MS 30: Diurnale (Dominican), 15th century
Contents
The manuscript is a Diurnal, which means that it includes the daytime liturgical texts for the Hours of the Divine Office. This version is from the 15th century and could have originated in Bohemia and been intended for use in a nunnery dedicated to Saint Katherine. It is also specifically Dominican.
The Kalendar starts on f.1r. It is missing January and February.
The Table of Golden Numbers starts on f.6r. This section refers to the Metonic Lunar Cycle. Meton discovered that new moons occur on the same days of the solar year in a cycle of 19 solar years.
The Proprium de Tempore starts on f.8r. This section contains liturgical texts for days that have special Masses or Offices (e.g. prayers, lessons). It is missing 2 ff. at the beginning.
The Proprium Sanctorum starts on f.112v. This section contains the Offices of the Saints.
The Commune Sanctorum starts on f.189r. The Commune Sanctorum, or Common of Saints, is part of the liturgy that consists of texts concerned with categories of saints, such as apostles or martyrs.
The Special Services start on f.202r. These include the Saturday Service of the Virgin (in conventu), Saints Gregory, Alban, Anthony, Edward the Confessor, Gall, Martha, The Decollation (behading) of Saint John, Peter (martyr), John the Baptist, Dominic, Katherine, Hymns for certain Sundays, Services of Corpus Christi, Visitation, Saint Anne, the Transfiguration, 11,000 Virgins, Saint Katherine, the Translation of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Vincent, Saint Katherine of Siena, Collects for Saints Barbara, Dorothy, Appollonia, Servace, Martial, 10,000 Martyrs, Udalric, Henry, Procopius, Alexius, Ludovicus, Wenceslaus, Martha, certain parts of the Common, Saints Nicholas, Anne.
The Psalter starts on f.236r. It is incomplete.
The book appears to have been written by several hands, one being responsible for the Kalendar, another for the Breviary, and a third for the Special Services.
The ornamentation consists of coloured capitals, and one illuminated initial/border in gold and colours at the Service of Saint Katherine (f.221v).
Dates
- Creation: 15th century
Language of Materials
Latin
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
That the book is Dominican is clearly shown by the Kalendar as well as by the Special Services. The Kalendar contains many Dominican saints, and one or two which might suggest that the book was Bohemian. The occurrence of an octave to the feast of Saint Katherine here, together with the special prominence given in the Sanctorale to her office and its rubric, In festo Sancte Gloriose Katherine et matris alme (f.221v), would further suggest that it comes from a nunnery dedicated to Saint Katherine.
Previous reference
Laing 18
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum.
Binding: Oak boards covered stamped leather, 2 brass clasps, 1 lost.
Collation: a6 (wants 1 and 2), b11 (+ 1 in place of 2 ff. lost), c12-s12, t10, v6, x10, y10 (wants 11 and 12), z10 (wants 1 and 2), A12=267.
Dimensions
10.16 cm x 7.62 cm
General
Secundo folio: text [pro]miscat
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 267, 17 lines to a page.
Source
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk