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Here bygynneth þe proheme of þe boke þat men cleped þe mirrour of þe blessede lyfe of oure lord Ihesu criste et cetera : [manuscript]

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  • Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christi : [manuscript]

    Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christi : [manuscript]

    Manuscripts

    ff. 1-107v: [Nicholas Love, Mirrour of the Blessed Lyf of Jesu Christ]. Rubric: A deuoute meditacioun of þe grete consell in heuene for þe Restorynge of man & his sauacioun. Capitulum primum et prima pars libri. Incipit: Afftir þe tyme þat man was exiled oute of þe hiȝ cite of heuene ... Explicit: with þe to liff euerlastynge Ihesu lorde bi vertue & grace of þi lif blissed withoute endynge. Amen. Amen. Amen. Ihesu lorde þi blissed lif, helpe & conforte oure wrecch[ed lif]. Amen. Explicit speculum v[...leaf damaged] Drede Shame and Thynkon. [Some text lost from f. 97 to the end, due to damaged leaves; ff. 105v-107v blank]

    mssHM 1339

  • Translation of Higden's Polychronicon, along with other translations of works into Middle English : [manuscript]

    Translation of Higden's Polychronicon, along with other translations of works into Middle English : [manuscript]

    Manuscripts

    ff. 1-5v: [Pseudo William Ockham, translation of Dialogus inter militem et clericum]: Rubric: Dialogus inter militem et clericum. Incipit: Clericus y wonder sir noble knyȝt þat in fewe daies tymes beþ chaungid riȝt is yburied lawes biþ ouertorned. Explicit: Also in þe tyme of gospel hit is writen þe holy day is made for man and nouȝt man for þe holy day. Explicit dialogus inter clericum et militem. ff. 5v-20v: [Richard FitzRalph, translation of Defensio curatorum]: Rubric: Incipit sermo domini archiepiscopi Armacani. Incipit: Demeþ nought by þe face but riȝtful dome ye deme. John 8o co. Holy fadir in þe bigynnyng of my sermoun I make a protestacioun. Explicit: þerfore I conclude & pray mekelich & deuoutlich as I prayed in þe first þat I touchid: demeþ nouȝt bi þe face et cetera. Explicit. ff. 21-23v: [Pseudo Methodius, translation of Beginning of the World and the End of Worlds]: Incipit: In þe name of crist here bigynneþ þe boke of methodii þe bisshop of þe chirche of paterenis and martir of martir of [sic] crist. Explicit: And wicked men wiþout ende shul suffre peyne. Wherefore þe lord vouche he saaf to delyuer vs. qui cum patre et cetera. Explicit liber metodii episcopi. ff. 24-40v: [Alphabetical subject indexes to the Polychronicon in Latin and then in English with reference to books and chapters]. ff. 41-42: [Dialogue between a Lord and a Clerk upon Translation]: Incipit: Siþþe þat babel was ybuld men spekiþ diuerse tonges. Explicit: þan alle þat ben ywrite in þe boke of lyf shal wynde wiþ him into þe blisse of heuen and be þere in body and soule and se & knowe his godhed and manhed in Ioy wiþout eny ende. Explicit dialogus. f. 42r-v. [John Trevisa, Epistle to Sir Thomas of Barkley]: Incipit: Welþe and worshipe to my worthy and worshipful lord sir Thomas lord of Berkley. I Iohan Treuysa youre prest and youre bedman. Explicit: to se god on his blisful face in ioy wipout eny ende. Amen. Explicit epistola. ff. 43-319v: [Ranulph Higden, translation of Polychronicon]: Prologue: Incipit prefacio prima, Aftir solempne and wise writers of art and of science þat had swetnesse & likyng al her liftyme ... Prologue [f. 44v]: Prefacio secunda ad historiam, And for þis cronicle conteyneþ beringes and dedes of meny tymes ... Prologue [f. 44v]: Prefacio tercia ad historiam, To hem þat wole haue ful knowelech of stories it nedeþ eiȝte þinges to knowe ... Rubric: De orbis dimensione priscianus in Cosmagraphia [sic]. Incipit: Iulius Cesar by Counsaile of þe senatours and elder men of Rome loked and serched stories ... Explicit: þis translacion is endide in a þursday þe xviii day of Aueril þe yere of oure lorde a þousande þre hundred foure score and seuen þe tenþe yere of king Richard þe second aftir þe conqueste of englande þe yere of my lordis age sir Thomas lorde of Berkeley þat made me make þis translacion fiue and þritty. Explicit. ff. 320-325v: [115 verses on the kings of England from Alfred to Henry VI; followed by several documents concerning Richard II (his renunciation of the throne), Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI and Edward IV (his claim to the throne of France with 2 genealogical tables]: Rubric: Hic metrice tractatur de regulis ab aluredo primo fundatore universitatis Oxoniensis circiter Annum domini D CCC lxiii usque ad henricum sextum. Incipit: Aluredus rex anglorum primusque monarcha/ Belliger invictus in scripturis bene doctus ... Explicit: Hoc tunc in fine verborum queso meorum/ Prospera quod statuat regna futura deus. Amen. [f. 325v, ruled but blank]. ff. 326-337v: [Pseudo Turpin, translation of Historia Karoli Magni; ending defectively in the 26th of 36 chapters]: Prologue: Turpine the Archebisshop of þe Bataille of Rouncivale. Here begynneth þe prologe of Turpines Story, Tvrpyne by the grace of god Archebiship of Reynes a bisye ffoluere and of grete Emperoure Charlis a ffelow with leoprande Dene of Akim gretinge and helthe euerlastinge in god ... ; [Chapter list]: B[rubricator's error for H]ere beginneth the Titulus of þe Chapitres of the Storye of the Bataille of Rouncivale of grete Charles the Emperoure, Capitulum 1m, [H]ow seynt Iame aperid to Charlis; Capitulum ii, [H]ow þe wallis of pampilione fylle down by hem selffe ... Rubric: How seint Iame apered to king Charles, Capitulum 1. Incipit: After oure lord ihesu criste had sufferid deþe and paid þe Rawnsome for synfulle man. Explicit: þen Roulonde lete him goo, and he callid to god to helpe him. And anone//. The text is preceded by a prologue and a chapter list:

