Harley MS 4374/3

Contents:

Valerius Maximus, translated by Simon de Hesdin and Nicolas de Gonesse, Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (the third of 6 volumes):

ff. 169r-210v: Book 3, Human character (continued);

ff. 211r-252r: Book 4, Moderation.

This copy of the work is now bound in 6 volumes; the other volumes are Harley 4374/1, Harley 4374/2, Harley 4375/1, Harley 4375/2 and Harley 4375/3.

Decoration:

1 full-page miniature, in colours and gold (f. 211r). 13 small column-wide miniatures with large decorated initials and column-wide three-sided foliate borders, in colours and gold (ff. 183r, 188r, 194r, 196r, 199r, 206r, 224r, 225v, 233v, 237v, 240r, 244v, 249r). Large decorated initials, in colours and gold. Small initials in gold with blue pen-flourishing or in blue with red pen-flourishing. Line fillers decorated in gold and blue. Capital letters highlighted in yellow.

The subjects of the miniatures are:

Book 3 (continuation)

f. 183r: Chapter 3, Gaius Mucius puts his hand in the fire in the background and is brought before Porsenna, having tried to assassinate him;

f. 188r: Chapter 4, A procession with two figures in a cart (above); Tullius on his throne (below);

f. 194r: Chapter 5, Scipio, son of Africanus is captured by King Antiochus (above); messengers are sent by his father to negotiate his release (below);

f. 196r: Chapter 6, Gold statues of Scipio and his court (above); people wearing fine garments (below);

f. 199r: Chapter 7, Scipio Africanus in a temple judging the people of Badia;

f. 206r: Chapter 8, Fulvius Flaccus beheading the senators of Capua (above); Fabius waging war (below);

Book 4:

f. 211r, Chapter 1, (in 3 tiers): upper tier : Lucretia is threatened by Sextus Tarquinus; she stabs herself in front of her husband Collatinus and her father, Lucretius; Tarquinus is expelled from Rome; mid tier: Collatinus, Lucretius, Brutus and Publius Valerius swear an oath to avenge her; Publius Valerius giving an order to his army; lower tier: he orders his house to be demolished as it dominates the city;

f. 224r: Chapter 2, Marcus Lepidus and Fulvius Nobilor put away their grievances as they are both elected censors (above); Claudius Nero and Livius Salinator put an end to their quarrel (below);

f. 225v: Chapter 3, Scipio Africanus destroys the city of New Carthage in Spain;

f. 233v: Chapter 4, Cornelia, mother of the Gracchus brothers showing off her children to a lady guest who tries to impress with her jewels (above); Valerius Publicola the consul lies dead, but his money chest is empty and there is not enough to pay for his funeral (below);

f. 237v: Chapter 5, An audience of senators and people watch naked women and gladiatorial contests;

f. 240r: Chapter 6, A male and female snake are brought before Tiberius Gracchus and his wife Cornelia by a diviner (above); he has the male snake killed, chosing to die himself (below);

f. 244v: Chapter 7, Damon offers himself as hostage so his friend Phintias has time to organise his affairs before he is killed by Dionysius (above); Phintias in prison and Damon is free, but Dionysius is about to free both men (below);

f. 249r: Chapter 8, Fabius, having sold his farm, gives money he promised to Hannibal in exchange for prisoners (above); Catiline distributing food to the poor (below).