Cambridge. Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 53

Source

Parker Library On the Web (Cambridge)

Library

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Shelfmark

• MS 053

Biblissima authority file

• https://data.biblissima.fr/entity/Q210296

Date

• 1300 - 1399

Language

• Latin
• Middle French

Title

• Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 053: The Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary
• Psalter and Office of the Dead
• Livere de Reis de Britannie
• Chronicle of Peterborough || Chronicle of Peterborough Abbey
• Bestiary || A Bestiary
• Poem on the Vanity of the World (Cur mundus militat)
• see more

Description

• Summary: CCCC MS 53 contains three separate sections, a psalter, a chronicle of England and Peterborough Abbey, and finally a bestiary. It is called the Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary because the Psalter was adapted for the use of of that abbey, at which time the chronicle was added. The Bestiary, which has been cut down to match the page size of the Psalter, was probably added to the book at some later date. The dating of the Bestiary to c. 1300-10 is earlier by a decade or so than that of the Psalter which is considered to be of c. 1310-20. Both are elaborately illuminated but by quite different artists. The Psalter was originally intended for a patron in the diocese of Norwich as evidenced by the original calendar to which Peterborough entries were added. The original patron, perhaps Oliver de Wisset, was evidently connected with John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey (d. 1304), whose obit is added in the original hand of the calendar. Perhaps during the production of the book the patronage was taken over by Peterborough Abbey because the calendar was adapted to their use and their Litany and Office of the Dead were added to the text, as was a chronicle of the abbey. It was owned by the prior, Hugh de Stukeley, whose name is at the beginning of the book. The Psalter is lavishly illustrated with twenty full page pictures of the Life of Christ, saints, prophets and apostles preceding the Psalter text, some fully painted with gold grounds and others in coloured drawing. The Psalter itself has historiated initials at the liturgical divisions, and many decorative ornamental initials and borders. The artist of the fully painted pictures belongs to a group of artists called the Queen Mary Psalter group after their main work, the Psalter, London, BL MS Royal 2. B. VII. The Bestiary, by a different artist, who also worked on a psalter, Oxford, Jesus College MS D.40, has 101 framed illustrations set in its text.

  
  

  Contents :

  
  

  1r-180r - Psalter and Office of the Dead

  Note: (1r) Kalendar in red and black

  Note: Decoration. The Kalendar has two medallions with gold grounds (in lower margin except in January) illustrating the occupation and sign of each month

  Note: (1r) January. Three-faced, at table, drinking with left face eating with right: boar's head on table

  Note: (1r) Aquarius. Woman in blue seated full-face with two bottles

  Note: (1v) February. Sits with face to L. by fire and hooks a piece of meat out of a pot. Piscis

  Note: (2r) March. In hat prunes vine (tree): facing L. Aries

  Note: (2v) April. Rides to L. hawk on hand. Taurus

  Note: (3r) May. A girl with full face on grass holding flowers in each hand

  Note: (3r) Gemini. Nude, linked by arm round each other's back: a blank shield in front of them

  Note: (3v) June. In broad hat, mowing. Leo

  Note: (4r) July. In broad hat, reaping. Cancer

  Note: (4v) August. Threshes. Virgo holds palm

  Note: (5r) September. Two figures, one with stick, and hotte on back: one treads grapes

  Note: (5r) Libra. Held by a woman

  Note: (5v) October. Sows from a wooden barrel-like vessel. Scorpio

  Note: (6r) November. Beats oak, for a pig. Sagittarius. Centaur, hind-feet lion-like, shoots backward

  Note: (6v) December. Strikes pig with back of axe. Capricorn half-goat, half cornu copiae.

  Note: In the Kalendar

  Note: (1r) January 4. Eadwardi reg. C. 19. Wlstani Ep. C.

  Note: (1v) February 3. Werburge V. added early 28. Oswaldi archiep.

