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Harley MS 2894

Record Id:

040-002048725

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

040-002048725

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100000000761.0x0000a4

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Harley MS 2894

Title:

Prayer book

Scope & Content:

Contents:

f. 7r: Prayer to God: ‘[D]eus qui nos pastores in populo vocari voluisti. presta quesumus: ut per hec que humano ore dicimus. in tuis oculis esse valeamus. Per dominum nostrum iesum’.

f. 8r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus meritis et precibus tue matris’.

ff. 8r-11r: Prayer attributed to St Augustine, beginning: ‘Deus qui in hunc mundum propeter nos peccatores de sinu patris advenisti’.

ff. 11r-11v: The Passion according to John (John 19:1-21:24), entitled: ‘Passio domini nostri ihesu Christi secundum Johannem’.

ff. 11v-12r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus qui manus tuas et pedes tuos’.

ff. 12r-12v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Tu rex glorie, Christe’.

f. 12v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Jhesu pie ihesu bone noli me relinquere’.

f. 12v: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus propicius esto michi peccatori et custos mei sis omnibus diebus vite mee’.

ff. 12v-13v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘O bone ihesu. o dulcissime ihesu. o pijssime ihesu’.

ff. 13v-14v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Domine deus omnipotens pater et filius et spritus sanctus. da mihi famulo tuo N. victoriam contra omnes inimicos meos’.

ff. 14v-15r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus propicius esto mihi peccatori et custos mei sis omnibus diebus vite mee’.

f. 15r: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christe hanc sacratissimam carnem et preciosum sanguinem de sanctissimo latere stuo in ara crucis pro salute nostra effudisti’.

f. 15v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christe qui hanc sacratissimam carnem et preciosum sanguinem de sanctissimo latere tuo in ara crucis pro salute nostra effudisti’.

f. 15v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Anima ihesu Christi sanctifica me Corpus ihesu Christi salva me Sanguis ihesu Christi inebria me’.

ff. 15v-16r: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Ave ihesu Christe verbum patris filius virginis agnus dei’.

ff. 16r-16v: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus pie exaudibilis clemens et benignus’.

f. 16v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Salve sancta facies nostri redemptoris’.

ff. 16v-17r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Concede quaesumus omnipotens deus. ut qui redempcionis nostre insignia temporaliter veneramur’.

ff. 17r-17v: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Juste iudex ihesu Christe rex regum et domine’.

ff. 17v-18r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus qui voluisti pro redempcione mundi a iudeis reprobari’.

ff. 18r-20r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Domine deus omnipotens qui es trinus et unus’.

ff. 20r-21r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Gaude maria virgo dei genitrix qui gaudium angelorum et hominum aure credula angelo nunciante leta concepisti’.

ff. 21r-22r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘O beata intemerata atque in eternum benedicta singularis atque incomperabilis virgo dei’.

ff. 22r-22v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Gaude flore virginali honoreque speciali transcendens splendiferum Angelorum principatum’.

f. 22v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christe filij dei vivi: qui beatissimam genitricem tuam gloriosissimam virginem mariam perpetuis et felicibus gaudijs in celo letificasti’.

f. 22v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Omnis virtus te decorat omnis sanctus te honorat in celesti patria’.

ff. 22v-23r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Dulcissima domina sancta maria virgo et genitrix que infra sanctum tuum corpus lavilasti’.

f. 23r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Ave et gaude maria mater dei’

f. 23r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Ave maria custodi me ab omni pena’.

ff. 23r-23v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Deus pater me precedat deus filius me custodiat’.

f. 23v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Stabat mater dolorosa’.

ff. 24r-25v: Litany of the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Kyrieleyson’.

f. 25v: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus propicius esto michi peccatori’.

ff. 25v-27r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Obsecro te domina mea sanctissima maria plenissima pietate’.

f. 27r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Stella celi extirpavit que lactavit dominum’.

ff. 27v-29r: Verse prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Ave virgo virginum que verbo concepisti / Ave lactans filium et virgo permancisti’.

f. 29r: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui gloriosam virginem mariam tot et tantis miraculis et virtutibus decorasti’.

ff. 30r-30v: Prayer to the Trinity, with the rubric: ‘Devota oracio de trinitate quem si quiscumque dixerit cum psalmo Quicumque Vult duodecim diebus dominici continuis vel xij alijs diebus continuis pro aliqua certa necessitate consequetur affectum quem iuste pecierit Primo dicat psalmum et postea oracionem subscriptam’, beginning: ‘Sancta trinitas et inseperabilis unitas’.

