271. London, British Library, Harley 2965 "Book of Nunnaminster," private prayerbook

Abstract

271. London, British Library, Harley 2965
"Book of Nunnaminster," private prayerbook

[Ker 237, Gneuss 432, Lowe 2.199]

HISTORY: The rather small dimensions and the contents indicate this is a private prayer-book, comparable to Harley 7653, British Library, Royal 2. A. xx, and "The Book of Cerne" (Cambridge, University Library, LL 1. 10), with similar early dates and some texts in common. The later prayer books in British Library, Cotton Galba A. xiv and Cotton Nero A. ii may also be compared. Written in early 9c (Morrish 1988: 521), probably for some female house; at one time kept at the convent of St. Mary's, Winchester (Nunnaminster). Traditionally said to have been owned by Ealhswiđ, wife of King Alfred. In 17c owned by the Catholic Roscarrock family of Cornwall, whose arms appear on f. 37v. In the possession of Nicholas Roscarrock (1549?-1634?), who from 1607 lived at Naworth Castle, Cumberland, as tutor to Lord William Howard's sons. The manuscript probably passed from Roscarrock to the Howard collection, whence it was acquired by John Warburton, along with other Howard manuscripts. Harley acquired it from Warburton on 16 July 1720 (date noted on i*; see Birch 1889: 18-20).

CODICOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: [iii] + 1-41 + [iii]. 214 x 160 mm. Writing space 157 x 140 mm. Leaves are arranged HFHF. Ruled for 21 lines very lightly, with pricking, far into the writing area, occasionally apparent, e.g., on ff. 3 and 20. Ruled after folding. Right border irregular. Trimmed down considerably; top margin has been cut off one page at a time and at an angle from f. 37 to end.
First page very dark, parchment thereafter in fair condition, rather thin and supple. The pages are bright in spite of some water staining. On ff. 38-41 the vellum is creased and the last two leaves were damaged by fire and water. A late A-S hand has resolved many of the abbreviations, e.g., ff. 5v-6r. The writing is a formal Insular majuscule (see Morrish 1988 for terminology), with capitals in Anglo-Irish style decorated in a variety of somewhat garish colors. Several of the zoomorphic interlace capitals are of high quality (e.g., f. llr). The ductus changes in the middle off. 37,

tending to minuscule. The OE text on f. 40v is late 9c, Parkes (1983: 131) identifying the hand with that of Scribe 1 of Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 173 (the Parker Chronicle), a Nunnaminster hand.
COLLATION: I¹⁰ + 1 (4 an added halfsheet, 1 gone) (ff. 1-10), II⁸ (ff.
11-19), III¹⁰ + 2 (ff. 28 and 30 are added singletons) (ff. 20-31), IV⁸ (2
after f. 32 and 4 after f. 33 are gone) (ff. 32-37), V⁴ (ff. 38-41).
[Note: F. 41 is an original supply leaf. The old quire signatures are "iii" on£ 11 (quire II), "iiii" on£ 20 <quire III), "v" on f. 32 (quire IV). Thus at least a quire gone before£ 1 and signs of a leaf tom from quire I before£ 1. Sewing is very
old, if not original.]

CONTENTS (Latin, unless noted; entire manuscript, including OE, ed. Birch 1889: 39-97):
1. ff. 1r-16v/7 (imperfect at beginning) Passion narratives extracted from Mark 14.61-15.44, Luke 22.1-23.44, and John 18.1-19.42.
2. ff. 16v/8-18v/11 INcipit oratio s<an>c<t>i gregorii | papae urbis romae. | 'Dominator d<omi>n<u>s d<eu>s om<ni>p<otens> Qui es | trinitas una pater in filio et |filius in patre cum sp<irit>u s<an>c<t>o'.
3. ff. 18v/12-37v/10 Forty-seven prayers following the order of the Life and Passion of Christ, under the rubric: INCIPIT ORAT<IO> S<AN>C<T>I A<V>GVSTl<NI> | IN S<AN>C<T>IS SOLLEMNI­ TATIBUS || 'D<eu>s dilecti et benedicti filii tui ie<s>u chr<ist>i I pater, Per quern tui agnitionem suscipimus'.
f. 19r/18-19v/16 De angelo<rum> conditione 'Omnip<otens> semp<iternus> d<eu>s Qui in principio cae | lestis animas angelicasq<ue> uirtutes | e<ss>e u'oluisti'.
f. 19r/16-20r/7 Laus dei om<ni>p<otentis> 'D<eu>s formator reforrna­ torq<ue> humana | naturae, qui incondita c<on>didisti'.
f. 20r/7-20v/10 Orat<io> de natale d<omi>ni 'O mundi redemtor et humani generis | gubernator'.
ff. 20v/11-21r/3 De natale d<omi>ni 'O uerae beatitudinis auctor atque | aeternae claritatis indultor'.
f. 21r/4-15 In nat<ale> d<omi>ni 'D<eu>s qui humanae substantire dignita­ ltem et mirabiliter c<on>didisti'.
f. 21r/15-21v/5 De cibo 'O uita et ueritas et suauitas s<an>c<t>orum | qui omnib<us> elimenta indesinenter p<re> |beris'.
f. 21v/5-16 De circumcisione 'O inchoatio et perfectio omniu<m> bono­ ru<m> | apud te igitur totu<m> prouidentia gerit<ur> | totum ratione subsistit'.

