Stowe MS 944

The core of this volume is a Liber vitae consisting of lists of names of brethren and benefactors of the New Minster, Winchester, recorded for commendation to God during daily mass, combined originally with a Gospel Lectionary, and supplemented with several historical texts.

Contents:

ff. 1r-5r: A Short Account of Hyde-Abbey, with a table of the contents of this book, signed by Thomas Astle, 25 March 1771.

ff. 6r-7r: Prefatory drawings (see Decoration).

f. 7v: Added historical notes, about the appointment by John (probably John de Suthill, 1181-1222), Abbot of Hyde, that a sum of five shillings shall be distributed among the poor at the burial of any of the brethren of the Abbey; and historical memoranda concerning the burning of the offices of New Minster on St George's Day (23 April), 1066, the building of William the Conqueror's palace (1070), the conflagration of the city of Winchester, 2 August 1140, and the resettlement of the parish of St Laurence, 12 November 1150 (added in the 14th century).

ff. 8r-12v: An historical account of the building of the Abbey of New Minster, Winchester, from its intended establishment by Alfred the Great to its consecration by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the Nones of July (c. 980-987), pointing out the propriety of commemorating its benefactors (f. 8r); incipit: 'Incipit prefatio constructionis Wintoniensis Monasterii, quod Novum nuncupatur'.

