Harley MS 2854

Contents

f. 2r: A 'bleeding table', in which Golden Numbers (1-19) are correlated with the 12 signs of the Zodiac, with indications of their influence: 'Aries bonum - Thaurus malum - Gemini malum [etc.]'.

ff. 3r-14v: Latin Calendar with Cisioianus; the name of each month is translated into German (e.g. 'Januarius - Hartmaynt'), and each month features in the lower margin the name of its corresponding sign of the Zodiac, written in Latin and German (e.g. 'Aquarius - Wasser'), followed by astrological directions in Latin.

ff. 16r-25v: The Hours of the Cross ('Hore de Sancta Cruce domini nostri ihesu Christi').

ff. 25r-57v: The Hours of the Compassion of the Blessed Virgin Mary ('Hore de compassione beate marie virginis'); here attributed to Pope John XXII.

ff. 58r-69r: The Fifteen Oes (Quindecim Oraciones); introduced by a long rubric which tells of how a female recluse ('femina quedam solitaria et reclusa') received instructions for the prayers from Christ in a vision.

ff. 69r-78v: Seven prayers of St Francis to Christ, with a long rubric: ‘Reverendissimus pater dominius bonaventura sacre theologie doctor eximius quondam ordinis fratrum post beatum franciscum [etc.]’; 'begininng: ‘Domine ihesu Christe baptiza me in precioso sanguine tuo cum omnibus electis tuis’.

ff. 78v-81v: Prayer for the Church (‘devota oracio pro seipso et tota eccleisa dei’), beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christe qui es cum patre et spiritu sancto unus et verus deus te laudo te adoro atque glorifico’.

ff. 81v-84r: Prayer against sins attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux ('Oracio beati bernardi contra omnia peccati'), beginning: 'Domine ihesu Christe misericors et miserator'.

ff. 84r-93v: Prayer attributed to St Augustine to whom it was dictated by an angel, ('Beatus augustinius composius istam oracionem dictante angelo de qua promittit quod quicumque eam pace humili domino cotidie cantaverit si in ipsa die finis vel exitus eius a corpore evenerit infernus […] De hac oracione dicit beatus gregorius si quis eam cum pace humili cotidie cantaverit nec dyabolus nec homo ei nocere poterunt in die qua eam devote dixerit beginning: 'Domine deus omnipotens qui es trinitas et unus'.

ff. 93v-97v: Prayer attributed to St Augustine ('Istam oracionem sequentem secundus augustinus composuit quam qui qualibet die homo puro corde puraque intencione dixerit dyabolus ei nullum impedimentum facere poterit [etc.]'), beginning: 'Domine ihesu Christe que in hunc mundum propter peccatores de sinu patris advenisti ut nos de ade peccato redimeres.

ff. 118r-121r: Meditation or prayer on Christ ('Meditacio devota sive oracio de domino nostro ihesu'), beginning: 'Salve puer divinitatis splendor sanctorum fulgor deifice claritatis'.

ff. 121r-123v, 129r: The Mass of St Gregory, with a rubric: ‘Oraciones composite per beatissimum gregorium papam ex revelacione domini nostri ihesu Christi in missa sub effigie passionis et omnibus confessis et penitentibus multe sunt concesse indulgencia devote orantibus’, beginning: ‘O domine ihesue Christe adoro te’.

ff. 124r-126v, 128v: Three Pater Nosters that Pope Callixtus taught to a shepherd and that was verified in a revelation by St John the Evangelist, according to a long rubric: ‘Habetur in exemplo quod papa Calixtus hec tria pater noster docuit quedam pastorem ovium. Et post modum ex spirituali pietate concessit unicuique devote dicenti de primo pater noster lxxx anno indulgenciarum criminum venialium et temporum perditorum. De secundo similiter lxxx annos mortalium delictorum et temporum perditorum. De tercio habetur mille carene. Quociens enim quis alium docet eandem oracionem indulgencie duplicabuntur. Insuper est sciendum quod iohannes ewangelista revelavit hanc oracionem tante fore efficacie et veritati sicuti ewangelistam suum videlicet In principio erat.’, beginning: ‘O domine ihesu Christus suscipe hanc oracionem in memoriam illius sacratissime mortis tue’.