ff. 21v/16-22r/5 De epipha[nia] 'En om<ni>p<otens> astroru<m> conditor qui incarnaltionem tua<m> p<re>clari sideris testimonio | indicasti'.
f. 22r/5-12 De baptismo 'O inmensa maiestas qui cunctorum | crimi­ nu<m> absolutus nexib<us> baptilmatis suibire uoluisti fluenta'.
f. 22r/12-22v/ll De quadragesimo 'O singularis incarnata dementia num quid digne tibi possu<m> refferlre gratia<m>'.
f. 22v/12-21 De ambitione d<omi>ni 'O uia cunctis ad uitam uolen­
tib<us> reme | are'.
ff. 22v/21-23r/10 De aq<u>(a) in uinu<m> c<on>uersa 'D<eu>s qui ad declaranda maiestatis |tuae miracula in cana galileae'.
f. 23r/10-23v/6 De congreg<atione> apost<olorum> 'O infinitae miseri­ cordiae et inmensae | bonitatis auctor, Qui per documenta | certis­ sima d<eu>m te in homine declarasti'.
f. 23v/6-16 De .v. panibus 'D<omi>ne d<eu>s om<ni>p<otens> qui in omniu<m> operu<m> tuor<um> | dispensatione mirabilis es'.
ff. 23v/16-24r/4 Orat<io> de lacrimis d<omi>ni 'O fons omnis innocentiae qui per viscera | misericordiae cora<m> iudaeis lacrima | tus es'.
f. 24r/5-19 Oratio in caena d<omi>ni 'D<eu>s refugiu<m> pauperu<m> spes humiliu<m> salis lque miseroru<m>'.
f. 24r/20-24v/9 Item oratio in caena d<omi>ni 'Omnipotentia<m> tua<m> d<omi>ne prumta mente || confiteor et laudo'.
ff. 24v/9-25r/5 De flectu genium 'O tremende adorande et colende d<eu>s, Ergo tibi omne genu flectitu<r> caelestiu<m> et |terrestriu<m> et infernoru<m>'.
f. 25r/5-18 De osculo iudre 'Aie inuisibilis et inconp<re>hensibilis d<eu>s quia iuda proditore osculando tra |ditus es'.
f. 25r/18-25v/8 De auriculo absciso 'D<eu>s cuius indulgentia<m> nemo n<on> indiget, Qui | nos iniuriaru<m> n<ost>raru<m> remisione<m> docu | isti'.
f. 25v/8-16 De iud(icio) p<re>sidis Tu omniu<m> equissimus iudex humano p<re>sen| tatus iudici iniquu<m> audisiti iudiciu<m>'.
ff. 25v/16-26r/8 De diuersis passion[ibus] d<omi>ni 'D<omi>ne d<eu>s meus ego seruus tuus agere |tibi gratias iure numqua<m> desino'.
f. 26r/8-17 De spinea corona d<omi>ni Tu d<eu>s misericors adiutor meus, Qui | uenerabile tuo capite spinea<m> coro | nam gestare non negasti'.
f. 26r/17-26v/6 De inrisione d<omi>ni 'D<eu>s cuius adorande poten­ tia<m> maiesta |tis hymnidici angeloru<m> chori indesi |nenter adorant'.
f. 26v/6-16 De cruce d<omi>ni 'O tu summa singularisq<ue> pietas qui | crucis honus subire sustinendo por|tandoq<ue> n<on> negasti'.
ff. 26v/16-27r/5 De ueste eiusdem 'Tu d<eu>s protector meus ac defensor uitre | meae qui nu<m>q<uam> tegmine exutus uirtu| tum fuisti'.
f. 27r/6-14 Oratio de collo 'O fons omnium bonorum atq<ue> forma | verae humilitatis'.
f. 27r/14-27v/4 De brachis et manibus 'O d<ei> dextera donatorq<ue>
salutis qui bra|chia tua s<an>c<t>a extendisti in ligno crucis'.
f. 27v/4-15 De .uii. donis sp(iritu)s s<an>c<t>i 'O meus unicus proxima misericordia | redemptor d<eu>s'.
ff. 27v/15-28r/4 Item de passio crucis 'O celsitudo humiliu<m> et forti­ tudo fragiliu<m>'.
f. 28r/4-28v/8 De tenebris 'O misericordia simul et potentia qui | es in omnib<us> honorifice laudandus'.
f. 28v/9-18 De latrone 'D<omi>ne d<eu>s meus qui non | mortem sed paenitentiam desideras | peccatoru<m>'.
ff. 28v/19-29r/13 De aceto et felle 'O d<omi>ne d<eu>s exercitu<m> d<eu>s omnis terrae qui | ori tuo honorifico p<er> quod omnib<us> ape ||ruisti uiam uitae uia<m>q<ue> ueritatis'.
f. 29r/13-29v/6 Tradidit sp(iritu)m 'O clementissime pater d<omi>ne saluator meus | qui capite tuo s<an>c<t>o cruce inclinato traJdidisti beatu<m> sp<irit>um'.
f. 29v/7-17 De luminibus clausis 'Om<ni>p<otens> aeterne d<eu>s lux lucis et fons luminis'.
ff. 29v/17-30r/4 De naribus 'O te oro omniu<m> clementissime pater et | gratias ago, Tu qui omniu<m> odore reple | tus fuista uirtutu<m>'.
f. 30r/4-16 De auribus 'O d<eu>s dominator meus qui aures tuas p<ro> me | misero in mortis articulo claudere p<er>| misisti'.
f. 30r/16-30v/7 De latere d<omi>ni 'O medicinae diuinae mirabilis dispensa | tor qui tibi lancea latus aperire p<er>mi | sisti'.
f. 30v/17 De sepulchro 'D<omi>ne d<eu>s uirtutum qui es glorificatio fide |lium et uita iustoru<m>'.
ff. 30v/17-31r/12 Ad infe[ros] 'D<omi>ne d<eu>s spei insertor consilii defensor, | legis seruator'.
f. 31r/12-21 De resurrectione d<orni>ni 'O uita morientium salus infir­ mantium, | Spes unica miserorum, Resurrectio | mortuoru<m>'.
f. 31r/21-31v/11 Item de resurrect[ione] 'Om<ni>p<otens> semp(iterne) d<eu>s, Mestorum consolatio labo |rantium fortitudo'.
ff. 31v/11-32r/2 De paenitentia petri 'Tu om<ni>p<otens> mitis et multu<m> misericors, Qui n<on> de |spicis c<on>tritos corde et adflictos miseriis .

