Latin Book of Hours (some Middle English), England, 15th century

Component identifier:

Item 2

Content Summary:

Description: i-iv, 166, v-vi leaves (vellum); 140 x 95 mm.; f.89v-f.92v and f.148v are blank.

Script: 16th century hand writing prayer in French on f.89r has anglicana features and is English, perhaps by the Ioannes, whose name occurs several times (see provenance note below)

Decoration: The first leaf after the calendar is decorated with a capital "D" in red and blue enclosing a strawberry mounted in a cup of green, blue and red leaves on a gold ground. The margin of the page is filled with a border of flower scrolls; similar capitals and decoration on pages f.21r, f.34v, f.38v, f.41r, f.43r, f.45v, f.48v, f.53v, f.93v and f.149v; numerous minor capitals in red and blue and gold, and capitals beginning most sentences illuminated and decorated. Some rubrics are written in English with line fillings in red, blue and gold. The stylised strawberry that occurs in initials is a symbol of the Virgin, of purity and of pure souls in heaven. Indicates London work.

Layout: One column; calendar of 12 leaves (f.1r-12v); 17 lines to the page.

Binding: Contained in a rare and interesting early English tooled binding of the mid-15th century; front depicts chained swans and chained stags (stags - symbol of Richard II) within blind-ruled borders; back depicts George slaying a dragon and the initials I.H.C. (monogram for 'Christ') set within crown of thorns; chained element could indicate Royalty; remains of the clasp which looks original and fastens from top to bottom board in English fashion; strap may be modern; the spine covering is missing.

Provenance: Front flyleaf ii (recto) annotated 'Liber Io…'; front flyleaf iii (recto) annotated 'Iste domini Symoni…', c.1500; front flyleaf iv (recto) has an ex libris of 'Ioannem', c1500; end flyleaf vii (recto) has some remaining evidence of ownership. Both Sinclair (p15) and Manion and Vines (p112) make note of the following detail 'Liber John Vernelli is written in a 16c hand on f.165r; f.166r has Liber Johannis with surname effaced'. While there does appear to be a name effaced at the top of f.165r, it is not decipherable. On f.166r there is no writing visible, but it does appear that there is an erasure.

Calendar: Essentially an abbreviated adapted Sarum calendar, but some entries are unusual and indicate that saints from Sarum rite were selected to suit local purpose. There is a strong southwest (Sherborne or Glastonbury) focus. The following saints are included: Bathilda/Balthild (indicates southwest England, Sherborne?); Brigid; Gilbert (added later); dedication of the Cathedral of St Peter; Cedd (missionary from Lindisfarne and associated with Bishoprics in Yorkshire and Essex); Erkenwald, London – patron saint of eyesight – associated with St Paul's (added later); David; Cuthbert; Bishop Richard; Kenelm; Oswald; Swithin; Medard; Gildard; Boniface (SW); Aldhelm (SW); Dunstan; Edith; Cuthburger; Winifred; Thomas (intact); Pope Stephen (intact)Notes: Thomas Becket not erased from calendar so this is a recusant book or out of UK after 1539; Sarum usage.

Reference: Sinclair: No.4 pp. 15-18; Manion Vines: No.68 pp.112-13

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased by the National Library of Australia from the estate of the 11th Baron Clifford in November 1963. It reached Canberra in April 1964. The Chertsey Cartulary (item 65), possibly the most important medieval manuscript held in Australia due to the fact that it is one of only three extant from the 14th century and the only one held outside the UK, was received in 1975, following the granting of an export licence by the British Government.

Names:

Clifford, Hugh, Colonel Hon.

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