Add MS 39638

PARHAM MS. LVI. PRAYERS, etc., verse and prose, in Flemish and Latin ; and a life of St. Christina in Flemish verse. For previous descriptions see R. Priebsch, Deutsche Handschriften in England, ii, p. 309, and Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Taal-en Letterkunde, xl, p. 113.

1. Calendar. In red : SS. Vincent (Jan. 22), Amant (Feb. 6), Eloy (June 25, Dec. 1), Giles (Sept. 1), Bavo (Oct. 1), Donaes (= Donatian, Oct. 14), Nichasius (Dec. 14), with other N. French and Flemish saints in black ; pointing to French Flanders. f. 1.

2. Prayer, in verse (37 lines), to SS. James, Joseph, Gheleyn [=Ghislain, abbot of S. Ghislain near Mons], Loy [= Eligius] and Ermes [? Hermes, patron of Renaix in East Flanders].

Beg. " O heere sinte Iacob Ioos ende Gheleyn Loy Ermes ende alle sancte ghemeyn."

Preceded (f. 7 b) by a miniature of the saints with their emblems. f. 8.

3. Similar prayer (37 ll.), against plague, to SS. Catherine, Adrian, Anthony, Macarius and Sebastian. Headed : "Van S. Kateline, Adrian, Antonis, Macharis, Sebast." Beg. " O sinte Kateline sinte Adriaen Sinte Macharis sinte Sebastiaen."

Preceded (f. 9 b) by a miniature of the saints with their emblems. f. 10.

4. Similar prayer (37 ll.) to SS. Christopher and Livinus of Ghent. Headed: " Van S. Xpristofforus S. Lieuin." Beg. " O glorieuse martelaren Sinte Xpristoffels die helighe man."

Preceded (f. 11 b) by a miniature of the saints with their emblems. f. 12.

5. " Inicium sancti ewangelii secundum Iohannem ": the usual Gospel-lesson (Joh. i. 1-14). Latin. f. 13.

6. Hymn : " Veni creator spiritus." Latin. f. 13 b.

7. A charm against plague. Headed: "Leist dit nuchtens ieghen de plaghe. " Beg. " Tunc mors est capta Dum dicitur ananizapta."

For studies of this formula see R. Köhler, Kleinere Schriften, iii, p. 577, and an article in the Revue Numismatique, Paris, 1891, p. 253. A form of charm resembling this was printed by J. Wier, Opera Omnia, 1660, p. 381. Followed by another plague charm, headed : "Eene seininghe ouer den sieken der pestilencie," and divided into three supplications, beg. " Ghebenedijt si onse lieue heere god," " Ic gheloue in de name tfaders tsoons ende tshelichs gheests," " Sinte sussanne die was ghelachtert," the last being followed by a charm in Latin with directions for hanging it round the neck of the person affected. f. 14.

8. " Thelich cruis gheti" : verses for the Hours of the Cross, followed by metrical prayers to the Virgin and St. John. f. 17.

9. Paraphrase of the Miserere (22 stanzas of 16 ll.), beg. " Miserere mei deus Dat ic in ydelheden dus."

For other copies of this poem cf. L. D. Petit, Bibliographie der Middelnederlandische Taal- en Letterkunde, ii, 1910, no. 1658. f. 21.

10. " Dit sijn viii versus van sinte Bernaerd " : the verses of St. Bernard, " Illumina oculos meos," etc. (Chevalier, Rep. Hymn. 27912). Latin. Followed by versicle and prayer. f. 30.

11. " Confessio" : abridged form of Ordinary and Canon of the Mass. Latin. f. 32.

12. " Van S. Rombout, S. Karstine" : metrical prayer (37 ll.) to SS. Rumbold, patron of Malines, and Christina (cf. art. 36 below).