ff. 13r-29r: Liber vitae, or a list of brethren, monks and benefactors of the New Minster abbey, assembled to be read during services, including: 1. Preface (ff. 13r-13v); 2. 'Nomina regum occidentalium Saxonum', from Cynegils to Æthelred II (1016); continued in various hands to Henry V (f. 14r); 3. 'Nomina filiorum regum': a list of ten names of Anglo-Saxon princes (f. 14v); 4. 'Nomina Archiepiscoporum Doruernensium': a list of twenty-nine archbishops of Canterbury, from Augustine to Æthelnoth, appointed 13 November 1020 (f. 14v-15r)). 5. 'Nomina episcoporum orientalium Saxonum': a list of twenty-four bishops of London, from Mellitus to Ælfstan (961-995). This and the three following lists differ from those in Cotton MS Tiberius B V, f. 21r, and Stubbs, Registrum Sacrum, p. 159 (f. 15r); 6. 'Nomina episcoporum Hrofensis ecclesiæ': a list of fifteen bishops of Rochester, from Paulinus to Godwine (995) (f. 15v); 7. 'Nomina episcoporum occidentalium Saxonum' a list of thirty-five bishops of Winchester, from Byrinus to Ælfsige (1014-1033), in the original hand, continued at various times to Henricus Blesencis (1129) (ff. 15v-16r); 8. 'Nomina episcoporum australium Saxonum': a list of seventeen Bishops of Selsey, from Wilfrid to Æthelgar (980-987) (f. 16r); 9. 'Nomina episcoporum Scirburnensis ecelesiæ': a list of twenty-one Bishops of Sherborne, co. Dorset, from Aldhelm to Ælfmær (1017-1022), which agrees with the series in Cotton MS Tiberius B V, f. 21v, but not with that in the Registrum Sacrum, p. 165 (f. 16v); 10. 'Nomina episcoporum Wiltuniensis ecclesiae': a list of eight bishops of Ramsbury, co. Wilts, from Æthelstan to Byrhtwold (1005-1045), not agreeing with the Registrum Sacrum (f. 16v); 11. 'Nomina episcoporum Cridiensis ecclesiae': a list of seven bishops of Crediton, co. Devon, from Eadulf to Eadnoth (1012- 1019) (ff. 16v-17r); 12. 'Nomina episcoporum Wyllunnensis ecclesiae': a list of six bishops of Wells, co. Somerset, from Sigar to Byrhtwig (1018). The list of bishops of Wells given in the Registrum Sacrum differs wholly from this, and is apparently derived from the 'Nomina Wilnensis æcclesiæ' in Cotton MS Tiberius B V, f. 21v (f. 17r); 13. 'Nomina ducum' a list of fifteen Anglo-Saxon 'duces', ending with Godwine (d. 1053) (f. 17r); 14. 'Nomina benefactorum defunctorum': a list of seventeen Anglo-Saxon thegns, etc. (f. 17r); 15. 'Nomina fratrum veteris coenobii Wentane ecclesiae sub protectione domni sancti Petri apostoli Deo inibi servientium': a list of twelve bishops of various dioceses, brethren of the Old- Minster or St Peter's. Among them are Athelwold, Bishop of Winchester, whose deposition was commemorated on 1 August (d. 984); and Ælfheah his successor, consecrated 14 kal. November (19 October 984) and enthroned 5 kal. November (28 October) and still living at the time of the entry (d. 19 April 1012) (f. 17v); 16. 'Isti quoque specialiter se devoverunt': a list of religious and secular devotees of the abbey, in continuation of item 15, numbered consecutively from 13 to 100, then again 1 to 92 and the remainder added without numeration in various later hands in the 11th and 12th centuries. The list begins with Womarus, Abbot of Ghent, who died, according to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, in 981, and includes a bishop, dean, archdeacon, ‘precentor’, 'vestiarius', other abbots, a cellarer, monks, a nun, priests, 'levitæ' or deacons, and 'pueri', as well as goldsmiths, and persons designated as 'nanus', 'claudus', 'carpus', 'albus', 'niger', 'senex', 'decrepitus', 'Jud[æus]', etc. (f. 18r); 17. 'Nomina fratrum Novi Coenobii Wintoinensis æcclesiae. Salvatoris cosmi honore sacratae': a long list of persons admitted to the brotherhood of New Minster, and afterwards of Hyde, outside the city walls, from the foundation to the suppression, arranged in groups under the heading of the respective abbots by whom they were received (ff. 20v-23r, 62r-64r). In the early parts of the list the names are written in columns with the rank or condition of each person in an opposite column, and numbered from i to lxxvi. These include the period between Æthelgar, 1st abbot (965), and the accession of Ælfwine, 6th abbot (1035). The numeration begins again from i. to ccxi., after which the principle of numbering is abandoned, and eventually the list becomes irregular and carelessly written. (ff. 20v-23r; after f. 23r it is continued at the end of the volume); 18. 'De monacho iter acturo': a rule for the maintenance of a monk on a journey; 12th century (f. 24r); 19. 'De servientibus': a rule respecting the charge upon Candevera, perhaps Preston-Candover, near Andover, co. Hants, for support of the 'servientes' of the abbey; 12th century (f. 24r); 20. 'Benedictio': a rule respecting the form of blessing to be used according to the custom on all occasions; 12th century (f. 24r); 21. ‘[H]ec est conventio inter nos et monachos Sancti Albani’: terms of the spiritual confraternity between New Minster and St Alban's Abbey; 12th century (f. 24r); 22. A list of royal and distinguished persons, written by various hands during the 12th and 13th centuries. It begins with Henry I, his queen Matilda (d. 1118), and their son William, who was drowned in 1119 (f. 24v); 23. 'Nomina familiariorum vel benefactorum qui se nostris commendaverunt orationibus'. This list of benefactors begins with kings Æthelred and Cnut, and contains a number of 'duces', 'ministri', Danes, and others. It is numbered from i. to lxxxv. in the original hand, then continued to ciiii. in somewhat later hands, and a few are added at the close without numeration (f. 25r); 24. 'Nomina feminarum illustrium hunc sanctum locum pro Dei amore diligentium, vel quae se precibus huius familiæ elemosinarum largitione commendaverunt': a list of queens, abbesses, and other royal, noble, or illustrious ladies, beginning with Ealhswyth, wife of King Alfred, and containing, among others, the name of Santslaue, sister of King Cnut, who is not found in the usual pedigrees of that king. The marginal note 'hi' (for 'hic'), placed against her name at a later period, seems to show that her remains were deposited in New Minster (f. 26r); 25. 'Nomina fratrum Abbandonensis coenobii': a list of forty-one brethren of Abingdon Abbey, beginning with Abbot Osgar (963- 981), and consisting of five abbots, one monk, and a number of 'sacerdotes' and 'levitæ' (f. 26v); 26. 'Nomina fratrum Elgensis coenobii': a list of twenty-seven brethren of Ely Abbey, beginning with Abbot Beorhtnoth (970- 981), and composed of three abbots, six monks, and a number of priests and deacons (f. 27r); 27. 'Nomina sororum Hrumensis coenobii': a numbered list of fifty-four sisters of Ramsey Abbey, including two abbesses (f. 27v); 28. 'Nomina fratrum laicorum': a long list of lay-brethren (both men and women), arranged at first in columns and numbered from i. to xviii., afterwards not numbered or regularly entered, but written in various hands of different periods down to the suppression of the abbey. The list is continued on two subsequent pages (ff. 54v, 55r); and on four leaves added at the end of the book (65r-68r). On f. 55r is an entry that Richard 'Palmarius' gave a silver box (cassula) for relics, in return for which his name was to be entered in the martyrology and his anniversary commemorated (ff. 28r-29r).

