Harley MS 4372

Contents:

Simon de Hesdin and Nicolas de Gonesse, Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens, a translation of Valerius Maximus, Facta et dicta memorabilia, books 1-5 of 9 books. Books 6-9 are now Harley 4373.

Simon de Hesdin, Knight Hospitaller of Jerusalem and Master of Theology (d. 1383), according to the rubric on f. 11v, began the translation/commentary for Charles V in 1375, but completed only as far as book 7, Chapter 4. Nicolas de Gonesse, Master of Arts and Theology, completed the work for presentation to Jean, Duc de Berry (b. 1340, d. 1416) in 1400-1401.

Originally bound as a single volume, the manuscript was divided into two volumes, now Harley 4372 and Harley 4373 in the early modern period. At this time a folio (the original f. 246) was probably discarded intentionally so that volume 1 would end with book 5 and volume 2 would start with book 6. It was replaced by two folios written in a ?17th-century hand, retaining the original initials by pasting them in the appropriate locations (the recto of the lost folio containing the end of book 5 was copied on f. 246r in the present manuscript, and the verso containing the beginning of book 6 on f. 1v of Harley 4373.

Harley 4372 contains the following:

ff. 1r-11r: List of rubrics;

ff. 12r-v: Translator's prologue;

ff. 13r-14v Author's prologue;

ff. 14v-79r: Book I, Religion;

ff. 79v-139v: Book 2, Ancient Customs;

ff. 139v-181v: Book 3, Human Characteristics;

ff. 182r-215r: Book 4, Moderation;

ff. 215v-246r: Book 5, Humanity and Clemency.

Decoration:

5 large miniatures in colours and gold, one at the beginning of each book, surrounded by a full border with acanthus leaves, flowers, fruits and gold leaves on unpainted ground (ff. 12r, 79v, 140r, 182r, 215v). The borders contain the arms of Louis, bâtard de Bourbon, 2 figures with a mortar and pestle, and an angel (f. 12r), a mermaid and a peacock (f. 79v), hybrid creatures (f. 140r), a hybrid creature on crutches with a begging bowl by a vine (f. 182r), a man aiming with bow and arrow, and a hybrid creature holding a censer and with a bucket hanging from his tail (f. 215v). Partial border in colours and gold with acanthus leaves, flowers, fruits and ivy on unpainted ground (f. 1r). Large decorated initial with pink acanthus, gems, and flowers on gold ground (f. 12r). Large initials in gold and colours with tendrils of gold leaves and flowers extending in the margins. Large initials in red ink with elaborate cadels including scrollwork and leaves used for important rubrics (ff. 79r, 139v, 215r). Smaller initials in red with brown penwork decoration and a yellow wash. Initials in colours and gold. Capitals marked with yellow. Some ascenders, descenders and catchwords decorated with cadels in brown ink with a yellow wash. Line-fillers in blue and red ink (ff. 1-11 only), or in gold, blue and red. Leaf signatures. Catchwords.

The subjects of the miniatures are:

ff. 12r: A cleric presenting a book to a ruler, perhaps Valerius and Emperor Tiberius, to whom he dedicated the work in c. 31 (left); an armed king or emperor (?Charlemagne) and soldiers before the ?Pope (right).

f. 79v: A triumphal procession with a king travelling in a covered cart, with mounted musicians and a castle in the distance;

f. 140r: An assembly worshipping an idol (left); courtiers addressing an emperor (right);

f. 182r: Soldiers and courtiers paying homage to an emperor, with a dog in the foreground;

f. 215v: An emperor at a banquet with courtiers, servants and dogs.

In the style of the Master of the Echevinage de Rouen (or Master of the Geneva Latini), closely related to Chantilly, Musée Condé, Ms 875, dated 1446.