    mssHM 28561

  • Psalter ; English Psalter Commentary ; Holy Boke Gracia Dei ; and other works : [manuscript]

    Psalter ; English Psalter Commentary ; Holy Boke Gracia Dei ; and other works : [manuscript]

    Manuscripts

    Contents Part 1. ff. 1-22v. Holy Boke Gratia Dei. Incipit: Off gods grace sterand and helpande and þat withouten grace no gode may be done. Explicit: hit is on þe night to pray for it is tyme of rest for þeuer is noght þat lettes als is ouer þe day In day man is with trauell. Rubric: Here begynnes þe holy boke gracia dei. English. Other creator(s): Richard Rolle, sometime attributed to. Jolliffe I. 29 (a). M. L. Arntz, S.N.D., "þe Holy Boke Gratia Dei: an Edition with Commentary," unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Fordham University 1961, from Lincoln Cathedral Library, MS 91 (the so-called Thornton manuscript), London, Brit. Lib., Arundel 507 and HM 148, treating as one text and as anonymous, what had been attributed to Richard Rolle and printed as multiple short texts in different order by C. Horstman, ed., Yorkshire Writers: Richard Rolle of Hampole and his Followers (London 1895-96) 1:305-21, 300-05, 145-49, 112-21, 149-51; the divisions are not signaled in HM 148, in which this material constitutes a unit. See also H. E. Allen, Writings ascribed to Richard Rolle (New York 1927) 286-87 and G. R. Keiser, "þe Holy Boke Gratia Dei," Viator 12 (1981) 289-317. Of the text of Gratia Dei, HM 148 retains the introduction, the first part and all but the conclusion of the second part. Part 2. ff. 23-192. [Richard Rolle] Psalter in Latin with English commentary. Incipit: Beatus vir qui non abiit in consilio impiorum et in via peccatorum non stetit et in cathedra pestilencie non sedit. In þis psalme frist he spekes of crist. Explicit: þan with erees of body forþi ilke a spirite loue þe lorde. Amen. Latin. Stegmüller 7303. H. E. Allen, ed., English Writings of Richard Rolle, Hermit of Hampole (Oxford 1931) 4-7 for the English prologue; for the Latin prologue, not printed, see Stegmüller 7298; for the psalter, H. R. Bramley, ed., The Psalter or Psalms of David and certain Canticles with a Translation and Exposition in English by Richard Rolle of Hampole (Oxford 1884) 5-493; this manuscript in the original version without Wycliffite interpolations; at the head of Pss. 52-150 (excepting a few of these psalms) Latin interpretations or resumés of the subject matter; notes in the margins by a later hand give readings for matins and evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer; quire 5 (ff. 71-82) and 6 (ff. 83-94) reversed in the binding. See A. C. Paues, A Fourteenth Century English Biblical Version Cambridge 1902) xxxiv, and D. Everett, "The Middle English Prose Psalter of Richard Rolle of Hampole," Modern Language Review 17 (1922) 217-27, especially p. 222. Part 2. f. 192-203v. [Richard Rolle] Canticles. Incipit: Confitebor tibi domine quoniam iratus es michi, conversus est furor tuus et consolatus es me. I sal schrife til þe lorde for þou arte wrathede til me. Explicit: he bringes vs oute of al wrechidnes of synne and sorowe & settis vs in þe ioye of heuyn. Amen. English. Stegmüller 7304. Bramley, 494-526; here with the 7 canticles Confitebor, Ego dixi, Exultavit, Cantemus domino, Domine audivi, Audite celi, Magnificat. Part 2. ff. 204-206. [Richard Rolle] Commandment Of God. Incipit: þe commawnde of god is þat we luf oure lorde in all oure hert in all oure saule in all oure thoght, in all oure hert þat is in all oure vndyrstandyng withouten heryng. Explicit: and qwen þai dy þai er taken vp to þe ordyr of aungels to see hym in endlys ioy þat þai haue lufd. Amen. English. Horstman, 1:61-71. H. E. Allen, English Writings of Richard Rolle, Hermit of Hampole (Oxford 1931) 73-81. Part 2. ff. 206-208v. Commentary on Two Commandments of the New Law. Incipit: Diliges dominum deum tuum et cetera. þou sall luf god with all þi hert with all þi saule & with all þi thoght. To luf god with all thi hert is noght els bot þat þi nere be noght lufand. Explicit: bodely gudes is man noght halden bot in case of nede Amen. English. Jolliffe G. 27. Horstman 2:454-55, here in a different and longer version. See also Allen, Writings ascribed to Richard Rolle, 366-68. Part 2. f. 208v-210. Vitas patrum. Incipit: In þe fyrst begynnyng if a man begyn to knaw hymself what he is & why he was made. Explicit: he may not parfytly kepe & fulfyll þe speciall beddyngs of þe haligast. Jesus amen. Rubric: Her begynnes a pistille of saynt machari hermet sende to his breþer in vitas patrum. English. Jolliffe H. 12 (b) and O. 22 (b). For the Latin, see PL 67:1163-1166. Part 2. ff. 210-211v. Epistle of St. John the Hermit. Incipit: Greuouse is þe vice of bostyng & pride & full perilouse hit is for it kests doune saules fro þe heghnes of parfeccioune. Explicit: I fleande lenkethede me & duellyde in only stede & alude hym þat sauede me fro storme of þe spyryt. English. Jolliffe F. 10 and O. 16. Horstman, 1:122-24. Part 2. ff. 211v-221v. Sayings of Fathers. Incipit: A Broþire asket sant antonyus what schall I do to plese gode Ande he ansuerde þus kepe what I say whidyre so þou gose. Explicit: bot if þu haue synne þou may not do ryghtwysnes as it is wrytyn//. English. Horstman, 1:125-28, here in a different version, ending defectively. For the Latin "Verba Seniorum," Book 5 of the Vitae Patrum from which this derives, see PL 73:855-940.

