Royal MS 19 E VI

'LES CRONIQUES DE BURGUES des le commencement du monde par lordre des aages compilees et ordenees en Latin par reuerent pere en dieu Guillaume (sic) euesque de Burgues. Et par le commandement du roy de France Charles le quint translatees en francois par son petit clerconnet frere Jehan Goulein de lordre de nostre dame du Carme indigne maistre en theologie': a universal history, with special reference to Spain, to the year 1327. In two parts. The name Guillaume, here given to the Bishop of Burgos who compiled it, is a mistake for Gonzales [d'Hinojosa] who was bishop 1313-1327; see Auguste Castan in Bibl. de 1'École des Charles, xliv (1883), p. 265, who also shows reason to suppose that the Carmelite Jean Coulain, or Golein, translated it between 1370 and 1373. He died in 1403. The MS. described by M. Castan (Besançon, no. 1150) contains only the second part. A table of chapters is prefixed. Prologue (f. 10) beg. 'Memor fui dierum antiquorum (&c.): Ce sont les paroles Dauid escriptes ou psautier'; text 'Au commencement dieu crea le ciel et la terre et ce il crea de neant'. Part ii (f. 202) beg. 'Constantin tint lempire trente ans dix mois onze iours'; ends 'le gouuerna moult bien iusques a ce temps present. Et ainsi se fine ce liure'. Colophon, 'Cy finent les croniques de Burgues'.

Vellum; ff. 457. 171/2 in. x 131/4 in. Written in France before A. D. 1407. Gatherings (beginning f. 10) of 8 leaves, with catchwords. Double columns of 48 or 49 lines. Sec. fol. in table 'daucuns fais'; in preface, 'concupiscence'; in text 'Car elles furent composees'. Initials, border-prolongations, and one full ivyleaf border (f. 12), and miniatures in the usual style of the Duc de Berry's library, but not of the best quality. The subjects are:-

1. Charles V, enthroned, receiving the book from the translator, f. 10.

2. Four compartments :-(a) The Creation: the Creator, with orb, standing in the middle; on l. a swan and dove and the birth of Eve; on r. a sheep, boar, horse, and camel; sun and moon above;-(b) Sacrifices of Cain and Abel and murder of Abel; in a cloud on l., the Deity holding tables of the law;-(c) A mitred priest and three others worshipping two idols;-(d) Battle-scene, each army led by a king. f. 12.

3. The ark: a round, domed vessel, the two upper decks with port-holes showing respectively birds and animals, the main deck with a large opening showing Noah and his family. f. 15.

4. Oedipus exposed, found by the shepherd (who carries a spear) and his dogs and pointed out to Polybus, who is riding. f. 57.

5. Siege of Troy: a soldier in foreground stringing a cross-bow. f. 65.

6. Aeneas received on landing by Dido and her ladies. f. 78.

7. Alexander enthroned, receiving submission of kings and others who present their swords (and an arrow) held upright by the point. f. 115 b.

8. Antiochus and Laodice in bed the latter given a ring by Apollo, who emerges from a blue cloud. f. 119.

9. Naval battle of Mylae between C. Duilius and Hannibal, son of Gisco. f. 126.

10, 11. Two land battles. ff. 131, 151.

12. A seated figure with attendants, &c. behind (? Cicero directing operations against Catiline). f. 153 b.

13. War between five kings of the Britons. f. 162 b.

14. Octavian enthroned with triple crown and orb. f. 166.

15. The Nativity; and the angel appearing to the shepherds. f. 170 b.

16. Titus, with triple crown, and army besieging Jerusalem; a soldier discharging a cannon stops his ears with his hands. f. 176.

17. King Lucius baptized. f. 189 b.

18. Frotto, King of Denmark, with his army; in the foreground treasure guarded by a serpent. f. 192.

19. Diocletian, with triple crown, killing S. Maurice (nimbed, with red cross on shield). f. 198.

20. Constantine, with triple crown, baptized by a pope (with similar crown) and bishop; a deacon behind holds the model of a church. f. 202.

21. Tiberius II, Emperor of the East, defeating the Persians. f. 281.

22. Heraclius, in his shirt, carrying the Cross through the gate of Jerusalem; two clerks receiving him f. 290 b.

23. Constantine V and soldiers attacking three monks. f. 316b.

24. Charles the Great receiving from the Emperor Constantine (a part of) the true Cross and Crown of Thorns. f. 325 b.

25. Otho I received by the Pope (in simple tiara) outside Rome. f. 360.

26. Crusaders on board ship. f. 388 b.

27. Louis IX (with banner, France modern) and Conrad IV (banner with double-headed eagle) landing near Damascus. f. 396 b.

28. Landing of William the Conqueror (banner gules, two lions passant or) with baggage (wine-casks, &c.). f. 403.

29. Philip II of France (with banner) in battle with the Emperor Otho and the Count of Flanders (banners, or, a double-headed eagle sa., and or, a lion rampant sa.). f. 437.

30. Coronation of Louis IX. f. 439 b.

31. The Great Kaan enthroned, and other eastern monarchs. f. 441.

At the end of the text is the erased inscription 'Ce liure est au Duc de Berry. Jehan'. It was purchased by him 29 Oct. 1407 for 160 écus d'or; see the inventory of 1413 printed by Guiffrey, Inv. de Fean, Duc de Berry (Paris, 1894), i, p. 251, no. 955, where it is described as 'escript en françoys de lettre de court, bien historié et enluminé', and the former binding is described; and cf. Delisle, Recherches sur la Librarie de Charles V, ii, p. 264, no. 254, who notes that in the 141 6 inventory it is described as ' baillé à la duchesse de Bourbonnais'. No. 3 in the cat. of MSS. at Richmond Palace in 1535 (see 15 D. I) ; cat. of 1666, f. 13 ; not in CMA.