Book of Hours of undetermined Use

Germany, Bremen?, 13th century, first half.

Parchment

iii, 84, i' leaves

190 × 130–140 mm

Latin

1 (f. 1r) Rhymed hymn

Incipit: O maria piissima stella maris clarissima

Explicit: regnaturus cum domino sine ullo termino amen

Note: This text is most likely a contemporary addition. At the bottom of the page is written in red ink: ‘Deus’

Edition: Chevalier (1892–1921), no. 13213.

2 (ff. 1v–7v) Calendar

Note:

Notable feasts:

f. 1v: St Isidor (7 Jan.)

f. 2r: St Alto (9 Feb.)

f. 2r: St Fortunatus (28 Feb.)

f. 2v: St Leo, pope (14 March)

f. 2v: St Ludger, bishop (26 March)

f. 2v: St Victor, martyr (31 March)

f. 3r: St Quirinus, bishop (30 April)

f. 3v: St Suibert (8 May)

f. 3v: St Peregrine (16 May)

f. 3v: Sts Cantius, Cantianus and Cantianilla (31 May)

f. 4r: St Saturninus (6 June)

f. 4r: St Regina (20 June)

f. 4v: St Margaret the Virgin (13 July)

f. 4v: St Apollinaris, martyr (16 July)

f. 4v: St Arnulf, confessor (18 July)

f. 5r: St Arnulf, confessor (16 Aug.)

f. 5r: St Theodorus, martyr (21 Aug.)

f. 5v: St Remaclus (3 Sep.)

f. 5v: St Maximus, bishop (12 Sep.)

f. 5v: St Cyprian, martyr (26 Sep.)

f. 6r: St Christiana the Virgin (5 Oct.)

f. 6r: St Florentius, abbot (17 Oct.)

f. 6r: St Marcellus, martyr (30 Oct.)

f. 6v: St Marcus, bishop (5 Nov.)

f. 6v: St Willibrord, bishop (7 Nov.)

f. 6v: St Simplicius, bishop (19 Nov.)

3 (ff. 8r–45v) Hours of the Virgin

Note: f. 8r Miniature: Nativity scene. f. 8v: Blank.

3.1 (ff. 9r–15v) Matins

Incipit: Domine labia mea aperies [...] In honore beatissime marie uirginis iubilemus domino

Explicit: Adiuuabit eam deus uultu suo. Deus in medio eius non commouebitur

Note:

ff. 9v–11r Psalms 94; 8

f. 11r Antiphon: ‘Benedicta tu in mulieribus’, CAO, no. 1709.

ff. 11r–12r Psalm 18

f. 12r Antiphon: ‘Sicut mirra electa odorem dedisti suauitatis’, CAO, no. 4942.

ff. 12r–12v Psalm 23

f. 12v Antiphon: ‘Ante thorum huius uirginis’, CAO, no. 1438.

f. 13r First lesson: ‘In omnibus requiem quiesiui’, and Responsory: ‘Sancta et immaculata’, CAO, no. 4700.

f. 13v Second lesson: ‘Et sic in syon’, and Responsory: ‘Beata es maria’, CAO, no. 6163.

ff. 13v–14r Third lesson: ‘Quasi cedrus’, and Responsory: ‘Felix namque es’, CAO, no. 6725.

ff. 14r–15r Hymn: ‘Te deum laudamus’

ff. 15r–15v ‘Adiuuabit eam deus in uulto suo’, CAO, no. 6042.

3.2 (ff. 15v–22v) Lauds

Rubric: Laudes incipiunt

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: Benedicamus Domino. Deo gracias.

Note:

f. 15v Antiphon: ‘O admirabile’, CAO, no. 3985.

ff. 15v–17r Psalms 92; 99; 62; 66.

ff. 17v–18v Canticle: ‘Benedicite omnia opera’

ff. 18v–20r Laudate Psalms 148-150.

f. 20r Antiphon: ‘O admirabile commercium’, CAO, no. 3985.

f. 20r Chapter: ‘Ego quasi vitis’

ff. 20r–20v Hymn: ‘O gloriosa domina’, AH 50, no. 72.

f. 20v Canticle: ‘Benedictus dominus deus’, CAO, no. 1719.

ff. 21r–21v Antiphon: ‘Sancta maria succurre’, CAO, no. 4703.

f. 21v Prayer: ‘Deus qui de beate marie uirginis utero’

ff. 21v–22v Commemorations of the Cross, St Peter, St Paul, St Nicholas.

