The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts

I.
In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti.
f.1 The Lord's Prayer in Latin and English with English rubric (as throughout)
Ave Maria...
Apostles' Creed... divided among the Apostles.
At the bottom a note in Latin on the manner of crossing oneself.
f.1b The .v. wyttes
f.1b The .x. commaundmentys: in English (only the first is given here)
f.2 The .v. wyttys bodyly
f.2 The v wyttys gostly
f.2b The vii blessyd virtues
A Prologe on the x commaundments
f.2b All maner men shuldyn holde goddys commaundments - and they be nat greuous ne heuy.
f.3 Expl. prol.
Fili mi custodi sermones meos etc.
God hymsylf spake these wordes.
f.6 Here suen the seuyn dedely synnes
f.7b howe many maner wyse syn ys foryeue
f.8 The vij werkes of mercy bodyly
f.8b The vii werkys of mercy gostly
f.8b vii geftys of the holy gost
f.9 xii artycles of the ffeythe
f.9b short declaracion of beleue in generall
f.10 vii sacraments
f.10 xii lettynges of prayer
f.12 Howe a man shall yelde a streyte reconyng of thie goodys
f.12b Here sueth somwhat of charyte
f.17 iiij . errors
f.17 Howe men shulde be meke and pacient
f.18 Gregory in the xviii omely
f.18 Seynt Denyse in hys boke of goddys names
f.18b Here foloweth the craft to dy well and to lyue euer
Forasmoche as the Passage out of the Wrechydnes of the exyle of thys world etc.
Ends f.32b Jhesu cryste that ys mediatour betwyxt God and man. Amen.
Here endeth the craft of dying.

