Cambridge. Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 272

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UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Shelfmark
  • MS 272
Biblissima authority file
Date
  • 0875 - 0899
Language
  • Latin
Title
  • Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 272: The Psalter of Count Achadeus
  • The Psalter of Count Achadeus
Description
  • Summary: This manuscript is known as the 'Achadeus Psalter' because of an inscription after Psalm 150 recording that Count Achadeus ordered it to be made. This need not imply, however, that Achadeus owned the book, or had any closer connection with it than simply paying for its materials. As well as the psalms and canticles the manuscript contains Psalter collects, a litany, and prayers. The litany includes mention of Pope Marinus (882-4), King Carloman (882-3), and Fulk, bishop of Rheims (883-900), and has on these grounds been dated to 883/4; the mention of Bishop Fulk and of local saints locates its use to Rheims. Although not necessarily made in the city itself, it seems to be from that region of France. CCCC MS 272 contains extensive marginal glosses largely taken from Cassiodorus' Expositio psalmorum. They are written in that form of English Caroline minuscule which developed in the first quarter of the eleventh century and continued in use until after the Norman Conquest. Consequently it seems that the manuscript was in England in the eleventh century; it has been suggested that it was brought over earlier than that, perhaps even by Grimbald of Saint-Bertin, who was sent to England by Fulk of Rheims in order to assist King Alfred the Great with his revival of English learning. If so the manuscript must have left Rheims relatively soon after it was made, as Grimbald was at Winchester by 887, and doubt has been expressed over whether a manuscript sponsored by an important count would have been lightly alienated. The manuscript has illumination in gold and colours and originally had large illuminated initials at the liturgical divisions of the Psalter, although all save that for Psalm 97 have been cut out. The Litany has elaborate arched column frames, and at the beginning of the Psalter a large B ornamental initial for the first psalm from an English early thirteenth-century Psalter has been inserted. MS 272 was certainly at Canterbury in the later middle ages, where parts of account rolls of Christ Church Canterbury are used as its endleaves.


    Contents :


    1r-183v - The Psalter of Count Achadeus

    Note: (1r) Title in red rustic capitals

    rubric: (1r) Incipit Prologus pro origo prophetiae Dauid regis psalmorum numerum cl

    incipit: (1r) Dauid filius iesse cum esset in regno suo

    Note: (P. L. XCIII 477)

    explicit: (1v) canticum graduum xv

    rubric: (1v) Incipit Praefatio Sancti Hieronimi presbiteri

    incipit: (1v) Psalterium romae dudum positus

    Note: (P. L. XXIX 117, etc.)

    explicit: (2v) de purissimo fonte potare

    rubric: (2v) Explicit praefatio Sancti Hieronimi presbiteri

    rubric: (2v) Incipit cantica Psalmorum

    incipit: (2v) Canticum psalmorum animas decorat

    Note: (P. L. CXXXI 142: P. L. CXLII 46)

    explicit: (2ar) in caelo deus mirificabit

    Note: f. 3v was originally blank, apparently. It was covered by a leaf cut from a xiith cent. Psalter, once pasted on to it and now lifted

    Note: (3v) This leaf has an elaborate full-page initial B and the letters EATUS - VIA PECCATORUM in gold capitals on blue (and white) ground

    Note: (3v) The letter B is filled with conventional foliage and convoluted stems, in the curves of which are many small white animals. The ground of this is gold. In the stem of the B is a medallion with gold ground containing a crowned bust of David. Outside the letter the ground is blue

    Note: (3v) The frame is of gold and red (dotted with white): at the angles are four medallions and in the middle of the sides four half-medallions, all with gold ground. Those at the angles have: top L., bust of white-bearded man: lower L., bust of beardless man; upper and lower R., busts of kings. Those in the sides have: upper and lower C., busts of angels: L. side small man in red and blue: R., small man in red with shield

