Arundel MS 230, ff 1-6

Contents:

f. 1r: Philippe de Thaon (fl. 1113-1150), Comput, imperfect; the work continues on ff. 182r-194v; the correct order is ff. 1r, 182r-183v, 185r-185v, 194r-194v, 184r-184v, 192r-192v, 186r-191v, 193r-193v (see Dean, Anglo-Norman Literature (1999), pp. 190-91 [no. 346]).

f. 1v: Anonymous, De Singulis Mensibus (On Each Month), also known as De Duodecim Mensibus (On the Twelve Months): a short computistical work on nones, kalends and ides, followed by tables for calculating the dates of ferial regulars, concurrents, lunar regulars and epacts, beginning 'Ratio calculandi inchoat en hic primo tamen de diebus mensium' (On this work, see Baker, ‘Anglo-Saxon Works on Time’ (1996), p. 450).

ff. 2r-6v: Calendar, including feasts for St Guthlac (11 April) [highlighted in green], and his translation (23 August), St Pega (8 January), the translation of St Kyneburga, St Kyneswitha, and St Tibba (6 March); St Sexburga (6 July); St Hedda (7 July), and the translation of St Benedict (11 July).

The manuscript contains a number of additions:

f. 6r: The Prologue to the Psalter in verse (in Anglo-Norman), beginning ‘[C]es vers sunt de salu’, added in the 2nd half of the 13th century (see Dean, Anglo-Norman Literature (1999), pp. 243-44 [no. 449]).

f. 6r: A list of perilous days (‘lunes’) followed by disasters (Anglo-Norman), added in the 2nd half of 13th century (Dean, Anglo-Norman Literature (1999), pp. 204-205 [no. 379]).

f. 6v: An Anglo-Norman prose instruction for masses and pious acts for each day of the week, for when one is in prison, poverty or illness (‘Quy est en tristour prisone poverte out ciet en maladie face dire messes’), added in the mid 14th century (see Dean, Anglo-Norman Literature (1999), p. 476 [no. 948]).

Decoration:

ff. 2-5v: Large ‘KL’ initials in blue with red penwork decoration; small initials in green and red. Rubrics in blue, green and red; Roman numerals in red. A frame and a diagram (circle) in red ink with text and a table on f. 1v.