  Note: (2r) March 1. Dauid 6. Translacio kyneburge kyneswythe ac Tybbe. duplex in red 18. Eadwardi 20. Cuthberti

  Note: (2v) April 3. Ricardi Ep. C. in red 19. Aelphegi

  Note: (3r) May 19. Dunstani in red 25. Aldelmi, in red 26. Augustini, in red

  Note: (3v) June 3. Obitus Rogeri de Essesse in red 23. Etheldrede

  Note: (4r) July 7. Translatio S. Thome M. in red erased and rewritten in cent. xvi

  Note: (4v) August 5. Oswald added in red late

  Note: (5r) September 4. Cuthberti 15. Festiuitas reliquiarum Sarum 16. Edithe 24. Dedicacio ecclesie S. Trinitatis Norwici in red 27. In red in margin, original: Obitus d. Iohannis Comitis Warrenn' ao gratie Mo CCCo IIIJo 28. Dedicacio ecclesie Burgi in red

  Note: (5v) October 4. Francisci C. et doctoris in red 5. or 6. Added in margin in charter hand: Obitus Hugonis de Stiuecle quondam Prioris Burg 21. 11,000 Virgins erased

  Note: (6r) November16. and 20. Both Edmunds in red

  Note: (6v) December 3. Obitus dyonisie de Styrop 10. Obitus lecie matris domini oliueri de Wysete 15. Obitus d. Willelmi de Warenn' 29. Thomas erased and rewritten in red

  Note: (7r) Twelve leaves with pictures

  Note: The full-page pictures preceding the Psalter are thus arranged

  Note: a. A prophet and apostle under architectural canopy sometimes supported by central shaft, sometimes not; within frame. The apostle has a clause of the creed on a scroll; the prophet a corresponding prophecy. Names in red below the frame. Colours flat, pale green, blue, pink, brown etc. No grounds. Fine drawing

  Note: b, c. Gold grounds with incised pattern. Frame in colour. Architecture in spandrels, red silk guards. Fine drawing and colour: faces often have a dab of pink on the cheeks. The subjects are Life of Christ etc.

  Note: d. Prophet and apostle, as in a.

  Note: (7r) 1. Jeremias. Pointed cap. Patrem uocabitis me dicit dominus. Petrus. Credo etc. - terre

  Note: (7v) 2. Annunciation under trefoiled arch. Both figures stand: a lily pot between them. The Virgin has a book. Scroll. AUE GR

  Note: (8r) 3. Nativity under cinqfoiled arch. The usual scheme, with Joseph seated on R.

  Note: (8v) 4. Andreas. Et in I. C. dom. nostrum. Dauid in cap. Filius meus es tu hodie genui te

  Note: (9r) 5. Ysaias. Ecce uirgo concipiet et pariet filium. Jacobus. Qui conceptus - virgine

  Note: (9v) 6. Resurrection under trefoiled arch. Three knights in mail. The one on L. has a yellow shield with six chevrons sable. An angel kneels on the end of the tomb facing R.

  Note: (10r) 7. Ascension in plain frame, without arch. There is no hill. The Virgin has a book. The figures below number seven in all

  Note: (10v) 8. Daniel. Post ebdomadas lxii occiditur christus. Johannes (bearded). Passum - sepultum

  Note: (11r) 9. Oseas. O mors ero mors tua morsus tuus ero o inferne. Thomas. Descendit - mortuis

  Note: (11v) 10. Coronation of the Virgin. Plain frame. In the upper corners are two angels with censers and incense-boats

  Note: (12r) 11. Betrayal under cinqfoil. Judas has a ring round his head not rilled in with colour as are most. Malchus, full face, is screaming. Peter's sword is cutting off the top of his head: much blood is on his face

  Note: (12v) 12. Amos. Qui edificat in celum ascensionem suam. Jacobus maior (minor). Ascendit - omnipotentis

  Note: (13r) 13. Johel. In ualle Iosaphath iudicabit omnes gentes. Philippus. Inde - mortuos

  Note: (13v) 14. The Scourging. Cinqfoil arch. Christ bound to the pillar, full face. The ordinary scheme, with two executioners