Beg. " O Rombout werde Gods vrient vercoren Begracijt wonderlike zeere." Before the preceding article, at f. 31 b, is a miniature of these saints and their emblems with a man and woman in devotion before them. in the border are the arms : below the man, per fess or and azure a bend chequy arg. and gu., below the woman, sable a cross arg., in quarters 1, 4 a fleur-de-lys arg., in 2, 3 a rose arg. The book was thus probably executed for a civilian named Rumbold and his wife Christina, who bore these arms f. 34.

13. Prayers, etc., viz. : Paternoster, Ave Maria, Creed, Magnificat and Nune dimittis. Latin. f. 36.

14. " Incipit officium beate Marie secundum usum Romane curie " : Hours of the Virgin. f. 39.

15. " Obsecro in vlaemsche," beg. " O soete ghebenedide waerde Maria." Followed (f. 79) by the Salve Regina in Latin. f. 77.

16. " Sinte Bernaerds lof toot Marien," beg. " Di [sic, leg. Ic] groetu ouer soete Maria." Printed from a Bruges MS. by K. de Gheldere, Dietsce Rime, 1896, p. 42. f. 79.

17. Paraphrase of the Ave Maria (1 stanza of 30 ll., 8 of 13 ll., 1 of 10 ll.).

Beg. " O Fonteine daer ute uloyt Meer duechden dan men peinsen mach." f. 80.

18. Another paraphrase of the same (4 stanzas respectively of 16, 13, 14, 13 ll.).

Beg. " Ave moeder der ghenaden Ave troostelic beraden." Printed from a Munich MS. by Mone, Lat. Hymnen, ii, p. 296. f. 84.

19. Seven Penitential Psalms, in couplets. Beg. " In dine gramscepe ghenadich heere Mi ne begripe no arguweere." f. 87.

20. Litany in verse and prose.

Beg. " O Vader uwer almoghenthede Beuelic ziele ende lijf mede."

Many Flemish and North French saints occur. f. 95.

21. A series of metrical prayers to Christ. for the days of the week, headed : " So wie dese bedinghe daglicx leist met .v. pater noster sal gode sien xxx daghen voor sine doot." Prol. beg. " O soete Ihesus dor die minne Die hu met omoedighen zinne."

Text beg. " Up ten eersten dach lieue heere Biddic hu omoedelike zeere." f. 103 b.

22. Five metrical prayers (first of 13 ll., others of 12 ll.) to the Virgin and the persons of the Trinity.

Beg. " O roose der werelt toeuerlaet Ic biddu mi niet of en ghaet." f. 105 b.

23. Prayers, verse and prose, to be said at Mass and Communion. Headed " Dit suldi secghen als men sacreit."

Beg. " Wellecomme sijt Ihesus Wellecomme almachtich god."

Included (f. 110b), under the heading " Een helich man leert ons hoe wij met begheerten sullen ghaen toot ons heren tafle met deser bedinghe achteruolgende," is the version of the rhythmus "Adoro te devote latens deitas," (attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas), found also, in shorter form, in Add. 39643, f. 186. f. 107.

24. Metrical prayer, headed " Dit maecte sinte Pieter," with prologue reciting indulgences, beg.

"Dit sprac sinte Pieter met groten zere Doe hi gheloochent adde onse heere." Prayer beg. "O Ihesus mijn wel lieue lief Dat noyt van di ghesciet." f. 117.

25. Poem of praise to God (10 stanzas of 10 ll., envoy of 5 ll.).

Beg. " Almachtich God der glorien heere Euwighen lof moet ghi ontfaen." f. 119.

26. Poem on the Trinity (11 stanzas alternately of 14 and 10 ll.).

Beg. "Lof gheest ghenaemt Een der godheden." f. 123.

27. Prayer, headed De paeus Innocencius maecte dese bedinghe,"' etc. Beg. " [I]c beuele mi heden desen daghe gode die almachtich es." The last four supplications are in verse, beg. "Ic beuele mi den helighen vloede Dat quam gheronnen van Christus bloede." f. 125 b.