    Note: (3v) The work is bold and rich but not very delicate

    Note: (4r) Text begins imperfectly in Ps. ii. 2

    incipit: (4r) Asstiterunt reges terrae

    Note: There is a marginal gloss in a very beautiful small hand. The references to the text are made (on ff. 4r, 5r) by Greek letters. It begins

    incipit: (4r) Reges autem terre herodem dicit qui infantes occidit. alterumque herodem nepotem eius qui pilato in nece christi consensit

    Note: At the end of each Psalm is a Collect, that for Ps. ii is

    incipit: (4v) Disrumpe domine nostrorum uincula peccatorum

    Note: The initials of Psalms and verses are usually in fluid gold throughout the book. On f. 7r are two initials filled with blue. On f. 1r the initial is handsome, in fluid gold edged with red, blue ground: the letter surrounded by gold foliage. On ff. 1v, 2v late pen-flourishing has been added to the initials

    Note: After f. 25v a leaf is gone with end of Ps. xxv and beginning of xxvi. The latter had a large initial occupying most of the page: the set-off is visible on f. 26r

    Note: After f. 39v a leaf is gone with the beginning of Ps. xxxviii. The set-off of the full-page initial is well seen on f. 39v

    Note: On f. 51r are two small decorative initials.After f. 51v a leaf is gone with most of Ps. li: little of the set-off can be seen.The first words of Ps. lii are in gold capitals

    Note: After f. 65v a leaf is gone with the beginning of Ps. lxviii. The set-off of the initial is very visible on f. 65v

    Note: After f. 81v a leaf is gone with part of Ps. lxxx. The set-off of the initial is very visible on f. 82r

    Note: On f. 98r is the only large initial which has survived; to Ps. xcvii. It is of gold edged with red, with panels of patterned blue, filled with green and with gold interlacings: outside is gold foliage in two colours of gold

    Note: After f. 100v two leaves gone with part of Ps. ci. Set-off of initial on f. 101r

    Note: After f. 114v a leaf gone with Ps. cix and part of cx

    Note: On 142r two small decorative initials

    Note: Ps. cl ends on f. 150r. The Collect is

    incipit: (150r) Armoniae nostrae suauissime melos

    Note: Gloss ends

    explicit: (150r) in spiritu qui spiritus est laudare non desinit

    Note: (150r) In gold capitals at the foot of the page is

    Note: (150r) Achadeus misericordia dei comes. hunc psalterium scribere iussit

    Note: f. 150v blank

    Note: (151r) Then follows the Litany on four leaves in a smaller script than before but very probably by the same scribe. The text is arranged in double columns and in arched or pedimented frames like those in which, in early gospel books, the Canons of the Gospels are written. In this MS. the shafts are purple or green, marbled, and have plants twined spirally about them. The plinth on which they stand is yellow with red patterns, and the lintel above in one case of purple and elsewhere of yellow and red. The tympana above this are filled with conventional foliage in gold and colour, and above the arches or gables are birds pecking at leaves

    Note: The text is

    rubric: (151r) Incipit letania

    Note: (151r) Kyrieleison. Ter, Xpe eleison. ter, Kyrieleison. ter. Xpe audi nos. ter. Sancta Maria. or

    Note: (151r) (so far in gold capitals)

    Note: (151r) Michahel, Gabrihel, Raphahel. S. chorus archangelorum (red)

    Note: (151r) Petre, Paule, Andrea, Iacobe, Iohannes, Philippe, Iacobe, Toma, Bartholomee, Mathee, Simon, Tadee, Mathia. S. chorus apost. (red)

    Note: (151r) Stephane, Iohannes, Marce, Luca, Line, Clete, Clemens, Cleopha

    Note: (151v) Barnaba, Ignatii, Apollonaris, Chrisogone, Alaexander, Dionisi, Rustice, Eleutheri, Maurici, Corneli, Cypriane, Georgi, Cristophore, Iuliane, Leudegari, Sixte, Laurenti, Ypolite, Uincenti, Uictor, Candide, Quintine, Luciane, Crispine, Crispiniane, Cosma, Damiane, Uictorice, Tiburti, Ualeriane, Pancrati, Geruasi

