Book of Hours

Germany, 13th century

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’

2 (ff. 1v–7v) Calendar

Note: Saints suggesting a use in Lower Saxony: St Suibert f. 3v, St Margaret the Virgin f. 4v. The feast of St Olaf on f. 4v may be a later addition, hinting at a Nordic use.

3 (ff. 8r–45v) Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Note: f. 8r Miniature: Nativity scene.

3.1 (ff. 9r–15v) Matins

Incipit: Domine labia mea aperies Et os meum annunciabit laudem tuam

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

Note:

f. 9vInvitatory: In honore beatissime marie uirginis iubilemus domino Hesbert (1963-), no. 1086

ff. 9v–11rPsalms 94; 8

f. 11rAntiphon: Benedicta tu in mulieribus Hesbert (1963-), no. 1709

ff. 11r–12rPsalm 18

f. 12rAntiphon: Sicut mirra electa odorem dedisti suauitatis Hesbert (1963-), no. 4942

ff. 12r–12vPsalm 23

f. 12vAntiphon: Ante thorum huius uirginis Hesbert (1963-), no. 1438

f. 13rFirst lesson (In omnibus requiem quiesiui) and Responsory: Sancta et immaculata Hesbert (1963-), no. 4700

f. 13vSecond lesson (Et sic in syon) and Responsory: Beata es maria Hesbert (1963-), no. 6163

ff. 13v–14rThird lesson (Quasi cedrus) and Responsory: Felix namque es Hesbert (1963-), no. 6725

ff. 14r–15rHymn: Te deum laudamus

ff. 15r–15vAdiuuabit eam deus in uulto suo Hesbert (1963-), no. 6042

3.2 (ff. 15v–22v) Lauds

Rubric: Laudes incipiunt

Incipit: Deus in adiutorium meum intende

Explicit: Benedicamus Domino. Deo gracias.

Note:

f. 15vAntiphon: O admirabile Hesbert (1963-), no. 3985

ff. 15v–17rPsalms 92; 99; 62; 66

ff. 17v–18vCanticle: Benedicite omnia opera

ff. 18v–20rLaudate Psalms 148-150

f. 20rAntiphon: O admirabile commercium Hesbert (1963-), no. 3985

f. 20rChapter: Ego quasi vitis

ff. 20r–20vHymn: O gloriosa domina Dreves (1907), no. 72

f. 20vCanticle: Benedictus dominus deus Hesbert (1963-), no. 1719

ff. 21r–21vAntiphon: Sancta maria succurre Hesbert (1963-), no. 4703

f. 21vPrayer: Deus qui de beate marie uirginis utero

ff. 21v–22vCommemorations 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–23rHymn: Rex christe clementissime Dreves (1899), no. 130

ff. 23r–25rPsalms 53; 118

ff. 25r–27v Athanasian Creed

f. 27vAntiphon: O admirabile comercium Hesbert (1963-), no. 3985

ff. 27v–28rChapter: Ecce uirgo concipiet

f. 28rResponsory: Christe fili dei Hesbert (1963-), no. 6276

ff. 28r–28vPrayer: 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. 28vHymn: Rex christe clementissime Dreves (1899), no. 130

ff. 28v–32rPsalm 118 continued

ff. 32r–32vAntiphon: Quando natus est Hesbert (1963-), no. 4441

f. 32vChapter: Ego mater pulchre dilectionis

f. 32vResponsory: Specie tua Hesbert (1963-), no. 7679

f. 32vPrayer: 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–34vPsalm 118 continued; the word ‘Omnis’ in the beginning has been omitted by the scribe (‘Omnis consummationis vidi finem’).

f. 34vAntiphon: Rubum quem Hesbert (1963-), no. 4669

f. 34vChapter: Ego sapientia

ff. 34v–35rResponsory: Diffusa est Hesbert (1963-), no. 6445

f. 35rPrayer: 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 Dreves (1899), no. 130

ff. 35r–38r Psalm 118 continued

f. 38rAntiphon: Germinauit radix Hesbert (1963-), no. 2941

f. 38r Chapter: Multe filie congregauerunt

f. 38r Responsory: Post partum Hesbert (1963-), 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 Hesbert (1963-), no. 2523

f. 41r Chapter: Ego flos campi

f. 41r Responsory: Christi uirgo dilectissima Hesbert (1963-), no. 6278

ff. 41r–41v Hymn: Ave maris stella

ff. 41v–42rCanticle: Magnificat anima mea

f. 42r Antiphon: Sancta maria uirgo Hesbert (1963-), no. 4705

ff. 42r–42v Prayers: 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–45rAntiphon: Sub tuam protectionem Hesbert (1963-), no. 5040

f. 45rHymn: Fit porta Christi

ff. 45r–45vCanticle: Nunc dimittis

f. 45vPrayer: 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 of the Saints

