Cotton MS Galba A XIV

Contents:

f. 1r: Table of contents by Richard James (d. 1638).

f. 1v: Blank

f. 2r–v: Computus tables, ‘Incipit computatio Grecorum de mensibus anni … Omnes uero menses octo idus habent.’

ff. 3r–4v: Prayer to God the Father, ‘Domine deus omnipotens rex regum … in aduersariis meis domine deus israhel.’

ff. 5r–6r: Old English translation of preceding, ‘Æla þu drihten æla þu ælmihtiga god … þu þe eart drihten isræla god.’

f. 6v: Prayer to the Trinity in Old English, ‘Ðis gebed man sceal singan æt offunga for hine sylfne … ond for eal cristen folc.’ [in red]

ff. 7r–16v, 17v, 17r, 18r–v, 19v, 19r: Abecedary poem attributed to Colum Cille (St Columba), ‘Altus prosator uetus dierum et ingenitus … quem angelorum milibus consociabit dominus.’

(Folios 17 and 19 are reversed.)

ff. 20r–21r: Abecedary poem attributed to Colum Cille (St Columba), ‘Adiutor laborantium … per te criste ihesu qui uiuis et regnas.’

ff. 21r–24r: Prayer of reconciliation as death approaches, ‘Domine exaudi orationem quia iam cognosco quod tempus meum prope est … mihi ad uiam ueritatis peruenire.’

ff. 24r–27v: Prayer of confession, ‘Peccaui domine et nimis peccaui … in secula seculorum. Am⟨en⟩.’

ff. 27v–28v: Apocryphal letter of Christ to Abgar, ‘Incipit epistola saluatoris domini nostri ihesu cristi ad abagarum regem quam dominus manu sua scripsit et dixit. Beatus es qui non uidisti … qui credit saluus erit.’

ff. 28v–36r: Prayer to Christ and the twelve apostles, ‘Domine ihesu criste qui dedisti potestatem apostolic tuis infirmos curare … tibi honor et gloria in secula seculorum amen.’

ff. 36v–37r: Prayer to St John the Baptist, ‘Oratio sancti iohanis bapitis⟨e⟩. Sancte iohannis baptista qui spiritu et uirtute helie … et inmaculas accipere merear in futuro amen.’

ff. 37r–38r: Prayer to St Peter, ‘Sanctus petrus princeps apostolorum miserere mihi quia arbitrium tuum reliquit deus … ut ibi leto uideam purissimam diuinitatem.’

ff. 38r–38v: Prayer to Christ for spiritual direction, ‘Domine ihesu criste qui de hoc mundo transisti ad patrem … diligere ualeam te dominum nostrum ihesum cristum amen.’

f. 38v: Prayer to St Peter, ‘Sancte petre apostole tue supple queso [recte te supplex] … peto ueniam te oro ut mihi …’

ff. 39r–45r: Prayer to the patriarchs and prophets for intercession, ‘Oratio ad patriarchis et prophete. [recte patriarchas et prophetas] Dominator domine deus omnipotens qui es trinitas una … doce me facere uoluntatem tuam quia deus meus es tu. Tibi honor et gloria per omnia secula seculorum.’

ff. 45r–52v: Prayer of contrition, ‘In quacumque die cantauerit homo hanc orationem nec diabolus nec ullus homo inpedimentum ei facere poterit, et quod petierit dabitur ei. Domine ihesu criste qui in hunc mundum propter nos peccatores de sinu patris aduenisti … indulgeat mihi dominus omnia peccata mea hic et in futuro seculo amen.’

ff. 52v–57r: Prayer of confession to God the Father, ‘Incipit confessio. Deus inestimabi⟨li⟩s misericordie et immense pietatis … per immortalia regnans in secula seculorum.’

f. 57v: Various rubrics and incipits, ‘Quicumque uult. Pater. et Credo in deum …’

f. 59r: Psalter collects, ‘Domine, ne [1–2 words] usque in finem. … Respice domine [5–7 words] sui corporis [4 lines]’

f. 62v: Prayers for Eastertide, ‘Collecta. O⟨remus⟩. Deus qui nos re⟨surr⟩ectionis annua … Da quesumus domine … [3–5 words]’

f. 64r: Fragmentary texts (Modwento?)

ff. 75r–v, 66r–70r: Prayer of confession, ‘Domine deus meus omnipoten⟨s ego h⟩u⟨mi⟩liter te ado⟨ro⟩ … quia tu es doctor meus et deus meus qui regnas in secula seculorum amen.’

