Add MS 10292

Contents:

The prose Lancelot-Grail (Sommer, Vulgate Version (1909-1916), vols I and II);

ff. 1r-76r: L'estoire del Saint Graal, incipit, 'Chil ki se tient et iuge au plus petit et au plus peceor du monde'; explicit, 'Ore no[us] co[n]saut sainte marie' (Sommer, vol. I);

ff. 76r-216v: L'estoire de Merlin, incipit, 'En ceste partie dist li contes que m[u]lt fu iries li anemis'; explicit, 'il p[er]di li castel de treves. Si come li contes le vo[us] devisera cha avant' (Sommer, vol. II).

Additional MS 10292, Additional MS 10293, Additional MS10294 and Additional MS10294/1 were formerly part of the same volume.

Decoration:

233 miniatures in colours on gold grounds, within pink, blue and red borders, with penwork decoration in white, each above an initial in gold on a blue and rose ground with penwork decoration in white. 2 full bar borders with hybrid creatures, animals and human figures at the beginning of each text (ff. 1r, 76r). Numerous initials in red or blue with pen-flourishing in the other colour and pen-flourished partial borders in blue and red extending the length of the page along the edge of each column. Rubrics in red above each miniature (except ff. 209v-216). Instructions to rubricators at the bottom of pages, partially erased (e.g., f. 41v).

The subjects of the miniatures are:

L'Estoire del Saint Graal:

f. 1r: The author is called four times while he is asleep in a lonely place on the eve of Good Friday. He awakes to see Christ in the form of a beautiful man standing before him. Christ gives him a book written in His own hand, containing an account of the author's early lineage and of the Holy Grail.

f. 3v: Joseph of Arimathea collecting drops of Christ's blood at the Crucifixion.

f. 4r: Vespasian attacks Caiphas at sea.

f. 5v: Joseph and his companions preach to the Saracen King Evelac.

f. 7v: King Evalac shows his vision to his squire.

f. 8r: Christ appears to Joseph and his companions, who are praying at an altar.

f. 9v: Christ ordains Joseph as the first bishop and hands him the crosier.

f. 11v: Joseph preaches to King Evalac and a pagan priest is punished.

f. 12r: A messenger gives a letter to King Evalac containing news of King Tholomer’s invasion.

f. 13r: The battle of Valagin between Evelac and Tholomer.

f. 13v: Evelac receives a letter from his wife Sarracinte.

f. 15r: The battle of Licoine between Evelac and Tholomer with horses.

f. 17r: Joseph and his father Joesphé preach to Queen Sarracinte (Seraqueite).

f. 18v: King Tholomer kneels to King Evalac.

f. 20v: Joseph is seated before an altar and an angel spears him in the thigh.

f. 21v: King Mordrain and his wife Sarracinte in bed, with Mordrain sighing.

f. 22r: Queen Sarracinte, beside her bed, prone with grief at the loss of Mordrain, is consoled by Nascien.

f. 22v: King Mordrain alone on the Roche du Port de Péril in the middle of the sea.

f. 23v: Mordrain watching a burning black ship.

f. 25r: Mordrain is helped by a man dressed in white.

f. 25v: A man (or devil) in black takes Mordrain by the hand to his ship.

f. 27v: Nascien is lifted by his hair from prison by a flaming hand.

f. 28v: Nascien's child Célidoine is abducted from his wife, Flégentine.

f. 29r: Nascien asleep on the island called Ile Tournoyante, dreaming he is surrounded by birds.

f. 31r: Nascien in Solomon’s ship with a sword, three wooden bars or spindles and a gold crown.

f. 31v: Original sin: Adam and Eve before at the Tree of Knowledge, with the serpent as a woman with a snake’s body.

f. 33r: Cain kills Abel with an ass's jawbone.

f. 34r: Solomon and his wife watch a carpenter building a ship.

f. 35v: Nascien in the sea, having fallen out of Solomon’s ship.

f. 36v: Célidoine watching two ships in a storm at sea. King Label and his knights arrive on the rocky island.

f. 41v: Célidoine is put to sea in a small boat with a lion by King Label.

f. 43r: Five messengers asking for news of Nascien from a heathen vassal.