ff. 127r-127r: Benediction attributed to Pope Benedict XII (‘Sequentem benedictionem composuit dominus benedictus papa xij. conferrens omnibus de vote dicentibus ccc dies indulgenciarum’), beginning: ‘Benedicat me + imperialis maiestas’.

f. 128r: Fragmentary prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘situm mirra et aromantibus conditum ad in feros descendentem’.

ff. 129r-129v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘De beata virgine maria’), beginning: ‘Sancta maria mater domini nostri ihesu Christi tibi commendo corpus et animam meam’.

ff. 129v-132v: Prayer of St Augustine with which various forms of protection can be gained, according to a rubric: ‘Beatus augustinus hanc oracionem composuit et sibi revelatum fuit a spiritu sancto quod quicumque hanc oracionem illa die non peribit in aqua nec in ignem nec in veneno nec ullus inimicus ei nocere poterit. Si anima eius de corpore egressa fuerit in infernum non apropinquabit’, beginning: ‘Deus tu propicius esto mihi peccatori et custos meus in omnibus diebus et noctibus vite mee’.

ff. 132v-135v: Prayer to Christ with indulgences attributed to Pope Peter (‘Si quis sequentem oracionem legerit a sancto petro papa tres annos indulgenciarum obtinebit [etc.]’), beginning: ‘Salve tremendum cunctus potestatibus caput nostri salvatoris pro nobis spinis coronatum et arundine percussum’.

ff. 135v-137r: Prayer to God with indulgences attributed to Pope Nicholas (‘Papa nycolaus concessit unicuique hanc oracionem devote legenti continuatis diebus ore confesso omni peccatorum suorum remissionis’), beginning: ‘Deus qui pro redempcione mundi nasci et circumcidi voluisti’.

ff. 137r-140r: Bede, Prayer on the Seven Last Words of Christ.

ff. 141r-144v: Prayer to Christ with indulgences attributed to Pope Innocent VII and Prope Gregory IX, with a rubric: ‘Nota quod in consilio lugdunensi provida deliberacione est statutum quod quicumque in vera contricione dominicam passionem que summarie in hac oracione continetur perlegerit que summarie in sequenti coll[ecta?] continetur perlegerit habet ab Innocencio papa 7o indulgenciarum C dies et ab Gregorio nona lxxx dies', beginning: 'Omnipotens metuende, adorande et intime visceribus cordium amande et intime visceribus cordium nostrorum amande melliflue domine ihesu Christe'.

ff. 144v-145v: Prayer to Christ for the Solemn Mass (‘De ista oracione dicuntur multa et utilia privilegia indulgenciarum et principue est legenda infra missarum solempnia’), beginning: ‘O verum corpus Christi salve’.

ff. 145v-146r: Prayer of Pope Gregory (‘Oracio beati gregorii pape et habet novem carenas et ccc dies indulgenciarum’), beginning: ‘Ave verbum incarnatum in altare consecratum panis’.

ff. 146r-147v: Prayer for the Elevation of the Host with indulgences attributed to Pope John XII (‘Quicumque hanc oracionem sequentem devote legerit in elevacione corporis Christi habet tres annos indulgenciarum a papa Johanne XII’), beginning: ‘Ave salus mundi verbum patris hostia vera’.

ff. 147v-150v: Prayers for the Elevation of the Chalice (‘Ad elevacionem sacri calicis’), beginning: ‘Ave verus sanguis Christi qui pro nobis effluxisti’; and ‘Ave in eternum sanctissima Christi caro’.

ff. 150v-152v: Prayer to Christ attributed to Pope Benedict XII with 6666 days of indulgences, equalling the number of Christ’s wounds (‘Oracio devota de passione domini quam compilavit dominus benedictus papa XII conferens omnibus eam devote dicentibus infra missarum solempnia tot dies indulgenciarum quot fuerunt vulnera Christi Et fuerunt sicut Christus sepe revelavit devotis personis vjM vjC et lxvj’), beginning: ‘Precor te amantissime domine ihesus Christe propter illam eximiam caritatem tuam’.

