Book of Hours (Use of Paris), end of the 15th century
Contents
Book of Hours in French and Latin from the end of the 15th century, of French provenance and possibly Parisian. The Use is that of Paris.
Kalendar: ff. 1r-6v. Contains commemorations of Saints and Martyrs, and other festivities; the most important are written in golden letters, whereas the other lines alternate blue and red for effect. Written in French. The French, and possibly Parisian, provenance is also suggested by the prominence given to the festivity of Saint Loys (Saint Louis IX, King of France; 25 August), Saint Leu and Saint Gille (Saint Lupus of Sens and Saint Giles; 1 September), Saint Denis (Saint Denis, first Bishop of Paris; 9 October).
Sequences of the Gospels: start on f. 7v. A series of passages from the Gospels. The readings are not arranged according to the liturgy, but in chronological order, so that the events of the life of Christ are narrated in their correct chronological sequence. They do not normally include stories from the Passion. This manuscripts includes readings: John 1:1-14 (ff. 7r-7v); Luke 1:26-38 (ff. 8r-9r); Matthew 2:1-12 (ff. 9r-10r); Mark 16:14-20 (ff. 10r-10v).
Obsecro te (masculine form): starts on f. 11r. This is special prayer dedicated to the Virgin Mary, beginning with the words Obsecro te ('I beseech you'). It is normally present in Books of Hours.
O intemerata: starts on f. 13v. This is a special prayer dedicated to the Virgin Mary, beginning with the words O intemerata ('O immaculate Virgin'). It is normally present in Books of Hours.
Prayers: start on f. 15r. A series of prayers for different situations, each introduced by a blue rubric in French which explains when the prayer should be recited (for example, in the morning, when one goes to church, on entering a graveyard, on taking holy water and so on). They begin with the words Oraison devote a dire au matin quant on se lieve. In manus tuas domine Ihesu Christe et in manu dulcissime benigne matris tue and end on f. 18r with esto nobis pregustatum mortis in carmine O dulcis o pie o fili marie. Amen.
Prayer (Oroison a nostre seigneur): starts on f. 18r. It begins with O bone Ihesu per tuam piissimam misericordiam esto michi Ihesus and ends on f. 18v with Ergo bone Ihesu miserere mei secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Amen.
Stabat mater (De nostre dame): starts on f. 18v with the words Stabat mater dolorosa. It is followed by another prayer on f. 20r which begins with Interveniat pro nobis domine. F. 20v is left blank.
Prayer: starts on f. 21r with the words Dulcissime domine Ihesu Christe verus deus qui de sinu patris and ends on f. 23r with remissionem omnium peccatorum tribuere per infinita secula. Amen.
Prayer: starts on f. 23r. It is introduced by a rubric in French which recommends this prayer against death, illness and other calamities: Sensuit Oroison moult devote contre toute mortalite. maladie. mort subite tempeste famine. guerre et contre tous ses ennemis. It begins with the words Recordare domine testamenti tui sancti and ends on f. 24v.
Prayer: starts on f. 24v with the words Sancta maria dei genetrix piissima per amorem and ends on f. 28v.
Prayers gathered under the name 'Book of Jesus': start on f. 29r. They are introduced by the rubric En nom du pere. et du filz. et du saint esperit. sensuit le livre de Ihesus. Et premierementla sai(n)cte oroyson quail a fait. Under this name are gathered the Lord's Prayer (f. 29r), Hail Mary (f. 29r), Apostles' Creed (ff. 29v-30r), the Ten Commandments (ff. 30r-30v), the five Precepts of the Church (ff. 30v-31r), all in French. They are followed by a short text in Latin which begins with Qui habet mandata mea et servata (f. 30v) and one in French whiche begins with Tout ainsi que descent en la fleur la Rousee (ff. 30v-31r).
Ave cuius conceptio: starts on f. 31r and it si introduced by the French rubric Devote salutation a nostre dame.
Memoriae (or Suffrages): start on f. 31v. Each one of them is dedicated to a Saint or Martyr and consists of three short utterances (antiphon, versicle, response) and a longer prayer which normally contains details of the life of the Saint to whom each particular Memoria is dedicated. Here we find Saint Augustine (ff. 31v-32r) and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (ff. 32r-32v).