II.
f.33a blank
1. f.33b Erthe vppon erthe so wondyrly wrought etc.
2. f.34 Here bigynneth a treatise of Parce michi domine
By a forest side walkyng as I went.
Above is a sketch of a man lying on flowery grass among trees on which are birds: one bird has a blank scroll in his mouth.
A longer scroll above, on which a later hand has written Lidgati Poemata.
3. f.38 Here bigynneth the nyne lessons of the Dirige whiche Job made in his tribulacioun lyeng on the dunghill and bien declarid more openly to lewde mennes vndirstondyng bi a solempne worthy and a discrete clerke Richard Hampole and is clepid pety Job and is ful profitable to stiere synners to compunctioun.
Parce michi etc.
Lef lord my soule thou spare
The soth I sey now sikerle.
Ends f.50b
so that I may euer w^t the dwell
Thorough Parce michi Domine,
Here enden the .ix. lessons of Dirige whyche Job made in hys tribulacion.
4. f.51 Here begynneth a breue compilyd tretyse callyd by the Auctor therof Curia sapiencie [John lydgate]
Stow(?) has written above:
here lackethe the prologe, 10 staves.
All besy swymmyng in the stormy flood.
Ends f.83
ffor verray ground to Boece I hym remyt.
Explicit processus de Musica.
Expl. hic tract, qui vocatur Curia Sapiencie [John Lydgate].
Note in the margin by Stow?
here lackethe 33 staves and more.
ff. 83b-84b blank.
5. f.85 In smaller hand. At top. John Lydgate (xvi)
[De Concilio Trinitatis].
O thoughtfull hert plongyd in hygh dystresse.
...
And to my mater I will ayene retorne (f.95b).
Liber II. Title added (xvi)
f.95b How merci and pees and Rightwisnes and truthe dysputyd for the Redempcion of mane kynde
Who that ys bound and feteryd in prison.
Liber II. ends f.115b.
Liber III. ends f.137b.
Liber IV. ends f.142b.
Liber V. ends f.151.
Liber VI. ends f.156b.
Expl. purificacio et finis libri compilati per Joh. lydgate monachum de Bury.
6. A later title
f.157 here is y^e begynnynge of y^e xv Joyes and the xv sorows that our blissyd lady had whill she was here on earthe
Prologue. Betwene mydnyght and þ ^e morow fresshe gray
Nat yore ago in hert full pensyfe.
f.157b Text. Blessyd braunche that sprang out of Jesse
Each stanza (7 lines) is accompanied by a Pater and Ave.
Ends:
As here afore ys shewed the manere.
Expl. quindecim gaudia b. Marie virginis.
f.159 Inc. prologus quindecim lamentacionum b. Marie
As ye haue herde accomplysshed the gladnes.
f.159b Inc. quindecim lamentaciones b. Marie
O gloryous mayde for that heuynesse.
Ends with lenuoy of 3 stanzas:
where thow faylyst that men shall the correcte.
Expl. quindecim lament. b. Marie V.
7. f.162 A poem in six stanzas of seven lines on the Aue regina celorum
Hayle luminary benigne lanterne
...
Where more ioy ys then tung may telle.
Lydgate's name is added at the end of this and the following poems up to f.174b.
8. f.162b A poem (5 stanzas) on Regina celi letare
O thow ioyfull lyght eternall ye shyne
...
Banysshyd ys oure sorow and aduersite.
9. f.163 A poem in stanzas of 8 lines, each ending O aue Jesse virgula
Hayle blessyd lady the modyr of crist Ihesu
...
That syng of hoole hert O aue Jesse virgula.
10. f.165b To the Virgin: stanzas of seven lines
O welle of swetnesse replete in euery veyne
On the monk from whose mouth sprang a lily with Maria on the leaves.
As was Dan Joos so quyte hem for theyre mede. Amen.
11. f.167 Quene of heuyn of hell eke emperesse
Stanzas of eight lines: with lenuoy
...
To make yow strong beware foryete hem nought.
12. f.168b Thow heuynly quene of grace oure loode sterre
Stanzas of eight lines:
...
Safe all thy seruauntes from stroke of pestylence.
13. f.169 To St Ursula: three 8-line stanzas and a couplet
Ye brytoun martyrs famous in parfytenesse
Vs to socoure lorde when we to the call.
14. f.169b To St Anne: two 7-line stanzas
He that intendeth in hys hert to seke,
Delyueryng hys sowle from all aduersite.
15. f.170 In a smaller hand
[The xv ioyes of our lady secundum lydgate.]
Prol. O blessyd lady O princes of mercy.
Text. O queue of heuene of hell eke emperesse.
and ioy euerlastyng when I shall hens wende. Amen.
f.173 Inc. quinque gaudia b. Marie virginis
Be glad o mayde moder of cryst Jhesu
...
Only of mercy and stynt oure heuynesse.
Expl. quinque gaudia b.m.v.
16. f.173b Et incipiunt alia quinque gaudia
O sterre of Jacob, glory of Israell
...
Agayn gostly enemyes to stond in assuraunce.
17. f.174b Inc. psalmi passionis domini
Seven-line stanzas, intercalated with the beginning of each Psalm, the Versicle and the oratio.
O lord omnipotent fadyr of oure creacyoun.
...
W^t lastyng feyth vnto my dedly houre. Amen.
ff.178-181 are blank.
18. f.182 Poem in eight-line stanzas
At the head is written by Stow, 'William lichefeld, doctor of diuinitie.'
It is printed in E. E. T. S. (Political, Religious and Love Poems, ed. Furnivall) from another MS.
Oure gracious god prince of pyte
Of whom all grace and goodnes began.
There are Latin marginals giving the substance of the English.
Ends: And aftyr thys lyfe bryng yow and me
Vnto euerlasting ioy. Amen.
Added (xv, xvi): q^d lychefeld doctor theologie.
Here endith y^e complaynte betwyxt god and man that was made by m^str Willyam lychefeld which was parson of all halows [ye more in thames strete] in London on whos soule God have mercy. Amen.
