Harley MS 5977

The volume is a collection of fragments from manuscripts of different date and origin. It was part of a collection of fragments from manuscripts and printed books, including maps and drawings, assembled in 64 volumes by the bookseller and antiquary John Bagford (b. 1650/51, d. 1716).

Contents:

ff. 35r-35v: A fragment from a Missal in an English hand from the last quarter of the 14th or 1st quarter of the 15th century; parchment; 115 x 70 mm.

ff. 37r-37v: A fragment from a Canon law (?) text written in an Italian hand from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 15th century; paper; 195 x 175 mm.

f. 40: A fragment from a scientific text inscribed with a table and Roman numerals in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 60 mm.

f. 41: A fragment from a theological manuscript discussing the Devil 'De diabole', in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 150 x 90 mm.

ff. 42r-42v, 58r-58v: Fragments from St Jerome's 'Liber Tobiae' written in an English hand from the 1st half of the 14th century; parchment; 65/70x 105/65 mm.

f. 43: A fragment from a theological manuscript written in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 170 x 90 mm.

f. 45: A piece of paper inscribed with notes in brown and red ink in a 17th-century hand; paper; 180 x 90 mm.

f. 47: A fragment from a manuscript written in English in a particular 17th-century hand; paper; 180 x 150 mm.

f. 53: A piece of paper inscribed with a note referring to the sale of a printed book from 1708; paper; 165 x 100 mm.

ff. 54r-54v: A fragment from a scientific manuscript, inscribed with text (f. 54r) from a astronomical treatise, and table with Roman numerals (f. 54v) in brown, red and green ink, written in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 100 mm.

ff. 55r-55v: A fragment from a text about astronomy in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 140 x 100 mm.

ff. 56r-56v: A fragment from Jerome's Commentariorum in Isaiam prophetam libri duodeviginti (Book 3) in an English hand from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 120 x 60 mm.

ff. 57r-57v: A fragment from a Decretum Gratiani (Book 2, causa 33) in a French/Italian script from the 2nd half of the 13th century.

ff. 59r-59v: A fragment from a Missal, which was possibly a gift of bishop Leofric (according to unpublished notes of Michael Gullick), written in an Exter script from the 2nd quarter of the 11th century; parchment; 90 x 135 mm.

ff. 60r-60v: A fragment from a manuscript containing the text of the New Testament with extracts from Titus 3:8-9 and Philemon in an 9th/10th-century Caroline minuscule script; parchment; 150 x 50 mm.

ff. 61r-61v: A fragment from a manuscript containing the text of the New Testament with extracts from a list of chapters for Titus (f. 61r) and 2Timothy 2:42, written in an 9th/10th-century Caroline minuscule script; parchment; 150 x 50 mm.

ff. 62r-62v: A fragment from a text with extracts from Luke and Matthew, possibly a Lectionary, written in an English hand from the last quarter of the 10th or 1st quarter of the 11th century; parchment; 125 x 120 mm.

ff. 63r-63v: A fragment from a Life of St Gertrud (?), written in a German hand from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 12th century; parchment; 180 x 130 mm.

ff. 64r-64v: A fragment of Bede's De arte metrica, written in an English hand from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 11th century, (begining: 'Sciendum est in hoc carmine quod non ultra duos versus sensus currit'; parchment; 180 x 110 mm.

f. 65: A fragment of a psalter (?) (Psalm 103), written in an English/French hand of the 2nd half of the 12th century; parchment; 145 x 105 mm.

f. 66: A fragment from a medical manuscript; parchment; 140 x 100 mm.

ff. 69r-69v: A fragment of a psalter (Psalms 43 and 44), written in an English script from the 2nd half of the 12th century; parchment; 140 x 170 mm.

ff. 71r-71v: A fragment of Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae (Book 1, chapters 32-33) in an 11th-century hand; parchment; 170 x 90 mm.

ff. 72r-72v: A fragment of a poem written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 140 x 20 mm.

ff. 75r-75v: A fragment of St Augustine's Commentary on Psalm 147 written in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 145 x 95 mm.

ff. 77r-77v: A fragment of a psalter, written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 110 x 80 mm.

ff. 78r-78v: A fragment of a theological text written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 85 x 60 mm.

f. 79: A fragment from a Missal, with musical notation (Chants for the Masses of St Mary Magdalene and St Apollinaire), written in a German script from the 1st half of the 13th century; parchment; 150 x 100 mm.

ff. 80r-80v: A fragment of a legal text written in an English hand of the early 13th century'; parchment; 140 x 110 mm.

ff. 81r-81v: A fragment of a grammar text written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 140 x 120 mm.

ff. 83r-83v: A fragment of Ivo of Chartres' Sermon 5 written in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 140 x 100 mm.

ff. 84r-84v: A fragment from an astronomical text (?), written in an English/French hand of the 1st half of the 12th century; parchment; 150 x 105 mm.