f. 45r: Hippocrates (Ypocras) hanging in a basket from a tower in Rome, with people pointing.

f. 48v: The devil in a boat welcoming a damsel and the two messengers at the Tomb of Hippocrates.

f. 55v: Duchess Flégentine has the three tombs of justice made and inscribed. Joseph and Moses attempt to cross the sea on his shirt and they sink.

f. 56v: A sailor on a passing ship gives bread to Nascien.

f. 58r: Joseph preaches to Duke Ganor who is a heathen, as his counsellor, Lucan, dies.

f. 60r: Nacien kills the King of Northumberland in the foreground. in the background is a battle of knights with coats of arms and with blood on their swords before a city.

f. 60v: King Crudel of Norgales emprisons Joseph and his companions.

f. 61r: Mordrain and his companions sailing towards Britain.

f. 61v: Mordrain, Nacien, Célidoine and Flégentine are reunited and they embrace.

f. 63r: A voice tells Mordrain he cannot approach the altar during the mass of the Grail.

f. 64r: King Agreste strangles his wife after having killed his, brother and child. a furnace is behind him.

f. 64v: Joseph is seated at the table with the Holy Grail. Moses is lifted up from the Siège Périlleux by seven hands.

f. 65r: Joseph, Alain and companions praying before the Holy Grail, which is on a table with a fish in a serving bowl.

f. 65v: The temple and idols of Mategrant are felled by a flash of lightning in answer to Joseph's prayers.

f. 66r: The pagan Argant is resuscitated and kneels before Joseph.

f. 66v: Joseph shows his companions a white stag surrounded by four lions crossing a river.

f. 68r: Joseph has a ditch dug for Simeon and two flaming men carry him off.

f. 68v: Joseph at the twelve tombs of Canaan, with twelve swords raised above them.

f. 69v: Peter (Pieron) is rescued from a boat by two pagan ladies before a castle.

f. 70r: Two pagan ladies watch as a doctor tends Peter's wound. Peter defeats King Orcan with his lance at the round pine.

f. 71r: Peter gives his glove to King Luce on behalf of King Orcan.

f. 71v: Peter gives the severed head of King Méréam to King Lucan.

f. 72r: King Galaad, hiding in a grove, sees Simeon on fire in a ditch.

f. 73r: Joseph draws a cross in blood on a white shield and gives it to the blind Mordrain. Joseph lying on his deathbed, gives the Grail to Alain.

f. 74r: King Alphasem is lying in his bed and a burning man stabs him between the thighs with a lance.

f. 74v: A battle between Nascien, Célidoine and Narpus, and the Saxons.

L'estoire de Merlin:

f. 76r: The harrowing of hell. Christ descends to hell, where souls are burning in a furnace and devils hold a meeting.

f. 77v: The conception of Merlin. a devil lies with his mother.

f. 78v: Merlin and his mother with guardians in a tower.

f. 79v: Merlin speaks to the judge at his mother’s trial.

f. 80v: Merlin has his clerk Blaise write a book full of wonders.

f. 81r: Twelve armed men kill their master, Maine.

f. 81v: King Vortigern asks his clerics why his tower keeps falling down.

f. 83v: Merlin foretells the death of a peasant to Vortigern’s messengers.

f. 84r: Merlin shows Vortigern how to build his tower.

f. 84v: Merlin shows Vortigern the red and white dragons.

f. 85v: Uther and Pendragon arrive in Britain and Vortigern is put to death in a burning tower.

f. 87r: King Pendragon riding with his companions and talking to his nephew, Uther. Merlin disguised as a young boy carries a letter to Uther.

f. 88r: Merlin foretells the death of the doubting baron in front of the King.

f. 89r: The baron breaks his neck falling from a bridge and drowns in the water.

f. 90r: King Pendragon is killed in battle.

f. 91r: Merlin shows Utherpendragon the empty seat (the Siège Périlleux) at the table.

f. 93r: The King and the Duke of Tintagel at table and Ulfin serving a golden cup to the Duchess Igerne (Ygerne).

f. 93v: King Utherpendragon attacks the Duke of Tintagel's castle, with pavillions in the foreground.

f. 96v: Utherpendragon and Igerne lying in bed together.

f. 97v: Igerne’s servant gives a baby (Arthur) to Merlin, disguised as an old man, to raise.

f. 98r: King Utherpendragon is lying in bed and Merlin speaks to him before the barons.

f. 99r: Antor speaks to Archbishop Debrice. Arthur draws the sword from the stone.

f. 99v: Antor has Arthur swear fealty to his son Keu (Kay).

f. 100r: The Archbishop gives Arthur back the sword before everybody.

f. 101r: The coronation of Arthur: the Archbishop holds the crown to place on his head.

