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Vita S. Katherinae, &c.,

  • NLW MS 21876A [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [mid 12 cent.].

An abridged version of the eleventh-century Latin 'Life' of St Catherine of Alexandria by Ainard of Rouen (ff. 1 verso-24); five Easter sermons attributed to St Augustine (ff. 25-43); incomplete text from Lamentations II, 6-11 (ff. 1, 43 verso). Written by three hands, hand II (ff. 25-43) more conservative, hand III (ff. 1, 43 verso) with neumes of St Gall type. Initials in red, with later marginal flourishes in red and blue; polychrome miniature of the crucifixion, 16 cent. (f. 24 verso). 'Quocunque tollatur Noreshein meum fatur', 15 or 16 cent., on ff. 1 verso-2; 'Nro 35', 'xxxv' on f. 1; 'Nro 35' (overwriting earlier '9187') and 'Hs.6.60.N.178' inside back cover. Cuttings from German and American catalogues pasted inside front cover.

Psalterium,

  • NLW MS 21877B [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [c. 1230x1250].

The vulgate text of the psalter written in Paris, [c. 1230x1250], by one excellent hand and corrected by two others, one of whom wrote the cancels ff. 145 and 152-3, the other, who corrected one quire only, wrote the cancel f. 134. There are seven 8-line historiated initials, for psalms 26, 51, 52, 68, 80, 101 and 109; leaves now wanting probably bore those for psalms 1, 38 and 97 which would have completed a common sequence of illustrated psalms (cf. R. Branner, Manuscript painting in Paris in the reign of Saint Louis (Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 1977), p. 20). The initials, in colour on burnished gold ground, and other lavish decoration of the book are of high quality. The figures all appear to be the work of one hand, very close in style to Branner's 'Dominican Group', notably his 'third master' (op. cit., pp. 59-60).

Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae,

  • NLW MS 21879C [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [15 cent., first ½].

The four gospels of the passion as sung in Holy Week followed by the Exultet and other chants for the blessing of candles at the Easter Vigil. Written in a large textura, music on staves throughout. A large illuminated initial at the beginning of each gospel and other smaller illuminated initials.

Les Aventures de Tristran,

  • NLW MS 5667E [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [14 cent.].

A manuscript of the French prose romance of Tristran, Chevalier de la Table Ronde, illuminated on vellum.

Jean de Rovroy: Le Livre des Stratagèmes

  • NLW MS 23205D [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [late 15 cent.]

A late fifteenth-century illuminated manuscript of Les Stratagèmes, the French version of the Latin Stratagemata of Julius Sextus Frontinus, translated, [1439x1460], for Charles VII, king of France, by Jean de Rovroy (fl. 1388-1460), dean of the faculty of theology at the University of Paris, who has added extracts, in French, from the Epitoma Rei Militaris of Vegetius (see R. Bossuat, 'Jean de Rovroy, traducteur des Stratagèmes de Frontin', Bibliothèque d'Humanisme et Renaissance, 22 (1960), 273-86, 469-89). Written by one scribe, 'H. G.', in France (f. 70 verso). Decorated initials with burnished gold for all books and chapters; other initials and paragraph marks in alternate red and blue. Four polychrome miniatures, one representing the translator presenting his book to Charles VII, probably the work of Robinet Testard (fl. 1484-1523), miniaturist to count Charles d'Angoulême (1459 or 1460-1496), later to his wife, Louise de Savoie (1476-1531); retouched in XIX cent.

Biblia,

  • NLW MS 22050A [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [13 cent., second ½].

A pocket Bible, the books in the usual order and with the usual prologues of thirteenth century French Bibles (see N. R. Ker and A. J. Piper, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries (Oxford, 1969- ), I, 96-7) except that a prologue to the Book of Wisdom is wanting. Decoration of good quality: historiated initials on f. 1 (St Jerome writing) and f. 4 (the seven days of the Creation in roundels and a crucifixion) and initials embodying monsters, lions, birds, cats, etc. for all Books and prologues. Followed on ff. 471-508 verso by the dictionary of Hebrew names and, on ff. 510-16, added in a contemporary hand, a Franciscan list of liturgical readings for the temporale, sanctorale and commune. On f. 518 verso in an English hand of the second half of the thirteenth century are the verses Pocula ianus amat februarius algeo clamat (Walther 14217).

Biblia Abbatie de Tinternie,

  • NLW MS 22631C [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
  • File
  • [mid 13 cent.].

A Bible, from Tintern Abbey, the Books in the usual order of 13 cent. French Bibles (see N. R. Ker and A. J. Piper, Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries (Oxford, 1969- ), I, 96-7) except that it lacks the Prayer of Manasses and includes after Ecclesiasticus the Prayer of Solomon. Compared with the usual set of prologues there are many omissions and divergencies. Written by two scribes. Good decorated initials. Substantial glossing by hands of 13 cent.