    mssHM 148

  • Life of St. Norbert : [manuscript]

    Life of St. Norbert : [manuscript]

    Manuscripts

    Part 1. ff. 1-59v. [John Capgrave]. [Life of St. Norbert]. Incipit: There was a man sumtyme dwelling here/ As our book seith in þat ilk same tyde. Explicit: The freris name þat translate þis story/ Thei called Ion capgraue whech in assumpcion weke/ Made a ende of all his rymyng cry/ The ȝere of crist oure lord witȝ outen ly/ A thousand four hundred & fourty euene/ Aftyr þis lyf I pray god send us to heuene. Feliciter. English. The text is precede by a prologue that begins,"Ioye grace & pees loue feith & charite/ Euyr rest up on ȝour goodly religious breest..." and ends with an Envoy that begins," Go litil book to hem þat wil þe rede/ Sey þe were made to þe abbot of derham..." IMEV 1805. C. L. Smetana, ed., The Life of St. Norbert by John Capgrave O.E.S.A. (1393-1464). Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies 40 (Toronto 1977) from this manuscript, evidently autograph (witness the hand and the"signature" on f. 59v,"Feliciter" with the trefoil); interlinear corrections in the author's hand. For discussions of the identity of the copyist, see P. J. Lucas,"John Capgrave O.S.A. (1393-1464) Scribe and 'Publisher,'" TCBS 5 (1969) 1-35 ; E. Colledge,"The Capgrave 'Autographs,'" TCBS 6 (1974) 137-48 ; Smetana, op. cit., 5-7. On the linguistic forms in HM 55, see E. Colledge and C. Smetana,"Capgrave's Life of St. Norbert: Diction, Dialect and Spelling," Mediaeval Studies 34 (1972) 422-34. Part 2. f. i recto-verso. [Breviary, fragment]. Incipit: //pulus. Numquid aliud iudex nunciat aliud preco clamat. An simul et odisse possumus et diligere. Explicit: Nam et ihesus vester dum hec predicaret iudei illum crucis patibulo affixerunt. Andreas respondit O si//. Latin. Unfinished leaf of a breviary from the end of a homily of Gregory (PL 76:1275 ) in the common of a martyr, presumably for Saturninus through part of the 4th lesson for Andrew.

    mssHM 55

  • Prose and poetry in English : [manuscript]

    Prose and poetry in English : [manuscript]

