Harley MS 1037

This composite manuscript consists of three parts that were produced separately, at different locations and at different times.

Part 1 (ff. 1r-109v) is a copy of Hugh Ripelin's Compendium veritatis theologicae that was written in the 15th century.

Part 2 (ff. 111r-134v) is a summary of the Old Testament in Middle English that was written in the first half of the 15th century.

Part 3 (ff. 135r-149r) is a copy of Pope Innocent III, De miseria humanae conditionis that was written in the second half of the 13th century.

Parts 1 and 3 both contain additions that were written shortly after they were completed.

Contents:

Part 1:

ff. 1r-109v: Hugh Ripelin of Strassburg, Compendium veritatis theologicae; preceded by an added table of contents (ff. 1r-2v).

f. 109v: Two short added texts, one headed 'De gaudijs celestibus' and the other 'De aureolis sanctorum'; written in the 15th century.

Part 2:

ff. 111r-134v: Summary of the Old Testament in Middle English, imperfect due to the loss of a quire or quires at the beginning, now opening as follows: 'his manyng and sat opinly in þe ȝate ; to comforte al his oost. After þis þe cunseil of al israel cam to david . þat þei wolden bringe him in to his rewme worschipefully and david for ȝaf þe opin treson to hem . þat þei hadde do bifore'.

Part 3:

ff. 135r-147r: Pope Innocent III, De miseria humanae conditionis, entitled: 'Hic incipit liber de miseria humane condicionis editus a lotario diacono cardinali sanctorum sergii et bachi qui postea innocencius iij appelatus [est]'; containing 15th-century marginal annotations on ff. 135v, 136r, 136v, 142v, 145v; and 13th-century annotations on ff. 146v and f. 147r.

f. 147r: A hymn to Christ, beginning: 'Juste Judex ihesu christe rex regum et domine qui cum patre regnas semper cum sancto flamine nunc digneris preces meas clementer suscipere'; written in the 2nd half of the 13th century.

ff. 147v-148v: An added tract on the Seven Deadly Sins, beginning: 'Superbia: Si irreverenter et prudenter peccaverit vel offenderit quod est magne superbie'; written in the 2nd half of the 13th century.

f. 149r: A Latin poem, partially effaced, ending with the line: 'Omne tempus tibi impensum requiretur a te qualiter fuerit expensum'; added in the 15th century.

f. 150r: Two lines from the Decretales Gregorii IX (liber extra), compiled by Raymond of Peñafort; partially cropped, ending with the line: 'quam laesa conscientia thronum conscendere pastoralem'; added in the 15th century.

The manuscript contains an added strip of parchment between Part 1 (ff. 1r-109v) and Part 2 (ff. 111r-134v):

f. 110r: Reading instructions (written on the recto of an added piece of parchment) with an opening, perhaps addressing a reader by name, crossed out; the first instructions read as follows: '[...]shull - Istud capitulum Bone memorie secundum debet legi usque ad istud verbum et tunc istud capitulum Postulacionem et tunc istud verbum nuncijs usque ad istam clausulam Nec vocebat et istam clausula Intelleximus tunc debet legi usque ad finem et tunc ista clausula Nec nocebat usque ad istam clausulam Intelleximus'; added in the 15th century.

f. 110v: Latin phrases (written on the verso of an added piece of parchment), including: 'cum non habeat imperium par in parem'; added in the 15th century.

Decoration:

ff. 1-109: Coloured initials in red. Paraphs in red. Capitals marked in red. Spaces for initials left blank.

ff. 111-134: Initials in gold with purple pen-flourishing or in blue with red pen-flourishing. Paraphs in red. Capitals marked in red.Puzzle initial in blue and red (f. 135r). Smaller initial in blue with red pen-flourishing (f. 135r). Coloured initials in red or blue.