f. 29v-33r: The will of King Ælfred, with preface, incipit: 'Ic Ælfred cingc mid godes gife', and explicit: '[s a] ic hit sylf ge [c eðe] æt þam nyhstan dæge'. The will incipit: 'Ic Ælfred þest seaxena cingc', and explicit: '[s a] ge me for gyfan [ yllan]'. Printed in The will of King Alfred, ed. by O. Manning (Oxford 1788); J. M Kemble, Codex Diplomaticus aevi saxonici (London: English Historical Society, 1839-48), no. ccxiv; Diplomatarium anglicum aevi saxonici, ed. by B. Thorpe (Macmillan, 1865) p. 484; Liber Monasterii de Hyda; comprising a chronicle of the affairs of England, ed. by Edward Edwards, Rolls Series, 45 (London, Longman 1866), p. 52; Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: a collection of charters relating to Anglo-Saxon history (Whiting, 1883-1893), no. 553; and (with a facsimile) in the Ordnance Survey Facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts, ed. by G. F. Warner, and H. Ellis, 3 vols (Southampton, 1878–84), III.

f. 33r-34v: 'Prima ætas mundi': the six ages of the world, to which are added sundry notes relating to the life and duration of the ministry of Christ, and the age of the Virgin, arranged in twelve paragraphs lettered from A to M. The passage in the sixth paragraph (F) has been partly erased, and the year current when the original writing was put down has been altered to 1031. Latin with Anglo-Saxon paraphrases.

ff. 34v-36v: 'Her Cyðymbe þa halgan þe on Angel cynne restað': a treatise on the family of the Kentish kings from the baptism of Æthelbyrht by Augustine, their holy character and works. See G. Hickes, Dissertatio Epistolaris in Linguarum veterum septentrionalium thesaurus grammatico-criticus et archeologicus (Oxford 1703-05), p. 115, for another edition, different at the end.

ff. 36v-39r: 'Her onygynð secgean be þam Godes s[an]c[tu]m þe on engla lande ærest reston': a treatise, in continuation of the preceding, showing the places, with their adjacent waters, in England, and one place in Ireland, where the Saints' remains are deposited.

f. 39r-v: 'Nomina Regum': a chronological list of Kings of Wessex, with duration of their reigns, from Ine to Cnut.

ff. 33r-34v: 'Prima ætas mundi': the six ages of the world, to which are added sundry notes relating to the life and duration of the ministry of Christ, and the age of the Virgin, arranged in twelve paragraphs lettered from A to M. The passage in the sixth paragraph (F) has been partly erased, and the year current when the original writing was put down has been altered to 1031. Latin with Anglo-Saxon paraphrases.

ff. 34v-36v: 'Her Cyðymbe þa halgan þe on Angel cynne restað': a treatise on the family of the Kentish kings from the baptism of Æthelbyrht by Augustine, their holy character and works. See G. Hickes, Dissertatio Epistolaris in Linguarum veterum septentrionalium thesaurus grammatico-criticus et archeologicus (Oxford 1703-05), p. 115, for another edition, different at the end.

ff. 36v-39r: 'Her onygynð secgean be þam Godes s[an]c[tu]m þe on engla lande ærest reston': a treatise, in continuation of the preceding, showing the places, with their adjacent waters, in England, and one place in Ireland, where the Saints' remains are deposited.

f. 39r-v: 'Nomina Regum': a chronological list of Kings of Wessex, with duration of their reigns, from Ine to Cnut.

ff. 40r-41r: Letter of Eadwine, monk and choir-master (cilda mæstere) of New Minster, to Ælfsige, Bishop of Winchester, relating his vision of St Cuthbert of Durham, his subsequent clandestine visit to the remains of the saint, and his proceedings after his return to Winchester; with a second paragraph, relating his knowledge of the circumstances on the occasion of the inauguration of a spiritual agreement between the Old Minster and New Minster; incipit: 'Ic [Ead ine] Munuk cilda mæstere an [Ni an] mynstre', explicit: 'ane into ealde mynstre 7 oðre into [ni an] mynstre'. Printed in Diplomatarium anglicum aevi saxonici: A collection of English charters, from the reign of King AEthelberht of Kent, A. D. DC. V. to that of William the conqueror, ed. by B. Thorpe (Macmillan, 1865), p. 321, from the Codex Winton (Add. MS 15350, f. 114v).

