Royal MS 5 A VI

1. TREATISE, in Latin, without author's name or title, mainly on the duties of priests; preceded by a table of the 17 chapters. The first is entitled 'De subtractione victus anime', and beg. 'Subtractio victus anime est omissio predicationis uerbi'. Among the authors quoted is 'Lincolniensis', i.e. Robert Grosseteste Bishop of Lincoln (d. 1253). f. 2.

2. Treatise, in Latin, without author's name ortitle, on Christian duties. Beg. 'Duo sunt necessaria ad salutem'. The style is similar to that of art. I. Among the authors quoted is Richard [Rollel hermit of Hampole (d. 1343). Colophon, 'Explicit quedam informatio bona, pro Dei dilectoribus breuiter tractata; qui uiam perfectionis libenter arripere uellent, si ueram cognitionem inde haberent'. f. 13 b.

3. Short theological treatises and notes, viz. :-(a) 'Regula sancti Bernardi de modo psallendi et cantandi in ecclesia', beg. 'Venerabilis sanctus Bernardus constituit et precepit'. f.30b;-(b)Memorandum on the six musical notes, beg. 'Notandum quod sex note sunt'. f. 31;-(c) 'Oratio apolegitica (sic) sancti Ambrosii', beg. 'Sitantum,Domine,reatum nostre dilinquentie'. Ibid.;-

(d) Bernardus, de dignitate sacerdotum, beg. '0 quantam dignitatem contulit'. f. 31 b;-(e) Treatise without title, on the same subject, beg. 'Bartholomeus in suo rosario'. f. 32 b.

4. ' Speculum [ecclesiae] Sancti Edmundi' [Edm. Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury, d. 1240]. Beg. ' Videte vocationem vestram, &c. : Verbum hoc precipue competit religiosis'. Preceded by a table of chapters, beg. ' In nomine Domini, &c., Incipiunt capitula sive materie'. Printed in La Bigne, Maxima Bibliotheca, 1677, xxv, P. 316. f. 38.

5. 'Responsiones Augustini ad consulta Orosii'; beg. ' Licet multi doctissimi et probatissimi'(Migne, Patr. Lat. xl. 733, among spurious works of S. Augustine). f. 52.

6. Treatise, in Latin, without author's name or title, on the Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. ; beg. 'Quod Deus est in essentia'. The initial rubric beg. 'Bene et breuiter in hoc libello. . . tanquam in speculo spiritualiter potestis conspicere'. Colophon (f. 77 b), 'Explicit bonus libellus'. f. 67.

7. 'Formula honeste vite' by S. Martinus, Abbot of Dumia and Archbishop of Braga (d. 580); beg. 'Quatuor uirtutum species' (Migne, Patr. Lat. lxxii. 23 ; also in F. Haase's ed. of Seneca, 1863, iii, P. 468). The author's dedicatory epistle is omitted. Imperfect, ending in ch. 4 (Migne, 27), 'ab illo mala'. f. 78 b.

8. Miscellaneous notes, including one entitled 'Peccata Britonum', viz. 'Negligentia prelatorum, rapina potentum, cupiditas iudicum, rabies periuriorum, inordinatus cultus uestimentorum, detestanda luxuria' and a series of short Latin comments on English proverbial triplets, beg. ' Mi[]t is ri[]t'. f. 82. Some English maxims, headed ' Thes ar gostly richesse3 and virtu[] of sole', are inserted on f. 77 b, and four English lines on the Lord's Prayer on f. 78; and on f. 81 b a later hand has added English translations of Latin sentences, e.g. 'Aliquo pacto effectum reddam, Y woll brynge it abow[]t by hoke or by croke'. Vellum; ff. 86. 9 in. x 61 in. With the date A. D. 1446, and the inscription' Iohannes Celston scripsit istud volumen', on f. 84 b, but there are more hands than one. Gatherings of 8 leaves. Double columns in artt. 4-6. Sec. fol. 'quam predicat'. Tables of contents at beginning and end. Fly-leaves from a grammatical treatise (ff. 85, 86). Belonged to Edmund Kellett (16th cent.), who gave it to John Baker, of Solihull, on condition that the latter should pray for the soul of Robert Kellett (f. 84 b); subsequently to Robert Taylor, of Wick, ' curator', 9 Nov. 1623 (f. 2), who gave it to Robert Lark, 13 May, 1626; to Henry Jackson (f. 84b), and John Theyer(f.2).Hence art.4 cannot be the copy of the Speculum Ecclesiae seen by Bale in the Royal library, 1550 (Index Britanniae Scriptorum, ed. Poole, p. 65). Theyer sale-cat. no. 183 ; CMA. 6590.