f. 70r–v: Prayer to God the Father for guidance (with glosses), ‘Domine qui me fecisti et uitam meam dedisti quando de fonte crucis inde portaui … querentem te sed sal…’

f. 71r–v: Fragmentary texts

f. 72r: Formula for healing the foot in Old English, ‘Wið fot⟨coþe singe man⟩ þas fers ærest … þæt him gesc⟨ilde⟩ wið þam ⟨coþe⟩.’

f. 72v: Collect for the feast of the birth of St Brigid, ⟨Deus ce⟩lorum ⟨atque terrarum⟩ conditor et guberna⟨tor⟩ … perenni misericordia tua potiamur. Per …’

f. 72v: Fragment of a collect unidentified in Muir, A Pre-Conquest English Prayer-Book, but also found in Cotton Vitellus A. xviii, f. 116v, ‘Deus qui sanctorum tuorum meritis ecclesiam toto orbe diffusam decorasti presta quesumus ut intercessione …’

f. 73r: Fragment of a collect (Ælfheah?)

f. 73r: Collect for the feast of St Ælfheah, ‘Deus electorum cor⟨on⟩a pontificum ⟨qui⟩ c⟨onfes⟩sorem tuum Ælphegum … possimus adunari. Per …’

ff. 73v–74r: Fragments (St Mark?), ‘… ⟨cont⟩ra inimicos nostros uisibiles atque in⟨uisi⟩biles dexteram tue …’

f. 74v: Blank

(Folio 75 misbound, originally before f. 66r.)

ff. 76r–79v, 86r: Litany I

(Folio 86 out of place.)

f. 86r: Collect from the ‘Missa pro prelatis’, ‘Omnipoten⟨s sempi⟩terne deus qui facis mirabilis magna solus … tue benedictionis effunde. Per …’

f. 86r–v: Collect from the ‘Missa pro congregatione’, ‘Familiam huius sacri cenobii quesumus domine intercedente beata dei genitrice maria semperque uirgine … et in securitate cautela et inter aspera fortitu⟨do⟩.’

f. 86v: Collect for the second Sunday in Lent, ‘Actiones nostras quesumus domine et aspiran⟨do⟩ preueni et adiuuando prosequere ut cuncta nostra operatio et a te semper incipiat et per te cepta finiatur.’

f. 86v, 80r: Collect for the feast of the Commemoration of the Holy Spirit, ‘Deus cui omne cor patet et omnis uoluntas loquitur et nullum latet secretum … et digne laudare mer⟨eamu⟩r. Per …’

f. 80r: Prayer begging spiritual protection, ‘Defende quesumus domine intercedente beato benedicto ab omni aduersitate congregationem istam et tibi toto corde prostratam ab hostium tuere propitius clementer insidiis.’

f. 80r–v: Collect from the ‘Missa pro uiuis atque defunctis’, ‘Inter alia. Omnipotens semp⟨itern⟩e deus qui uiuorum domin⟨aris⟩ simul et mortuorum omniumque misereris … et gaudium cons⟨equi mereatur eterna. Per.⟩’

f. 80v: Collect from the ‘Missa pro familiaribus’, ‘Deus qui car⟨itatis⟩ dona per gratiam sancti spiritus tuoru⟨m⟩ … et que tibi placita sunt tota dilectione perfi⟨ci⟩ant. Per …’

f. 81r: Unidentified collect, fragmentary

f. 81r: Collect from the ‘Missa in agenda mortuorum plurimorum’, ‘⟨Inuen⟩iant quesumus d⟨omi⟩n⟨e ani⟩me famulorum famularumque tu⟨o⟩rum lucis eterne consortium qui in hac luce positi tuum consecuti sunt sacramentum.’

f. 81r: Collect from the ‘Missa pro quacumque tribulatione’, ‘Ineffabilem misericordiam tuam domine nobis clementer ostende ut simul nos et a peccatis exuas et a poenis quas pro his meremur eripias.’

ff. 81r–v, 87r: Collect from the ‘Missa generalis’, ‘Sancte dei genetricis marie et beatorum … sempiternum. Per.’

f. 87r–v: Prayer for spiritual progress, ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus respice propitius ad preces ecclesie tue … currentos [3–4 words] ⟨me⟩reamur in [1–2 words] regnum [1 word].’

f. 87v: Prayer for one’s enemies, ‘Deus pacis caritatisque amator ⟨et⟩ custos, da omnibus inimicis nostris pacem caritatemque ueram cunctorumque eis remissionem tribue peccatorum nosque ab eorum potenter insidiis eripe.’