  Note: (14r) 15. Bearing the Cross. Trefoil arch. Christ, covered with wounds. He walks to R. One executioner with his hand on His back draws Him on. The Virgin follows supporting the Cross. John behind, weeping

  Note: (14v) 16. Aggeus. Spiritus meus erit in medio uestri (this and the prophecy of Sophonias, which are both unusual, occur in a Bible of cent. xiii belonging to Mr Pierpont Morgan). Bartholomeus. Credo - sanctum

  Note: (15r) 17. Mattheus. Sanctam eccl. - communionem. Sophonias. Hec est civitas gloriosa que dicit extra me non est

  Note: (15v) 18. Crucifixion with the Virgin and S. John. Cinqfoil arch. Christ's side is wounded: three nails are used: no crown of thorns

  Note: (16r) 19. Two trefoil arches: no shaft. L. The Virgin and Child. She holds a flower, He a fruit. R. Christopher leaning on an oar, in the midst of the stream. Christ with an orb on His shoulder. Fish in the water

  Note: (16v) 20. Malachias. Cum odio habueris dimitte. Symon. Remissionem peccatorum

  Note: (17r) 21. Zacharias. Suscitabo filios uestros. Thadeus (beardless). Carnis resurrectionem

  Note: (17v) 22. Christ seated full face, in lozenge; L. hand on orb. The Evangelical emblems in the angles, with names

  Note: (18r) 23. Trefoil arch. L. Jacobus maior. Green wallet with escallop slung round him. Staff and book. R. John Baptist, hairy robe: he points to medallion of Agnus Dei in his L. hand

  Note: (18v) 24. Abdias. Et erit regnum domini. Amen. Mathias. Vitam - amen

  Note: (19r) Psalter in double columns of 17 lines. In a very large, tall, upright hand

  Note: Then follows the Psalter

  Note: (19r) Beatus uir. At bottom: L. David with sling-stones in his garment. Three sheep in front. R. Goliath mailed: shield with face on it: banneret and spear: red surcoat: stone in forehead

  Note: (19r) R. margin. Jesse tree on gold ground. Jesse sleeping at bottom: then a. David with harp. b. Solomon with scroll. c. A bad king in surprised attitude. d. Virgin and child. e. Christ with orb blessing

  Note: (19r) Initial. David playing the harp. A chaffinch above in the border

  Note: (38v) Dominus illuminatio. David kneels face R. at altar, finger to his eye. Head of Christ above

  Note: (52r) Dixi. Similar. He points to his protruded tongue

  Note: (64r) Dixit. David throned on L. A bald fool in mantle only, eating a cake and holding a club

  Note: (76v) Saluum. Christ above: Jonah (?) below in water, perhaps emerging from the mouth of the large fish

  Note: (92v) Exultate. David plays on five bells. Note the very fine white ornament on the blue ground outside the letter. This is conspicuous in other places

  Note: (106v) Cantate. Clerks, one in cope, two in albs. Book on desk on R.

  Note: (122v) Dixit dominus. The Father and Son seated full face. Cruciform nimbi. The Father on R. with hand on globe, the Son blessing. The Dove between them

  Note: (136r) Ad dominum (CXIX. CXX). Like Dominus illuminatio, but here David is bareheaded and beardless: in blue

  Note: (153r) Confitebor (Cantica). Christ throned full-face

  Note: (153r) Cantica and Litany

  Note: In the Litany

  Note: Apostles: Petre II

  Note: Martyrs: Osuualde (2nd). Florentine. Albane, Edmunde, Elphege, Thoma erased

  Note: Confessors: Atheluuolde (5th) ... Cuthberte, Guthlace, Uuilfride, Suithune, Dunstane, Iohannes, Aidane, Botulphe, Egidi, Leonarde, Iuliane, Uulstane, Hugo II, Edmunde

