Portable Psalter with Antiphons, Carthusian Use; Italy, Ferrara, after 1461, perhaps before 1471 (?)

Details

This item is described in 1 online catalogue.?

For the main catalogue entry, see: Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

Description

From Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.

Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries contains descriptions of all known Western medieval manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libraries, and of medieval manuscripts in selected Oxford colleges. Learn more.

Title

Portable Psalter with Antiphons, Carthusian Use; Italy, Ferrara, after 1461, perhaps before 1471 (?)

Shelfmark

MS. Rawl. G. 19

Place of origin

Italian, Ferrara

Date

15th century, third quarter (?) (1461 × 1471 (?))

Language

Latin

Psalter (Carthusian)

1. (fols. 1r–9r) Carthusian calendar written in red and black, graded to 12 lessons and ‘Solemne’, approximately half full. The months are headed by notes on the length of the solar and lunar month, and follow each other without breaks, not always starting on a new page. The feasts of Hugh of Lincoln and his relics are in red (17 and 8 November) and of Hugh of Grenoble (1 April) in black. Includes Thomas Aquinas (7 March), Christina (24 July), Columban (21 November), Silas (28 November), Saturninus of Toulouse (29 November) and Eulalia of Merida (10 December). The feast of the Presentation of the Virgin (21 November) is in the original hand. Commemoration of the death in 1471 of Borso d’Este, the founder of Certosa of Ferrara, is added in red (‘Anniuersarium ducis Borsij’, 20 August). Fols. 9v–10v are ruled but blank.

2. (fols. 11r–143r) Psalms 2–150, imperfect at the beginning because of the loss of a leaf before fol. 11, starting at 2: 8 (‘bi gentes hereditatem ...’). There is an imprint of blue, green and red pigment on fol. 10v, presumably from an illuminated border on the lost leaf. The psalms are in the biblical order, laid out as prose, with titles ‘psalmus’ or ‘psalmus dauid’. The numbers of psalms 3–8 are written in the margins in Roman numerals in a contemporary (?) hand. Punctuated throughout with punctus elevatus used to mark metrum and minor pauses, and punctus used to mark the ends of verses. The psalms are accompanied by antiphons, versicles, responses, invitatoria, cues for canticles, etc. with rubrics referring to monastic use. Lessons occur after psalms 37 (fol. 43), 51 (fol. 56v), 67 (fol. 68r), 78 (fol. 84r), 93 (fol. 98r), 104 (fol. 108r). There are textual divisions at psalms appointed to be recited first at Matins on Sunday and during the week in monastic use: 20, 32, 45, 59, 73, 85 and 101 (see ‘Decoration’). Subdivisions within psalms are marked by larger initials and rubrics ‘diuisio’ or ‘psalmus’ at 9: 20 (fol. 15v), 17: 26 (fol. 22r), 36: 27 (fol. 42v; verse 27 starts on a new line with a space left for a rubric), 67: 20 (fol. 69r), 68: 17 (fol. 71r, space left for a rubric), 77: 36 (fol. 82r), 88: 20 (fol. 93v; space is left for a rubric), 103: 25 (fol. 107v), 105: 32 (fol. 112r), 106: 25 (fol. 113v), 138: 11 (‘Et dixi ... ) (fol. 135v), 143: 9 (fol. 139r) and 144: 10 (fol. 140r). Psalm 104 (fol. 108r) is not subdivided; psalm 118 is subdivided into twenty-two 8-verse units. Psalms 126–127 were originally omitted, but added in a contemporary hand on a leaf inserted after fol. 129. At the end: ‘Explicit psalterium’.

3. (fol. 143r–149v) Weekly canticles, with titles. References to books of the Bible for weekly and daily canticles and canticles for the year are added in margins in a postmedieval hand. (1) Confitebor tibi domine (Isaiah 12) (‘Feria secunda ad Laudes canticum ysaie’); (2) Ego dixi (Isaiah 38: 10–21) (‘Feria ij canticum ezechie’); (3) Exultauit cor meum (1 Samuel 2: 1–11) (‘Feria iiij canticum anne’); (4) Cantemus domino (Exodus 15: 1–20) (‘Feria v canticum moysi’); (5) Domine audiui (Habakkuk 3) (‘Feria vj canticum Abacuch’); (6) Audite celi (Deuteronomy 32: 1–44) (‘Sabbato canticum moysi’) with rubric ‘diuisio’ at verse 22, ‘Ignis succensus ...’.