Passion of Christ: starts on f. 32v. It is introduced by the rubric Passio domini nostri Ihesu Christi secundum Iohannem. It begins with the words In illo tempore. Apprehendit pilatus ihesum et flagellavit eum and ends on f. 33r with quia verum est testimonium eium Deo gratias. It is followed by a prayer which begins with Oremus. Oratio. Respice quesumus domine super hanc familiam tuam and ends on f. 33v. The narration of the Passion is taken mainly from John 19:1-35.
Later addition (end of the 15th / beginning of the 16th century): on f. 33v, in French and Latin. The part in French begins with the words Pape boniface a donne a tous ceulx and grants an indulgence of 2.000 years to those who recite the following prayer; the prayer, in Latin, begins with the words Domine ihesu Christe qui hanc sanctissimam carnem.
Blank folios (ff. 34r-36v).
Hours of the Virgin: start on f. 37r. They follow the Use of Rome and are divided in: Matins (ff. 37r-49r), Laudes (ff. 49v-60r; recited upon rising together with 'Matins'), Prime (ff. 60v-64v), Terce (ff. 65r-69r), Sext (ff. 69v-73r), None (ff. 73v-77v), Vespers (ff. 78r-84r), Compline (ff. 84v-94r).The Hours of the Holy Cross and Hours of the Holy Spirit are worked in; Salve regina follows the compline of Holy Spirit (f. 89r) and the Advent office begins on f. 89v. F. 94v is left blank.
Penitential Psalms: start on f. 95r. These seven Psalms (6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142) are particularly connected to King David, who allegedly composed them as an atonement for his sins).
Litany: starts on f. 102v. It consists in the hypnotic invocation of a list of saints; each invocation is followed by the answer Ora pro nobis (with the plural variation Orate when more than one saint is invoked). The list begins with Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison ('Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy'). It is followed by prayers.
Office of the Dead: starts on f. 107r. This office was intended as an intercession on behalf of the dead, in order to help them to reduce their term in Purgatory. A series of readings for this office are taken from the Book of Job and the sufferings of Job became an allegory for the trials endured by the penitent souls in Purgatory.
Prayer: starts on f. 137v. It consists of a formula that should be used when passing close to a cemetery, followed by another prayer. The fomula is introduced by the rubric En passant par le cymitiere deuez dir. A(ntiphona) and begins with the words Avete omnes anime fideles quarum corpora; the prayer begins on f. 138r with the words Oremus. Oratio. Domine Jhesu Christe salus et liberatio fidelium animarum.
Texts in French: start on f. 138v. They begins respectively with the words: Protestation. Mon treschier seigneur ihesu christ voyez ey la foy (ff. 138v-140r); Protestacion. Sire dieu tout puissant tout voyant (f. 140r-140v); Cy comment(sic) les trois verites salutaires. Vray est que dieu nostre bon pere (ff. 140v-142v); Devote oroyson a la vierge marie. Ie vous remercie tres glorieuse vierge marie mere de dieu des tresgrans graces et aydes (ff. 142v-143v).
Memoriae (or Suffrages): start on f. 143v. Here this manuscript we find: Holy Trinity (f. 143v), Saint Michael (f. 144r), Saint John the Baptist (ff. 144r-144v), Saint John the Evangelist (f. 144v), Saints Peter and Paul (ff. 144v-145r), Saint James (f. 145r-145v), Saint Andrew (ff. 145v-146r), Saint Bartholomew (f. 146r), All Apostles (f. 146r-146v), Saint Innocents (ff. 146v-147r), Saint Stephen (f. 147r-147v), Saint Laurence (f. 147v), Saint Christopher (ff. 148r-149r), Saint Sebastian (ff. 149r-150r), Saint Denis (f. 150r), Saint Cosmas and Damianus (f. 150v), All martyrs (f. 151r), Saint Martin (f. 151r-151v), Saint Nicholas (ff. 151v-152r), Saint Anthony the Abbot (f. 152r-152v), Saint Francis (f. 152v), Saint Francis together with Saint Louis IX and Saint Claire (f. 153r-153v), Saint Anthony of Padua (f. 153v), Saint Maur (ff. 153v-154r), Saint Fiacre (f. 154r-154v), Saints Confessors (f. 154v), Saint Mary Magdalene (ff. 154v-155r), Saint Katherine of Alexandria (f. 155r-155v), Saint Margaret of Antioch (f. 155v), Saint Genevieve (ff. 155v-156r), Saint Barbara (f. 156r-156v), Five Saints (Denis, George, Cristopher, Blaise, Giles, ff. 156v-157r), Five Saints (Katherine, Margaret, Martha, Christina, Barbara, f. 157r-157v), All Saints (ff. 157v-158r).
