Psalter, English metrical version (Surtees Psalter), Prognosticon Milonis Toletani de coniunctione facta anno Domini 1357 — 14th century, end; England

Title

Psalter, English metrical version (Surtees Psalter), Prognosticon Milonis Toletani de coniunctione facta anno Domini 1357 — 14th century, end; England

Shelfmark

MS. Bodl. 921

Place of origin

England

Date

14th century, end

Language

Middle English (1100-1500)

Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

ii + 101 leaves

Decoration

Penwork border

Initials

Annie Sutherland notes that the first line of each psalm in Latin starts with an enlarged blue initial, decorated with flourishes that extend into the margin, followed by the Middle English translation. The first word of subsequent verses is also supplied in Latin (marked by alternating blue and red initials) prior to the English verse rendition ( English Psalms in the Middle Ages, 1300-1450 [Oxford University Press, 2015], p. 250)

The text of the Psalter in this manuscript has much in common with that of MS. Bodl. 425. However, there are significant differences in the layout and design of the two manuscripts. In a detailed comparison of the two, Sutherland points out that the scribe of MS. Bodley 425 'makes a significantly more concerted effort to highlight the interactions' between the Middle English translation of Psalms and the Latin original. She argues that the 'more emphatic system of signposting' used in MS. Bodley 425 was more conducive to following along in the 'vernacular verse rendition while simultaneously listening to (or, conceivably, reading) the Latin original'. In particular, the verse incipits in MS. Bodl. 921 are minimal and somewhat sporadic compared to MS. Bodl. 425 ( English Psalms in the Middle Ages, 1300-1450 [Oxford University Press, 2015], p. 254)

Acquisition

'Gifte of the Lady Farmor', dame Mary Fermor of Easton Neston, to the Bodleian in 1601

Provenance

Wenlock, Shropshire, Cluniac priory of St Milburga. Bears an erased ex-libris inscription with a monastic anathema: 'Iste liber constat Hu[goni?] de Wolast[on?]. Quicunque alienauerit Anathema sit. Qui culpat carmen sit maledictus Amen' (16th century). There are three places called Wollaston not far from Wenlock of which that near Shrewsbury is closest and perhaps the one mentioned here ( MLGB3)

'Thomas Palmerstoun', 16th century (fol 45)