Add MS 54237

MILLAR BEQUEST. Vol. XI. Cistercian Diurnal, written in Portugal, for, and possibly at, the Cistercian nunnery of Lorvao; 1259-1260. Latin. D. H. Turner, op. cit., BMQ, xxxiii, pp. 26-28, pl. XII. Ascribed to Lorvao by virtue of the commemorations in the calendar, which include Teresa (21 June), probably the daughter of Sancho I of Portugal and sometime wife of Alphonso IX of Leon, who refounded the convent of Lorvao as a Cistercian house in 1200 and died in 1250 (see ibid.). A note, 'E(ra) M. CC. LX. nona' (f. 413v), gives the date 1231 (Christian era) but probably refers to the dedication of Lorvao, since it preceeds the order of dedication of a church. Feasts in the calendar date the MS. to between 1259 (when the feast of St Francis of Assisi was upgraded in Cistercian use to xii lessons, as on f. 10, see ibid.) and 1260 (e.g. feast of St Margaret, adopted in 1260, is an addition on f. 7v, see ibid.). The feminine gender predominates for participants in the rites of extreme unction and for the dying and the dead (ff. 359-383). A note signed 'J. K.' (f. 416) records that the volume was found in the convent of Alcobaça, the mother-house of Lorvao, a few days before its destruction by the French in 1811, by Lieutenant Rutherford of the 94th Regiment (Scotch Brigade) who gave it to the writer of the note. Owned (f. i) by the Rev. W. A. Keith, Vicar of Burham, Rochester, who was the son of an Edinburgh doctor, James Keith, presumably the J. K. of the note on f. 416. Purchased by Millar of L. Solomons, 15 Dec. 1926.

Vellum; ff. ii+422. 82 x 60mm. Sec. fol.: 'Kl est febrii'. Modern paper end-papers. Gatherings (37) of 12, except i16 (lacks 1, blank), xv12 (lacks 9), xxiv12 (lacks 11), xxxv10, xxxvi6, xxxvii10 (lacks 3). Pricked and ruled (single bounding lines) in hard-point for single columns of 18 lines. Quire numeration on final versos, largely trimmed. Written space 50 x 35mm. Script is a broad Gothic textualis rotunda reminiscent of rotunda italiana. Early modern binding of brown leather. Sewn on two cords.

Decoration consists of a 4-line major decorated initial E (f. 16) with feather-like flourished partial borders, all in red and blue. Minor initials in alternating red with blue flourishing and blue with red flourishing. Litterae notabiliores within the text in red and blue.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings PORTUGUESE: Cistercian Diurnal: decorated initials: 1259-1260.

Lorvao; Cistercian nunnery, Portugal: Diurnal written for, and? at: 1259-1260.

Liturgies LATIN: Orders Religious. Cistercians: Monasteries: Cistercian Diurnal, of the convent of Lorvao, Portugal: 1259-1260: Lat.