Suite Vulgate:

f. 102r: Battle of Logres Arthur rides out of his castle to attack the rebel barons.

f. 103r: Arthur defeats rebel barons in battle.

f. 104v: Ulfin and Bretel leave Ban’s wife, Queen Helen, and ride off.

f. 105r: Ulfin and Bretel fight agains the knights of Claudas de la Deserte.

f. 105v: Merlin and King Arthur talk.

f. 107v: The rebels retreat, carrying their dead on a litter.

f. 108r: Merlin with Léonce, Pharien and Antoine sailing back to Britain.

f. 108v: King Arthur faces the rebels at Bédingran.

f. 109v: King Arthur fights against King Lot and the king of the Hundred Knights.

f. 110v: King Arthur fighting against the rebel barons in the Battle of Bédingran.

f. 111r: King Ban enters the battle with his flag unfurled.

f. 111v: King Arthur and his knights return to Logres after the battle.

f. 112r: The rebels return to the city of Sorhaut.

f. 113r: King Arthur is in bed with Lot's wife, his half-sister: the conception of Mordred.

f. 114r: The King of the Hundred Knights leaves Sorhaut with his army, heading for Malehaut.

f. 114v: Gawain and his brothers meet Galescin, his cousin.

f. 115r: Gawain, his brothers and their companions ride out.

f. 115v: A battle near Logres between Gawain and King Thaos of Ireland and of Galeschin against King Segrain.

f. 116r: Gawain and Galeschin take their booty into the city of Logres.

f. 117r: King Arthur, King Ban and Bohort are greeted by King Léodegan at Carohaise.

f. 118r: King Ban and his knights win a battle against the Saxons at Carohaise.

f. 118v: King Arthur and King Léodagan fight against the Saxons.

f. 119r: King Arthur using his sword Excalibur against the Saxon King Caelenc.

f. 120r: The steward Cleodalis fighting in the Battle of Carohaise.

f. 121v: King Arthur in combat with King Sapharin.

f. 122r: The daughter of King Léodegan (Guinevere) wiping King Arthur's face with a cloth after the battle.

f. 123r: Merlin advising the three kings: Arthur, Ban and Bohort.

f. 123v: The king of Tradelinant is given news of the Saxons’ approach

by his spy.

f. 124r: The destruction of a Scottish town by the Saxons.

f. 125v: Nance de Garlot receives news of a Saxon invasion.

f. 126v: The Battle of the Surne Bridge: King Brangoire and his knights fight against the Saxons.

f. 127v: A council of the Saxon kings: the young knight, Oriel addresses his uncle, King Bonegue (Bamangue) and King Maaglan of Ireland.

f. 128r: Hertaut speaks to his uncle, the Saxon king Aminaduc in a pavilion.

f. 128v: A meeting of Merlin, Arthur, Ban and Bohort.

f. 129r: Sagremor and his companions leave Constantinople in a ship to sail to Britain; Merlin at the walls of Camelot in the form of an old shepherd with a herd of animals.

f. 130v: Gawain and his companions fight against the Saxons; Gawain strikes Oriel.

f. 131r: The battle of the Forest of Bréquehan: King Clarion of Northumberland and Duke Escaut fight against Oriel.

f. 132r: King Ider (Yder) of Cornwall and his army in a battle with the Saxons at Arundel.

f. 132v: Merlin, disguised as a messenger from Ywain, gives Gawain a letter.

f. 133r: King Ider and his army battle against the Saxons at the Battle of Arundel.

f. 133v: Arthur’s nephews defend Diana’s Bridge against 20000 Saxons.