    Note: (152r) Protasi, Celse, Sebastiane, Marce, Marcelliane, Fabiane, Urbane, Simphoriane, Saturnine, Nicasi, Timothee, Apollonaris, Rufine, Firmine, Ualeri

    Note: (152r) SCE REMIGI (gold capitals). Hilari, Benedicte, Germane, Romane, Siluester, Ambrosi, Gregorii, Hieronime, Augustine, Eusebi, Isidore, Martine, Leo, Sulpici, Aniane, Amande

    Note: (152v) SCE COLUMBANE (gold capitals, red dots) Brici, Goar, Medarde, Maximine, Candide, Antoni, Machari, Teuderice, Teudulfe, Memmi, Lupe, Arnulfe, Nivarde, Sixte, Sinici, Basole, Uedaste, Onesime, Sindulfe, Filiberte, Audoine, Siluine, Carlepphe, Richari, Pacomi, Fortunate, Troiane, Marcelline, Arseni, Celsine. Sce abunde (gold letters)

    Note: (153r) Felicitas, Perpetua, Sincletica, Agatha, Lucia, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, Genufefa, Scolastica, Eulalia, Eugenia, Eufemia, Petronilla, Cristina, Columba, Iuliana, Afra, Lucina, Beatrix, Tecla, Teodosia, Susanna, Sabina, Magra, Prisca, Saturnina, Cilinia, Eutropia, Eufrosina, Praxedis, Margarita

    Note: (153v) Potentiana, Balbina, Radegundis, Monegundis. S. chorus uirginum

    Note: (153v) Omnes sancti orate pro nobis

    Note: (153v) Propitius esto, etc...

    Note: (153v) Ut pacem uobis dones...

    Note: (154r) Ut Marinum apostolicum in sancta religione conseruare digneris

    Note: (154r) Ut Karlomannum regem perpetua prosperitate conseruare digneris

    Note: (154r) Ut (blank) reginam conseruare digneris

    Note: (154r) Ut Folconem episcopum cum omni grege sibi commisso, etc.

    Note: No specially monastic suffrages occur

    Note: Ends

    explicit: (154r) XPE AUDI NOS. TER. KYRIELEISON. XPELEISON. KYRIELEISON

    Note: (154r) All in gold capitals

    Note: f. 154v blank

    Note: In a script of the former size

    Note: (155r) Ps. cli, beginning imperfectly

    incipit: (155r) Pascebam oves patris mei

    explicit: (155r) a filiis israel. Deo gratias

    rubric: (155r) Incipiunt Cantici

    rubric: (155r) Canticum Isaie prophete ad matutinas feria II

    Note: (155v) Canticum Ezechiae

    Note: The rubric here is

    rubric: (155v) OSCRIPTOREZACHARIE Probably a mistake for scriptura regis ezechie and not containing the name of the scribe

    rubric: (156v) Canticum Annae

    rubric: (157r) Canticum Moysi prophete

    rubric: (158v) Canticum Abbacuc prophete

    rubric: (159v) Canticum Deuteronomii

    rubric: (162v) Hymnum trium puerorum

    Note: (163r) (small decorative initial)

    rubric: (163v) Hymnum Zacharie

    rubric: (164r) Canticum Sanctae Mariae

    rubric: (164v) Canticum Simeon

    rubric: (164v) Hymnum die dominico ad matutinas

    incipit: (164v) Te Deum

    rubric: (165v) Hymnum angelicum

    incipit: (165v) Gloria in excelsis

    rubric: (166r) Incipit fides catholica

    incipit: (166r) Quicumque

    rubric: (167v) Oratio Dominica

    incipit: (168r) Incipit symbolum

    Note: (168r) (In margin the Aue in a hand of cent. xiv)