    Manuscripts

    ff. 1-32. [Richard Rolle, attributed to]. [Contemplations of the Dread and Love of God]. Incipit: Whi ech man schulde desire to love god, Amonge alle creatures whiche god of his endeles myȝte made. Explicit: whiche be þe techinge of almiȝti god have write to þe þes fewe wordes in helpinge of þi soule. Ardeat in nobis domini fervor amoris. English. Text here preceded by a chapter list (labelled a-z, the last entry with no sign:"This schort pistil þat folweþ is deuided in sundri materes ech mater be himself in titlis as þis kalender shewes . . .), and by a prologue (In þe begynnynge and endynge of alle goode werkys: worshipe and þonkynge be to almyȝti god makere and byere of all mankind . . .). Contemplations of the Dread and Love of God (title used in Wynkyn de Worde's edition, 1506), or Fervor amoris, as on f. 33v, including the following three texts, Tractatus de quattuor gradibus amoris. P. S. Jolliffe, A Check-list of Middle English Prose Writings of Spiritual Guidance. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto, Subsidia Mediaevalia 2 (Toronto 1974), H.15. C. Horstman, ed., Yorkshire Writers: Richard Rolle of Hampole (London 1896) 2:72-105. ff. 32-33. [Prayers]. Incipit: A Goode curteis angel ordeined to my gouernaisse I knowe wel myn feblenes. . .yow also in him aftir his holi techinge. I þanke him with þis holi preier. Pater noster et cetera. Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem Set libera nos a malo. Per defensionem angeli commissi nobis ad custodiam amen. Ave maria. [A]ngele qui meus custos pietate superna/ me tibi commissam salva defende guberna. . . Latin; English. A. Wilmart, Auteurs spirituels et textes dévots du moyen âge latin (Paris 1932; repr. 1971), 556-58], with versicle, response and prayer, Deus qui sanctorum angelorum tuorum aliquos tibi benigne concedis assistere. . . ; devotions to one's guardian angel, the English prayer pr. in Horstman, p. 105, followed by a suffrage in Latin. On ff. 32v-33, two prayers to Jesus in Latin: Ihesu fili dei vivi omnium cognitor adiuva me ut vanis cogitacionibus non delector. . .; O bone ihesu tibi sine te placere non possum clementer. . . Some prayers in feminine form. f. 33r-v. [De quattuor gradibus amoris]. Incipit: I ffinde and rede bi holi mennis writinge þat aftir oure ladies assumpcion Seint Johan euangelist gretliche desirid to se þat blessid ladi. Explicit: and þan seie an antem wiþ a deuout orison suiche as we þenkemost plesinge to oure soule. Explicit tractatus de quatuor gradubus [sic] amoris. English. N. S. Baugh, A Worcestershire Miscellany Compiled by John Northwood c. 1400 (Philadelphia 1956) 151-52. ff. 34-50v. [Richard Rolle] [Form of living]. Incipit: In euery sinful man or woman þat is bounden in dedeli sinne is þre wrecchednesses þe whiche bringeþ hem to þe deþ of helle. Explicit: and praye for me þe grace of ihesu crist be wiþ deþ and kepe þe. Amen. Rubric: Incipit liber nuncupatus Amore langueo. English. Richard Rolle, Form of Living, in Horstman, 1:3-49; H. E. Allen, Writings Ascribed to Richard Rolle, Hermit of Hampole (New York 1927) 256-68; H. E. Allen, English Writings of Richard Rolle Hermit of Hampole (Oxford 1931) 82-119. f. 51. [Poem]. Incipit: Crist made to man a faire present/ His blody body wiþ loue y brent. . .