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 of the Dead

Incipit: Dilexi quoniam exaudiet dominus uocem orationis mee

Explicit: Requiescant in pace. Amen

Note:

f. 58rAnthiphon: Placebo domino Hesbert (1963-), no. 4293

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

ff. 60v–61vCanticle of Mary

ff. 61v–64vPsalm 5; 6; 7

f. 64vFirst lesson: Ne des alienis

ff. 64v–65rSecond lesson: Melius est nomen

ff. 65r–65vThird lesson: Memento creatoris tui

ff. 65v–68vPsalm 22; 24; 26

ff. 68v–69rFourth lesson: Viuent mortui tui

ff. 69r–69vFifth lesson: Hec dicit dominus

ff. 69v–70rSixth lesson: Multi de hiis

ff. 70r–73vPsalm 6; 40; 41

ff. 73v–74rSeventh lesson: Sicut in adam

ff. 74r–74vEighth lesson: Ecce misterium uobis dico

f. 74vNinth lesson: Ipsi fratres diligenter

ff. 74v–75rResponsory: Libera me domine

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

Physical Description

Support

Binding/Endleaves

Locus: ff. LCI, RCI, 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. ff. 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.

Textblock

Hand 2

(ff. 1r–84v)Textualis formata.

Additions

Binding/Endleaves

(ff. SLRr–SL2r) Label: ‘A. 30’.

(f. SL2v) Top of page in brown ink: Notes by G. E. Klemming 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

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

(f. 7v) Top of page, in light brown ink, by a medieval hand: ‘Salve regina misericordie’

(f. 25r) Bottom of page, in black ink, by a medieval hand: ‘integram’

(f. 59r) Left margin, in black ink, by a medieval hand: ‘mea’

(f. 84r) Prayers added by a medieval hand. Incipit: Sancta Maria virgo virginum.

Decorations

Textblock

Description:

The manuscript is decorated throughout. The embellishments around some of the initials may have been added by a later hand. For further description see also Lindqvist Sandgren.

Initials:

Plain initials over 1 line in red and blue. Flourished initials over ca 2-7 lines in gold, red, blue and green, some inhabitated, for example (f. 17r). On (f. 9r) (f. 38v) (f. 46r) (f. 58r): Dentelle, knotwork initial D over about 15 lines.

Illuminations:

In circles over 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).

Illuminations:

On (f. 8r), miniature Nativity scene in gold, blue, green, red, white and brown.

Binding

Description:

Modern binding from the 19th century, rebound in 1958 by Sven Wiklander. Brown leather over wooden boards; 2 new clasps.

Binding dimensions: 250 × 145 × 45 mm

Illuminations:

On the front cover 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 plexiglass 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. The miniature shows St. Bartholomew, holding a book in his right hand. ‘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. thin horn plate (today kept at the inside of the box).

Condition: Good.

History

Origin

Germany, 13th century The litany of saints ff. 54r–56rmentions e.g. St. Willehad, bishop of Bremen f. 56r. However, his feast day (8 November) is not noted in the Calendar. Among saints mentioned in the Calendar are St Godehard of Hildesheim 5 May, St Germanus of Auxerre 31 July; St. Willibrord 7 November. The Calendar could suggest an origin in Lower Saxony, with mentions of e.g. St Suitbert (8 May), Sts Cantius, Cantianus and Cantanilla (31 May), Margaret the Virgin (13 July), cf. Kroos (1964), pp. 208–299. Swarzenski suggests a Franconian origin due to the decoration and binding but the liturgical evidence, such as the calendar, the series of the responsories and the readings of the Office of the Dead suggest otherwise.

Provenance

The Antiquities Archive.

The words ‘S. Olaui’ on f. 4v, probably a later addition, could suggest a Scandinavian ownership in the Middle Ages. Current signum, A 30, first established in Helin’s catalogue from the 1720s (U 91:2:2). Also mentioned in the following catalogues and inventories: U 90:4, p. 48, ‘135. Liber precum in membr. Latine’.