Speculum humanae saluationis — c. 1430–50; Spanish, Catalonia, Roussillon

Title

Speculum humanae saluationis — c. 1430–50; Spanish, Catalonia, Roussillon

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 204

Date

c. 1430–50

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

6+ lxviii leaves, in double columns

Decoration

Fine miniatures (drawings).

Fine initials.

Acquisition

Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1834

Provenance

Francis Douce, 1757–1834

Title

Speculum Humane Saluacionis

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 204

Summary

'Incipit speculum humane saluacionis | In quo patet casus hominis & modus reparacionis', in rhyming rhythmical verse: beg. 'In hoc speculo potest homo considerare.' Each page contains about 52 lines with two pen-and-ink drawings, slightly coloured, generally representing an antitype and type from the New and Old Testaments: and each leaf usually forms one of the 45 chapters. A 'tabula' (index) and 'prohemium' precede the text with some miscellaneous matter, and Douce has added many notes. The last leaf of the text is much discoloured. At the foot of fol. i is the coat of arms of a bishop or abbot, for whom the MS. was written, perhaps gules a key argent erect, the wards on the dexter side, with the motto ' Forte Verite.'.

Date

written in the first half of the 15th cent.

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment, with drawings

Physical extent

7 leaves, in double columns

Custodial history

'From the collection of Monsr [Claude de] St. George Arch-Bishop of Lyons', 1693-1714: the book also bears an 18th cent. armorial bookplate (of dr. Charles Chauncey, M.D., d. 1777) with the motto 'Sublimis per ardua tendo': at the Chauncey sale in 1790 it was bought by Douce.