to it. Sec. fol. in vol. i, in table 'Comment a chascun'; text '-ment et auoit'; in vol. ii, table, 'Dun oysel'; text, 'hault sicomme'. The style of the illuminations of the volumes is rather different. Vol. i has a border with gold ground (f. 7), somewhat resembling 17 F. VI; vol. ii a border (f. 11) with flowers and birds in perspective on a gold ground; both are somewhat more like the books produced at Lilie. The directions for the illuminator were in words, see f. 60. The subjects of the miniatures, of very fair execution, are:-

1. Charles V enthroned (inscription on canopy 'Knrolus dei gratia rex Francorum') receives the book from Jean. Two figures are reproduced in Strutt, Dress and Habits, ii, pl. cxxvi, fig. 2, and cxxvii, fig. 4. Arms of England in border. Vol. i, f. 7 (large).

2. The Trinity and an angel. f. 10 b.

3. Circles ofmgels. f. 19 b.

4. Man, woman, devil, and angel. f. 38.

5. The complexions. f. 60.

6. Patient and physicians. f. 77 b 7. Seven ages of room: the youngest with balls and stick for the game of 'chole' (?). f. 139 b.

8. Surgeon and patients. f. 165 (large).

9. God and man. f. 213.

10. Fruit-gathering, woodcutting, reaping, &c. f. 247b (large).

11. Mason and carpenter, the master seated behind. f. 265.

12. Cirdes of the elements. f. 270 b.

13. The author and various kinds of birds. See Brit. Mus. Reprod. from Illum. MSS., Ser. i, pl. xxxviii. Vol. ii, f. 11 (large).

14. The author: a pond, fountain, &c. f. 32.

15. Various animals. f. 49 b.

16. The world, circular, divided into three sections, Europe, Asia, and Africa. f. 67 b (large).

17. Miners. f. 102.

18. Arboriculture. f. 126.

19. Camel, unicorn, lion, dragon, and other animals. f. 200.

20. Dyeing. f. 269.

An old number, in a large hand (cf. 16 G. III, &c.) in both volumes, 103. Apparently nos. 55, 67 of cat. of MSS. at Richmond Palace in 1535 (cf. 15 D. I) ; cat. of 1666, ff. 12 b, 15; not in CMA.