f. 41r: Grant by William I to Riwallon, Abbot of New Minster, of the churches of Autuna (Alton), co. Southampton, and five hides of land, and Clara (Clere-regis), co. Southampton, and four hides and one virgate of land in exchange for the site of the abbey cemetery, on which he designed building a palace; incipit: 'Ego W. Dei omnipotentis gratia operante Anglorum rex'; explicit: 'signum istud ego ipse manu mea pono'. On the margin at the foot of the page is a rudely made cross, possibly the King's signature.

ff. 41v-49v: Portion of a Gospel Lectionary, or a collection of fourteen lessons from the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John for Sundays and Festivals, derived from a text not wholly agreeing with the Vulgate, and often having readings supported by the Codex Amiatinus. The period covered is from Christmas to Palm-Sunday, with several directions prefixed. The last leaf of this series is wrongly bound at the beginning (f. 41), and on a space originally left blank between the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday in Lent and Palm Sunday the above charter of William I has been written.

f. 50r-v: The Benedictio Cerei or Exultet, belonging to the service for Holy Saturday or Easter Even; imperfect at the beginning, and altered at the concluding sentences. The musical neums or breathings which are placed over the letters are of unusual character, combining the customary forms with letters of the alphabet, litterae significativae, as for example m, mediocriter moderari; s, sursum scandere, etc. (2nd quarter of the 11th century). Incipit: 'O beata nox quæ sola meruit'; explicit: 'cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei patris. Amen.'

ff. 50v-54r: A series of Blessings, several of which are found in early service books: (a) 'Benedictio lactis et mellis' (f. 50v); (b) 'Benedictio casei, oui, omniumque pulmentorum' (f. 50v); (c) 'Benedictio dicati Agni' (f. 51r); (d) 'Benedictio diversarum carnium' (f. 51r); (e) 'Item, Benedictio super carnes ouium' (f. 51v); (f) 'Alia' (f. 51v); (g) 'Benedictio herbarum' (f. 52r); (h) 'Alia' (f. 52v); (i) 'Præfatio Uvae' (f. 52v); (k) 'Benedictio Uvae' (f. 52v); (l) 'Benedictio ad omnia quæ volueris' (f. 53r); (m) 'Benedictio pomorum' (f. 53r); (n) 'Alia' (f. 53r); (o) 'Benedictio panis novi' (f. 53v); (p) 'Alia' (f. 53v); (q) 'Item alia' (f. 53v); (r) 'Benedictio ad omnia quae volueris' (imperfect) (f. 53v); (s) 'Alia' (imperfect at the beginning, one or more leaves missing) (f. 54r).

ff. 54v-55r: List of lay-brethren (continuation from ff. 28r-29r). The list was arranged at first in columns and numbered from i. to xviii., afterwards not numbered or regularly entered, but written in various hands of different periods down to the suppression of the abbey. The list is continued on four leaves added at the end of the book, ff. 65r-68r. On f. 55r is an entry that Richard 'Palmarius' gave a silver box (cassula) for relics, in return for which his name was to be entered in the martyrology and his anniversary commemorated.

f. 55v: List of relics of Biblical personages and saints; included are relics headed 'Iste reliquiæ sunt in magna cruce', i.e. in the famous cross given by King Cnut to the New Minster abbey.

f. 56r-56v: List of Old Testament and other personages, beginning with Adam, Abel, and Melchisedech, and ending imperfectly with Donatus, Agapitus (perhaps Agapetus II, Pope, 946-956, or Agapetus, the deacon, of Constantinople), and Magnus (perhaps Magnus the Good, King of Norway 1036-1047, but there are several saints of this name); incipit: 'Incipiunt nomina sanctorum qui regnant feliciter in regno caelorum'.

