Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 4126

Book of Hours (Use of Rome)

Contents

Introduction: Produced at some point during the middle decades of the nineteenth century, this Book of Hours was made by the miniaturist Caleb Wing (b. 1801, d. 1875) (for whom, see: Backhouse, 'A Victorian connoisseur' (1968). It remains the only complete manuscript attributed to him; better known is Wing's restoration work, touching up or replacing damaged miniatures, for example, or his production of standalone sets of illuminations, some of which were traded on the open market as genuine illuminations. As Stella Panayotova has observed, 'Given the time and expense invested, [this manuscript] was probably created a modern replica for a wealthy patron rather than a forgery for the open market' (see Panayotova, (2016), p. 168). It was as a Book of Hours 'from the time of Francis I', however, that Samuel Sandars purchased this manuscript for £66 in 1892 - and upon the accession of Sandars' bequest at Cambridge University Library, it was dated to c. 1520. It is only through subsequent scholarship that the true history of this manuscript has become apparent. Wing took inspiration for this Book of Hours from the Chasteauneuf Hours (now Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, MS nouv. acq. lat. 3210). While his miniatures in MS Add. 4126 were faithful recreations of those found there, Wing introduced significant changes that suggests his use of other sources: the text was copied in a Humanistic minuscule (as opposed to the textualis script in the Chasteauneuf Hours), the contents are different, as are the border motifs, layout and proportions of the text and images. The Chasteauneuf Hours had been damaged by a flood in 1846 while in the possession of the London art dealer John Boykett Jarman (1782-1864) . Wing was employed by Jarman to restore some of his damaged manuscripts and it must have been after this that he undertook the production of a replica. Jarman's collection was sold in 1864; this manuscript is not among the items listed here or elsewhere as belonging to Jarman, so it seems either he disposed of it elsewhere or Wing made it for another patron. This probable date-range for the manuscript's production has been reinforced by the results of cutting-edge research undertaken at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Non-invasive analyses of the pigments through reflectance spectroscopy has indicated the presence of synthetic ultramarine, first produced in France around 1830, and the absence of pigments that became available commercially during the second half of the nineteenth century. The manuscript went on display in the exhibition Colour: The art and science of illuminated manuscripts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge from 30 July-30 December 2016. Dr James Freeman| Medieval Manuscripts Specialist| Cambridge University Library

Language(s): Latin

1. 1r-12v
Calendar
Incipit: 1r Ianuarius habet dies 31
Explicit: 12v Siluestri pape

Use of Paris. Entries in red include the following (as originally written):

  • Jan. 3: Genovefae
  • July 28: Annae ma.
  • Oct. 9: Dionysii
  • Nov. 3: Marcel ep.
  • Nov. 25: Cathari. vir.

2. 13r-24r
Sequences of the Gospels
Rubric: 13r Initium sancti euangelii secundum Ioannem
Incipit: 13r In principium erat verbum
Explicit: 24r Per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

  • John 1:1-14 with antiphon 'Te invocamus...', versicle, response and collect (f. 14r) 'Protector in te sperantium' (Bruylants II, 911)
  • Luke 1:26-38
  • Matt. 2:1-11
  • Mark 16:14-20
  • John 18 and 19 with antiphon 'Adoramus te Christe...', versicle, response and collect (f. 23v-24r) 'Deus qui manus tuas et pedes tuas'.