3.3 (ff. 22v–28v) Prime

Rubric: Ad primam

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: Benedicamus domino. Deo gracias

Note:

ff. 22v–23r Hymn: ‘Rex christe clementissime’, AH 32, no. 130.

ff. 23r–25r Psalms 53; 118

ff. 25r–27v Athanasian Creed

f. 27v Antiphon: ‘O admirabile comercium’, CAO, no. 3985.

ff. 27v–28r Chapter: ‘Ecce uirgo concipiet’

f. 28r Responsory: ‘Christe fili dei’, CAO, no. 6276.

ff. 28r–28v Prayer: ‘Concede misericos’ [sic!]

3.4 (ff. 28v–32v) Terce

Rubric: Ad terciam

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: Benedicamus domino. Deo gracias.

Note:

f. 28v Hymn: ‘Rex christe clementissime’, AH 32, no. 130.

ff. 28v–32r Psalm 118 continued

ff. 32r–32v Antiphon: ‘Quando natus est’, CAO, no. 4441.

f. 32v Chapter: ‘Ego mater pulchre dilectionis’

f. 32v Responsory: ‘Specie tua’, CAO, no. 7679.

f. 32v Prayer: ‘Porrige nobis ’

3.5 (ff. 32v–35r) Sext

Rubric: Ad sextam

Incipit: consummationis uidi finem latum mandatum tuum nimis.

Explicit: a cunctis hostibus redde securos. Et cetera

Note:

ff. 33r–34v Psalm 118 continued; the word ‘Omnis’ in the beginning has been omitted by the scribe (‘Omnis consummationis vidi finem’).

f. 34v Antiphon: ‘Rubum que’, CAO, no. 4669.

f. 34v Chapter: ‘Ego sapientia’

ff. 34v–35r Responsory: ‘Diffusa est’, CAO, no. 6445.

f. 35r Prayer: ‘Protege domine’

3.6 (ff. 35r–38v) Nones

Rubric: Nona

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: filij tui domini dei nostra intercessione saluemur

Note:

f. 35r Hymn: ‘Rex christe clementissime’, AH 32, no. 130.

ff. 35r–38r Psalm 118 continued

f. 38r Antiphon: ‘Germinauit radix’, CAO, no. 2941.

f. 38r Chapter: ‘Multe filie congregauerunt ’

f. 38r Responsory: ‘Post partum’, CAO, no. 7401.

ff. 38r–38v Prayers: ‘Famulorum tuorum’

3.7 (ff. 38v–42v) Vespers

Rubric: Ad vesperas

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: Benedicamus domino deo gracias

Note:

ff. 38v–40v Psalms 109; 112; 121; 126; 147

ff. 40v–41r ‘Ecce maria genuit’, CAO, no. 2523.

f. 41r Chapter: ‘Ego flos campi’

f. 41r Responsory: ‘Christi uirgo dilectissima’, CAO, no. 6278.

ff. 41r–41v Hymn: ‘Ave maris stella’

ff. 41v–42r Canticle: ‘Magnificat anima mea’

f. 42r Antiphon: ‘Sancta maria uirgo’, CAO, no. 4705.

ff. 42r–42v Prayer: ‘Concede nos famulos ’

3.8 (ff. 42v–45v) Compline

Rubric: Ad completorium

Incipit: Converte nos deus salutaris noster

Explicit: Deo gracias

Note:

ff. 42v–44v Psalms 4; 30; 90; 133

ff. 44v–45r Antiphon: ‘Sub tuam protectionem’, CAO, no. 5040.

f. 45r Hymn: ‘Fit porta Christi ’

ff. 45r–45v Canticle: ‘Nunc dimittis’

f. 45v Prayer: ‘Deus qui salutis eterne beate marie’