f. 134v: Gawain, with his brothers, speaks to Yvonet le Grand.

f. 135v: Merlin disguised as a knight at Arundel castle.

f. 136r: Gawain rescues his mother from the Saxons.

f. 137r: Gawain tells his story to Master Blaise, who writes it down.

f. 138r: Merlin meets Viviane at a fountain.

f. 139r: The King of the Hundred Knights meeting with British barons; Merlin advises the three kings, Arthur, Ban and Bohort.

f. 140r: Guiomar is sent as a messenger from King Léodegan to Arthur, Ban and Bohort.

f. 141v: The Battle of Daneblayse: King Léodegan and his army fight against King Rion and the Saxons.

f. 142r: The Battle of Daneblayse: The combat between King Rion and King Léodegan.

f. 143r: The battle of Daneblayse: the combat between King Rion and Nascien.

f. 144v: The combat between King Arthur and King Rion.

f. 145v: King Ban pursues the three Saxon kings.

f. 146v: King Léodegan pursues the Saxons; Arthur, Keu and other knights pursue the Saxons.

f. 147r: King Aman's battle against the Saxons king Galaad.

f. 148r: The Battle of Daneblayse, Arthur and his knights face the Saxons.

f. 148v: The armies of King Galahad and King Aman do battle.

f. 149r: King Bohort and his brother, Guinebaut discover ladies dancing a ‘carole’ in a wood.

f. 150r: King Bohort slays Aman with his lance.

f. 150v: A meeting between Merlin and Ban, Bohort and Arthur.

f. 151r: Gawain and his companions kneel and do homage to King Arthur.

f. 151v: King Arthur knights Gawain and fastens on his spurs.

f. 152v: King Arthur and his company board a ship to cross to the continent.

f. 153r: The Battle of Trèbes between King Claudas and King Ban’s armies.

f. 153v: King Arthur and his knights riding to join the war in Gaul.

f. 154v: The Battle of Trèbes: the armies of Ban and Arthur face Claudas and his army.

f. 156r: A messenger from Hélène and Evaine, the wives of Ban and Bohort seeks information.

f. 156v: The Battle of Trèbes: Arthur’s knights fight against the armies of Ponce Antoine and Frolle d'Alemagne.

f. 158r: Gawain strikes Claudas from his horse with his lance.

f. 159r: King Ban in bed with his wife, Hélène, dreaming of Benoic.

f. 159v: King Ban telling his dream to Merlin; Merlin, having explained the dream, takes leave of the three kings, Ban, Arthur and Bohort.

f. 160r: The Emperor Julius Caesar in bed with his wife, having a dream.

f. 160v: Merlin appears before Caesar in the guise of a stag.

f. 161r: Merlin, in the form of a wild man, is trapped by Grisandole.

f. 162r: Merlin as a wild man explains Caesar’s dream; the empress, holding a dog, and courtiers watch.

f. 163r: A Greek messenger kneels before the Emperor and his wife at court; Merlin’s inscriptions are revealed.

f. 163v: Merlin has Master Blaise write down his adventures; British barons discuss their battle plans, with King Hargodabrant’s spy listening.

f. 164r: The Battle of Clarence between the Britons and Saxons.

f. 165r: The British surprise the Saxons in their tents and kill many of them.

f. 165v: King Arthur and his barons at sea, returning to Britain after the war in Gaul; the twelve rebel barons hear news of King Arthur from a messenger.

f. 166r: Merlin tells Ulfin and Bretel of the plot to substitute the false Guinevere for the Queen.

f. 167r: The wedding tournament for Arthur and Guinevere in which Gawain performs amazing feats.

f. 168r: Gawain at a banquet following the wedding tournament.

f. 168v: Ulfin and Bretel try to abduct Queen Guinevere.

f. 169v: Kings Arthur, Ban and Bohort pass judgement on Bertholais (Bertelai); King Arthur asks Gawain to ride to Logres.

f. 170r: Arthur and Guinevere and companions leave Carohaise to ride to Logres; a battle between King Arthur and King Loth in the Forest of Sarpine.

f. 170v: King Loth kneels and does homage to Arthur, handing him his sword.

f. 172r: King Arthur holds court and his companions celebrate.