3. 24r-73r
Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Rubric: 24r Sequuntur hore beate virginis Marie secundum usum Romanum
Incipit: 24v Domine labia mea aperies
Explicit: 73r Ora pro nobis deumn Alleluya.
3.1. 24r-37r
Matins
3.2. 37r-46r
Lauds
3.3. 46r-49r
Prime
3.4. 49r-51v
Terce
3.5. 52r-54r
Sext
3.6. 54r-56v
None
3.7. 56v-62v
Vespers
3.8. 62v-73r
Compline
4. 73r-76r
Hours of the Holy Cross
Rubric: 73r Sequuntur hore sancte crucis Ad matutinas
Incipit: 73v Domine labia mea aperies
Explicit: 76r Sis mihi solatium in mortis agone. Amen.
4.1. 73r-74v
Matins
4.2. 74v-75v
Prime
4.3. 75v
None
4.4. 75v-76r
Vespers
4.5. 76r
Compline
4.6. 76r
Recommendatio
5. 76v-79r
Hours of the Holy Spirit
Rubric: 76v Sequuntur hore de sancto spiritu Ad matutinas
Incipit: 76v Domine labia mea aperies
Explicit: 79r Ut viumaus iugiter celi regione. Amen.
5.1. 76v-77r
Matins
5.2. 77r-77v
Prime
5.3. 77v
Terce
5.4. 77v-78r
Sext
5.5. 78r
None
5.6. 78r-78v
Vespers
5.7. 78v-79r
Compline
5.8. 79r
Recommendatio
6. 79r-87v
Penitential Psalms
Rubric: 79r Sequuntur septem psalmi penitentiales
Incipit: 79v Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me
Explicit: 87v Parce domine parce populo tuo quem redemisti precioso sanguine tuo ne in eternum irascaris nobis.
7. 87v-94r
Litany of Saints
Incipit: 87v Cyrie eleyson
Explicit: 79r Per eum qui venturus est iudicare viuos et mortuous et seculum per ignem. Amen.

Follows the preceding sections with a heading. The martyrs end with Denis, the confessors with Louis and Bonaventura. Francis (in capitals) appears together with Amand among the monks and hermits. Petronilla, Clare and Rosa appear among the virgins.

8. 94r-119r
Office of the Dead
Rubric: 94r Sequuntur vigilie mortuorum. Ad uesperas
Incipit: 94v Dilexi quoniam exaudiet dominus
Explicit: 119r Versus. Requiescant in pace. Responsorium. Amen. Finis
8.1. 94r-99v
Vespers
8.2. 99v-119r
Matins
9. 119r-121r
Suffrages for the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Rubric: 76v Sequuntur suffragia plurimorum sanctorum.
9.1. 119r-119v
Suffrage for the Trinity
Rubric: 119r: Et primo de trinitate
Incipit: 119v: Benedicata sit sancta trinitas

Collect beginning 'Omnipotens sempiterne deus qui dedisti famulis tuis...'

Bruylants II, 774
9.2. 119v-120r
Suffrage for the Father
Rubric: 119v: Oratio ad Deum patrum
Incipit: 119v: Mater (sic) de celis miserere nobis. Domine sancte pater omnipotens eterne deus qui coequalem
Hor. Ebor., p. 124
9.3. 120r-120v
Suffrage for the Son
Rubric: 120r: Oratio at deum filium
Incipit: 120r: Fili redemptor mundi deus, Miserere nobis. Domine Iesu Christe fili dei vivi qui es verus et omnipotens deus
Hor. Ebor., p. 124
9.4. 120v-121r
Suffrage for the Holy Spirit
Rubric: 120v: Ad spiritum sanctum oratio
Incipit: 120v: Ad spiritum sanctum oratio. Spiritus sancte deus miserere nobis. Domine spiritus sancte deus, qui coequalis consubstantialis et coeternus
Hor. Ebor., p. 124
10. 121r-123r
Prayer to the Virgin Mary
Rubric: Oratio deuotissima ad honorem intemerate dei genitricis Marie
Incipit: 121r Obsecro te domina sancta Maria
Explicit: 123r Audi et exaudi me dulcissima virgo maria mater dei & misericordie. Amen.
Leroquais, LH II, 346-47
11. 123r-124v
Stabat Mater
Rubric: 123r Deuota contemplatio beate marie iuxta crucem filii sui lachrymantis & ad compassionem eius saluatoris singulos inuitantis
Incipit: 123r Stabat mater dolorosa iuxta crucem lachrymosa
Explicit: 124r Quando corpus morietur fac vt anime donetur paradisi gloria, Amen.