ff. 85r-85v: A bifolium from a Psalter (Psalm 118), written in an English script from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 205 x 155 mm.

ff. 86r-86v: A fragment of Eberhard of Bethune's Graecismus (chapter 16), beginning: 'Illud quod terret significare solet', written in a 13th-century hand, with interlinear glosses; parchment; 75 x 90 mm.

ff. 87r-87v: A fragment of Joseph of Exeter's Bellum Troianum (f. 87r: Book 6, vv. 294-333; f. 87v: Book 6, vv. 334-374) in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 70 mm.

ff. 88r-88v: A bifolium fragment of Vitalis of Blois, Geta (f. 80r: vv. 326-362, 213-246; f. 80v: 247-284, 287-325), written in a 13th-century hand, previously bound (traces of a centrefold) but later removed from the binding and used as pastedown (traces on f. 88v); parchment; 160 x 160 mm.

ff. 90r-90v: A fragment of Thomas Hoccleve's Regiment of Princes (f. 90r: vv. 2472-2499; f. 90v: 2500-2527) in an English 15th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 100 mm.

f. 92: A fragment of St Augustine's Commentary on the Gospel of John (Tractatus 23, chapter 5), written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 80 x 70 mm.

f. 93: A fragment of Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda Aurea (De Sancto Stephano), written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 85 x 120 mm.

ff. 94r-94v: A fragment of Gregory IX's Decretals (Book 4), written in a French script from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 190 x 105 mm.

f. 96: A fragment of a lectionary written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 95 x 130 mm.

ff. 98r-98v: A fragment from a Canon law commentary (?), written in a French script from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 175 x 125 mm.

f. 100: A fragment from Gregory IX's Decretals (Book 3, titulus 13), written in a French script from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 13th century; parchment; 205 x 110 mm.

f. 101: A fragment from a Breviary, written in an English script from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 13th century; parchment; 180 x 100 mm.

f. 102: A fragment from Richard Rolle of Hampole's Incendium amoris (Book 1, chapters 7-8), in an English script from the 1st quarter of the 15th century; parchment; 160 x 105 mm.

f. 103: A fragment of a liturgical manuscript, written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 125 x 105 mm.

f. 104: A fragment of a theological manuscript containing the seven penitential psalms, written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 90 x 70 mm.

f. 105: A fragment of prayers in an English script from the 2nd half of the 14th century; parchment; 135 x 100 mm.

f. 107: A fragment from a Book of Hours (?), in an English hand from the 4th quarter of the 13th or 1st half of the 14th century; parchment; 135 x 100 mm.

f. 110: A fragment from a Psalter, in an English hand from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 135 x 90 mm.

f. 111: A fragment from Petrus Alfonsi, Dialogus contra iudaeos, written in a 12th-century hand; parchement; 110 x 80 mm.

f. 112r-112v: A fragment from a theological manuscript written in a late 13th-century hand; parchment; 155 x 110 mm.

f. 113: A fragment of a psalter written in a late 14th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 100 mm.

f. 114: A fragment of a Missal in an English script from the 4th quarter of the 14th or 1st quarter of the 15th century; parchment; 190 x 145 mm.

f. 115: A fragment of a liturgical manuscript written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 150 x 95 mm.

f. 116: A fragment from a breviary for the use of Sarum, written in a 12th-century hand; parchment; 130 x 40 mm.

f. 117: A fragment from a Bible (Ecclus. 3:3-4) written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 80 x 50 mm.

f. 118: A fragment from a theological manuscript, written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 110 x 140 mm.

f. 121: A fragment of Aristoteles Latinus (Aristotle, De Sophisticis Elenchis)(170b10-170b40) in Boethius' translation, with interlinear glosses and marginal scholia, in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 130 x 150 mm.

f. 122: A fragment from a Bible correspondence table (?) with 5 columns, written in a 13th-century hand; parchment; 145 x 165 mm.

f. 123: A fragment of Antonius de Mencuciis de Prato's Commentary on the Decretals, in a 15th-century hand; parchment; 110 x 140 mm.

f. 124r-124v: A fragment from a theological manuscript written in an Italian hand from the 15th century; paper; 220 x 160 mm.

f. 125: A fragment from a letter written in a 15th-century hand; paper; 120 x 140 mm.

f. 126: A book curse from a manuscript written by a certain Edward Clement in a 15th-century script; paper; 120 x 40 mm.

f. 127: A fragment from a Bible (Genesis 13) written in a 9th-century script; parchment; 140 x 150 mm.

f. 128: A piece of paper inscribed with 'Petrus Wantensis a S. Trudone Minorita Spirans Spero Impensi bene temporis memoria dulcius nihil' in a 17th-century style; paper; 120 x 90 mm.

f. 129: A piece of paper inscribed with 'Tho[mas] Lovekin', written in a 17th-century hand; paper; 10 x 55 mm.