4. (fols. 149v–153v) Daily canticles, prayers and creeds, with titles: (1) Benedicite omnia opera (‘Canticum trium puerorum’) (fol. 149v); (2) Benedictus dominus deus (‘Canticum zacharie’) (fol. 150v); (3) Magnificat (‘Canticum gloriose uirginis Marie’) (fol. 151r); (4) Nunc dimittis (‘Canticum symeonis’) (fol. 151r); (5) Athanasian Creed (Quicumque uult ... ) (‘Symbolum Athanasij episcopi’) (fol. 151v); (6) Apostles’ Creed (Credo in deum ... ) (‘Symbolum apostolorum’) (fol. 153r).

5. (fols. 153v–162v) Canticles for the year, most with rubrics: (1) Ecce dominus deus in fortitudine ueniet et brachium eius dominabitur ... (Isaiah 40: 10–17) (‘Incipiunt cantica . In aduentu domini’);/ (2) Cantate domino canticum nouum laus eius ab extremis terre ... (Isaiah 42: 10–16) (‘canticum ij’); (3) Hec dicit dominus redemptor israel sanctus eius ... (Isaiah 49: 7–13); (4) Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris uidit lucem magnam ...(Isaiah 9: 2–7) (‘In natiuitate domini canticum’); (5) Letare ierusalem et diem festum agite ..(Isaiah 66: 10–16, non-Vulgate text) (‘canticum’);. (6) Urbs fortitudinis nostre syon saluator ponetur in ea ... (Isaiah 26: 1–12) (‘canticum iij’); (7) Deducant oculi mei lacrimas per diem et noctem ... (Jeremiah 14: 17–21) (‘In quadragesima canticum’); (8) Recordare domine quid acciderit nobis intuere et respice opprobrium nostrum ... (Lamentations 5: 1–21) (‘canticum’); (9) (T)ollam quippe uos de gentibus et congregabo uos de uniuersis terris ... (Ezekiel 36: 24–28) (‘canticum’); (10) Quis est iste qui uenit de edom tinctis uestibus de bosra ... (Isaiah 63: 1–5) (‘Tempore pascali canticum’); (11) Uenite et reuertamur ad dominum quia cepit et sanabit nos ... (Hosea 6: 1–6) (‘canticum’); (12) Expecta me dicit dominus in die resurrectionis mee in futurum ... (Zephaniah 3: 8–13) (‘canticum iij’); (13) Domine miserere nostri te enim expectauimus esto brachium ...(Isaiah 33: 2–10) (‘Dominicis diebus’); (14) Audite qui longe estis que fecerim dicit ... (Isaiah 33: 13–16) (‘canticum ij’); (15) Miserere domine plebi tue super quam inuocatum est nomen tuum ... (Sirach 36: 14–19) (‘canticum iij’); (16) Uos sancti domini uocabimini ministri dei nostri ... (Isaiah 61: 6–9) (‘In natiuitate apostolorum et plurimorum martirum’); (17) Reddidit deus mercedem laborum sanctorum suorum ... (Wisdom 10: 17–20) (‘canticum ij’); (18) Fulgebunt iusti et tanquam scintille in arundineto discurrent .. (Wisdom 3: 7–9) (‘canticum iij’);. (19) Beatus uir qui in sapientia morabitur ... (Sirach 14: 22 and 15: 3–6) (‘In natiuitate unius martiris uel confessoris’); (20) Benedictus uir qui confidit in domino ... (Jeremiah 17: 7–8) (‘canticum ij’); (21) Beatus uir qui inuentus est sine macula ... (Sirach 31: 8–11) (‘canticum iij’); (22) Audite me diuini fructus ... (Sirach 39: 17–21) (‘In solempnitatibus virginis marie et festis virginvm’); (23) Gaudens gaudebo in domino et exsultabit anima mea ... (Isaiah 61: 10–62: 3); (24) Non uocaberis ultra derelicta ... (Isaiah 62: 4–7) (‘canticum iij’).