Commendations of the Souls: start on f. 159v. A collection of prayers and Psalms for the souls of the dead. It is introduced by the rubric Sensuivent les comendances and begins with the words . Subvenite sancti dei occurrite angeli domini suscipientes animas omnium fidelium.
Verses of Saint Bernard: begin on f. 177r. They are introduced by the rubric Sensuivent les sept vers Saint Bernard and with the words Illumina oculos meos domine ne umquam obdormiam. Only the first two prayers have been copied and f. 178v has been left blank.
Passion of Christ: starts on f. 179v. It is introduced by the rubric Passio domini nostri jhesu christi secundum Johannes and begins with the words In illo tempore. Egressus est ihesus; it ends on f. 185v with monumentum posuerunt ihesum. The narration of the Passion is that of John 18-19.
Prayer: starts on f. 185v with the words Deus qui voluisti pro redemptione mundi a iudeis reprobari.
Memoria of the three instruments of Passion: starts on f. 186r. It is introduced by the rubric De Reliquiis palacii. Ant(iphona) and begins with the words Cruci corone spinee santaque ferro lancee. F. 187r has been left blank.
Little Office of the Immaculate Conception: starts on f. 188r. This devotional office was composed towards the end of the 15th century, even though the belief in the Immaculate Conception was confirmed as a dogma only in 1854. It begins with the words Hore the conception beate marie. Domine labia mea aperies.
Prayers at Mass: start on f. 192r. They consist of eight prayers sometimes introduced by a rubric in French which explains when they should be recited; they begin respectively with the words: Quant le presbitre monstre le corps nostreseigneur. Ave salus mundi verbum patris; Autre oroison. Ave verum corpus natum; Entre la levacion et le communion. Oratio. In manus tuas domine comendo spiritum meum; Deus pius et propicius agnus; Salutacion au corps nostres(eigneur). Ave preciosissimum et sanctissimum corpus; Dittes devotement quant vous vouldrez confesser. Per angelorum sanctorum omnium; Quant vouldrez recevoir nostres(eigneur). Domine ihesu christe filii dei vivi te supplex queso; Apres ce que on a Receu nostres(seigneur). Vera perceptio corporis et sanguinis tui domine.
Memoriae (or Suffrages): start on f. 194v. Here are remembered: Saint Mathurin (f. 194v), Saint Apollonia (ff. 194v-195r), Saint Avia (f. 195r-195v).
Prayers and Memoriae (or Suffrages): start on f. 296r. A group of prayers in French and Latin which might have been a contemporary addition: Oroison tres devote quant on veult recepuoir nostre seigneur. tout puissant et misericor dieux seigneur voyci ie viens (ff. 196r-197r); Oraison de nostre dame. Sancta et immaculata virginitas quibus te laudibus efferam (f. 197r-197v); Prosa. Beata es virgo et gloriosa super omnes mulieres es benedicta (ff. 197v-198r); Oraison de saint gregoire. O domine ihesu christe adoro te in cruce pendente (f. 198r-199r); Suffrages of Saint Claude (f. 199r-200r), Saint Lazarus of Bethany (f. 200r-200v), Saint Martha (ff. 200v-201r); Oroison a nostre seigneur. Benedicto dei patris cum angelis suis sit super me. They are followed by six prayers whose rubrics specify when they should be recited: Contre la tempeste. A domo tua quesumus domine spirituales nequicie; pour impetrer grace de ses peches. Exaudi quesumus domine supplicium; Pour qualque tribulacion. Ineffabilem misericordiam tuam; Pour ceulx qui vont en voyaige. Adesto domine supplicationibus nostris; Pour nos bienfaicteurs. Pretende domine famulis et famulabus; Pour ses amys qui sont en necessite. Omnipotens sempiterne deus salus eterna credencium (ff. 201v-202v).
Blank folios (ff. 203r-207r).
Written in Bastarda, a type of script employed in France, Germany and part of the Netherlands during the 14th and 15th century.
The manuscript is richly illuminated. The Kalendar displays an outer decorative border with small miniatures of the occupations of the months and the signs of the Zodiac in separate small miniatures in the lower margina. The Book of Hours contains many pages with decorative borders, twelve small miniatures of Evangelists and Saints, four separate full-length figures in the outer margins, numerous ornametal initials and textual decorations. In particular, there are thirteen large finely painted semi-arched miniatures surrounded by beautiful decorative border in which are introduced birds and animals, and two other full-page miniatures without borders executed by a different artist.