ff. 30v-31r: Prayer to Christ, with a rubric: ‘Quicumque oracionem sequentem devote dixerit habebit tria milia annorum venalium et tria milia annorum penitencialium a domino Johanne papa duodecimo concesso’; beginning: ‘Dirupisti domine vincula mea tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis’.

ff. 31v-32v: St Gregory’s Trental, beginning: ‘Trentale sic incipit: ‘Erat quondam rome quidam pape nomine Gregorius qui habebat matrem quam super omnia diligebat et maxime pro bonitate sua’.

ff. 32v-33v: Seven Masses of St Giles, beginning: ‘Sanctus egidius precepit regi karolo per annunciacionem angeli quod celebrare faceret septem missas pro septem peccatis que non audebat ei revelare’.

ff. 34r-38r: The Fifteen Oes [Quindecim Orationes], untitled, beginning: ‘O domine ihesu Christe eterna dulcedo te amancium’.

ff. 38r-39r: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘O bone ihesu duo in me agnosco naturam quam tu fecisti’.

ff. 39v-40v: Votive Mass of the Five Wounds, beginning with the rubric: ‘Sanctissimus bonefacius papa istud officium confermavit apostolica auctoritate tribuens omnibus vere confessis et contritis septimam partem remissionis omni peccatorum suorum. qui istud devote legerint quina vice. Et similiter illud [...] officium sequens legi procurantibus xl. dies criminalium et unum annum venialium in Domino relaxavit. Officium de v vulneribus Christi’; beginning: 'Humiliavit semetipsum dominus noster ihesus Christus usque ad mortem autem crucis'.

ff. 41r-42v: Morning prayer, with the rubric: ‘Sequitur devota oracio et utilis primo summo mane dicenda’; beginning: ‘Domine ihesu Christe esto michi adiutor’.

ff. 42v-43v: Evening prayers, with the rubric:‘Oraciones sequentes dicantur post completorium [Compline] vel saltem quando vadunt dormitum nocte’; beginning: ‘Suscipe digneris domine deus omnipotens laudes et oraciones quas ego indignus peccator orare’.

ff. 43v-44v: Verse prayer to the Apostles, with the rubric:‘Sequitur valde devota oracio ad omnes sanctos apostolos dei’; beginning: ‘O Petre beatissime apostolorum maxime’.

ff. 44v-45r: Prayer to God, with the rubric: ‘Sequitur devota oracio dicenda [? tantum] in die [? dominica] genuflectendo’; beginning: ‘Omnipotens splendor et ymago verbum que patris’.

ff. 45r-45v: Verse prayer to the Virgin Mary, with the rubric: ‘Oracio venerabilis patris Ancelmi’; beginning: ‘Maria dulcis miseros nos audi loquentes’.

ff. 45v-46r: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘O Maria virginum consolatrix miserorum’.

f. 46r: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Interveniat pro nobis quaesumus domine ihesu Christe’.

f. 46r: Verse prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Gaude felix anna que concepisti prolem’. f. 46v: Prayer to God, beginning: ‘Deus qui beatam annam diu sterilem prole voluisti gloriosa et humano generi salutifera fecundati’.

ff. 46v-47r: Prayer to St Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgin, with the rubric: ‘Quicumque sequentem oracionem cotidie in honore undecim milia virginum cum undecim Pater noster etcaetera et Ave Maria. devote dixerit. ipsas in singulis necessitatibus adiutrices habebit. et in fine vite: ipsarum confortabiliem visionem optinebit’; begininng: ‘Concros chorus castitatis virginuym et martirum Ursula cum sociatis ad eternum bravium’; followed by a prayer: ‘O dulcissime ihesu qui es sponsus virginum premium martyrum et piissimus exauditor’.

f. 47r: Prayer to Christ, beginning: ‘Salve pie preco Christi’.

f. 47v: Short prayer, beginning: ‘Perpetuus nos domine sancti Johannis baptiste tuere presidijs’.

ff. 47v-48v: Verse prayer to the Virgin Mary on the words of the hymn Ave Maria gracia plena, with the rubric: ‘Sequitur oracio beati barnardi quam dixit cotidie in honore virginis marie cui beata maria apparens in extremis dixit ei Exuere carnem noli timere. Oracio me tua fecit videre’; beginning: ‘Silere non valeo virginem laudare’.

