Harley MS 4242

This composite manuscript comprises two different parts.

Part 1 (ff. 1r-64v) features a previously unnoticed fragment of the Passion of St Vincent of Saragossa (f. 1r), and a copy of the Life and Miracles of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (ff. 1v-64v), both from the first half of the 13th century.

Part 2 (ff. 65r-66v) consists of a previously unknown fragment of the miracles of the anchorite St Wulfsige of Evesham (d. in or before 1087), which can be dated to the 1st quarter of the 13th century. The bifolium is likely to originate from the lost collection of miracles of Wulfsige that Thomas of Northwich (d. 1207), monk of Evesham Abbey, compiled in three volumes. Until now, this work was only known from a reference in the 14th-century chronicle of John of Peterborough, but the actual miracle collection was thought to be entirely lost.

Contents:

Part 1 (ff. 1r-64v):

f. 1r: A fragment of the Passion of St Vincent of Saragossa, beginning: ‘sibi tantum provenisse martyrem in commune gaudebat’ and ending: ‘Fidus interea minister molam haut’.

ff. 1v-64v: Life and miracles of of St Thomas of Canterbury, beginning: 'Post summi fauoris dote vestitos praeclaros pugiles qui auspicato pugillari a cunis ubi vagiit usque mucronem quo occubuit'; and ending: ‘and ending: 'et eam faciant a suis parochianis annuatim cum magna devotione observari'.

Part 2 (ff. 65r-66v):

ff. 65r-66v: A bifolium from a collection of miracles of St Wulfsige of Evesham, here called ‘Wlsinus’ [previously erroneously identified as ‘Walsinus’]; the miracles take place at locations closely situated to or in the Vale of Evesham; one of the miracles refers to Wulfsige as an anchorite; beginning: ‘Filius cuiusdam paupercule vidue de tredintona [Tredington, Warwickshire] ad fidem matris per sanctum Wlsinum convaluit de apostematibus multis'; and ending: ‘Hec pauca de multis que pro sancto suo wulsino operatus erit Christus; licet indigni scribere presumpsimus . Sed ipse dominus qui non in faleris verborum sed veris delectatur honoribus precibus tanti patris nostris indulgeat ausubus . seque cum sancto wlsino considerare et collaudare donet in celestibus Amen’.

Decoration:

Part 1: 4 large (3- or 4-line) puzzle initials in blue and red (ff. 1v, 2v, 22v, 39r), Large (2-line) and small (1-line) initials in blue or red throughout. Rubrics in red. A pencil sketch of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket has been added to the upper margin of f. 6v.

Part 2: Large (2-line) initials in blue or red with penwork decoration in the opposite colour. Rubrics in red.