6. (fols. 162v–172r) Hymnal, with rubrics, comprising hymns for the year from Advent to Pentecost, followed by hymns for the feasts of Corpus Christi, John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary and Exaltation of the Cross, followed by daily hymns. Conditor alme (Chevalier, no. 3733), Uenit redemptor gentium (Chevalier, no. 21243), Egressus eius a patre (Chevalier, no. 5268), Audi benigne conditor (Chevalier, no. 1449), Uexilla regis (Chevalier, no. 21481), Arbor decora (Chevalier, no. 1268), Hic est dies uerus dei (Chevalier, no. 7793), Misterium mirable ut abluat (Chevalier, no. 11831), Optatus uotis omnium sacratus (Chevalier, no. 14177), O grande cunctis gaudium (Chevalier, no. 13071), Ueni creator spiritus (Chevalier, no. 21204), Iam christus astra (Chevalier, no. 9215), Impleta gaudent uiscera (Chevalier, no. 8506), Pange lingua gloriosi corporis (Chevalier, no. 14467), Sacris sollemnis (Chevalier, no. 17713), Uerbum supernum prodiens nec patris (Chevalier, no. 21398), Ut queant laxis resonare (Chevalier, no. 21039), Antra deserti (Chevalier, no. 1214), O nimis felix meritique (Chevalier, no. 13311), Aue maris stella (Chevalier, no. 1889), Misterium ecclesie hymnum christo (Chevalier, no. 11828), Uere gratia plena es (Chevalier, no. 21408), Crux fidelis inter omnes (Chevalier, no. 4018), Christe redemptor omnium conserua tuos famulos (Chevalier, no. 2959), Iesu saluator seculi redemptis (Chevalier, no. 9677), Deus creator omnium polique (Chevalier, no. 4426), Eterne rerum conditor (Chevalier, no. 647), Splendor paterne (Chevalier, no. 19349), Iam lucis orto sydere (Chevalier, no. 9272), Nunc sancte nobis spiritus (Chevalier, no. 12586), Rector potens uerax deus (Chevalier, no. 17061), Rerum deus tenax uigor (Chevalier, no. 17328), Christe qui lux es et dies ... (Chevalier, no. 2934).

7. (fols. 172v–175r) Litany, laid out with invocations following one another continuously, rather than each starting on a new line. Includes Christopher among the martyrs, Hugh (of Lincoln (?)) among the confessors and Blandina among the virgins. Followed by collects with rubrics ‘oratio’ (fols. 174v–175r): (1) Deus cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere suscipe ... (2) Pretende domine famulis et famulabus tuis dexteram celestis auxilij ut de toto corde ... (3) Ineffabilem misericordiam tuam domine nobis clementer ostende ut simul nos ... (4) Fidelium deus omnium conditor et redemptor animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum remissionem ... (5) Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui uiuorum dominaris simul et mortuorum ...

8. (fols. 175v–180v) Carthusian Office of the Dead (‘Incipit officium mortuorum secundum ord’ cart’’) with rubrics. Fols. 181r–187v are blank.

Form

codex

Support

parchment; paper fly-leaves

Physical extent

193 leaves

Hands

Formal book hand; black ink.

Decoration

Red and blue penwork KL monograms in the calendar.

8- to 9-line blue initials on gold background, decorated with floral and geometric designs, and gold discs, at the beginnings of psalms 20 (fol. 25r), 32 (fol. 36v), 45 (fol. 51v), 59 (fol. 63r), 73 (fol. 77r), 85 (fol. 90v) and 101 (fol. 104r).

3-line gold initials in rectangular frames on pink, blue and green background with white floral and arabesque designs at the beginnings of psalms on fols. 11r–19v.

2- to 4-line alternating red and blue initials with contrasting purple or red penwork at the beginnings of psalms, subdivisions within psalms, canticles, hymns, lessons, litany and prayers on fols. 20r–180v.

1-line alternating blue and red initials at the beginnings of verses and periods. Blue initials are decorated with red penwork on fols. 11r–14r.

Guide-letters often survive.

Rubrics in red ink.

Binding

White parchment over pasteboard, 18th century. Spine badly damaged. ‘PS ... S’ written along the spine in brown ink. Paper label with lettering ‘B. M. || Rawl 19.’. Sewn on four cords. Pastedowns and fly-leaves of laid paper with watermarks. Fol. 1 has marks on the outer edge left by the fittings of two clasps.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: bequeathed by Rawlinson; accessioned in 1756. Former shelfmarks: ‘589’ (upper pastedown); ‘Auctarium Rawlinson 19’ (fol. i recto); ‘757’ (black ink, fol. 1r).

Provenance

Made for the Charterhouse of Ferrara (founded 1461) : liturgical evidence; added commemoration of the death in 1471 of Borso d’Este, its founder, on fol. 6r.

Richard Rawlinson (1690–1755) , see ODNB: bookplate, upper pastedown.

View full record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

See this item

Requesting: For information on how to request this item, see Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.

Connections

People associated with this object

Rawlinson, Richard, 1690-1755

View full record

See this itemFind out how to request this item

Not available online