ff. 152v-153v: Prayer for the Elevation with indulgences attributed to Pope Innocent VI (‘Hanc oracionem sequentem omnibus devote dicentibus infra elevacionem corporis Christi et tertium Agnus dei a domino Innocencio papa VIo tria milia annorum indulgenciarum conferunt ad supplicacionem domini philippi regis francie’), beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christ e fili dei vivi qui hanc sacratissimam carnem de glosiose beate marie virginis utero assumpsisti’.

ff. 154r-163r: Rosary of the Virgin Mary, introduced by a rubric: 'Rosarium beate marie virginis / Ad sertum roseum dicatur salutacio angelica quinquaginta vicibus et ad quamlibet addatur pericula vite ihesu Hic signate signate dicendo vel meditando prout placuerit et quisque potuerit Qui hoc rosarium per annum continuerit nobilem vite sue sentit emendacionem ex gracia beate marie et filij eius': beginning: 'Quem virgo sancta mente et corpore existens de sancto spiritu'.

ff. 164r-166v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘Oracio valde utilis de domina nostra pro bona fine’), beginning: ‘Eya nunc mater tocius nomine virgo incomparabilis’.

ff. 166v-171v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘Oracio devota et valde utilis ad beatam virginem mariam quam composuit [...]’), beginning imperfectly due to a missing leaf between f. 166 and f. 167: ‘[me]morare virgo piissima non esse auditum’.

ff. 172r-175r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘Oracio devota de domina nostra’), beginning: ‘Ave mundi spes Maria’.

ff. 175r-178r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘Item alia oracio de domina nostra’), beginning: ‘O sancta maria domina mea clementissima’.

ff. 178r-186r: O Intemerata, preceded by a long rubric beginning: ‘Fuerunt duo fratres germani et nobiles’.

ff. 186r-189r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary (‘Oracio pulcherrima ad beatam virginem mariam’), beginning: ‘O virgo virginum regina angelorum solamen miserorum’.

ff. 189r-191v: Planctus Mariae, attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux ('Plan[c]tus beati bernardi de dolore beate marie sub cruce stantem'), beginning: 'Stabat mater dolorosa'.

ff. 191v-201r: Preface to a prayer sequence to the Virgin Mary ('Prefacio oracionis subsequentis'), beginning: 'Suscipe genitrix dei eterni omnipotentis regis obsequium humilis servi tui indignas laudes ex ore ipsius immundo et in puro'; followed by a sequence with separate prayers to the limbs and whole body of the Virgin Mary; ending with the rubric: 'Oracio suprascripta qui salutantur et beatificantur omnia sacrosancto membra gloriossime virginis principue est dicenda infra nativitatem et purificacionem'.

ff. 201v-201v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary ('Oracio de beata virgine'), begininng: 'Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui cuncta creasti ex nichilo tibi commendo die ac nocte animam et corpus meum'; ending with a Collect.

ff. 202r-206r: The Five Sorrows of the Virgin Mary ('De quinque tristicijs beate marie virginis'), beginning: 'Ave dulcis mater Christi quae dolebas corde tristi'; ending with a Collect.

ff. 206v-207r: Prayer against fever, pestilence and other infirmities, beginning: 'Christus natus Christus passus Christus mortuus Christus sepultus Christus resurrexit domine libera famulum tuum et famulam tuam ab omni febre sicut liberasti susannam de falso crimine'

ff. 207v-211r: Prayer before communion ('Praeparamentum ad sacrosanctum communionem percipiendam'), beginning: 'Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis et ego reficiam vos'.

ff. 211r-212v: Prayers for Communion ('Incipiunt devote oraciones de venerabili sacramento eukaristie tempore communionis'), beginning: 'Domine ihesu Christe fili dei vivi praepara nos ad condignam perceptionem sanctissimi corporis et sanguinis tui'.

ff. 212v-221r: John of Fécamp [but here attributed to St Ambrose], Prayer to prepare for communion ('Incipit oracio beati Ambrosij episcopi ad sumendam eucharistiam'), beginning: 'Summe sacerdos et vere pontifex qui te Deo Patri hostiam puram et immaculatam in ara crucis pro nobis miseris peccatoribus obtulisti'.

