Psalter, Augustinian Use (Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire) — 13th century, late (after 1283); English, Yorkshire

Title

Psalter, Augustinian Use (Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire) — 13th century, late (after 1283); English, Yorkshire

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Lat. 5

Date

13th century, late (after 1283)

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

206 leaves

Hands

Formal Gothic book hand.

Decoration

Alternately red and blue KL monograms with penwork in the calendar.

Miniatures. fol. 9v Crucifixion. Christ on the Cross; the Virgin Mary and St John stand on either side, holding books. fol. 10v The Holy Face drawn in plummet and ink (unfinished sketch, 14th-century addition (N. Morgan, Early Gothic manuscripts, Survey of manuscripts illuminated in the British Isles 4, 2 vols. (London: H. Miller, 1982–88), II no. 175). fol. 11r Virgin and Child. Crowned enthroned Virgin giving breast to the Child.

Initials 10-line Beatus-initial in gold frame, decorated with coiled tendrils, foliage, flowers, gold discs and arabesque designs (fol. 12r). The incipit in alternating red and blue capitals in a gold frame. 6- to 9-line similar initials at the beginning of psalms 26 (fol. 30v), 38 (fol. 43v), 51 (fol. 54v), 52 (fol. 55r), 68 (fol. 67r), 80 (fol. 82r), 97 (fol. 95v), 101 (fol. 97v) and 109 (fol. 110r).

5- to 6-line penwork initials at the beginning of psalm 119 (fol. 122v), canticles (fol. 137r), Office and Mass of the Dead (fols. 152r, 154r) and hymnal (fol. 165r). 2- to 4-line alternating red and blue initials with contrasting blue or red penwork at the beginnings of psalms, sections of the office and mass, prayers, litany and hymns.

1-line alternating plain red and blue initials at the beginning of verses.

Rubrics in red ink.

Musical notation

Notation on staves (see van Dijk 1957).

Binding

Red leather over boards, 19th century. Blind roll border round the outer edge of both covers. Blind roll decoration forming a rectangle with floral corner-pieces on both covers. Five raised bands on spine with blind roll decoration on panels between the bands. Gilt lettering on spine: ‘PSALMI .’. Bodleian paper label on spine: ‘Laud Lat. 5’. Marbled paper pastedowns and fly-leaves. Holes and marks left by three (?) clasps of an earlier binding on leaves at the beginning.

Acquisition

Bodleian Library: first donation from Laud, 22 May 1635. Earlier shelfmark: ‘J 54’.

Provenance

Guisborough, Yorkshire, Augustinian priory of St Mary the Virgin : made for the use of the Augustinian Priory in Guisborough, Yorkshire (?): evidence of the calendar, litany and Office of the Dead. Still in the Priory in the 15th century when the obits of priors were added.

Note on fol. 1r reporting that in 1427 Henry Percy, Robert Watirton, John de Ask, Ralph Gray and Thomas Steward were received into the fraternity of the Chapter. Notes on Percy family; notes on the battle of Shrewsbury in the calendar.

Erasures at Reformation: see calendar and litany.

16th-century (?) pressmarks (?): ‘9’ (fols. 2v, 3r).

William Laud (1573–1645), see ODNB: ‘Liber Guilielmj Laud Archiep iscopi Cantuar’: et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxon. 1633’ (fol. 3r).

Title

Psalter, Augustinian Use (Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire)

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Lat. 5

Date

13th century, late (after 1283)

Language

Latin

Physical facet

19th century red Morocco binding

Physical extent

200 Leaves

Custodial history

Old shelfmark .Y. MS. Frere 167. Manuscript 1966 acquired by the Bodleian Library