ff. 57r-57v: Concluding lines of a charter of King Edward the Elder to Denewulf, Bishop of Winchester, granting land in the city of around 904 in Anglo-Saxon, with Latin subscriptions. A full text is given in the Winton Codex, Add. MS 15350, printed in J. M Kemble, Codex Diplomaticus aevi saxonici (London: English Historical Society, 1839-48), no. mlxxxvii; Diplomatarium anglicum aevi saxonici: A Collection of English Charters, from the Reign of King Aethelberht of Kent, A. D. DC. V. to that of William the Conqueror, ed. by B. Thorpe (Macmillan, 1865), p. 156; and Walter de Gray Birch, Cartularium saxonicum: A Collection of Charters Relating to Anglo-Saxon History (1883-1893), no. 605. Below, there is an added list of relics (12th century), entitled: 'He reliquie sunt in gestatorio ligni domini'. The list includes: 'De virga Moysi', 'De presepio domini', and 'De vestimento quod fecit Sancta Maria', deposited in a shrine containing a portion of the Wood of the True Cross (f. 57v).

f. 58r: List of miscellaneous relics lodged within a shrine called that of St John [the Baptist] and St Paul, incipit: 'Þys is se halidóm þe his gelogod innan þam haligan scrine þe man nemnað Iohannis et Pauli'.

f. 58r: List of relics deposited in a shrine of Byzantine workmanship. The lady referred to in the title is Queen Ælfgyfu (Emma), widow of King Cnut, and the head of St Valentine, which was given by her to the Abbey, in 1041 (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle), occurs at the close of the list; incipit: 'Þis is se halidóm ðe is on ðam grecyssean serine ðe séo hlæfdige geaf into [ny an] mýnstre'.

f. 58v: List of relics, containing 'eal sé halidom ðe [ æs] on Æþestanes kýningces gimme', all the relics comprised with King Æthelstan's gems, and preserved in a shrine made by Alwold the churchwarden, 'Þis is sé halidom ðe is on þam scrine ðe [Al old] [cyric eard] [be orhte]'.

f. 59r: Grant by Riwallon, Abbot of St. Peter's, New Minster, of the revenue of the manor of Aweltona (Alton, co. Southampton), to the relief of the poor and pilgrims, for the souls of the king (William I), the royal family, himself and his brethren, and all the benefactors of the Abbey. Witnessed by Walcelinus, Bishop (of Winchester), Hugh (de Port), sheriff; Godfrey, Prior (of Winchester), Osbern de Ó (or Ow), and others.

ff. 59v-61v: Interrogatio Damasi Papæ, a colloquy between Pope Damasus I and Jerome on the subject of the proper hours of the day for High Mass in accordance with the acts of the Council of Nicæa (325); followed by several prayers: 'Hymnus Angelicus', or 'Gloria in excelsis' (f. 60r); 'Oratio Dominica' or Lord's Prayer (f. 60v); 'Symbolum Apostolorum', or Apostles' Creed (f. 60v); 'Creda (sic) ad missam': the Nicene Creed (f. 61r); and an 'interrogatio' or inquiry concerning the number of languages in the world, with reasons for the answer of seventy-two (f. 61v).

ff. 65r-68r: List of lay-brethren (continuation from ff. 28r-29r and 54v-55r), arranged at first in columns and numbered from i. to xviii., afterwards not numbered or regularly entered, but written in various hands of different periods down to the suppression of the abbey.

f. 69r: Ownership inscription of Thomas Astle, 'In the year 1710. This M. S. was in the possession of Walter Clavel Esqr It was afterwards the property of the Revd. M'r. North from whom it came to his Executor the Revd. Doctor Lort who presented it to me in the year 1770 T. A'.

Decoration:

3 pages of drawings executed in ink, with occasional colour, depicting:

f. 6r: King Cnut and Queen Ælfgfu (Emma), presenting a cross upon the altar of New Minster, with God within a mandorla above them between the eponymic Saints of the Abbey, the Virgin Mary and St Peter.

ff. 6v: Angels and saints leading blessed souls towards heaven; inscribed at the left 'Ælgarus', perhaps Ælfgar or Æthelgar, Abbot of New Minster (965), and afterwards Bishop of Selsey (980) and Archbishop of Canterbury (988).

f. 7r: Three tiers: in the upper tier, St Peter opens the door to the Heavenly Jerusalem, in which Christ appears in a mandorla; in the middle tier, a contest between St Peter and a demon for a soul, on the right a demon leading away a man and woman; on the lower tier, an angel locks the door to hell, in which Satan thrusts a man and woman into a hell-mouth.