Harley MS 5235

This composite manuscript consists of five parts that were produced separately.

The first part (ff. 1r-16v) contains works by the Yorkshire hermit and mystic Richard Rolle (b. 1305x10, d. 1349), and dates to the late 14th century or early 15th century.

The second part (ff. 17r-41v) contains William de Montibus (d. 1213), Summa de constitutionibus et ordinationibus, which was copied at the end of the 14th century.

The third part (ff. 42r-53r) contains a copy of the Speculum Christiani from the 14th century.

The fourth part (ff. 54r-109v) contains the Summa de Ecclesiasticis Officiis of Jean Beleth (fl. 1135-1182) from the 14th century.

The fifth part (ff. 110r-129v) contains different theological works copied in the 14th century

Contents:

Part 1:

ff. 1r-11v: Richard Rolle, Emendacio vitae.

ff. 11v-13v: Richard Rolle, Oleum effusum [part of his commentary on the Canticles].

ff. 13v-14v: Richard Rolle, Incendium amoris, Chapter 15.

ff. 14v-16v: Richard Rolle, Commentary on the Canticles, extract, beginning: ‘Adolescentule dilexerunt te nimis’; ending: ‘Explicit quoddam notabile de spirituali edificacione componitur de Ricardo heremita de Hampole qui obiit anno domini Mo CCCo XLIXo’.

Part 2:

ff. 17r-41v: William de Montibus, Summa de constitutionibus et ordinationibus.

Part 3:

ff. 42r-53r: Speculum Christiani, beginning with Robert Grossesteste's Templum Domini (Templum Dei).

f. 53v: A fragment of a chronicle, describing the history of Edward I, with reference to the referring to William de Valence and Simon de Montford; written in the late 13th or early 14th century.

Part 4:

ff. 54r-109v: Jean Beleth, Summa de Ecclesiasticis Officiis; here entitled:'Summa de magistri Johannis Belet'.

Part 5:

ff. 110r-116v: Jerome, Epistola Ad Nepotianum 52.5, here entitled: ‘Tractatus beati Jeronimi de vita clericorum ad nepocianum’.

ff. 116v-122r: Lotario dei Segni [Innocent III], De Miseria Condicionis Humane [Liber de contemptu mundi].

ff. 122r-127r: Pseudo-Bernard of Clairvaux, Altercatio quatuor sororum.

ff. 127r-127v: Pseudo-Bernard, Institutio sancti Bernardi abbatis Clarevallis quomodo cantare et psallere debeamus, beginning: ‘Iste est cantandi secundum Bernardum’.

ff. 127v-129v: Collection of religious tales attributed to Odo of Cheriton, entitled: 'Hic incipiunt parabole sancti Odonis de Ceritonia ad honorem et laudem ipsius qui est Alpha et O', beginning: ‘Quoniam ut dicit gregorius’.

The manuscript contains an addition:

ff. 1*recto-2*verso: A leaf, turned and folded, from an Ordinal, Use of Sarum; written in the late 14th or early 15th century.

f. 2*verso: A reference to another manuscript: ‘J: Ricardo Hampole vid. Bal. Cent. 4. Fol. 191 Dat. 1613 M. CCC XL IV.’; added in the 17th century.

ff. 122v (lower margin), 123v (lower margin): Lists of names ‘Symon Loundon Edwardus Wymundus’ [etc.]; and ‘Wymundus Samson’; added in the 14th century.

Decoration:

Part 1 (ff. 1r-16v):

Large (2-line) plain initials in red. Small (1-line) capitals highlighted in red. Underlining in red.

Part 2 (ff. 17r-41v):

1 large (3-line) blue initial with red penwork decoration and pen-flourishing (f. 17r). Large (2-line) plain initials in blue or red. Paraphs in red. Underlining in red.

Part 3 (ff. 42r-53r):

No decoration, but a marginal drawing of hedgehogs and a fish have been added in brown ink to f. 53r.

Part 4 (ff. 54r-109v):

Large (2-line) initials in red. Rubrics in red.

Part 5 (ff. 110r-129v):

1 large (4-line) initial in red with a hybrid figure inside the letter (f. 116r). Rubrics in red.