ff. 49r-49v: Prayer to the Guardian Angel [here untitled], beginning: ‘Obsecro te angelice spiritus cui ego ad providendum commissus sum ut custodias me indesinenter'.

f. 49v: Suffrage to St Petronilla, beginning: ‘Petronilla speciosa petri cara filia’; followed by a prayer, beginning: ‘Deus qui beatam virginem petronillam valida febre vexatam ad celi transtulisti palacium patria’.

ff. 49v-50r: Suffrage to SS Katherine, Margaret and Mary Magdalena, beginning: ‘Katerina margareta virgines sanctissime / magdalena deo plean Christo preces fundite’; followed by a prayer, beginning: ‘Deus qui beatissimis virginibus tuis katerine margarete martirij palmam et beate marie magdalena omnium criminum veniam concescisti’ [also in Syon Abbey MS 2, ff. 207r-207v].

f. 50r: Suffrage to St Barbara, beginning: ‘Gaude barbara benigna ex paganis virgo digna exorta parentibus’; followed by a prayer, beginning: ‘Deus qui beatissimam Barbaram virginem tuam roseo martirij cruore perfusam in thalamo regni tui collocasti’.

The manuscript contains various additions:

ff. 1r-6v, 51r-56v: Quires from the sanctoral of an English liturgical manuscript from the first half of the 13th century (measuring: 255 x 170 mm (text space: 195 x 135 mm, in 2 columns), with coloured initials in red or blue, some with pen-flourishing in the other colour; containing prayers to various saints including Cuthbert, Alban, Æthelred and Swithun.

ff. 2v, 3r, 3v, 5v, 6r, 51v, 52r, 52v (lower margins): Latin theological notes; added in the 16th century.

f. 4r (upper margin): ‘I be seheche god have mercy on all crystyn sowlys’; added in the 16th century.

f. 6v (lower margin): ‘Betayne, Verneyne, Valeryan [...]’; added in the 16th century.

f. 7r: Latin theological notes; added in the (?) 15th century.

f. 7v: Latin theological notes; added in the (?) 15th century.

f. 29r: Metrical version of the Lord's Prayer, beginning: 'O pater alme tuum nomen sit sanctificatum'; added in the 15th century.

f. 29v: Instructions for finding the conjunction of the Sun and Moon in Middle English, beginning: ‘When the pryme fallith on the A. then in the xix houre shall the coniunction of the mone be the vij day afor’; added in the 15th century.

f. 29v: Instructions for finding the prime, beginning: ‘Seke the first prime aftir the fest of the Epiphany and acount aftir the sayde some x dayes’; added in the 15th century.

f. 29v: Prayer to the Virgin Mary, beginning: ‘Sancta maria virgo regina celorum’; added in the 15th century.

f. 50v: Collect for St Bernard of Clairvaux, entitled: ‘Collecta de Sancto Bernardo’; beginning: ‘Deus qui beatum bernardum confessorum tuum atque abbatem sanctitate gracia decorasti’; added in the 15th century.

f. 50v: Collect for St Winifred, entitled: ‘Collecta de Sancta Wenefreda’; beginning: ‘Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui beatam Wenefredam virginitatis et martirij primio decorasti’; added in the 15th century.

f. 54v (lower margin): Middle English recipe, entitled: ‘A Medicene for the Stone’; added in the late 15th or early 16th century.

Decoration:

Historiated initial of a monk in Cistercian robes kneeling in prayer with a full border in colours and gold with acanthus leaves, flowers and foliate feathering (f. 49r). Large initials in colours and gold with a full border (ff. 30r, 41r) or with a partial border with acanthus leaves, flowers and foliate feathering (f. 8r). Initials in colours and gold with foliate feathering, besants and ivy. Gold initial with brown pen-flourishing (ff. 30r, 31v, 32v) and with foliate feathering (f. 30v). Initials and crosses (indicating when the sign of the cross should be made) in blue with red penwork decoration and pen-flourishing. Initials in red with purple flourishing (f. 50v). Coloured initials in red or blue. Line-fillers in red and blue. Capitals marked in yellow. Catchword written on a scroll intertwined with a halberd held by a knight in full armour (f. 23v). Some cadels (e.g., ff. 27r, 28r). Capital with brown foliate pen-flourishing (f. 39v), with a female head (f. 40). Initial in brown ink in the shape of a scroll with foliate decoration extending into the margin (f. 45v). First words from the Ave Maria written on scrolls in the margin (ff. 47v-48v).