þan schal my loue be trewe. Explicit: & fin/ and loue in loue schal make fin. English. C. Brown and R. H. Robbins, Index of Middle English Verse (New York 1943) and Supplement by R. H. Robbins and J. L. Cutler (Lexington 1965) 611. C. Brown, ed., Religious Lyrics of the XIVth Century (Oxford, 2nd ed., 1952) 113-14, with collations from this manuscript on pp. 273-74. ff. 51-52v. [Poems]. Incipit: Hyt is yfounde and ywrite þat oure lady apered to seint Thomas of caunterbury and badde him and tauþt him to worschipe here. . .Be glad of al maydens flourre/ þat hast in heuene swich honoure. Explicit: Bringe me to þe blisse of heuene/ þorwe grace of clene lyfe. Latin; English. Text preceded by a Latin legend ("Legitur quod dum beatus Thomas martir Cantuariensis Arche episcopus septem gaudia temporalia . . ."), several short Latin texts (Gaude flore virginali; O sponsa dei electa mater domini nostri ihesu christi benedicta; Domine ihesu christe fili dei vivi qui beatissimam genitricem tuam). See C. Brown and R. H. Robbins, Index of Middle English Verse (New York 1943) and Supplement by R. H. Robbins and J. L. Cutler (Lexington 1965) 465. C. Brown, ed., Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century (Oxford 1939) 59-60, English portions only from this manuscript. U. Chevalier, Repertorium hymnologicum, Louvain 1892-1912, Brussels 1920-21, n. 6809 for the hymn, Gaude flore virginali. ff. 53-62v. [Richard of St. Victor]. [Benjamin Minor]. Incipit: A Greet Clerc þat men callaþ Richard of seint victor in a book þat he makeþ of þe studie wisdam. Explicit: Ibi Beniamin adolescentulus in mentis excessu: þat is þer is Beniamin ȝe ȝonge child in rauissyng of mynde. Mercy help. Gremercy help. English. A Tretyse of þe Stodye of Wysdome þat Men Clepen Beniamyn (translation of Richard of St. Victor's Beniamin Minor), in P. Hodgson, Deonise Hid Divinite. Early English Text Society original series 231 (London 1955) 11-46; HM 127 collated as C. f. 62v. [Seven Works of Mercy]. Incipit: The seuene dedis of mercy/ I wole do as god us bede. Explicit: Cherishe þe sinful to turne fro vys/ And wys him in to þe riþt way. English. Index of Middle English Verse 3459. The seven Works of Mercy,"Bodily" and"Gostly.". f. 62v. [Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit]. Incipit: Septem dona spiritus sancti, Domum [sic] sapiencie castitas contra luxuriam. Explicit: Domum [sic] timoris domini humilitas contra superbiam. Latin.