Followed (fols 124r-v) by a verse, response and prayer: 'Versus: Tuam ipsius animam doloris gladius pertransibit. Responsorium: Vt reuelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes. Oratio: Interueniat pro nobis quesumus domine...Qui viuis & regnas deus, per omnia secula seculorum Amen'.

RH 19416
12. 124v-128r
Two prayers to be said on the Sabbath in honour of the Virgin Mary
Rubric: 124v Oratio deuota dicenda diebus sabbati ad honorem intemerate dei genitricis Marie
Incipit: 124v Missus est gabriel Angelus ad Mariam virginem desponsatam Ioseph
Explicit: 128r qui deus & homo ventururus est iudicare viuos & mortuos & seculum per ignem, Amen
Incipit: 128r Te deprecor ergo mitissimam piissimam misericordissimam castissimam speciosissimam dei genitricem mariam
Explicit: 128r Qui cum patre & spiritu sancto viuit & regnat deus, per omnia secula seculorum, Amen.

cf. Parkes, Keble MS. 44; 13 ii.

13. 128r-137r
Memoriae
Incipit: 128r Michael archangele paradisi preposite
Explicit: 137r gloriam consequamur in celis. Per dominum nostrum.

Twenty-three memoriae, each with versicle, response and collect. The subjects are (with references for the collects and antiphons):

  • Michael: Bruylants II 387
  • John the Baptist: Bruylants II 856
  • John the Evangelist: Bruylants II 520
  • Peter and Paul: Bruylants II 212
  • All Apostles: Bruylants II 140
  • Stephen: Bruylants II 797
  • Laurence: Bruylants II 178
  • Sebastian: cf. Leroquais LH II, 49 (ending differs)
  • All Saints: Bruylants II 403
  • Nicholas: Bruylants II 299
  • Claude
  • Francis: antiphon, RH 40727; collect Bruylants II 331
  • Louis: Bruylants II 296
  • Martin: Bruylants II 433
  • Invention of the Cross: Bruylants II 368
  • Anthony: antiphon, cf. RH 1203; collect, cf. Hor. Ebor. 133
  • Anne: antiphon, RH 24692; collect, Speculum Spiritualium, f. ccvi verso. Cf. Leroquais LH II 207, also Lyell Cat. p. 374
  • Mary Magdalene: collect, cf. F.H. Dickinson, Missale ad Usum...Sarum (Bruntisland, 1861-83), col. 817
  • Catherine: antiphon, RH 34646; collect, Bruylants II 322
  • Barbara: antiphon, RH 6711; for the whole memoria, cf. Hoskins no. 7
  • Genevieve: RH 30425
  • All Saints (bis)
  • Blaise: RH 2056; for the whole memoria, cf. Hoskins no. 86

Bruylants II 387, 856, 520, 212, 797, 178; Leroquais LH II, 49 (ending differs); Bruylants II 403, 299;
14. 137r-137v
Prayer to the Virgin Mary, in French
Rubric: 137r Deuote oraison a la vierge Marie a dire par chacun iour A ffin que a la mort l'ennemy ne puysse nuyre a l'ame
Incipit: 137r Royne des cieulx glorieuse
Explicit: 137v Ou iauray peine merueilleuse.

cf. Sonet 1793

15. 137v
Prayer to guardian angel
Rubric: 137v Oraison a son bon ange
Incipit: 137v Ange de dieu qui mas en garde
Explicit: 137v En la gloire du Roy Iesus. Amen.

Sonet 73

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF)
Extent: Codex: i + 138 + i leaves. 170 × 115 mm.
Foliation:

20th-century foliation:

[i] + 1-138 + [ii]

Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos.

Collation

The manuscript comprises nineteen quires, mainly of 8 leaves, as follows:

  • Quires 1-26 (ff. 1-12)
  • Quires 3-138 (ff. 13-92)
  • Quire 146 (ff. 93-98)
  • Quires 15-198(ff. 99-138)

Layout

125 × 70 mm. Ruled in red ink, frame and line. Single column, 20 lines (16 in the calendar). Written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in humanistic script by a single scribe.

