Sermons and miscellaneous theological texts

Germany?, 14th-century, late, to 15th century, early

Paper

146 leaves

205 × 150 mm

Latin

1 (ff. 1ra–83ra) Sermones de tempore

Rubric: prima dominica in aduentu

Incipit: Hora est iam nos de sompno surgere Ad Ro xiii In hac epistula invitat nos apostolus ad quatuor Primo monet de sompno surgere

Explicit: primus panis carnalis uel corporalis secundus racionalis tercius spiritualis et cetera

2 (ff. 83rb–90va) Martyrdoms of saints

Rubric: Incipit de sanctis

Incipit: Nota quod mortes sanctorum et tribulaciones vindicantur Mors domini uindicatur a tyto et vespasiano

Explicit: Katherina habet in multis tribulacionibus subuenire et cetera.

Final rubric: Expliciunt auctoritates de sanctis per manus

Note: Martyrdoms of the following saints: Andrew, Nicholas, Lucy, Thomas (apostle), John, Thomas Becket, Silvester, Paul of Thebes, Gregory, Benedict, Patrick, George, Adalbert, Mark, Philip (apostle), James the Minor, Pancras, Gervasius and Protasius, John the Baptist, John and Paul, Peter (apostle), Paul (apostle), Margaret, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Cyriacus, Lawrence, Bartholomew, Giles, Matthew, Maurice, Cosmas and Damian, Wenceslaus, Stanislaus, Jerome, Denis, Leonard, ten thousand martyrs, Simon and Jude, Martin, Elizabeth, Cecilia, Clemens, and Catherine.

3 (ff. 90vb–91rb) On sins

Incipit: Gregorius dicit missa dum cantetur peccata tam viuorum tam mortuorum condonantur

Explicit: quia missa inuita audita ualet ad dimissionem culpe ad remissionem pene et ad augmentum gracie et cetera

Note: Also in Köpenhamn, Royal Danish Library, Gl. kgl. S. 1360 4o, f. 24v.

4 (f. 91v) A brief text on sins and a list of the ten commandments

Rubric: Nota peccata clamancia

Note: These two texts are probably additions to an otherwise blank page. The first text begins: ‘Nota peccata clamancia Sunt tria que numquam cessant clamare’. The second begins: ‘Nota decem precepta ydola sperne dei nomen non’.

5 (ff. 92r–113v) On the passion of Christ

Explicit: ab eo duplici stola inmortalitatis videlicet corporis et anime decorari et regnum eternum cum ipso possidere Quod nobis prestare dignetur ipse dominus noster Ihesus christus qui cum patre et sancto spiritu viuit et regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum Amen

Final rubric: Explicit sermo de passione totali domini nostri ihesu christi

Note: The beginning of the text is missing on account of at least one missing leaf. It probably contained a prologue since the first extant rubric, on f. 92r reads: ‘de prima parte’. The second part begins on f. 101r, the third part on f. 106r and the fourth part on f. 110r. Parts 2-4 account for each hour of Christ's passion with the hours added in red in the outer margin.

6 (ff. 113v–114r) On sins

Incipit: Sanctus bernardus dicit quot octo sunt que a peccatis nos reuocant et sunt de essencia hominis que si homo diligenter consideraret in eternum non peccaret

Explicit: temptacionum feruor utriusque hominis statum affixerit Eligamus pocius ardere quam cedere

Note: The beginning of the text is a paraphrase of a passage in Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda aurea, chapter 13, nos. 156–158, ‘De circumcisione domini’. The end of the text is a citation from Bernard of Clairvaux, ‘In vigilia nativitatis domini’, Sermo III, PL, col. 97b.

7 (ff. 114r–114v) On the passion of Christ

Incipit: Qualiter per memoriam passionis domini nostri ihesu christi repellitur temptacio Nota bene

Explicit: id est in speculacione videbis quod nobis prestare dignetur pater et filius et spiritus sanctus Cottidie igitur predicta in corde tuo permeditare

Note: In the margin is added in black ink by a contemporary hand: ‘Memoria passionis christi’.

8 (ff. 115r–131v) Collection of excerpts

Rubric: Incipiunt notabilia bona

Incipit: Hec sunt quindecim signa ante diem Iudicii que erunt In quindecim diebus que beatus Ieronimus invenit in libris ebreorum

Explicit: Item securis siue ferrum supernatans aquam et sic est finis et cetera

Note: This section contains 44 ‘notabilia’ treating for instance the dignity of priests, confession, Mass, the conversion of sinners, the seven deadly sins, the gospels. The first text is the list of the fifteen signs before Judgement and ‘15 signa’ has been added in the outer margin by a contemporary hand. The last text is on the efficacy of prayer, with the heading ‘De oracione notabile bonum’.