There are two types of initials: gold paint or white or blue on decorated grounds of colour or gold paint (in different sizes) and gold paint on red ground. There are also gold and red line fillers, and capital letters in the ink of the text filled with pale yellow. The headings are all in blue. Framed floral borders all round or on three sides of picture pages: the ground are wholly or partly of gold paint; in them, animals, birds, and insects.
<emph render="underline">Miniatures of the Kalendar</emph>:
- January (f. 1r) – (a) Man warming himself in front of a fireplace. (b) Aquarius.
- February (f. 1v) – (a) Man sitting at a table near a fireplace. (b) Pisces.
- March (f. 2r) – (a) Man pruning trees. (b) Aries.
- April (f. 2v) – (a) Man with flowers. (b) Taurus.
- May (f. 3r) – (a) Couple riding on a horse. (b) Gemini.
- June (f. 3v) – (a) Man cutting grass with a scythe. (b) Cancer.
- July (f. 4r) – (a) Man harvesting with a sickle. (b) Leo.
- August (f. 4v) – (a) Threshing. (b) Virgo.
- September (f. 5r) – (a) Treading grapes. (b) Libra.
- October (f. 5v) – (a) Sowing. (b) Scorpio.
- November (f. 6r) – (a) Feeding swine. (b) Sagittarius.
- December (f. 6v) – (a) Killing pig. (b) Capricorn
<emph render="underline">Miniatures</emph>:
- F. 7r: Saint John the Evangelist with the eagle.
- F. 8r: Saint Luke with the bull.
- F. 9r: Saint Matthew with the angel.
- F. 10r: Saint Mark with the lion.
- F. 11r: The Virgin Mary crowned, with the Child and two angels, one of which holds a lute. Musical notations in the background.
- F. 13v: Annunciation.
- F. 18v: Pietà.
- F. 37r: Annunciation (semi-arched).
- F. 49v: Visitation (semi-arched)
- F. 58r: The Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist at the feet of the Cross. Soldiers holding spears in the background (semi-arched).
- F. 59v: Virgin enthroned surrounded by disciples and Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on them (semi-arched).
- F. 60v: Nativity (semi-arched).
- F. 65r: The Calling of the Shepherds (semi-arched).
- F. 69v: The Adoration of the Magi (semi-arched).
- F. 73v: The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (semi-arched).
- F. 78r: Massacre of the Innocent (semi-arched).
- F. 84v: Coronation of the Virgin (semi-arched).
- F. 95r: Resurrection of Lazarus (semi-arched).
- F. 97r: David with arp (standing figure in the margin).
- F. 107r: Job and his friends.
- F. 144r: Saint Michael.
- F. 145r: Saint James (standing figure in the margin).
- F. 145v: Saint Andrew (standing figure in the margin).
- F. 148r: Saint Christopher.
- F. 149r: Saint Sebastian.
- F. 151v: Saint Nicholas.
- F. 152v: Saint Francis.
- F. 157r: Saint Katherina of Alexandria.
- F. 157v: Saint Barbara (standing figure in the margin).
- F. 159r: Christ on the rainbow, bodies rising, the heavenly congregation, among them Justice with sword and scale (full-page image).
- F. 179r: Christ carrying the Cross (semi-arched).
- F. 187v: Joachim and Anna kiss before the Golden Gate. In three smaller compartment, the offering of a sacrifice at the temple, Anne and the angel, Joachim and the angel.
- F. 199r: Saint Claude.
- F. 200r: Saint Lazarus.
- F. 200v: Saint Martha.
Dates
- Creation: end of the 15th century
Language of Materials
French and Latin.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 bound MS volume
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The volume came into the Edinburgh University collection as part of the James Cathcart White bequest in 1943, one of the fourteen medieval manuscripts in his collection, eleven of which were books of hours. Cathcart White was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh in 1873, and an Edinburgh advocate in the late 19th-mid 20th century.
Bibliography
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum of fine quality.
Dimensions
14 cm x 9.6 cm
Source
- Trafford, Edward Southwell, 1838-1912 (landowner and judge) (Former owner, Person)
- White, James Cathcart, 1853-1943 (Edinburgh graduate and advocate) (Donor, Person)
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