f. 87v: Collect from the blessing of the ashes ceremony and for the Mass for the penitent, ‘Deus qui non mortem sed penitentiam desideras peccatorum populu⟨m⟩ …’

ff. 82r–85r: The ‘Celtic Capitella’, ‘Pro ⟨fratribus et sororibus nostri⟩s … Exsurge domine adiuua nos et libera nos …’

f. 85r–v: Collect for the first Sunday after the octave of Christmas, ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus dirige actus nostros in beneplacito tuo ut in nomine ⟨di⟩le⟨cti fi⟩lii tui mereamur bonis operibus habundare. Per …’

f. 85v: Collect for the seventh Sunday after Pentecost, ‘Deus uirtutum cuius est totum … que sunt nutrita custodias. Per …’

f. 85v, 89r: Prayer of confession, ‘Domine ihesu criste filii dei uiui miserere mei peccatrici …’

(Folio 88 is bound out of place.)

f. 89r: Collect for the ‘Missa pro uiuis atque defunctis’, ‘Omnium sanctorum intercessionibus quesumus domine gratia tua … omnium accipere peccatorum. Per …’

f. 89v: Fragment of a prayer for the feast of St Benedict, ‘D[2 lines] sancti bened⟨icti⟩ [1–2 words] duca in conuersatione posces labentis uite descessum ad eternam peruenire requiem. Per …’

f. 89v: Prayer for King Æthelred, ‘Da quesumus omnipotens deus animam famuli tui Æþelredi regis requiem sempiternam omnibusque qui hoc monasterium suis elemosinis ditauerunt ad laudem et ad gloriam tui sancti nominis. Per …’

ff. 90r–97v: Litany II

ff. 98r–v, 88r–v, 99r–102v: Confession for two priests, ‘Incipit confessio inter presbiteros. Ego confiteor tibi pater celi et tere coram hoc altare …Ostende nobis domine.’

ff. 103ra–103vb: Processional hymn by Ratpert of St Gall, ‘Versus in letania mai⟨ore⟩. A⟨rdua spes⟩ mundi ⟨solidator et inc⟩lite celi … fili cels⟨i⟩throni nos audi … [3 lines]’

ff. 104r–105v: Prayer of confession in Old English, ‘In naman ⟨þære hal⟩g⟨an⟩ þrynesse þ⟨æt i⟩s … montan ne in ⟨þysse worulde n⟩e æfter in ecn⟨esse⟩.’

ff. 105v–107v: Series of prayers ‘ad horas’ in Old English, ‘Min drihten hælend crist ic do þe þancas … and rixast a to worulde.’

f. 108r–v: Prayer of confession, ‘Meis culpis domine ueniam peto … misericordiam perducat amen.’

ff. 108v–110r: Prayer for guidance, ‘Domine ihesu criste mane cum surrexero … sed aperiantur cotidie ad audiendum uerbum dei qui audit et regnat in secula seculorum amen.’

ff. 110r–114r: Prayers from the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross ceremony in Latin and Old English, ‘Psalmus. Domine ne in furore tuo … and gode þurhwununge gehealdaanne on eallum mines lifes dagum hit a swa geweorðe.’

ff. 114v–117v: Prayers for Holy Trinity Sunday

f. 118r–v: Two recipes in Old English, ‘To gehealden⟨ne lichoman hælo mid⟩ drihtnes gyfe … wið feondes yflum costungum.’, ‘Þonne is eft se æðelesta læcedom wið þam ylcan … xii monað wiþ ealre u⟨ntrymn⟩ess⟨a⟩ frecenissum.’

f. 118v: Prayer ‘ad introitum’ for use in a monastery, ‘Domine ihesu criste qui introitum portarum … ut uelociter currens inter⟨ius⟩ …’

f. 119r: Prayer from the ‘Missa pro familiaribus’, ‘Deus qui sup⟨plicium tuorum uota per cari⟩tatis … et in tua pace semper assister⟨re⟩ mereantur per …’

f. 119r–v: Prayer to be recited outside the church, ‘Via sanctorum omnium domine ihesu criste … aulam paradysi mereantur introire cum ⟨s⟩ancto patre.’

f. 119v: The Confiteor

ff. 120r–121v: The Benedicite

(The upper left-hand corner of f. 121v is separated from the rest and misaligned.)

ff. 121v–125r: The Athanasian Creed

f. 125r: Prayer for the feast of St Æthelwold, ‘Sancti Aðeluuoldi episcopi. Deus qui preclari sideris sancti pontificis Aþelwoldi inlustratione … informemur et ⟨patr⟩ociniis ⟨ad⟩iuuemur per …’

ff. 125v–129r: Unidentified fragments of prayers (Machutus, Cyprian, Rustinus)

f. 129r: Prayer before communion, ‘Ante communionem. Domine sancte pater omnipotens æterne deus da mihi corpus et sanguinem cristi filii tui … cuius regnum gloriosum permanet et per infinita secula seculorum amen.’

ff. 129r–130r: Unidentified fragments, ‘Post communionem.’

