Sequences ‘Commendation of the Souls’ and Psalms of the Passion, characteristic of the Sarum Books of Hours, in English, The Wycliffite commentary on the Athanasian Creed, Gospel readings for Christmas (John 1; only verses 11–14 survive, because of the loss of leaves), Easter (Mark 16), Ascension Eve (John 17), Ascension Day (Mark 16) and St Thomas’s Day (John 20) in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible with rubrics in red., General epistles in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible: James, with the usual prologue–3 John, 1–6 — 15th century, first quarter; England

Title

Sequences ‘Commendation of the Souls’ and Psalms of the Passion, characteristic of the Sarum Books of Hours, in English, The Wycliffite commentary on the Athanasian Creed, Gospel readings for Christmas (John 1; only verses 11–14 survive, because of the loss of leaves), Easter (Mark 16), Ascension Eve (John 17), Ascension Day (Mark 16) and St Thomas’s Day (John 20) in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible with rubrics in red., General epistles in the Later Version of the Wycliffite Bible: James, with the usual prologue–3 John, 1–6 — 15th century, first quarter; England

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 258

Place of origin

England

Date

15th century, first quarter

Language

Latin

Middle English (1100-1500)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

71 leaves, c.

Hands

textura, change of scribe on fol. 46r; black and brown ink

Decoration

Fragment of a border on damaged fol. 1r, made of pink, blue and gold bars and penwork sprays.

2-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginnings of psalms; 1-line blue or red initials at the beginning of psalm verses and contrasting red or blue paraphs at the beginning of commentary entries in Rolle’s Psalter.

2-line gold initial on blue and pink background at the beginning of Athanasian Creed.

2-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginning of gospel readings.

3- to 5-line blue initials with red penwork at the beginning of epistles; 2-line similar initials at the beginning of the prologue and chapters.

Rubrics in red ink.

Binding

Paper over pastebord. Brown leather spine with gilt decoration. Red leather label on spine with gilt lettering ‘PSALMS. &C. MS.’; paper label with ‘258’. Marbled paper flyleaves.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: received in 1834 with the bequest of Douce.

Provenance

Note about the manuscript by R. Farmer on the upper pastedown.

Francis Douce (1757–1834); see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: bookplate on fol. i recto; notes on the upper pastedown and fol. 70.

Title

Translations and commentaries

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 258

Summary

By Richard Rolle of Hampole: An English translation of, and commentary on:

the Psalms in the 'Commendatio Animarum', 119 and 139

the ten Psalms of the Passion

The first leaf is injured.

Also comprises:

(fol. 39) The Athanasian Creed, with a commentary (by John Wycliffe)

(fol. 46) The Gospels on Easter Day, Ascension Eve and Day, and st. Thomas's Day

(fol. 48v) The General Epistles, with Jerome's prologue, wanting all after 3 John 6.

Date

written in the 15th cent.

Language

English

Physical facet

On parchment, imperfect

Physical extent

70 Leaves

Custodial history

Probably belonged to dr. R. Farmer, who writes a note about the book.