  Note: Virgins: Kyneburga, Kynesuuitha, Tibba ... Etheldritha, Sexburga, Werburga

  Note: Suffrage for the Pope erased

  Note: Collects

  incipit: (169r) Deus cui proprium est misereri

  incipit: (169v) Omnipotens sempiterne deus. qui facis mirabilia

  incipit: (169v) Pretende domine

  incipit: (169v) Ure igni

  incipit: (169v) Acciones nostras

  incipit: (170r) Adesto domine

  incipit: (170r) A domo tua quesumus domine repellantur

  incipit: (170r) Deus a quo sancta desideria

  incipit: (170r) Ecclesie tue quesumus

  incipit: (170v) Animabus quesumus

  incipit: (170v) Deus qui es sanctorum

  Note: (171r) Commendacio animarum

  incipit: (174r) Placebo

  Note: (174r) (Office of the Dead). A bier with blue pall and four candles

  
  

  180v-184v - Livere de Reis de Britannie

  Note: In a hand of cent. xiv early: double columns of 32 lines

  Note: (180v) Chronicle of England in French to Edward I's death

  incipit: (180v) Deuant la natiuite nostre seignur mil et cc. anz uint brutus le fiz siluius en engletere

  Note: (184r) The first hand ends (on Edward I)

  explicit: (184r) Cil regna .xxxiiij. anz et x. meis si morust e git a weymoster

  Note: (184r) A hand of about 1400 continues

  incipit: (184r) Apres cesti Roi eduuard vint sire eduuard soun fiiz

  Note: (184v) Ending with the coronation of Henry IV

  explicit: (184v) lan de grace mil. ccc. nouaunttime et neofyme

  
  

  185r-188v - Chronicle of Peterborough || Chronicle of Peterborough Abbey

  Note: In the first hand of item 2

  incipit: (185r) Anno ab incarnacione domini Dco quinquagesimo ab aduentu S. Augustini ivo fundata fuit ecclesia de medeshamstede que nunc Burg uocatur

  Note: (186v) The first hand goes down to abbot Will. de Wodeford

  explicit: (186v) per iiij annos ecclesiam bene rexit et mortuus est

  Note: (186v) The second hand of item no. 2 continues

  incipit: (186v) Godefridus de croiland

  Note: (187r) And ends with Will. Genge (1396-1408)

  explicit: (187v) soluend' dicto abbati infra duos annos prox' post annum creacionis eiusdem

  Note: Referred to by Tanner etc., but seemingly not printed

  Note: f. 188r-188v is blank

  
  

  189r-209v - Bestiary || A Bestiary

  incipit: (189r) Bestiarum uocabulum proprie conuenit leonibus pardis cxi 217

  incipit: (189r) Phisici dicunt leones tres principales naturas habere

  Note: The ornamentation of the Bestiary is very fine indeed

  Note: (189r) (the first leaf) has partial border (oak and ivy-leaf). On R. a splendid grotesque with bow and arrow. Initial with seated Lion among ivy-leaves: most beautifully painted. Miniature: five intersecting circles in a square: grounds gold, patterned red and patterned blue. The medallions show: a. Hunters on L. Lion on R. obliterates his tracks with his tail. b. He roars at his whelp to raise it. c. He looks at or is attacked by a serpent (scorpion ?). d. He sniffs at a dead nude man (but will not attack him). e. He eats a monkey, which cures him of sickness. There is also an initial with human bust. These occur frequently

  Note: The pictures which follow are of various dimensions: frames in gold or colour with projecting leaves: grounds gold or patterned, blue or red divided into two, or quarterly. The subjects are

  Note: (189v) Tiger deceived by mirrors. Huntsman rides off with cub. Pard

  Note: (190r) Panther attracting beasts by his breath except the dragon which disappears into the ground

  Note: (190v) Antelope, horns caught in tree. Huntsman. Unicorn, head in maid's lap, pierced by hunter. Lynx. Gryphon on dead ox

  Note: (191r) Elephant with castle

  Note: (191v) Beavers pursued bite off their glands. Ibex stands on its horns. Hyena devours shrouded corpse

  Note: (192r) Bonnacon with curved horns, hunter on L. Monkeys carrying their young, hunters on L. Human-headed hairy-legged satyr. Deer eating serpent, swimming a river