    mssHM 127

  • Crypto-Catholic Shrewsbury prayer book : manuscript

    Crypto-Catholic Shrewsbury prayer book : manuscript

    Manuscripts

    1. f. 1r-v. Morning prayer. Lighten myne eyes o Lorde, least at any tyme I oversleepe in sinne, and least myne enemy doe say I have prevailed against him ... 2. ff. 1v-2r. Evening prayer. Allmighty and everlasting God, I render thee most heart thanckes, for that thou has vouchsafed of thy great mercy and goodnes, to preserve mee this day from all evill ... 3. ff. 2r-3v. A prayer to stirre up the minde to devotion in prayer. Allmighty and most mercifull Father, unto thee all the heavenly company of the Celestiall cytie, all the blessed orders of saved spirits do wth due reverence sing continuall glorie and everlasting praise ... 4. ff. 3v-10r. A confession of my sinnes & weaknesses wth petitions for the pardoning of the one, & strengthening of ye other. Have mercie vpon mee and spare mee good Lorde, and suffer mee not to perish in my sinne ... 5. ff. 10r-18r. Another confession wth such like petitions. Graunt me most mercifull God, fervently to desire such thinges, as may bee acceptable and pleasing unto thee, wth wisedome to serch after those, not to bee deceived in the knowledge of those, and unfainedly to accomplish the doing of those ... 6. f. 18r. A prayer desiering God to order & direct mee. Lorde God thou knowest what thing is to mee most profitable to doe, this or that, after thy will: ... 7. ff. 18v-19r. A thankesgiving for my beeing. O God thou mightest have kept mee from being at all, and (being) thou maist make mee, as if I never had been, but seeing of they wonderfull goodnes, also doost suffer mee still to bee: ... 8. ff. 19r-20r. Before the receiving of the holy Sacrament. O Benigne Jesu that wouldest suffer so many grevous paynes, yea death itself for love of mankinde, great and marveilous is they charity, give mee grace to receive, thy precious body in forme of bread this day, with purity of heart and cleanes of soule, with love, dread, and stedfast beleef. ... 9. ff. 20v-21r. After receiving the holy Sacrament. Thankes bee unto thee o holy Father God Almyghty, that thou didst vouchsaufe of thy great pity, to send thy only sonne from thy high throne into this vale of woe & miserye, ... 10. ff. 21r-22v. A prayer or thanckesgiving unto ye Holy Trinity. O Blessed Lorde God, Father, Sonne and Holy Ghost, three personnes and one God, my Lorde, my God, my maker, my redeemer, my norisher, my defender, my sweetnes, my mercy, my refuge, my strength, my victory, my joy, and my glory eternall; I laud thee, I glorifie thee, I honor thee. ... 11. ff. 22v-24v. Prayers in Sicknesse. O Sweete Jesu, I desire nor life, nor death, but they most holy will. Thee O Lorde I looke for, bee it unto mee according to thy pleasure. If thou wilt sweete Jesus that I dye, receive my soule ... 12. ff. 24v-25r. A prayer for a sick body ready to die. Have mercy and spare him o Lorde; deliver him from thine anger, from an evill death, from the danger of death; from the paines of hell, from all evill, from the power of the Devill. ... 13. ff. 25r-26r. Christ deliver thee from all torment, who was crucified for thee. Christ deliver thee from death, who hath vouchsafed to dye for thee; Christ the sonne of the living god, place thee in the garden of his paradise, which alwaies is pleasant and flourishing ...

    mssHM 83695