Add MS 62132 A

FOUNTAINS ABBEY (VYNER) MSS. Vol. IV A. Grammatica, etc., England; 14th-15th cent. Latin. 15th cent. ex libris 'Liber sancte marie de ffontibus', f. 4, and the name of John Stockton, a monk of Fountains during the mid fifteenth century, on f. 226 and passim. The names '[Abbot] John Greenwelle', in a 15th-cent. hand set in a scroll (f. 29v), and 'Cristoferus Johnson' with that of 'Thomas Heless', in 16th-cent. hands (ff. 196v, and Johnson again on f. 227) also occur. The book passed to William Johnson, son of Christopher Johnson (recorded in a 16th cent. hand on f. 3, along with the name of Richard Atkinson). At Ripley Castle in 1864 (HMC, 6th Report, p. 356) and sold to the Vyner family at Sotheby's, 21 Oct. 1920, lot 124. On deposit at Leeds Archive Department as VR 6120 (in pencil, f. i).

Vellum; ff. i+231; 2. Sec. fol.: 'omnibus contentis'. 215 x 142mm. '23' on cover of upper board, repeated on f. i verso, along with the title 'Various subjects. Law precedents. Heathen mythology etc.', in an 18th-cent. hand. Medieval vellum pastedown, now lifted and acting as a flyleaf (f. i). Gatherings (25) of 12, except i4 (including front flyleaf), ii14, vi4 (wants 2-4), xiii6 (wants 6, blank), xix10, xxi12 (wants 8-10, blank), xxii6, xxiii12 (wants 12, blank), xxv4. Ruled (single bounding lines) in lead-point and ink for single and double columns of 32-52 lines, varying according to section (ff. 1-17v double columns). Written space variable, 170 x 120mm. (ff. 4-17v), 142 x 95mm. (f. 18 onwards), etc. Script is by a variety of hands of 14th and 15th cent. date which employ cursiva anglicana (e.g., ff. 4-17v), secretary and bastard secretary (e.g., ff. 18-29v) hands. Original binding of wooden boards covered with leather, with a strap (held by copper alloy rivets with daisy-like heads) and copper alloy clasp fastening onto the lower board. Channelling and pegging clearly visible. Sewn on 6 split cords. Blue and white oversewn end-bands.

Contents:

1. ff. 1-2v. Medical treatise (frag.).

2. ff. 4-17v. Latin grammar. Beg. 'Quum ad cuius cunque ...', ends '... adverbium facere comprobatos'.

3. ff. 18-53v. Treatise on the compilation of charters by Symon Oxenford. Beg. (explanatory exordium) '(Non) milli sequidem ...', ends imperf. '... cancellatio et interlineatio po'.

4. ff. 55-90v. 'Morale Somnium Pharaonis', by Joannes Lemovicensis. Printed by C. Horvati in Opera Omnia Johannis Lemovicensis (1932), i, pp. 71-126. Beg. 'Victorioso principi postestates...', ends '...et letitur gratiorum'.

5. ff. 91-196. Moralization in fifteen books of Ovid's Metamorphoses, by Petrus Berchorius (Pierre Bersuire, Prior of St Eloi, Paris, d. 1362), forming part of his 'Reductorium Morale' (see Royal 15.C.XVI, art. 2). Beg. 'A veritate quidam ...', ends '... libera nos etc. Explicit Ovidius'.

6. ff. 198-198v. Treatise on astronomy (?, frag.). The first part of the text, on f. 198, has been erased. Beg. imperf., ends '... et similiter equationum'.

7. ff. 199-204. Latin Grammar. Beg. 'Si dictare veles ...'.

8. ff. 205-215v. 'Processus et sentencia diffinitiva contra hereticos de ordine fratrum minorum in Avinoniis combustus', including confessions taken in connection with trials for heresy in May 1354 under Pope Innocent VI (ff. 205-211), the sentence against Brother John de Castilione (ff. 211-212), form of degradation (ff. 212-215), etc.

9. ff. 216-226. Sermons. Beg. 'Egressus illic in partibus ...', ends '... ad habentia permissionem etc'.

10. ff. 228-231v. Liturgical music (frag.). See H. K. Andrews and T. Dart, 'Fourteenth Century Polyphony in a Fountains Abbey MS Book', Music and Letters, XXXIX (1958), pp. 1-12, and Répertoire International des Sources Musicales: Manuscripts of Polyphonic Music (c.1320-1400), B IV.2 (1969), pp. 275-279.

Decoration consists of pen-flourished initials (e.g., ff. 4 and 57v) in red and blue and simple coloured initials, including some in an unusual torquoise pigment (e.g., f. 15v in the section ff. 4-17v). A gilded 6-line initial A on a cusped pink and white ground occurs on f. 91, and a similar silver initial I on f. 110. There is a fine penwork initial with calligraphic flourishing on f. 27v and ff. 55-118 feature sporadic calligraphic attentuation and flourishing of letters on the top line. On f. 55 is a 10-line major initial V in tooled silver (over an orange ground), which has oxidized, containing a sketch in ink of the crucifixion set against an acanthus-filled ground (perhaps unfinished).

Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Grammar: Grammatica, etc.,: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.

includes:

• ff. 1-2v Medicine and Surgery: Frag. medical treatise: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 4-17v, 199-204 Grammar: Grammars: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff.18-53v Symon Oxenford: Treatise on the compilation of charters by Symon Oxenford: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 55-90v Joannes, Lemovicensis: Morale Somnium Pharaonis by Joannes: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 91-196 Petrus Berchorius, Prior of St Eloi, Paris: Moralization of Ovid's Metamorphoses, from the Reductorium Morale by Petrus Berchorius: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 198-198v Astronomy: Frag. treatise on astronomy: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 205-215v Orders Religious. Franciscans: John de Castilione, Franciscan: Nonconformists: Materials relating to heresy trials of Franciscans, 1354 , sentence against John de Castilione: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 228-231v Music: Polyphony in a Fountains Abbey book: 14th-15th cent.: Lat.