9 (ff. 132r–134r) On the twelve degrees of humility (Excerpts from the Rule of St Benedict)

Rubric: De duodecim gradibus humilitatis

Incipit: Clamat nobis scriptura diuina fratres dicens omnis qui se exaltat humiliabitur (Luke 8:14)

Explicit: Ideo angustam viam arripuit et cetera

Note: Listed in Bloomfield et al. (1979), no. 824. The first section, ff. 132r–133v, is Ch. 7 of The Rule of St Benedict. The last section, ff. 133v–134r, is an excerpt from the beginning of Ch. 5. In the top margin on f. 132r is added in red ink by a contemporary hand: ‘De gradibus humilitatis’.

10 (f. 134r) Two excerpts from Jerome and Gregory

Incipit: Beatus Ieronimus Monachus viuat in monasterio sub vnius disciplina patris

Explicit: Vna quippe et summa est probacio karitatis si et ipse diligitur qui aduersatur

Note: The first text is taken from Pseudo-Jerome ‘Homilia ad monachos’, PL 30, cols. 313A–313B. The second consists of passages excerpted from Gregory I, ‘Homilies on the Gospels’, ‘Homily’ 15, PL 76, cols. 1133C–1205D.

11 (ff. 134v–135v) Minus speculum peccatoris

Rubric: Redite preuaricatores ad cor (Isa. 46:8)

Incipit: Vacate et videte quoniam ego sum deus (Ps. 45:11) ysaye xlvi Ineffabilis diuine bonitatis dignacio que cottidie conspicit nos infelices

Explicit: ut obitum beatum obtines et pervenias ad locum Inmortalitatis et felicitatis ac Iocunditatis eterne et cetera

Final rubric: Explicit mynus speculum peccatoris et cetera

Note: In the upper margin is added in black ink by a contemporary hand: ‘Minus speculum peccatoris ex dictis sancti bernhardi’. Listed in Bloomfield, no. 5119. This text is usually ascribed to Augustine but here, as in the manuscript Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket, MS A 198, f. 157r-158v, to Bernard of Clairvaux. Between the end of the text proper and the final rubric is a short text marked in the outer margin with ‘nota bene’ and beginning ‘Flos monachorum ad cor redeas Vide quid agas’ and ending ‘Mentem compone perfeccioni stude deum time ut (!) iudicem dilige ut patrem’.

12 (ff. 136r–140v) Pseudo-Bernard, Formula honestae vitae with added excerpts

Rubric: Formula beati bernhardi de vita et honestate

Incipit: Petis a me frater karissime quod numquam et nusquam a suo provisore audiui petiuisse

Explicit: lis in capitulo dissolucio in chor Irreuerencia circa altare hoc hugo de claustro anime et cetera et sic est finis huius

Note: The text of ‘Formula honestae vitae’ as printed in PL 184, cols. 1167C–1170C, ends on f. 137v where ‘nota bene’ has been added in both the inner and the outer margin in black and red ink respectively. Thereafter, follow short excerpts on themes such as the perfection of religious life, contempt for the world, and the value of correction, each introduced by a rubric in red or by the words ‘nota bene’. The last excerpt is from Ch. 11 of ‘De claustro animae’ by Hugh of Fouilloy. On f. 140v the original final rubric in red, ‘Explicit tractatus vtilis videlicet formula beati bernhardi de vita et honestate’, has been struck through with black ink. On f. 138r is added in black ink by a contemporary hand: ‘explicit formula bernhardi’.

Edition: PL 184, cols. 1167C–1170C.

13 (ff. 141r–146v) Treatise on the Eucharist

Rubric: Incipit tractatus bonus de sacramento eukaristie

Incipit: Mare non habundat tot guttis sol splendoribus nec silue frondibus

Explicit: tentus non dimittatur donec in amoris cubiculum mansurus introducatur et cetera

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus bonus de sacramento eukaristie et cetera

Note: This treatise seems to consist of two excerpts. The first one ending on f. 145v and the second one beginning on f. 146r where ‘Item de sacramento’ is written in red in the upper margin.

Physical Description

Secundo folio

diuine laudis

Support

Binding/Endleaves

Locus: RCI

Support: Parchment

Textblock

Locus: ff. 1–146

Support: Paper

Watermark 1

Locus: ff. 1–91,

Motif: Circle with single-line rod.

Note: Only parts of the watermark is visible in the upper margin.

Watermark 2

Locus: ff. 92–146,

Motif: Oxhead with single rod.

Note: The watermark is in the gutter and only partially visible.

Leaf dimensions: 205 × 150 mm

Foliation

Modern foliation in pencil 1-146.