ff. 221r-228v: Prayers before communion, beginning: 'Kyrieleison Christeleyson Kyrieleison Christe audi nos Christe exaudi nos'; 'Omnipotens sempiterne deus Ecce acccedo ad sacramentum unigeniti filii tui domini nostri ihesu Christi'; 'O Dulcissime atque amantissime domine iesu christe quem nunc devote desidero suscipere'.

ff. 228v-231r: Prayer after the Elevation ('Post elevacionem corporis Christi ante communionem'), beginning: 'Ave sanctissimum et suavissimum corpus dominicum in hoc sacramento contentum te confiteor labijs te toto corde diligo te totis visceribus concupisco'.

ff. 231v-239v: Prayers after communion, beginning: 'Gracias tibi ago domine Ihesu Christe omnipotens eterne deus qui me indignum peccatorem famulum tuum sacrosancto corpore et sanguine tuo refecisti'; 'Eya vite vere panis / qui das vitam Christianis / Jhesu Christe pastor bone / Praesens assis in agone'; and 'O domine pater celestis omnipotens creator celi et terre deus benedicte hodie tibi venerandum unigenitum filium'.

ff. 239r-239v: Prayer to the Guardian Angel, beginning: ‘Rogo te sancte angele dei cui ego ad providendum commissus sum.

ff. 240v-242r: Memoria of St John the Evangelist.

ff. 242v-244v: Memoria of St Christopher.

ff. 244v-246r: Memoria of St Cornelius.

ff. 246v-247v: Memoria of St Hubert.

ff. 247v-248r: Memoria of St Quirinus.

ff. 249v, 251r-251v: Memoria of St Anne.

ff. 248r-248v, 250r-250v: Memoria of St Anthony.

ff. 249r-249v, 250v: Memoria of St George.

ff. 251v-252r: Memoria of St Katherine.

ff. 252r-254v: Memoria of St Barbara.

ff. 254v-256r: Memoria of St Dorothy.

ff. 256r-257v: Memoria of St Apollonia.

f. 257v: Memoria of St Sebastian; rubric only; left unfinished

Decoration:

2 full-page miniatures, followed by large decorated initials, with full foliate borders, the second including heraldic arms, in colours and gold (ff. 16v, 154v). 15 full-page miniatures with full foliate borders, followed by large decorated initials, in colours and gold (ff. 19v, 20v, 21v, 22v, 23v, 24v, 42v, 45v, 48v, 53v, 60v, 84v, 117v, 121v, 171v); 1 large miniature probably excised after f. 25. 3 full-page miniatures with full foliate borders, the first including heraldic arms, in colours and gold (ff. 15v, 242v, 245r).

The subjects of the full-page miniatures are as follows:

f. 15v: A patron kneeling in prayer before Christ.

f. 16v: The Arrest of Christ.

f. 19v: Christ before Pilate.

f. 20v: The Flagellation.

f. 21v: The Carrying of the Cross.

f. 22v: Christ on the Cross.

f. 23v: The Deposition.

f. 24v: The Entombment.

f. 42v: The Crucifixion.

f. 45v: The Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

f. 48v: The Pietà.

f. 53v: Mary at Christ’s tomb.

f. 60v: The Garden of Gethsemane.

f. 84v: The Throne of Mercy (variant).

f. 117v: The Christ Child.

f. 121v: The Man of Sorrows with the Arma Christi.

f. 154v: The Annunciation.

f. 171v: St Katherine.

f. 242v: St Christopher.

f. 245r: St Cornelius.

4 large (half-page) miniatures with small decorated initials and full foliate borders, in colours and gold (ff. 98r, 241r, 248v, 249r).

The subjects of the half-page miniatures are as follows:

f. 98r: St Veronica.

f. 241r: St John the Evangelist.

f. 248v: St Anthony.

f. 249r: St George.

6 large historiated initials with full foliate borders, in colours and gold (ff. 211v, 240r, 251v, 252r, 255r, 256r).

The subjects of the historiated initials are as follows:

f. 211v: Two angels holding a reliquary.

f. 240r: An angel.

f. 251v: St Katherine.

f. 252r: St Barbara.

f. 255r: St Dorothy.

f. 256r: St Apollonia.

4 large decorated initials, in colours and gold (ff. 26r, 38r, 40r, 191v). Large and smaller initials in gold on red and blue grounds. Small initials in plain red or blue. Capital letters highlighted in red.