Decoration

Miniatures:

Sixteen half-page miniatures, surrounded by gold-framed borders, each with a bas-de-page panel containing jewels, cameos, natural flowers, etc. on grounds of gold or of blue dotted with gold. The figures in the miniatures are usually of half-length.

  • 13r St John on Patmos (Sequences of the Gospels); in the foreground, a young man and his wife kneel in prayer (presumably the original owners of the manuscript on which this replica is based)
  • 14v: St Luke (Sequences of the Gospels)
  • 17v: Agony in the Garden (Passion)
  • 24v: Annunciation (Matins)
  • 37v: Visitation (Lauds)
  • 46v: Nativity (Prime)
  • 49v: Annunciation to the shepherds (Terce)
  • 52r: Adoration of the Magi (Sext)
  • 54v: Presentation at the Temple (None)
  • 57r: Flight into Egypt (Vespers)
  • 63r: Coronation of the Virgin Mary (Compline)
  • 73v: Crucifixion (Matins of the Cross)
  • 76v: Pentecost (Matins of the Holy Spirit)
  • 79v: David and attendant watch Bethsheba from a loggia (Penitential Psalms)
  • 94v: Woman flees from Death, who is wearing a shroud and wielding an arrow, and is catching her by the skirt (Office of the Dead)
  • 132v: St Francis with stigmata; in the foreground, apparently the same young couple kneel in prayer (Memoriae)

Two small miniatures in gold frames, positioned within the text block.

  • 15v: St Matthew
  • 16v: St Mark

Borders:

In Quire 6 (37r-44v), each page is framed in a design of gold cords or branchwork, outlined in blue or green.

Initials:

Two- to three-line initials in gold or colours on contrasting coloured or gold ground, incorporating fine filigree infill, vines, flowers or fruit.

One-line initials in gold or colours on contrasting coloured or gold ground, incorporating filigree infill.

Line-fillers formed of patterned strips or stylised twigs is gold, blue, green and red.

Binding

Gold-tooled olive morocco over wooden boards, with metal corner and centre pieces, gilt edges, and a red silk lining (19th century).

History

Origin: Mid-19th century ; England

The manuscript has been identified as the work of the miniaturist Caleb Wing (b. 1801, d. 1875) , who also worked on CUL MS Add. 4109.

Provenance and Acquisition

Edward Henry Lawrence, F.S.A. : his sale, Sotheby's, London, 9 May 1892, lot 307 ([ii] recto).

Purchased by Quaritch on commission for Samuel Sandars (b. 1837, d. 1894) for £66 ([ii] recto).

Bequeathed to Cambridge University Library by Sandars in 1894 (his bookplate, with number 'SSS. 37. 1', f. [i] recto).

Additional Information

Record Sources

This record draws on an extended unpublished description of the manuscript by Jayne Ringrose, which was published in summary form in Summary Catalogue of the Additional Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge University Library acquired before 1940 (Woodbridge, 2009), used here by kind permission of the Boydell Press, and an unpublished description of the manuscript by H.L. Pink (now UA ULIB 7/3/75).

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Bibliography

    Bibliotheca musico-liturgica: a descriptive handlist of the musical and Latin-liturgical MSS. of the Middle Ages preserved in the libraries of Great Britain and Ireland, Frere, Walter Howard (London, 2, 1894) A Victorian Connoisseur and His Manuscripts: The Tale of Mr. Jarman and Mr. Wing The British Museum Quarterly, Backhouse, Janet (32, 3/4, 76-92, 1968) "I would be only too happy to collaborate": François Avril on Cambridge manuscripts Quand la peinture était dans les livres: mélanges en l'honneur de François Avril à l'occasion de la remise du titre de docteur honoris causa de la Freie Universität Berlin Ars nova, Panayotova, Stella (Turnhout ; Paris, 246-258, Brepols ; Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2007) Summary catalogue of the additional medieval manuscripts in Cambridge University Library acquired before 1940, Ringrose, J. S. (Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 2009) Colour: the art & science of illuminated manuscripts Colour, (London, Harvey Miller, 2016)

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