28. Three prayers in honour of the birthday saint, the saint of the day, and the death-day saint. Headed " Dese drie bedijnghen sijn zeere ghoet ghelesen nuchtens als men vp staet met drie pater nostren ende aue maria." Beg. " Pater noster. Gode theeren ende sijn der lieuer moeder." f. 129 b.

29. " Diese bedijnghe plach mijn heere sinte Ioris te secghene doe hi leuede diese ouer hem draecht hine sal niet steruen onuoorsiene doot," etc. : prayer attributed to St. George, beg. " Van den helighen monde daer Ihesus Xpristus mede sprac," and ending with a charm formula. f. 131.

30. Fifteen paternosters with long rubric reciting the virtues of the prayer, beg. " Onse [heer overwritten in later hand] seit so wie dat hout dese .xv. paternostren .... Ic wille hem verledigen .x. zielen hute den vagheuiere," etc. Beg. " Pater noster Aue Maria. Ten eersten here so vermanic ende loue." f.133b.

31. " Ene deuote bedijnghe toot onsen lieuen here," beg. " O Ihesus omoedich vader." f. 136 b.

32. Metrical prayer to God the Father (9 stanzas of 16 ll.).

Beg. " O glorieuse almoghende Ic roukeloos sondelic woorem." f. 138.

33. Poem in praise of the Virgin (9 stanzas of 9 ll., 1 of 10 ll.). Beg. " Hu louic hemelsche conighinne Een w[e]sen voorsie also ic kinne." f. 143.

34. Charms and prayers, viz. :- (a) " Eene goede seinijnghe nuchtens als ghi huut ghaet ende alst noot es " : metrical charm, beg. " Die moghentheit tfaders si met di," followed by a charm formula. f. 145 b ;-

-(b) Intercession, headed " Deus propicius esto michi peccatori." Beg. " O God heere wes ghenadich mijns sondare." f. 146;-

-(c) " Deuote louen die elc kerstin meinsce dagelicx met deuocien ende met groter narenste sculdich es te lesene met innigher begheerte te loue gods ende sijnre minne," beg. " Hu louic soete werde ghenadich heere." f. 147 ;-

-(d) " Dese bedinghe sal elc meinsce daglicx niet vergheten te lesene want si es nootsakelic beg. " O lieue heere Ihesus Xpristus." f. 150.

35. " O Intemerata in vlaemsche," beg. " O ombeulecte ende ewelike ghebenedijt." f. 150 b.

36. Passion of St. Christina, in verse (24 stanzas of 13 ll., st. 4 lacking 2 ll., followed by a stanza of 21 ll. and an envoy of 5 ll. giving the date of the saint's death).

Beg. " Ic groetu helighe sinte Xpristine Reyne maecht met gode vercooren."

Printed by R. Priebsch from this MS., Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Taal- en Letterkunde, xl, p. 118. Priebsch shows that the Passion is based upon an abridgement of the Latin passio, resembling those in the Legenda Aurea (ed. Graesse, p. 419) and in Petrus de Natalibus, Catalogus Sanctorum, lib. vi, cap. cxxx. The Passion, between which and art. 35 there is an interval of two originally blank leaves, was probably written here to the order of the lady named Christina, the original owner (cf. art. 12). f. 156. Vellum; ff. i + 164. 6 5/8 in. x 4 7/8 in. Mid XV cent. Probably written in French Flanders for a married pair, Rumbold and Christina, whose arms are described under art. 12. Gatherings irregular (with signatures of modern binder). Miniatures (20), full borders and initials in French style. Besides those noted in artt. 1, 2, 3, 12 above, there is the ordinary series in the Hours of the Virgin (ff. 38 b, 49 b, 55 b, 59 b, 62 b, 65 b, 68 b, 73 b), the Agony in the Garden before art. 8 (f. 16 b), Saints in prayer before the dead Christ supported by two angels before art. 9 (f. 20 b), Christ with apostles before art. 13 (f. 35 b), the Last Judgement before art. 19 (f. 86 b), the