(he dyed in anno 1447 on y^e xxiiij of October and made in his tyme 3083 sermons as apered by his owne hand writinge and were found when he was deade.)
The additions are in Stow's hand.
19. f.189b [Lydgate vpon Christes passyon]
Man to reform thyne exyle and thy losse
Then oft thynke on crystes passyon.
ff.191b-193a blank.
20. f.193b [Lydgate. On Psalmody]
All gostly songys and hympnes y^t be song
...
Eternally thy mercyes they do syng. Amen.
21. f.196b [Lydgate: The Bird's Hymns to the Deity]
As I me lenyd vnto a ioyfull place
...
And thus they sang both more and lase
The melodyouse ympne w^t gret solase.
O lux beata trinitas.
22. f.197b Letabundus: Lydgate
Ground take in vertu by patryarke olde
...
Thys new yere doth thereon remembraunce.
Expl. letabundus.
ff.201b-204b blank.
23. f.205 An exortacion to Prestys when they shall say theyr masse [Lydgate.]
Ye holy prestes remembreth in yo^r herte
Toward masse when ye do yow dresse
...
Repast of aungelles in the heuynly mansyon.
24. f.205b [Exposition of the mass for lay people]
Prol.: ye folkys all whyche haue deuocioun
...
Abyde at masse tyll In principio.
Latin quatrain: Qui vult audire missam non debet abire
Donee dicatur et plene perficiatur
Principio si sis et non in fine manebis
Pars tua parua datur que (l. quia) laus in fine probatur.
Text. f.206b The holy man pope Celestyne
Lyke as I fynde wrytyn in hys lyfe.
Ends f.212b: W^t poore folk in heuyn shalbe theyre mede.
25. f.212b The vertu of heryng of the masse aftyr the opynyon of Seynt Bernard
Heryng of masse yeueth a gret rewarde
Agayne all hys foon of hygh estate or lasse.
26. f.213b Wordys of Seynt Augustyne in fasciculo morum of the medys of the masse
That day a man deuoutly hereth masse
...
The to reforme where as they se nede.
27. f.214b Seynt Austyne noteth howe the angell of heuen declaryd to hym the merytes of the masse that men receue in heryng deuoutly a masse
Now herken euery man bothe more and lesse
Now graunt vs grace to here masse aryght.
28. f.215 A lytyll compilacioun declaryng when men kysse in Churche stoone or erthe tymber or iron what they shuld remembre therby
O deuout pepyll whyche kepe an obseruaunce
...
Whyche for your sake weryd a crowne of thorne.
29. Prose: in two narrow columns.
f.215b (Benefits of the Communion)
Furst when ye receue oure lord in forme of brede, ye receue .v. parties.
-ne nothyng may fyll the hert, but that that hyt louyth.
Deo gracias.
30. Thys ys the pardon grauntyd to the fest of Corpus Christi.
Furst to all tho that byn repentaunt etc.
The total amount is 12000 days.
31. f.216b Indulgence of John xii (? xxii) for adding the name of Jesus to the Ave, and for saying our Lady's Psalter
ff.217-220 blank.
32. f.221 Inc. Vita beate Anne matris b. marie virginis [Lydgate]
Prol.: O blessyd Jhesu that art full of myght
...
Besechyng yow of youre good supportyng.
Text: f.222b O blessyd Anne aboue predestinate
...
And when we dy to haue eternall blys.
Expl. vita S. Anne matris b. Marie V.
ff.230b-232b blank.
Then follow for the second time texts of a number of poems to the Virgin.
33. f.233 Hayle luminary (see f.162)
34. f.233b O thow ioyfull (162b)
35. f.234 Hayle blyssyd lady (163)
36. f.236 O welle of swetnes (165b)
37. f.238 Betwene mydnyght (157)
38. f.240 As ye haue herde (159)
39. f.240b O glorious mayde (159b)
40. f.242 Verses on the Kings of England (seven lines on each)
Willelmus Conquestor.
Thys myghty Wyllyam Duke of Normandy.
Ends on Henry vi: and buryed at Chartsey yf ye lyst to here.
The name Edwardus quartus follows, but there is no verse
41. Prophesie Hermerici ab origine mundi v^m v^c lxxxvj annis.
f.243b In prose
Lilium regnans in nobile parte mundi
-tune completa permanebunt.
Expositio eiusdem prophesie. Lilium .v. rex ffrancie.
42. f.244 hese ben the names of seyntes and prophetys that prophesy of a Kyng that shuld be callyd Edward
Seynt Thomas of Canterbury calleth hym the vrgent king of bewte.
The last authority is Makamyte.
f.244b Ballad. Gaudete iusti in domino
Refrain: Conuertimini ye comons and drede your kyng.
For now regneth ryghtwysly oure souerayn.
Distich:
Homo proponit. Oftymes in veyn } quy serra serra.
But deus disponit. The boke telleth pleyn. }
f.245 Prayers
f.245b last stanza. O prynce disyre by Chaucer.
44. Ab inimicis nostris defende nos cryste.
Most souerayn lord O blysfull cryste Jhesu.
The two last stanzas are on behalf of king Edward IV, ending
And dryue thy folke agayn to stedfastnes.
Expl. q^d Rogerus Thorney (the name added in cent. xvi early?).
45. f.246b As I me lenyd (f.196b)
46. f.247 Gallaunt
Lyke as grete wateres encresyn in to floodes fele
...
T. for toylous pryde these myscheuen our land here.
47. f.248 On the seven sins
Gula. O thow gay galaunt, Gloton by thy name
...
Elles shall England wayle that euer they came here.
48. f.249 The Lyfe of Adam
In prose: double columns.
Adam was made of oure lorde god in the same place that Jhesu was born in.
Ends:
they entred and spake prowdly.
It is a version of the Latin Vita Adae edited by W. Meyer.
Followed by a short note of the Six Ages of the World in Latin on f.256b.