4 (ff. 46r–54r) Seven Penitential Psalms

Incipit: Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me

Explicit: quoniam ergo seruus tuus sum

5 (ff. 54r–57r) Litany

Rubric: letania sanctorum

Incipit: Kyrieleison Christeleison Christe audi nos Saluator mundi adiuua nos

Explicit: Domine exaudi orationem meam et clamor meus ad te ueniat

6 (ff. 57r–57v) Prayers

Rubric: Collecta

Incipit: Deus cui proprium est misereri

Explicit: ut tue consolationis gratiam inuenire ualeamus per dominum

Final rubric: Anime omnium fidelium defunctorum requiescant in pace amen

7 (ff. 58r–83v) Office for the Dead

Rubric: Vigilie

Incipit: Dilexi quoniam exaudiet dominus uocem orationis mee

Explicit: Requiescant in pace. Amen

Note:

f. 58r Antiphon: ‘Placebo domino’, CAO, no. 4293.

ff. 58r–60v Psalm 114; 119; 120; 129; 137

ff. 60v–61v Canticle of Mary

ff. 61v–64v Psalm 5; 6; 7

f. 64v First lesson: ‘Ne des alienis’

ff. 64v–65r Second lesson: ‘Melius est nomen’

ff. 65r–65v Third lesson: ‘Memento creatoris tui’

ff. 65v–68v Psalm 22; 24; 26

ff. 68v–69r Fourth lesson: ‘Viuent mortui tui ’

ff. 69r–69v Fifth lesson: ‘Hec dicit dominus’

ff. 69v–70r Sixth lesson: ‘Multi de hiis’

ff. 70r–73v Psalm 6; 40; 41

ff. 73v–74r Seventh lesson: ‘Sicut in adam’

ff. 74r–74v Eighth lesson: ‘Ecce misterium uobis dico’

f. 74v Ninth lesson: ‘Ipsi fratres diligenter’

ff. 74v–75r Responsory: ‘Libera me domine’

ff. 75r–82v Psalm 50; 64; 62; Canticle of Hezekiah (‘Ego dixi’); Psalm 148; Canticle of Zachary (‘Benedictus dominus’); Psalm 145; prayers.

Physical Description

Support

Binding/Endleaves

Locus: LCI, RCI, ff. SL1r–SL3v, SR1r–SR1v

Leaf dimensions: 190 × 130 mm

Support: Parchment

Textblock

Locus: ff. SL3r–84v

Support: Parchment

Leaf dimensions: 190 × 140 mm

Foliation

Modern foliation in pencil.

Collation

Note: VisColl Collation

Formula: 1-3(10), 4(8), 5(12), 6-7(8), 8-11(10)

Note: Parchment guards visible in all quires.

Condition

Binding/Endleaves

f. SL3 About a third of the leaf torn.

Textblock

ff. 1r–7v: Upper part of the leaves torn, but no text loss. f. 18r, 83r: Holes resulting in text loss. Parchment torn throughout the manuscript.

Layout

Layout 1

Locus: ff. 1v–7r

Columns: 1

Ruled lines: 31

Written area: 165 × 95 mm

Layout 2

Locus: ff. 9r–83v

Columns: 1

Ruled lines: 17

Written area: 140 × 90 mm

Script

Binding/Endleaves

Hand 1

(ff. SL3r–SL3v) Late carolingian minuscule (probably 11th century).

Textblock

Hand 2

(f. 1r) Irregular textualis libraria, two hands.

Hand 3

(ff. 1v–84v) Textualis formata.

Additions

Binding/Endleaves

(f. SL2r) Label: ‘A. 30’.

(f. SL2v) Top of page in brown ink by a modern hand: notes about the original wooden covers, replaced in the 19th century. The note also mentions the horn plates that were nailed to the wooden covers and put on the inside of the new covers. Below in black ink: a note describing the new binding made in 1958 by Sven Wiklander. Bottom of page in black ink: a reference to Swarzenski (1936), p. 64, 109, 132

(ff. SL3r–SL3v) In brown ink (rubrics and initials in red), by a medieval hand: fragment of a monastic lectionary.

Textblock

(f. 1r, 8v, 57r) Bottom of page: Royal Library stamp.

