DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51197#0682
654
CATALOGUE OF MANUSCRIPTS
[474-
Thus the book belonged to Richard III and to the Lady
Margaret. But it is (except the added prayer) earlier than
Richard’s time. The collect for S. Ninian at the beginning
is not in the main hand of the book, but is not much later.
It should indicate an owner of Scotch connexions.
The decoration of the book is admirable of its kind, comparable
to that of the recently acquired Bedford Psalter and Hours
at the British Museum. It consists principally of large and
small decorative initials, and borders. These are in the
characteristic English style of the early part of the fifteenth
century: fine gold, blue, pink, orange, green are the leading
colours.
The finest page is 15 a, the frontispiece to the Hours of the
Virgin. This has an admirable border, solid, each side
divided into two lengths terminated by a medallion. A de-
sign of a band of conventional leaves twisted spirally runs
through the whole. The upper border is in orange and blue,
with central medallion of angel’s head in pink. The Ji in
pink and blue with medallion of angel’s head in deeper red.
The bottom in blue and orange with medallions on- L, head
of S. Peter in blue, of angels in pink, of S. Paul in pink.
This last head is most remarkable in its nobility1. The L
border (lower part) is in pink : the upper part occupied by
the historiated initial of the Annunciation. Gabriel (Z) in
pink-robe with scroll Aue—tecum, dove on ray : Virgin with
wreath of flowers on her head, in blue, kneeling at desk
draped in scarlet. The edges of this page are a little cropped.
The other Hours have large initials. The (historiated) initial
to the Seven Psalms has been cut out. That to the Vigils of
the Dead (f. 72) remains. It represents a funeral. Three
coped clerks stand behind the coffin, two mourners (rather
smudged) sit on the near side.
Other sections, 90 b, 101, 109, 112 b, 124, 145 b, 152, have very
fine large initials.
(i)j.0.25. (ii) (c. e. 34)
8vo. 36 8vo. 52
P. 2 V. 12
475. Musica Ecclesiastica.
Vita Rob. de Bethune.
Vellum, 6| x 5, ff. 2 4- 180, two volumes: I, cent, xv late, in double
cols, of 26 lines, in a clear ugly hand; II, cent, xii, 16 lines to page,
in a large clear hand.
1 I fear we cannot bring it into connexion with the fact that Richard’s favourite oath
was ‘ By St Paul ’ ! But perhaps this was the prayer book of which we hear more than
once in Shakespeare.
CATALOGUE OF MANUSCRIPTS
[474-
Thus the book belonged to Richard III and to the Lady
Margaret. But it is (except the added prayer) earlier than
Richard’s time. The collect for S. Ninian at the beginning
is not in the main hand of the book, but is not much later.
It should indicate an owner of Scotch connexions.
The decoration of the book is admirable of its kind, comparable
to that of the recently acquired Bedford Psalter and Hours
at the British Museum. It consists principally of large and
small decorative initials, and borders. These are in the
characteristic English style of the early part of the fifteenth
century: fine gold, blue, pink, orange, green are the leading
colours.
The finest page is 15 a, the frontispiece to the Hours of the
Virgin. This has an admirable border, solid, each side
divided into two lengths terminated by a medallion. A de-
sign of a band of conventional leaves twisted spirally runs
through the whole. The upper border is in orange and blue,
with central medallion of angel’s head in pink. The Ji in
pink and blue with medallion of angel’s head in deeper red.
The bottom in blue and orange with medallions on- L, head
of S. Peter in blue, of angels in pink, of S. Paul in pink.
This last head is most remarkable in its nobility1. The L
border (lower part) is in pink : the upper part occupied by
the historiated initial of the Annunciation. Gabriel (Z) in
pink-robe with scroll Aue—tecum, dove on ray : Virgin with
wreath of flowers on her head, in blue, kneeling at desk
draped in scarlet. The edges of this page are a little cropped.
The other Hours have large initials. The (historiated) initial
to the Seven Psalms has been cut out. That to the Vigils of
the Dead (f. 72) remains. It represents a funeral. Three
coped clerks stand behind the coffin, two mourners (rather
smudged) sit on the near side.
Other sections, 90 b, 101, 109, 112 b, 124, 145 b, 152, have very
fine large initials.
(i)j.0.25. (ii) (c. e. 34)
8vo. 36 8vo. 52
P. 2 V. 12
475. Musica Ecclesiastica.
Vita Rob. de Bethune.
Vellum, 6| x 5, ff. 2 4- 180, two volumes: I, cent, xv late, in double
cols, of 26 lines, in a clear ugly hand; II, cent, xii, 16 lines to page,
in a large clear hand.
1 I fear we cannot bring it into connexion with the fact that Richard’s favourite oath
was ‘ By St Paul ’ ! But perhaps this was the prayer book of which we hear more than
once in Shakespeare.