Stowe MS 11

MISSALE ROMANUM, executed at Lisbon for the rectification of the services of the Portuguese Church, by order of John III., King of Portugal [1521-1557], and completed after his death under the patronage of his wife, Queen Catherine, and his brother Henry [Cardinal and Regent during the minority of King Sebastian]. A preface (f. 6) by "Diegus Sygeus Toletanus senior," addressed "ad regalium sacrorum decanum dignissimum ac reliquum Sacerdotium, de Missali recens emendato," states that it was undertaken at the suggestion of Antonius Pignerius [Antonio Pinheiro, Bishop successively of Miranda and Leiria, ob. 1585], and was begun in 1557 and completed in 1563. Described on the title-page (f. 2) as "Sacerdotale Volumen ad ritum san: Romanae Ecclesiae scriptum, in quo habentur CXL. Missæ. quibus Portugal: Reges interesse solenniter consuevere praetor Epistolas et Evangelia quae separatim sunt de industria excripta, ad faciliorem Subdiacc: at Diaconor: usum, emendata omnia exactiss: pientiss: Iohannis III. Regis ductu atque imperio, Olyssip: anno salutis MDLVII." A table of contents is given on ff. 3-5. There is no calendar, and the Temporale (f. 7b) is immediately preceded by the office "Ad aquae benedictae aspersionem." The Commune Sanctorum is also absent. Vellum; ff. 173. In double columns, with gold borders. Profusely ornamented with illuminated initials, the larger of them containing miniatures. A leaf, which probably had a full-page miniature, has been cut out before the "Te igitur" (f. 74). Belonged in the 18th cent. to the Abbé Garnier, chaplain to the French factory at Lisbon. Bought by George Spencer Churchill, Marquis of Blandford [aft. Duke of Marlborough] in 1812. Bound in red morocco with gold tooling. Folio.

Liturgies LATIN: Missale Romanum, executed for the Portuguese Church: 1557-1563.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings PORTUGUESE: Missale: miniature-initials: 1557-1563.