Royal MS 19 C II

1. 'LE LIVRE de vices et de vertus' (so colophon): the moral treatise or series of treatises known as 'Somme le Roy', composed by Frère Laurent, al. Lorens, Friar Preacher, confessor to Philippe III, le Hardi, King of France (d. 1285). It agrees in substance and order with Cotton MS. Cleopatra A. v and Add. Ms. 28162, but the divisions of the subjects differ in the three MSS., the first three, however, being identical, viz, (1) 'Les x commandemens'. f. 1;-(2) 'Les xii articles de la foy' (sc. the Credo). f. 3 b;-(3) 'Les vii pechiez mortels', styled in the table of rubrics (f. 107) and in other MSS. 'l'apocalipse saint Jehan'. f. 5. These appear to be introductory to 'le livre de vices et de vertus'; cf. the rubric in Add. MS. 24125, f. 18 b, a later copy, and the edition printed by Vérard in 1485(?) which omits them altogether. The divisions of the subjects from this point follow the fancies of the several scribes. Begins, without title or rubric, 'Le premier commandement que Diex commande, cest cestui, Tu nauras mie diuers diex'; ends 'qui nous maint en sa compaignie la est pardurable vie. Amen', followed by (a) the colophon 'Cest liure compila et fist VII frere de lordre des preecheurs a la requeste du roy Phelippe de France en lan de lincarnation Ihesu Crist mil deus cens et lxxix. Deo gracias'; (b) the table of rubrics; and (c) the words 'Explicit le liure de vices et de vertus'. f. 1.

2. 'Ci comencent les euangiles que li euangeliste firent chascuns selonc lui': the four Gospels, in French, with glosses, the ordinary version of the 13th century (cf. S. Berger, La Bible française au Moyen Age, 1884 p. 137, &c.). The glosses are more frequent in the narratives of S. Luke and S. John (where, for the most part, they are underlined in red). Beg. 'Li liures de la generation Ihesu Crist filz Dauid filz Abraham'. ends (f. 223) with the gloss 'Si prions tuit a Ihesu Crist que cele sainte mort que il souffri nous maint en vie pardurable et nous soit escu contre les paines dinfer. Amen'. Colophon, 'Ci finent les euangiles et les souffrances nostre seigneur'. f. 108.

3. 'Ci aprez sont les regrais a la beneoite vierge Marie quant ele vit son tres chier fil en la crois ou ii morut a tort.' Beg. 'He, dieux, qui donra a mon chief tant dyaue et a mes yeux tant de lermes'; ends & en vnite du saint esperit par tous les siecles des siecles. Amen'. f. 223.

Vellum; ff. 227. 121/2 in. x 83/4 in. Written in France, latter part of XIV cent. Double columns of 38 lines. Gatherings of 8 leaves (ix⁴, xxvii¹², last ⁴), with catchwords. Sec. fol. 'et estre'.

Twenty-four fairly executed miniatures, and illuminated initials with border-prolongations: other initials flourished in red and blue, or gold, violet, red and blue. The subjects of the miniatures, some of which seem to be explicable only as misinterpretations of an archetype akin to Add. MS. 28162 or the Paris MS. Bibl. Nat., fonds fr. 14939, are as follows:-

1. Moses receiving and throwing down the tables of the Law: and below, the worship of the golden calf. f. 1 (half-page).

2. Composition of the Creed (the apostles standing round an open book, the Holy Ghost above). f. 3 b.

3. The seven-headed Beast trampling on a saint f. 5.

4. The devil lying on the avaricious man's treasure-chests. f. 16 b.

5. Adoration of the Passion (Christ seated, showing the stigmata, two angels above with instruments of the Passion, two worshippers); below, Adam expelled from Paradise and on souls in the mouth of hell. f. 26 b.

6. Teaching of the Lord's Prayer (Christ with orb issuing from a cloud and apostles standing: below, the faithful sitting to receive instruction). f. 38.

7. The same (Christ as above: below, Gothic canopy, groups of male and against a gold background, under a female saints). f. 46.

8. Prudence writing at a desk, pupils seated beneath. f. 48 b.

9. 'Atretmpance' [Temperance] (two below, a man drinking from a cup). f. 49.

10. 'Force' [Fortitude] carrying a green plaque on which is represented lion. f. 49.

11. Justice, seated, with sword and scales. f. 49 b.

12. Fear (?): two figures, one standing, the other kneeling before an altar. Probably a misunderstanding of the picture of Hypocrisy as directed to be drawn in the Paris MS. f. 50.

13. Humility, with plague bearing a lamb, standing under a tower on which Pride is insectirely perch ed. f. 52.

14. Pity (?) : an old man in conversation with a lady who carries a hawk on her fist. Perhaps a misunderstanding of Hatred as depicted in Add. 28162, f. 6 b. f. 57.

15. Knowledge (?): two figures embracing. Evidently a misconception of the David and Jonathan illustration, ibid. f. 59 b.

16. Despised virtue(?): a crowned figure with spear attacking a labourer working at a hand-mill. A strange perversion of the picture of Saul and David, ibid. f. 64 b.

17. Four compartments, viz-(a) Lot receiving angels;-(b) The widow's cruse;-(c) Mercy clothing a beggar; -(d) Avarice counting coins. f. 73 b.

18. Three compartments (see plate 109), viz.-(a) Luxury with a shirt and a bird;-(b) A man standing by a couch two links of a chain and Chastity with on which a woman sleeps (originally Potiphar's wife?);-(c) Judith slaying Holofernes. f. 85 b 19. Dives and Lazarus (two tables, at the upper one the rich man and his wife, both crowned, and a servant; at the second, two servants; below, Lazarus with two pots seated outside a door from which come a servant and a dog). f. 100.

20. SS. Mark and John with emblems (both misplaced it the beginning of S. Matthew). f. 108.

21. S. Matthew with emblem (misplaced at beg. of S. Mark). f. 139.

22. S. Luke with emblem. f. 160.

23. S. John the Evangelist(?) with palm and book, and S. John Baptist with plaque bearing a Holy Lamb. f. 197.

24. The Crucifixion, with the Virgin and S. John. f. 223 b.

Not in Westm. Invent. of 1542. Old Royal press-mark 'no. 1404'; cat. of 1666, f. 11; not in CMA.