(f. 3r) Top of page, in black ink by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand: ‘Regine’

(f. 4r) Top of page, in black ink by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand: ‘et marcellini’

(f. 4v) Bottom of page, in red ink by a 15th century hand: ‘S olaui’

(f. 5r) Top of page, in black ink by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand (text lost due to trimming): ‘vii. ma Stephani’

(f. 6r) Top of page, in black ink by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand: ‘Duorum ewaldorum’

(f. 6v) Top of page, in black ink by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand: ‘Eustachii’

(f. 7v) Top of page, in light brown ink, by a 13th or first half of 14th century hand: ‘Salve regina misericordie’

(f. 25r) Bottom of page, in black ink, by a medieval hand, near contemporary to the main text: ‘integram’

(f. 59r) Left margin, in black ink, by a medieval hand, near contemporary to the main text: ‘mea’

(f. 84r) Prayers added by a 14th or 15th century hand, starting: ‘Sancta Maria virgo virginum’.

Decorations

Textblock

Description:

The manuscript is decorated by pen-flourished initials throughout. The embellishments around some of the larger initials have been added at a later date. For further description see also Lindqvist Sandgren.

Miniature:

f. 8r: Nativity of Christ in blue, green, red, white and brown on a plain golden background, enclosed by a broad blue and red frame. Mary (to the left) reclining in bed, with her left hand indicating the newborn Christ-child in the manger, Joseph seated on the right side, the heads of the ox and the ass in profile behind the manger. White highlights and black outlines.

Illuminations:

The signs of the Zodiac, placed in framed circles of about 10 lines: Aquarius f. 1v, Pisces f. 2r, Aries f. 2v, Taurus f. 3r, Gemini f. 3v, Cancer f. 4r, Leo f. 4v, Virgo f. 5r, Libra f. 5v, Scorpio f. 6r, Sagittarius f. 6v, Capricorn f. 7r. The letters KL in gold with red outline on the top of all calendar folios.

Initials:

f. 9r f. 38v f. 46r f. 58r: Dentelle, knotwork initial D over about 15 lines. Plain initials over 1 line in red and blue. Plain initials over ca 2-7 lines in gold, red, blue and green, several with pen-flourishing and drawings added at a later date, for example on f. 17r, f. 18v, f. 21v.

Binding

Description:

Rebound in 1958 by Sven Wiklander. Brown leather over wooden boards; 2 new clasps.

Binding dimensions: 250 × 145 × 45 mm

Illuminations:

LCO: a badly damaged double framed miniature (now flattened out but formerly wrinkled, probably as a result of the fire in 1697). The miniature was covered by plexi glass in 1958, but was originally protected by a transparent horn plate fastened by strips of silver or horn, small pieces of which are now attached to the inner face of the box. This practice is mentioned by Swarzenski (1936), p. 109.

Miniature (fragmentary, by the same hand as the miniature on f. 8r and the zodiac signs ff. 1v–7r); Standing St Bartholomew, holding a book in his right hand, enclosed by a red frame. ‘Sanctus Bartholomeus’ inscribed at the top of the frame. Outer fields: at the top the busts of the apostles James and Thomas with name scrolls, at the bottom the busts of Philip the Apostle with a name scroll and unidentified apostle (scroll probably lost); along the sides quatrefoils in a double row of lozenges.

Contemporary: No

History

Origin

Germany, Bremen?, 13th century, first half. The Calendar suggests an origin in Bremen, with mentions of e.g. St Suitbert (8 May), Sts Cantius, Cantianus and Cantianilla (31 May), St Margaret the Virgin (13 July), cf. Kroos (1964), pp. 208–299. In the old catalogue, the librarian Oscar Wieselgren has pointed out that the litany of saints ff. 54r–56r mentions e.g. St Willehad, bishop of Bremen on f. 56r. This theory is repeated in Gyllene böcker Engelhart (2004) supports the theory that the volume was produced in North or North west Germany. Swarzenski (1936) suggests a Franconian origin based on the decoration and binding.

Provenance

The words ‘S. Olaui’ on f. 4v, a 15th century addition, suggests a Scandinavian ownership in the late Middle Ages. The current signum was first established in Helin’s catalogue from the 1720s (U 91:2:2). The volume is also mentioned in the following catalogue: U 90:4, p. 48, ‘135. Liber precum in membr. Latine’.

The Antiquities Archive.