MS 31: Diurnale (Franciscan), c 1480
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 around 1480 and originated in Italy. It is also specifically Franciscan.
The Kalendar starts on f.1r.
The Proprium de Tempore starts on f.7r. The Proprium de Tempore contains liturgical texts for days that have special Masses or Offices (e.g. prayers, lessons). This manuscript features special Franciscan Suffrages and a Litany on Ash Wednesday, as well as Lessons for the Common of certain saints in Easter-tide.
The Tabula Historiae starts on f.53v.
The Proprium Sanctorum starts on f.57r. This section contains the Offices of the Saints.
The Commune Sanctorum starts on f.88r. 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 Officium Mortuorum (Office of the Dead) starts on f.95v.
The Special Services start on f.97r. These include the Service of the Dead, Conception (with Lessons), Saint Bernardine, five Franciscan Martyrs, Saint Mary (the Virgin Mary, with Lessons), Transfiguration.
The Collects start on f.102v. Collects are short general prayers of a particular structure. This manuscript features several for Franciscan Saints.
The Ordinale (Ordinal) for Advent starts on f.104r.
The Commemoration of the Dead before Matins in Lent starts on f.110r. This section is noted.
The Prose at Nativity starts on f.113r. This section begins Verbum caro factum est De Virgine Maria.
The Jhesu dulcis Memoria starts on f.113v. This section includes a colophon: Jhesu Maria Franchisco.
The Officium Sepulture Parvulorum is on f.114r. This section is concerned with funeral rites for infants.
The Rubric and Collects are on f.114v. Rubrics are the rules laid down for the recitation of the Divine Office, the celebration of Mass, and the administration of the sacraments. There are more Collects in this section, as above.
The script is fair, very unequal, and by several hands not all of the same date. There is little ornament, the capitals being for the most part plain red.
Dates
- Creation: c 1480
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
This manuscript has a full Franciscan Kalendar and Litany, and many of the Collects and Special Services are many of them Franciscan, while the Sanctorale closely follows the Kalendar. The Kalendar shows early connection with Verona. The name of Saint Cerbonus, Bishop of Verona, occurs on 10 October, though with no special prominence, and on 14 July Saint Tuscana, widow, Solemne Verone, is inserted. Again on 12 April, after the Deposition of Saint Zeno, the words Solemne Verone are inserted.
The Suffrages to the Litany include Ut civitatem et patriam istam (in order to make this city and country). Regarding the date of the manuscript, we have the following indications. The original Kalendar includes the names of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and Saint Bernardinus (his Translation is added on 17 May and his Service inserted on f.99v). This would place it in the second half of the century. Saint Bonaventura is inserted both times in the Kalendar (Translation: 14 March, Feast: 7 July), and is added to the Litany, but apparently by the original scribe. He was canonised in 1482. The five Franciscan Martyrs are added both in Kalendar and Sanctorale (canonised 1481). From all these facts one would suggest circa 1480 as the probable date.
There are some liturgical notes by a modern French scholar at the end of the Kalendar, and also on a slip of paper inserted. Later there is a pencil note under W. H. Black's signature of date 25/5/57- Laing records that it came from W. H. Black's library. It is described in his Sale Catalogue Number 418, and noted as having been sold to ' Saunders ' for £2, 10s (see Catalogue of W. H. Black, Sotheby, London, July 1873. Number 418, B.M. S.-C.S. 691 (2)).
Previous reference
Laing 24
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum and paper.
Binding: Oak boards covered leather, clasps gone.
Collation: a6, b10-k10, l7 (wants 6, 7, and 8), m11 (+7, 8, 9) = 114.
Dimensions
25.4 cm x 18.42 cm
General
Secundo folio: text cum rel[ativis]
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 114, 32 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