Contemporary foliation in upper margin in ink 1-91, 95-149. The original ff. 92-94 and one unfoliated leaf have been ripped out.

Collation

Formula: 1-11(8), 12(6, lacks 4-6), 13(8, lacks 1), 14-19(8).

Note: VisColl collation

Signatures: Quire signatures in black ink on the verso of the last leaf of quires 1-11, the last one on f. 88v.

Catchwords: Catchwords on the last leaf of quires 1-11, 13-14, and 16-18.

Condition

Binding/Endleaves

The paste down on LCI is missing. Remnants of its text visible as an off-set print.

Textblock

Four leaves ripped out between f. 91 and f. 92. An unknown number of quires are missing after f. 146v.

Layout

Layout 1

Locus: ff. 1r–8v

Columns: 2

Ruled lines: 31

Written area: 160 × 50 mm

Note: Ruling in ink. Prickings in the margins.

Layout 2

Locus: ff. 9r–91v

Columns: 2

Ruled lines: 28

Written area: 155 × 50 mm

Note: Ruling in ink. Prickings in the margins.

Layout 3

Locus: ff. 92r–146v

Columns: 1

Written lines: 36–39

Written area: 150/155 × 100/110 mm

Note: Guidelines in ink. Text written above the top line and sometimes also below.

Script

Textblock

Hand 1

(ff. 1r–51v)Cursiva antiquior. Possibly a new hand on (f. 50va).

Hand 2

(ff. 51vb–56ra)Cursiva antiquior.

Hand 3

(f. 56rb)Cursiva antiquior with occasional loopless ascenders.

Hand 4

(ff. 56va–91rb)Cursiva antiquior. Possibly a new hand on (f. 77va) and on (f. 83va).

Hand 5

(f. 91v)Textualis.

Hand 6

(ff. 92r–114v)Cursiva antiquior.

Hand 7

(ff. 115r–140v)Cursiva antiquior.

Hand 8

(ff. 141r–146v)Cursiva antiquior. Possibly a new hand on (f. 146r).

Additions

Binding/Endleaves

(LCI) Top left corner: National Library book label with the current signum in black ink.

Textblock

(f. 1r) Upper margin in black ink by a later hand: ‘Cartusie Erfordiensis’; ca eight words by a contemporary hand but struck-through and only partially readable due to wear of the paper, the last words being ‘scilicet in ultimo folio’. In bottom margin in black ink, struck-through, by a contemporary hand: ‘Sermones de tempore hora est iam nos et in fine priuilegia sanctorum’; in light brown ink two illegible words have been added by a contemporary hand; in bottom right corner in black ink by a 19th-century hand: ‘Inköpt till Kgl. Bibl. från G. Stephens 23/10 1848’.

(ff. 1r–145r) Nota-signs, manicules and short additions throughout, e.g. (f. 27r), (f. 56v), (f. 96v), (f. 106r), (f. 143r). On (f. 111v) a longer addition in the outer margin which seems to have once been covered by a glued-on paper (?) slip, now lost.

Decorations

Textblock

Description:

Main text in black ink, rubrics in red or underlined or struck-through in red. Capitals touched in red. Plain initials over two lines in red.

Bookmarks:

Bookmarks on (f. 50) (red parchment), (f. 63), (f. 74), (f. 82), (f. 113), (f. 131), (f. 134), and (f. 140) (all in white parchment).

Binding

Description:

Medieval binding. Brown leather over wooden boards. 3 double raised bands and 2 endbands. 2 hooked clasps attached to red leather straps. 2 catchplates on LCO. On Spine stamped in gold: ‘A 201’. On LCO two paper labels with text in black ink (barely readable due to wear): ‘Exempla sanctorum et miracula et primo de beata virgine maria Sermones breues de tempore Sermo de passione domini cum aliis. Exposicio dominice oracionis et alia multa’; on the second label an old signum, ‘I 14’, or (‘F 14’) corrected to ‘I 15’ which is written both on the label and on the cover.

Binding dimensions: 222 × 165 × 70 mm

Condition: The brown colour of the leather is worn off in places. Spine is cracked, now reinforced with linen fabric. The pastedown on LCI is missing, leaving the board attachments visible. The leather on RCO is cracked.

Contemporary: Yes

History

Origin

Germany?, 14th-century, late, to 15th century, early. Origin and dating based on the script, exact origin and date unknown.

Provenance

Belonged to the Erfurt Charterhouse as evidenced by the addition in the upper margin on f. 1r: ‘Cartusie Erfordiensis’.

Acquisition

Purchased from George Stephens 23 October 1848 as evidenced by the addition in the lower right corner on f. 1r: ‘Inköpt till Kgl. Bibl. från G. Stephens 23/10 1848’.