Crucifixion before art. 25 (f. 118 b), the Trinity before art. 26 (f. 122 b), St. George killing the dragon before art. 29 (f. 130 b), the Virgin and Child with angel offering basket before art. 33 (f. 142 b). Binding (modern) of blue velvet. On f. 155b is the name " F. Aldegundus Bochius " and the date 1584. On f. 1 is the inscription in gold : " R. Curzon Ch[rist] Ch[urch, Oxford] : 1829 " (cf. Add. 39643), and on f. i his bookplate of arms. Not in Curzon Cat. (?)

Art. Illuminations and Drawings FLEMISH: Collection of prayers: miniatures, borders and initials, executed in Flanders in French style: 15th cent.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings FRENCH: Collection of prayers : miniatures, borders and initials, executed in Flanders in French style: 15th cent.

Rumbold: Book of prayers executed for a married pair, Rumbold and Christina, with arms: 15th cent.: Lat. and Flem.

Bookplates: Curzon (Hon. Robert), 14th Baron Zouche 1870.

Prayers: Prayers, verse and prose: 15th cent.: Flem. and Lat.

Poetry FLEMISH: Metrical prayers and other religious verse: mid 15th cent.

Christina: Book of prayers executed for a married pair, Rumbold and Christina: 15th cent.

Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche: Bookplate of arms.

includes:

• f. 8 Saint Ghislain,; Abbot of St. Ghislain: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 8 Saint Eligius: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 8 Saint Hermes: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 8 Saint James,; the Greater: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 8 Saint Joseph: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 10 Saint Adrian: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 10 Catharine, St., of Alexandria: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 10 Saint Macarius: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 10 Saint Sebastian: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 10 Saint Anthony,; Abbot: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 12 Saint Livinus,; of Ghent: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 12 Saint Christopher: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 13 b Hymns: "Veni, creator spiritus": 15th cent.
• f. 14 Charms: "Ananizapta" and other charms against plague: 15th cent.: Flem. and Lat.
• f. 14 Plague, The, and Pestilences: Charms against: 15th cent.: Lat. and Flem.
• f. 17 Liturgies FLEMISH: Verses for the Hours of the Cross: 15th cent.
• f. 21 Bible Flemish: Metrical version of the Miserere (Ps. 1): 15th cent.
• f. 30 Saint Bernard,; Abbot of Clairvaux: Octo versus: 15th cent.
• f. 32 b Confession: Form of: 15th cent.: Lat.
• f. 34 Saint Christina,; Virgo et Martyr; ix. kal Aug: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f.34 Saint Rumbold,; Bishop of Malines: Metrical prayer to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 39 Liturgies LATIN: Horae, Roman use: 15th cent.
• ff. 77-150 b passim Saint Mary,; the Blessed Virgin: Prayers, etc., to, and in honour of: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 79 Saint Bernard,; Abbot of Clairvaux: Praise of the Virgin: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 87 Bible. Paraphrases: Metrical paraphrase of the seven penitential psalms: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 95 Liturgies FLEMISH: Litany in verse and prose: 15th cent.
• f. 110 b Saint Thomas Aquinas: Versions of the rhythmus " Adoro te " attrib. to: 15th cent.: Flem. and Dutch.
• f. 117 Saint Peter,; Apostle and martyr: Metrical prayer attrib. to: 15th cent.: flem.
• f. 125 b Innocent VI; Pope: Prayer attrib. to (?): 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 129 b Saints: Prayers in honour of the saint of the day, and of those of the supplicant's birth- and death-days: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 131 Saint George: Prayer attrib. to: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 145 b Charms: Metrical charm: 15th cent.: Flem.
• f. 156 Saint Christina,; Virgo et Martyr; ix. kal Aug: Passion of, in Flemish verse: 15th cent.: Flem.