ff. 130r–132v: Blessings for the monastery, ‘E⟨xau⟩di nos domine sancte pater omnipotens aeterne deus et mittere dignare angelum tuum sanctum … qui duce …’

f. 133r: Blank

f. 133v: Verses from Psalm 68

f. 134r: Hymn with interlinear musical notation, mostly illegible.

ff. 134v–138v: Illegible

ff. 139r/136r: Folio 136 is bound out of place, and belongs after f. 139; Wanley, Catalogus (p. 231, art. XII) describes the text as ‘Virtutes quae insunt dentibus superioribus maxillae, dextro pedi, lumbis (broc.) et felli Mellis sive Taxi, cum Exorcismis praeparandis. Saxonice’, with the incipit, ‘Ðas cræftas syndon be ðam deore þe we urum geðeode Broc hatað’.

f. 136v: Illegible

f. 140r: Unidentified fragment, ‘Da … tibi mors sine cessatione fiat fiat fiat amen.’

f. 141r: Biblical verses

f. 141v: Illegible

f. 142r–v: Unidentified hymn with interlinear musical notation

f. 143r: Illegible

f. 143v: Prayer to St Brigid (?)

f. 144r: Collect for the vigil of St Andrew, ‘⟨Quesumus⟩ omnipotens deus ut beatus Andreus apostolus tuus pro ⟨nobis⟩ imploret …’

ff. 144v, 146v: Unidentified fragments (Chad)

(Folios 145 and 146 are bound back to front and out of place.)

ff. 146r, 145v, 145r, 149v: Prayers for the feast of St Michael

f. 149r: Collect for the feast of Sts Dionysius, Rusticius, and Eleutherius, ‘Deus qui hodierna die beatum dionisium … et nulla eius aduersa formidare …’

ff. 149r, 148v: Collect for the feast of the ‘birth’ of an apostle (Christopher)

(Folio 148 mounted back to front.)

f. 148v, 148r: Collect from the Mass in honour of a bishop and confessor (Machutus), ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus maiestatem tuam suppliciter exoramus ut intercessione beato machuti … capiamus augmentum per …’

f. 148r: Prayer for the feast of St Stephen, ‘Sacratissmum sancti stephani protomartyris diem inuentionis anniuersariam deuotione celebrantes misericordiam tuam deprecamur ut sicut ille totis uot…’

(Folios 147 and 149 are mounted back to front and out of place.)

f. 147v: Fragmentary prayer to St Andrew

f. 147v, 147r: Collect for the feast of the Invention of St Stephen, ‘Deus qui ad celebrandum ⟨n⟩obis honorabile presentis diei festum …’

f. 147r: Prayer for the feast of King Edmund, ‘XII Kł decembris: Natalis sancti eadm⟨undi⟩. Deus ineffabilis misericord⟨ie qui⟩ beati⟨ssimu⟩m regem eadmu⟨n⟩d⟨um tri⟩buisti … in se antiqui hostis incitamenta supera⟨ndo⟩ extinguere per. Alleluia.’

f. 147r, 150v: Fragment of a prayer to St Edmund, ‘Da nobis omnipotens et misericors deus ut sancti tui eadmundi regis celebrantes …’

(Folio 150 is reversed.)

f. 150v: Fragment of a collect

f. 150v, 150r: Fragment concerning King Edward, ‘Deus qui nobillissimum rege⟨m⟩ eadwardum …’

f. 150r, 151r: Prayer for matins on the feast of the commemoration of St Dunstan, ‘Be sancte dunstane. Deus qui hodierna di⟨e⟩ sanctum pontificem dunstanum …’

f. 151r: Fragment of a prayer for the feast of St Milburg, ‘VII Kł martias. ⟨In⟩ natale sancte milburge. Fac nos quesumus domine deus beate ⟨uirg⟩inis mil⟨burge⟩ annue sollempni …’

f. 151r: Postcommunion for the feast day of St Ælfgyfe

f. 151v: Prayer to St Ælfgyfe, ‘⟨Gebed be sancte Æ⟩lfgyfe. Deus ⟨qui⟩ in omnibus operibus uel creaturis sed maxime in sanctis tuis constans …’

f. 152r: Illegible

f. 152v: Fragment concerning St Hemma (?)

f. 152v: Collect for the feast of St Patrick, ‘Deus ⟨qui⟩ sanctum patrici⟨um⟩ episcopum …’

f. 153r: Prayer for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin (?)

f. 153v: Prayer to or concerning King Edgar (?)

f. 154r–v: Prayers or hymns to the cross (?)

f. 155r–v: Illegible

(The emendations and information on page order are based on Muir, A Pre-Conquest English Prayer-Book, with some further conjectures.)

Decoration: Enlarged initials open many sections, most filled in red.