f. 130: A monogram on paper; 30 x 30 mm.

f. 131: A leaf from a scientific manuscript inscribed with a table for the calculation of the meridian in London, written in a 13th(?)-century style; parchment; 230 x 150 mm.

ff. 132-133: Two leaves from an English calendar (March, May) written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 160 x 110 mm.

f. 134: A fragment from a musical manuscript containing a table of tonalities written in a 13th(?)-century hand; parchment; 150 x 100 mm.

f. 135: A fragment from a musical manuscript written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 55 x 125 mm.

f. 136: A bifolium fragment from a legal manuscript, written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 180 x 110 mm.

f. 137: A fragment from a theological manuscript, written in a 15th-century hand; parchment; 130 x 100 mm.

f. 138: A fragment from a theological text (?) in an Italian script from the 2nd half of the 13th century; parchment; 125 x 100 mm.

f. 139: A fragment from a musical manuscript containing a discussion of modes and intervals, written in a 14th-century hand; 145 x 80 mm.

f. 140: A fragment from a grammatical manuscript, written in a 14th-century hand; parchment; 130 x 90 mm.

ff. 142r-142v: A fragment from a Bible (Exodus, chapter 4), in a French script from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 13th century; parchment; 135 x 100 mm.

ff. 143r, 145r: A fragment from a portable Bible (?), in a French script from the 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 13th century; parchment; 155 x 100 mm.

f. 145: A leaf from an unidentified manuscript containing a life of a saint, written in a 13th-century script; parchment; 95 x 145 mm.

Decoration:

ff. 35r-35v: Initials in gold with pen-flourishing purple or blue, or in blue with pen-flourishing in red. Rubrics in red. Line-filler in blue and gold.

ff. 37r-37v: Initial in blue with penwork decoration in red. Paraphs in blue or red.

ff. 42r-42v, 58r-58v: Historiated initial and border in colours and gold, effaced (f. 58v). Running titles and chapter numbers in blue with pen-flourished decoration in red and blue.

ff. 56r-56v: Puzzle initial with penwork decoration in blue and red. Rubric and title in red and brown ink.

ff. 57r-57v: Puzzle initial and title with penwork decoration in red and blue. Small initials in red or blue. Paraph in red.

ff. 59r-59v: Large initials in green and silver or oxidised red. Rubric in silver or oxidised red.

ff. 62r-62v: Small initials in green.

ff. 63r-63v: Initial with interlace decoration and clasps in red and brown ink. Rubric in red. Title in display capitals. Initials highlighted in red, occasionally oxidised.

f. 65r: Initials and paraphs in green, red or blue. Line-filler in red and blue.

ff. 69r-69v: Initials in red or blue with penwork decoration in the other colour.

f. 79r: Initials in brown with penwork decoration in red. Rubrics in red. Musical notation: square notation on four-line black staves.

ff. 84r-84v: Large initials in blue or red.

ff. 84r-84v: Large initials in blue or red.

ff. 85r-85v: Large initials in red or blue with pen-flourished decoration in the other colour. Small initials in red or blue. Line-fillers in floral or geometric design in red and blue.

ff. 94r-94v: Bar-border with foliate and hybrid figure decoration in blue, red and gold, and title in display capitals with penwork decoration in red and blue (turned green) (f. 94). Initials with penwork decoration in red and blue (turned green). Small initials and running titles in red.

ff. 98r-98v: Initials in blue with pen-flourished decoration in red. Paraphs in red or blue. Rubrics in red.

f. 100r: Initials in red or blue with penwork decoration in the other colour. Small initials in red or blue. Rubric in red.

f. 101r: Initials with penwork decoration in blue and red. Rubrics in red. Initials highlighted in red.

f. 102r: Initial in blue with pen-flourished decoration in red. Paraphs in red.

f. 105r: Rubrics in red. Paraph in blue. Line-filler in red and blue. Accents in red. Initials highlighted in red.

f. 107: Initials with penwork decoration in blue and red. Rubrics in red. Initials highlighted in red.

f. 110r: Initial in blue with penwork decoration in red. Initials, rubric and paraphs in red.

f. 114: 'Champ' initial in colours and gold with foliate decoration. Initials in blue with red penwork decoration including foliate motifs. Small initials in gold with purple penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Rubrics in red.

f. 115: A large initial in red. Smaller initials in red and green.

f. 138: Initial in blue with penwork decoration in red.

f. 142r-142v: Initials with penwork decoration in blue and red. Running titles in blue and red. Initials highlighted in red.

ff. 143r, 145r: Initials in red or blue with penwork decoration in the other colour. Chapter number and running title in blue and red (f. 143r).

f. 145: 2 initials in red and blue with pen-flourishing.

159 fragments from printed books were transferred from this volume to the Department of Printed Books in the British Museum in 1814 and 1891.