Add MS 54232

MILLAR BEQUEST. Vol. VI. Bible, Vulgate version with the prefaces of St Jerome, written in England; mid 13th cent. Latin. Turner, op. cit., BMQ, xxxiii, pp. 21-22. Owned, circa 1300, by Brother Gervase of Bangor, presumably a member of the Dominican house there, and bequeathed by him to the Franciscan house at Llanfaes in Anglesey. The inscription recording this donation (f. 308b) is damaged by reagent, but was transcribed by Millar, who dated the entry to circa 1300, see E. G. Millar, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 7th series, iii (1923), p. 319. The inscription is reproduced in full by Turner. The note of ownership of 'Thomas Higginsones', early 17th cent., occurs f. v. List of Books of the Bible in a late 17th cent. hand (f. vi), see also f. 119. Armorial bookplates, both bearing signs of being lifted from an earlier binding: (a) of John Chadwick, Esq., (d.1800), of Healey Hall, Rochdale, co. Lancs., dated 1791. John Chadwick was father of the antiquary, Charles Chadwick (d.1829). f. ii;- (b) of Sir Godfrey Vassal Webster, 5th Bart. (d.1836). f. i. Webster's bookplate is cancelled, with 'J.R.25' added in a 19th cent. hand which also occurs on f. 315v. As part of the stock of W. J. Leighton, the MS. was sold at Sotheby's, 14 Nov. 1918, lot 108, and was purchased by Millar from Francis Edwards, 26 Jan. 1920. Millar's bookplate, f. iii.

Vellum and paper; ff. vii+315. 212 x 150mm. Number of folios noted in a 19th-cent. hand, f. 315v. Gathering counting not possible owing to tightness of binding. Leaves missing between ff. 42-43, 234-235, 259-260, with loss of text. Double columns. Written area: 153 x 95mm. Main text in three? English gothic book-hands: A. ff. 1-134v, 283 col. 1, line 14-289v;- B. ff. 135-182v, 280-283 col. 1, line 14;- C. ff. 183-234v. Capitals and headings in red and blue. Decorated and penwork initials to Books and Prologues. 19th cent. English binding in dark blue grained leather, gilt and blind-stamped, gilt fore-edges, end-papers and fly-leaves covered in yellow silk.

Contents:

1. ff. 1-289v. Vulgate text. Imperfect, lacking the end of Numbers and the beginning of Deuteronomy between ff. 42-43, the beginning of St Matthew's Gospel between ff. 234-235, and the end of St John's Gospel and the beginning of Romans between ff. 259-260. Esdras III in 27 chapters is inserted between Esdras II and Tobias. The Acts of the Apostles follow the Pauline Epistles. Baruch is omitted after Jeremiah and is supplied as a separate item at the end of the volume.

2. ff. 290-308v. Dictionary of Hebrew names beg. 'Az apprehendens'.

3. ff. 309-310. Book of Baruch.

4. 311-315v. Miscellanea; 14th-15th cent. (a) Theological memoranda; 14th cent. ff. 311-311v, 314;- (b) Hymns, beg.(f. 312) 'Salve cultor supere patrie'; 15th cent. ff. 312-313v, 314v, 315v;- (c) List of Books of the Bible in the order in which they occur in the present MS.; 14th cent. f. 315.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Vulgate: initials: 13th cent.

Bindings ENGLISH: Blue leather, gilt and blind-stamped: 19th cent.

Bible LATIN: Vulgate: mid 13th cent.

includes:

• f. i Bookplates and Book-stamps: Heraldry: Sir Godfrey Vassall Webster, 5th Baronet: Armorial bookplate of Sir Godfrey Vassall Webster: bef. 1836.
• f. ii Bookplates and Book-stamps: Heraldry: John Chadwick, of Healey Hall, Rochdale: Armorial bookplate of John Chadwick: 1791.
• f. v Thomas Higginsones: Signature, etc., of: early 17th cent.
• ff. 290-308v Bible. Dictionaries, Glossaries, etc: Hebrew names: 13th cent.
• ff. 311-311v, 314 Theology: Memoranda: 14th cent: Lat.
• ff. 312-313v, 314v, 315v Hymns: 'Salve cultor supere patrie', etc.,: 15th cent.
• ff. i, 315v J. R: Ownership note, etc.,: 19th cent.