Added ink drawing of a man (shoulder-length) (f. 12r), 2 hybrid creatures (f. 16v), a serpent and a mermaid (f. 18v), a ?pig with acanthus leaves (f. 39r), 15th-16th century.

Collection Area:

Western Manuscripts

Project / Collection:

Harley Collection

Hierarchy Tree:

[{ "id" : "040-002048725", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Harley MS 2894: Prayer book" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-002045828
040-002048725

Is part of:

Harley MS 1-7661 : Harley Manuscripts

Harley MS 2894 : Prayer book

Hierarchy:

032-002045828[2895]/040-002048725

Container:

View / search within Archive / Collection: Harley MS 1-7661

Record Type (Level):

File

Extent:

1 volume

Digitised Content:

Languages:

English, Middle
Latin

Scripts:

Latin

Start Date:

1425

End Date:

1474

Date Range:

2nd quarter of the 15th century-3rd quarter of the 15th century

Era:

Access:

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User Conditions:

Physical Characteristics:

Materials: Parchment.

Dimensions: 255 x 170 mm (text space: 155 x 95 mm).

Foliation: ff. 56 (+ 1 translucent paper flyleaf and 5 unfoliated white paper flyleaves + 5 unfoliated white paper flyleaves and 1 translucent paper flyleaf at the end); ff. 1-6 and 51-56 are leaves from another manuscript that have been reused as flyleaves for this manuscript; 1 parchment fragment before f. 1; 2 parchment stubs after f. 38 but no missing leaf; 1 unfoliated modern paper pastedown on f. [vi]recto (bibliographical notes), and 1 on [58]verso (conservation notes).

Collation: Indicated by catchwords and quire numbers; each quire has been mounted separately onto a paper guard.

Script: Gothic; written in many different hands.

Binding: British Library in-house. Rebound in 1976. Remains of the previous cover (gold- and blind-tooled dark brown sprinkled leather) pasted on the inside covers, and of the previous spine (inscribed in gold: 'Manuale precum cujusdam sacerdotis anglici') on f. [iii]recto.

Custodial History:

Origin:

South-East England (? London).

Provenance:

Probably made for the use of a Cistercian monk: historiated initial with a monk in Cistercian robes at the beginning of a prayer of Anselm of Canterbury to one's guardian angel (f. 49r)

'Bechelyn', late 15th century: twice inscribed with this name on f. 51r (see Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), p. 69).

John Wynchecombe, prior of the Cistercian abbey of Hayles , Gloucestershire, early 16th century: inscribed his name on f. 51r: 'Prior de hayles Joh[an]nes Wynchecombe p[ri]or de Hayles' (see Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), p. 364).

Elizabeth Wyrryet, 16th century: inscribed with her name on f. 7r (see Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), p. 232).

Thomas Maunsell (? Mannsell), 16th century: inscribed with his name on f. 7r (see Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), p. 232).

Jonah Bowyer, bookseller at the Rose in Ludgate Street from 1705: purchased from him by the Harleys on 5 April 1720 as noted by Humfrey Wanley on f. 1r (see Diary, ed. by Wright and Wright (1966), I, p. 36 n. 10; Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), p. 79).

The Harley Collection, formed by Robert Harley (b. 1661, d. 1724), 1st earl of Oxford and Mortimer, politician, and Edward Harley (b. 1689, d. 1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts, inscribed as usual by their librarian, Humfrey Wanley ‘5 April 1720’ (f. 1r).

Edward Harley bequeathed the library to his widow, Henrietta Cavendish, née Holles (b. 1694, d. 1755) during her lifetime and thereafter to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (b. 1715, d. 1785), duchess of Portland; the manuscripts were sold by the Countess and the Duchess in 1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library.

Publications:

A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum, 4 vols (London: Eyre and Strahan, 1808-12), II (1808), no. 2894.

The Diary of Humfrey Wanley 1715-1726, ed. by Cyril Ernest Wright and Ruth C. Wright, 2 vols (London: Bibliographical Society, 1966), I: 1715-1723, p. 36 n. 10.

Cyril Ernest Wright, Fontes Harleiani: A Study of the Sources of the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum (London: British Museum, 1972), pp. 69, 79, 232, 364.

Material Type:

Archives and Manuscripts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)

Places:

Southeastern England