Kings MS 6

HOURS, &c., in Latin. Contents:-(1) Calendar, in French: SS. Lupus, Giles, Denis, and Martin in gold. f 1 ;-(2) The four Gospel-lessons. f. 13 (two pairs of leaves, ff. 15-18 and 16-17, misbound ; proper order, ff. 16, 15, 18, 17);- (3) ' Obsecro te 'and ' 0 intemerata'. ff. 17 b, 19, 22;-(4) Hours of the Virgin, Paris use (cf. Add. MS. 11866). f. 27;-(5) Hours of the Cross, imperf, wanting a leaf at beg. f. 84;-(6) Hours of the Holy Spirit. f. 86;-(7) Penitential Psalms and Litany: the latter including many French saints, e.g. Denis and Quentin among the martyrs, Martin, Remy, Marcel, Germain, Médard, Eloy, and Louis among the confessors, and Genevieve (heading the list) among the virgins. ff. 90, 101 b;-(8) Vigils of the Dead. f. 106 b;-(9) Memoriae Sanctorum, viz. of SS. Michael, John Baptist, James, Nicholas, Mary Magdalene, Katharine, and Barbara. f. 143. Vellum; ff. 147. 6 ³/₄ in.x4 ¹/₂, in. Circ. A.D. 1500. Gatherings of 8 leaves (11⁴, xi wants a leaf, xii⁶, last ².) Rather coarsely illuminated in French style, with marginal Calendar-illustrations, 12 large miniatures with architectural frames, and 12 small miniatures with partial borders; initials and line-endings in gold on coloured grounds. Subjects:-

1, 2 (Jan.). Feasting; Aquarius. ff, 1, 1 b.

3, 4 (Feb.). Warming hands ; Pisces. ff. 2, 2b.

5,6 (Mar.). Pruning vines; Aries. ff. 3, 3 b.

7, 8 (Apr.). Girl with garland; Taurus. ff. 4, 4 b.

9, 10 (May). Gallant with lady behind him on a white horse; Gemini. ff. 5 5 b.

11 , 12 (June). Mowing; Cancer. ff. 6, 6b.

13, 14 (JuIy). Reaping; Leo. ff. 4, 7, 7 b.

15, 16 (Aug.). Threshing; Virgo. ff. 8, 8 b.

17, 18 (Sept.), Treading wine-vat; Libra. ff. 9, 9 b.

19, 20 (Oct.). Sowing; Scorpio. ff. 10, 10b.

21, 22 (Nov.), Pig-feeding; Sagittarius. ff. ii, ii b.

23,24 (Dec.). Singeing a pig's bristles off; Capricornus. ff. 12, 12 b.

25. S. John in Patmos sits writing on his knees, eagle with ink-vessel held in its beak. f. 13 (large).

26. S. Luke sits reading, calf before him. f 14 b.

27. S. Matthew sits writing on his knees, angel kneels before him. f. 15.

28. The Virgin and Child. f. 17 b.

29. S. Mark sits with open book on his knees, lion beside him. f. 18 b.

30. The Virgin supporting the dead Christ on her knees. f. 22.

31. Annunciation; in margins, Presentation of the Virgin, and Marriage of Joseph and Mary. f. 27 (large).

32. Visitation ; below, the Holy f, 146. Family. f. 47 b (large).

33. Nativity; below, two shepherds (?). f.57 b (large).

34. Angel and shepherds; below, peasants dancing. f. 62 b (large).

35. Adoration of the Magi; below, the Magi carrying their gifts. f. 66 b (large).

36. Presentation in the Temple; in frame on r., Moses holding the tables of the Law; below, the Holy Family (on the way to the Temple?). f. 70 (large).

37. Flight into Egypt ; in frame on l., Herod; below, Massacre of the Innocents. f.73b(large).

38. Coronation of the Virgin; below, Death of the Virgin. f. 79b (large).

39. Pentecost; below, Baptism of Christ. f. 86 (large).

40. David kneeling before an altar; in frame on r., Nathan ; below, David and Goliath. f. 90 (large).

41. Priests chanting before a bier; in frame on l., a skeleton; below, Job and his wife. f. 106 b (large).

42. S. Michael fighting the dragon. f. 143.

43. S. John Baptist and Agnus Dei. f. 143 b.

44. S. James, with book, staff, and scrip. f. 144.

45. S. Nicholas blessing three boys (tonsured) in a tub. f. 144 b.

46. S. Mary Magdalene with book and ointment-pot. f. 145 47. S. Katharine with book, sword, and wheel. f. 145 b.

48. S. Barbara with palm and book, standing beside a tower; in r. h. margin, her father beheading her. French binding, 16th cent. (rebacked), of brown calf, gilt-tooled, with corner-pieces of interlaced strap-work and foliated curves, in the centre of each cover the Crucifixion (with sun, moon, and stars) enclosed in an oval frame, the space outside powdered with trefoils much rubbed.