Harley MS 6551

This composite prayer book consists of two parts. The first part (ff. 1-4) was written in the late 14th century. The second one (ff. 5-43) was written in the first half of the 15th century.

Contents:

ff. 1r-4r: Exposition on Psalm 50, entitled: 'Incipit Exposicio psalmi subsequentis'; beginning: 'Miserere mei deus'.

ff. 5r-32r: Poem on the Passion, entitled: 'Stimulus Passionis', beginning 'Ihesu Christi celeri miseratione / Et Marie virginis intercessione / Spero quod hec meditans ex intencione / Lacrimis potabit se ex compassione'.

ff. 32v-40v: Litany of Saints in Latin verse, beginning: 'Kyrieleyson miserere / Summe pater nos tuere'.

ff. 40v-42r: Latin prayer in verse, beginning: 'Propicius esto nobis parce / Domine deus qui in arce'.

ff. 42r-43r: Latin prayer in verse, beginning: 'Peccatores te rogamus / Audi no ne pereamus'.

f. 43v: Latin prayer to God, beginning: 'Omnipotens et mitissime deus'.

f. 43v: Latin prayer to God, beginning: 'Deus propicius esto michi peccatori et custos mei omnibus diebus vite mee'.

The manuscript contains a few additions:

Paper stub between the inside of the upper cover and f. [i]: Latin prayer: 'Cum mihi dicis Ave'; written in the 16th century.

f. 1r: Prayer exclamation: 'S. Jesus Deus meus et omnia J'; added in the 17th century.

ff. 4v, 44r: Marian prayers in Latin; added in the 17th century.

Decoration:

Part 1:

Large (2-line) and small (1-line) blue initials in frameworks of red penwork decoration. Rubrics in red.

Part 2:

1 large (12-line) blue initial 'J' in a gold frame with a full-page border of acanthus leaves in blue, purple, and gold (f. 5r). Large (2-line) and small (1-line) blue and red initials in frameworks of red and blue or purple penwork decoration. Initials highlighted in yellow. Rubrics in red.