  Note: (192v) White goats

  Note: (193r) Caprea, red. Monoceros. Two bears, licking a cub

  Note: (193v) Leucro(co)tta grinning. Crocodile devouring man. Manticora, humanheaded. Parandrus, antlered and clawed. Fox feigning death to attract birds

  Note: (194r) Eale, huge horns. Wolf biting his paw: sheepfold on R., dog barking

  Note: (194v) Group of dogs (L. part smeared). King (Garamantes) on L.: dogs attack his armed enemies

  Note: (195r) Dead man watched by dog which keeps off birds: on R. dog attacks his murderer

  Note: (195v) Adam robed, seated on L. by tree, naming beasts (lion, horse, ox, etc.) on R. Sheep. Ram

  Note: (196r) Lamb. Goat. Boar. Bullock. Ox. Camel: two men load it

  Note: (196v) Dromedary. Ass. Wild ass mutilates its young. Two horses

  Note: (197v) Cat. Mice. Weasel

  Note: (198r) Mole. Hedgehogs with apples. Ants: corn on L.

  Note: (198v) A row of doves (?). Eagle on nest looking at the sun: R. plunging into the sea

  Note: (199r) Vulture: a man's foot in its beak. Cranes: one holds stone in claw, others bow to it

  Note: (199v) Parrot. Chaladrius (two) on sick man's bed. Storks: (a) on water, (b) eating snake

  Note: (200r) Swans. Ibis: gives snake's eggs to its young. Ostriches arranging eggs in the sand. Fulica

  Note: (200v) Halcyon, green. Phoenix : (a) in nest fired by sunbeam, (b) dead, a dragon flying away from it

  Note: (201r) Goatsucker in tree: man slings at it. Ercinea avis. Hoopoes: brightly coloured. Pelicans with young. Owl (unlike): sun above

  Note: (201v) Ship on L. Mermaid on R. holding two fish. Partridges. Pie

  Note: (202r) Hawks. Nightingale on eggs. Sun and moon on R. Bats. Crow. Cornix in tree: man sits in chair on R. (auguring from its cry)

  Note: (202v) Doves. Dove covering its nest with squillae to keep off wolf which runs off on L.

  Note: (203r) Swallow. Quail. Peacock. Hoopoe

  Note: (203v) Cock and hen. Ducks. Bees: two straw hives on L.

  Note: (204v) Large dragon lies on its back open mouthed under tree: doves fly about. Three snakes. Blue and red dragon

  Note: (205r) Basilisk (cock with snake's tail) attacked by weasel, birds fly about it: serpents flee on R. Two fourlegged vipers eat each other

  Note: (205v) Asp (winged) stopping his ear: man (charmer) on R.

  Note: (206r) Scitalis. Amphisbaena. Hydrus entering mouth of crocodile. Boas sucking a cow. Jaculus attacking sheep

  Note: (206v) Syren, white snake, bites man's leg. Seps. Dipsae attack a man. Lacertus. Salamander in apple tree in C, licks the fruit: on R., a man who tastes it falls dead. On R. Salamander in fire. Saura emerges from hole in the wall (changing its skin) and looks at sun. Two stelliones

  Note: (207r) Four blue snakes, variously engaged, viz. changing skin: drinking at stream: attacking a clothed man on R.: fleeing from a nude man on R.

  Note: (207v) Two fish

  Note: There are no more illustrations, nor are spaces left for them

  Note: (210r) The last section is on Rane

  incipit: (210r) Rane a garulitate eo quod circa genitales strepunt paludes

  Note: ending

  explicit: (210r) pelidorum. popillorum. solearum. lacertorum. ut luligo et huic similia

  
  

  210r-210v - Poem on the Vanity of the World (Cur mundus militat)

  Note: The poem

  incipit: (210r) Cur mundus militat sub uana gloriaCuius prosperitas est transitoria...Superna cogita cor sit in ethereFelix qui poterit mundum contempnere

  Note: (Wright, Poems of W. Mapes, p. 147)

  Note: (210v) blank

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• Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk

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