49. f.257 Here begynneth the lyfe of seynt Antony
Antony forsoth of noble and relygyous fadyr.
Divided into 9 lessons.
Ends:
honour and worshyp euerlastyng. Amen.
f.261 The fyndyng of the gloryous Confessour Antony
In the tyme that Constantyne the Emperour.
Ends:
that byn sory for theyr synnes.
In sixteen paragraphs, not numbered.
f.271b The translacion of the gloryous confessour and heremyte seynt Antony of Vienensis
For god fauoryng of seynt Antony.
In four paragraphs.
Ends:
in the world of worldes. Amen.
Another hand, double columns.
50. f.274 Hic sequitur oracio dominica per dominum Johannem lydgate translata
Oure gloryous fadyr þ ^t art in heuen
Sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
51. f.274 Hic sequitur salutacio angelica per dictum dompnum Johannem Lydegate translata
Hayle glorious lady heuenly quene
...
And aftyr our endyng god send vs heuyn. Amen.
52. f.274b Hic sequitur quando Psalterium beate Marie primo erat inuentum per quendam monachum monasterii S. Egidii in regno Francie miraculose
Whoso desyreth to gete and conquere
...
Her sawter to sey lat vs fonde.
53. f.275b An exortacion to auoyde and to put awey the seuyn dedely
synnes
Syth in þys world þer can noþyng be secvre
So þat þe worlde neuer make oure soulys thrall.
Ascribed in Stow's hand to Lydgate.
54. f.276 A deuout prayer toward thy bedde at nyght
Now Jhesu lorde welle of all goodnes.
...
In nomine patris et filii.
Et spiritus sancti. Amen.
By Lydgate (Stow).
55. f.276b A deuout prayer at thy vprysyng
In nomine patris et filii.
...
And in my desease be my socour. Amen.
56. f.276b Sequitur Meditacio de Passione domini nostri Jhesu Cristi
There stood besyde the crosse of Jhesu
Amen Amen for charyte
By Lydgate (Stow).
57. f.277b An exortacion deuoutly founde and groundyd of Auctoryte to excyte euery crystyn creature to worshyp euery drope of blood that our blessyd and mercyfull lord Jhesus shed for us and all mankynde in hys bytter passioun. And the merytys w^t all for thys worshyppyng as hit appereth folowyng
Yf thow wolt synglerly
...
Here is þe nombre of hem all.
58. f.278b. Here foloweth the Prologue of the Daunce of Machabre translatyd by Dom John lydgate Monke of Bury out of ffrensshe in to englyssh. Whyche now ys called the Daunce of Poulys.
Ye folkes harde hertyd as at^? stone
...
Holde me excusyd my name ys John Lydgate
Of Bury (in red).
The text begins with a speech of Mors to Adam, and ends with one of Doctor Machabre and lenvoy.
59. f.284. Latin verses.
a. Eight lines
Mortales dominus cunctos in luce creauit.
b. Twelve lines.
In cinerem rediit cinis et nequit hic remanere.
c. Four lines.
Sunt tria que vere faciunt me sepe dolore.
f.284b is blank.
60. f.285. Lydgate de magnificencia ecclesie.
Emperour of all emperours omnipotent
...
And I wyll pray whyle ye rede eftsones in lyke wyse.
61. f.287b. Septem sunt gradus magnatum.
Thys world ys born vp by Astates seuyn
...
The ryche her almes to part w^t þe porayll.
Officia dictorum magnatum.
Pryncys to vs longeþ prestys to gouerne
...
Rychemen we delyn our Almes w^t our hond.
62. f.287b. Septem Pagine sequuntur Sapiencie
Thynges passyd remembre and well dyuyde
...
To be content w^t suche as þey here fynde.
63. f.288. The fynders of the · vij · sciences artificiall.
Jubal was faydr and fynder of song
...
f.288. To helthe of man þer^ir temperat diete
By Lydgate (Stow).
64. f.288b. The · vij · sciences callyd Lyberall
Of seuyn sciences callyd lyberall.
...
The world gouerneth by heuynly influence.
Auctors of seuyn sciences.
Auctor of Gramer was whilom Prician.
...
Founders of sciences and vertuos encrese.
65. f.288b. Single columns to a page.
The dysposicion of the vij Planettes
Saturne disposeþ a man to melancholy.
...
Makyn men vnstable here in her lyuyng.
f.288b.
The dysposicion of the xij sygnes.
" " of þe iiij elementes.
" " of þe iiij complexyons.
" " of þe iiij tymes of þe yere.
f.289b." " of the world.
(All attributed by Stow to Lydgate. All have the same refrain.
66. f.290. One column on a page.
Mercy and Trowthe met an hygh mounteyne.
67. f.293. Towards the end of frosty January.
...
Looke well your myrrours and deme noon othery wyght.
By Lydgate (Stow).
68. f.296b. I counseyle the what so euer thow be
...
To hys plesaunce to other hys langage.
Printed by Furnivall in Political, Religious and Love Poems,
E.E.T.S. p. 25 from a MS. in the University Library.
69. f.298. Of hony men gadyr out swetnesse.
...
W^t hym to dwelle aboue the sterres clere.
70. f.300. Lat no man bost of Connyng nor vertu.
...
Of whos v. woundes prynte in your hert a Rose.
By Lydgate (Stow).
ff. 302-304 blank.
71. f.305. A tale of Guy & Colbrond
Fro Crystes byrthe nyne hundryd yere.
...
Nat to dysdeyne these clauses who ye rede.
72. f.314b. The Lyfe of St George the Martyr
Ye folke all whyche here in presence be
...
As he repayryd hem to hys mansioun.
Expl. vita S. Georgii Martiris.
Note by Stowe:
The lyfe of seynt gorge compyled by John Ludgate monke
of bery at y^e request of y^e armerers of London to peynt
about their haulle.
73. f.318. Prayers.
Ab inimicis nostris defende nos Criste.
See. f.245.
74. f.319. Verses on the Kings of England (see f.242)
Ending: Edwardus quartus f.320b.