f. 173r: Guinevere watching the Tournament of the Round Table.

f. 174r: Gawain fights in the tournament.

f. 175v: The Knights of the Round Table present their excuses to Gawain, Arthur and Guinevere, who holds a dog.

f. 176r: A banquet at King Arthur’s court, with servants.

f. 177r: King Loth and his four sons set out to meet with the British barons.

f. 178v: King Loth and his sons battle against the Saxons.

f. 179v: King Pelles counsels his son Eliézier, who wishes to join Arthur’s court.

f. 180r: Pelles' son kills a Saxon knight with his lance.

f. 180v: King Loth and his sons ride out from the domain of Minoras the forester; Lot and Gawain wait for the three brothers.

f. 181r: Agravain meets Lidonas, Eliézier’s squire.

f. 182r: King Loth and his sons join Eliézier in a battle against the Saxons.

f. 182v: Agravain and his brother Gaheriet fight in front of their father.

f. 183v: King Loth, his sons and Elezier enter a hermitage.

f. 184r: Elezier jousting against six brigands who have been attacking a knight.

f. 185r: King Loth and his men ride into the Castle of Louverzep.

f. 186r: The Battle of Cambénic between Loth and the Saxons.

f. 187r: King Loth and his sons enter Norgales, the city of King Tradelinant.

f. 188r: The Queen's knights, Sagremor, Galeschin and Dodinel, ride into the Forest of Adventure; Merlin and Blaise, writing.

f. 189v: The queen’s knights, Sagremor, Galeschin and Dodinel joust against the Knights of the Round Table, Agravadain, Moneval and Minoras.

f. 191r: The British barons summoned by Loth meet in pavilions at Salisbury Plain.

f. 191v: A meeting between Merlin and the British barons.

f. 192v: Gawain knights Eliézier.

f. 193v: Elezier fights the Saxon King Pignoras with his sword.

f. 194r: Forty Saxons carrying off Queen Blasine, wife of King Nantes of Garlot, rest near a fountain.

f. 194v: Sinarus, who has had one of his hands cut off, tells the Saxon kings Gundebuef and Hardogabrant of the defeat of the Saxons.

f. 196v: Arthur, Ban, Bohort, and Loth and his sons return victorious to Camelot, and are greeted by Guinevere and her ladies.

f. 197r: King Ban, Bohort and Merlin are welcomed by women at the chateau of Agravadain des Marais.

f. 198v: King Arthur, with Guinevere, tells Gawain he is planning to hold court at Camelot.

f. 199r: King Rion returns home defeated.

f. 199v: King Arthur and his companions feasting, entertained by Merlin disguised as a harpist.

f. 200v: Merlin appears before Arthur and his court, disguised as a child.

f. 201v: The second battle of Carohaise, with the death of King Rion.

f. 202v: King Flualis of Jerusalem’s dream is interpreted.

f. 203v: King Arthur knights Enadain the dwarf knight.

f. 204v: Merlin tells Arthur and his court to prepare for war against the Romans.

f. 205v: King Arthur kills the giant of Mont Saint-Michel.

f. 206r: Gawain, with his companions on an embassy to the Roman Emperor in his pavilion, decapitates his nephew, Titilin.

f. 206v: Arthur's army fights against the Romans who are pursuing the messengers.

f. 207r: Luce is told by a spy of the movement of Roman prisoners.

f. 207v: Luce besieges the city of Lengres.

f. 208r: A council between Luce and his barons.

f. 208v: The Britons face the Romans in battle.

f. 209v: Arthur kills the great black cat that has been terrorising the people of Lake Lausanne.

f. 210r: Claudas’s men attacking the soldiers guarding the Roman prisoners.

f. 210v: The knight Lériador asking for the hand of the daughter of Agradavain, Lord of the Marais.

f. 211v: King Flualis watches his palace in Jerusalem burning. King Arthur and his army ride into a castle on the Aube.

f. 213r: A meeting between Gawain and Arthur; the dwarf Enadain unhorses the knight, Tradelinant.

f. 214r: Sagremor and his companions, seeking Merlin, enter a hermitage for the night.

f. 214v: Bianne calls Yvain and his companions to rescue her friend Enadain.