    rubric: (168r) Incipit Oratio Sancti Benedicti

    incipit: (168v) Dominator domine deus omnipotens qui es trinitas una

    Note: (P. L. CI 1400)

    explicit: (170r) ut faciam uoluntatem tuam quia tu es deus meus tibi honor et gloria In saecula saeculorum. Amen

    rubric: (170r) Orationes ad uesperas seu ad matutinas et ad tertiam et ad nonam seu ad sextam

    incipit: (170r) Et ne nos inducas

    rubric: (170r) Orationes ad secundam

    explicit: (171v) Domine deus uirtutum conuerte nos

    rubric: (171v) Orationes maiores ad matutinas uel ad uesperas

    incipit: (171v) Oremus pro omni gradu ecclesiae

    Note: (171v) Includes: Pro abbate nostro

    rubric: (172r) Orationes ad completa

    incipit: (172r) Domine exaudi, etc.

    Note: On f. 173r near the end: Exaudi deus Karlomanno regi uita

    rubric: (173r) Incipit Responsoria per totum annum in diuino officio canenda. Isti responsi sunt canendi ab aduentu domini usque in uigilio domini. Capitulum

    incipit: (173r) Ecce dies ueniunt dicit dominus et suscitabo

    Note: Neumes occur on f. 174v

    Note: The Responses for the Temporal end f. 176v. Then follow responses for S. Michael and for Common of Saints, ending f. 178r

    rubric: (178r) Orationes ad secundam

    rubric: (178r) Orationes ad tertiam

    rubric: (178r) Orationes ad sextam

    rubric: (178v) Orationes ad nonam

    rubric: (178v) Orationes ad vesperas

    rubric: (178v) Orationes pro semetipso

    incipit: (178v) Domine deus meus qui non habes dominum

    rubric: (179r) Qualiter orat. pro uiuo aguntur

    rubric: (179r) Qualiter orat. pro una femina

    rubric: (179r) Qualiter pro pluribus uiuis

    rubric: (179v) Qualiter pro uno defuncto

    rubric: (179v) Incipiunt orationes

    incipit: (179v) Domine deus omnipotens qui in trinitate perfecta

    Note: Six prayers

    rubric: (180r) Oratio Sancti Gregorii

    incipit: (180r) Rex seculorum et domine dominator

    rubric: (180v) Oratio Sancti Hieronimi

    incipit: (180v) Domine Iesu Christe dona mihi ut ambulem secundum mandata

    rubric: (180v) Alia

    incipit: (180v) Domine Iesu Christe noli me confundere

    rubric: (180v) Oratio Sancti Agustini Episcopi

    incipit: (180v) Miserere domine super animas quas creasti

    rubric: (181r) Dicit S. Gregorius Episcopus cognoscatis quicunque hanc orationem omni die cantauerit sic dicit ipse Sanctus Gregorius quod nec malus homo nec diabolus nocere non potest ipsi homini nec animae nec corpori

    incipit: (181v) Domine exaudi orationem meam quia iam cognosco quod tempus meum prope est

    rubric: (182v) Confessio

    incipit: (183r) Confiteor domino et tibi frater

    Note: (183r) In another hand, not much later

    rubric: (183r) Collecta in Exaudi domine iustitiam meam

    incipit: (183r) Conuerte domine oculos

    rubric: (183r) Collecta in Nisi dominus aedificauerit

    incipit: (183r) Domorum spiritalium

    Note: The above were omitted in the text

    Note: (183r) Prayer in the same hand

    incipit: (183r) Clementissime deus qui me inutilem famulum tuum

    explicit: (183v) adiuuante atque trahente qui

    Note: (ir) The first two flyleaves (ff. ir-iiv) are from a roll or book of Christ Church, Canterbury, records of courts (xiv or xv)

    incipit: (iv) Acta in ecclesia Christi cant.

    Note: (year not given)

    Note: Many Kentish place-names occur

    Note: (iiir) On the last flyleaf (f. iiir) are many unimportant scribbles

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