At the end is written
John Stowes boke.
John Stow, honour of this boke and mo.
benedicamus domino.

The drawings in the MS. are as follows:
1. f.1. Pater noster. Initial in pen and ink. The Agony in the Garden. Three Apostles asleep. Christ kneels in C. face R. Cup on Rock. The father in air, in a circle, half-length.
2. Ave Mariea The Annunciation. Angel kneels on L. with blank scroll.
3. Creed. Group of the Twelve Apostles seated. Peter in centre with key. Andrew with cross. James the Less with club. On L. James the Great with hat and staff on R.
4. f.34. Parce michi. Man asleep in wood, birds on trees, one with a scroll in its mouth.
5. f.38. The nine lessons. Rudely done. Job nude, lying down: Christ half-length in air with orb.
6. f.51. Curia sapientie. The Trinity as three human figures seated, with cross, orb, and church, respectively. Blank scrolls above.
7. f.182. Poem by Will. Lichfield. Creation of Eve: Christ stands over her. Delicately drawn.
8. f.238. xv Joys. Pieta and kneeling man on L*. (*There are two scrolls, one inscribed in red, O mater dei memento mei, the other in later capitals: Sit semper sine ve qui dicit michi (l. michi dicit) ave.)
9. f.249. Lyf of Adam. Border. Larger drawing. The Conviction. Christ on L. Tree with human-headed serpent. Eve, and Adam on R.
10. f.257. Lyfe of S. Antony. Antony with book and staff with T cross at top. Outside the initial on L. kneels a man with a scroll: O sancte pater Antoni ora pro nobis ad dominum.

Fein, Greer, S., ed., Moral Love Songs and Laments, Middle English Texts (Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1998)

Hellinga, L., and J. B. Trapp, ed., The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain, vol. 3, 1400-1557 (Cambridge, 1999)

James-Maddocks, H., 'Scribes and Booklets: The "Trinity Anthologies" Reconsidered' in Connolly, M., James-Maddocks, H. and Pearsall, D. (eds), Scribal Cultures in Late Medieval England: Essays in honour of Linne R. Mooney (Woodbridge, 2022) pp. 146-79

Mosser, D. W., Dating the Manuscripts of the "Hammond Scribe" : What the Paper Evidence Tells Us [Offprint from] The journal of the Early Book Society. Vol.10 (New York, 2007) p. 31-70.

Scott, K. L., Later Gothic Manuscripts, 1390-1490 A survey of Manuscripts Illuminated in the British Isles 6 (London,1996) 2 vol.