Harley MS 1197/1

The first of two volumes that comprise Harley MS 1197. The second volume is Harley MS 1197/2.

This volume is a composite manuscript that consists of four parts that were produced separately in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Part 1 (ff. 1r-76v) was written in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 15th century; Part 2 (ff. 78r-138r) was written in the 2nd half of the 15th century; Part 3 (ff. 141r-143v) was written in the 2nd half of the 15th century; and Part 4 (ff. 144r-203v) was written in the early 16th century.

Contents:

Part 1:

ff. 1r-8v: Middle English treatise on the Ten Commandments as found in The Pore Caitif; imperfect at the beginning.

ff. 9r-28v: Richard Lavenham, Little Treatise on the Seven Deadly Sins [De septem mortalibus peccatis]; including Middle English poems against pride [NIMEV 4110.5; DIMEV 6583.7], for heaven's bliss [NIMEV 879.5; DIMEV 1471.5], and for grace at death [NIMEV 621.5; DIMEV 1014].

ff. 28v-60v: The Pore Caitif; including a tract on the Pater Noster [Oracionis Dominicae Explicacio] (ff. 28v-48v); a tract usually known as The Counsel of Christ [De tentacione et sui abnegacione] (ff. 48v-50v); Tract on Patience (ff. 50v-52r); Tract on Temptation (ff. 52r-52v); and The Charter of Heaven (ff. 52v-55v); The Horse and Armor of Heaven [De militia spirituali] (ff. 56r-60v).

ff. 61r-74v: The Book of Tribulation, here entitled: 'Twelve uses or services of tribulacion'; a Middle English translation of Li Livre de Tribulacion.

ff. 75r-76v: The Five Wyles of Pharaoh, here entitled: 'Pharaoes wiles' and with a rubric: 'Her bygynniþ a prolog of a tretis þat telliþ of v willis þat kyng pharo did to þe childer of israel to kepe hem in his londby which is wittili undirstondyn þe v willes of þe fend'; imperfect at the end.

Part 2:

ff. 78r-138r: Speculum Christiani; with an attribution in a 16th or 17th-century hand: 'Guilielmus Auerelus Londinensis'; containing Middle English poems on the Ten Commandments (f. 82r) [NIMEV 3687; DIMEV 5845.28]; Seven Deadly Sins (f. 93v) [NIMEV 4150; DIMEV 6643]; Sentences of the Four Philosophers (f. 106v) [NIMEV 2167; DIMEV 3492]; and a rhyming exhortation (f. 109v) [NIMEV 1342; DIMEV 2245].

Part 3:

ff. 141r-143v: Ars moriendi, imperfect at the end; the text is copied from an earlier block book as descriptions of the woodcuts are referred to, although there are no illustrations in this manuscript.

Part 4:

ff. 144r-203v: Homilies on the Epistles and Gospels for all Sundays of the year, written in Middle English, and beginning: 'My Breter[e]n and syster[e]n in Jesu crist Saynt Paule þe apostle of god in þis present epystle dothe admonysche us how we owght to know þe tyme wherin we be'; subscribed by Johannes Pokysfen ('p[er] me Johanne[m] Pokysfen[e]').

The manuscript contains various additions:

f. 77r: A letter in Latin, beginning: 'Consideranti mihi diebus istis clarissime magister quam negligens in scribendo'; copied in the late 15th century or early 16th century.

f. 77v: English poem on God's Providence [NIMEV 1154; DIMEV 1875], 'he that of god delytyt ay to here monyfacyon of god and in hym to put all his affyans and in his name make pleyn delcaracyon that all thyng is pondryd by his balans it is he that us dooth avans in all gostly thynges and plesuyr to þe body frutefull in all owyr distres and wooful pertubans most assuyryd frend stedfast and feytfull'; added in the 16th century.

f. 139v: A draft letter, beginning: 'W. G. suo amantissimo amico salutem plurimam dicit'; copied in the late 15th century or early 16th century.

f. 140r: Pen trials and draft letters: 'Right worshipfull in the moste hertist maner that I can or may. I commende unto you desyring to here off your welfayre'; writen in the late 15th century or early 16th century.

f. 203*verso: Two English poems on fighting, beginning: 'I am a knighte and manes to fight / and armet well ame I to serve / stand with swords ine hand my / manhoud for to try'; added in the late 15th or early 16th century.

Decoration:

Part 1:

1 initial in gold on a red and blue ground with floral sprays (f. 30v). 4 puzzle initials with red and purple pen-flourishing (ff. 9r, 28v, 48v, 56). Initials in blue with red pen-flourishing. Underlining and marginal notes in red. Paraphs in red or blue. Rubrics in red. Capitals marked in red.

Part 2:

Large (2-line) plain red initials. Capitals highlighted in red. Rubrics in red. Underlining in red. Paraphs in red. A drawing of a ladder in black ink in the lower margin of f. 138r.

Part 3:

1 large (6-line) plain red initial with knotwork motif. Large (2-line) plain red initials. Rubrics in red. Underlining in red.

Part 4:

Large capitals with cadels in black ink.