f. 32r/2-16 De ascensione d<omi>ni 'Tu unigenitus almi genitoris qui te
ipsum uiuu<m> | post passionem tua<m> in multis argumentis | p<er> dies .xl. apostolis apparuisti'.
f. 32r/16-32v/8 De pentecosten 'Uerus largitor uitae p<er>petuae atq<ue> aeternre | lucis indultor'.
f. 32v/8-14 De iudicio futuro 'D<eu>s iudex iustus qui ab hominib<us> iudicatus te | in maiestate' [ends imperfectly].
4. f. 33rv Three prayers: (a) f. 33r/1 'D<OMI>Ne d<eu>s ie<s>u uia uita ac ueritas'; (b) f. 33v/11 orat<io> 'Te deprecamur d<omi>ne'; (c) f. 33v/20 [item] oratio 'D<eu>s meus et saluator meus quare me dere' [last imperfect].
5. f. 34r-34v/15 Prayer of confession (begins imperfectly)'. .. ossib<us> et
in carne'; [explicit:] 'Doce me uoluntate<m> tua<m> q<uia> tu es |
doctor meus et d<eu>s meus qui regnas in s<e>c<u>la s<e>c<u>lo<r>um amen'.
6. ff. 34v/15-35r/3 ITEM ORATIO 'D<eu>s inmortale p<re>sidiu<m> omniu<m> postulanti |um liberatio supplicu<m>'.
7. f. 35r/4-35v/13 ORATIO 'D<OMl>Ne d<eu>s om<ni>p<otens> qui n<on> habes d<omi>n<u>m | sed omnia tuae s<un>t dicioni subiecta'.
8. ff. 35v/13-36r/8 Orat<io> de s<an>cti mich[aelem] | 'S<an>c<t>e michael archangele qui uenisti in adiuto lriu<m> populo d<e>i'.
9. f. 36r/8-16 Orat<io> ad s<an>c<t>am mariam I 'S<an>c<t>a maria glori­ osa d<e>i genetrix et semp<er> uirgo quae mundo meruisti generare salutem'.
10. f. 36r/17-36v/5 Oratio ad s<an>c<tu>m Iohannem baptist<am>. | 'S<an>c<t>e iohannes baptista qui meruisti salua | torem mundi bapti­ zare'.
11. f. 36v/5-13 Sequitur oratio | 'Fiat mihi quaeso d<omi>ne uera | caritas'.
12. ff. 36v/14-37r/2 Prayer: 'Om<ni>p<otens> et misericors d<eu>s p<ro>p<ter> honore<m>. nominis tui'.
13. f. 37r/3-7 Prayer: 'D<EU>S qui nos in tantis periculis constitutos'.
14. f. 37r/8-10 Prayer: 'D<EU>S qui conspicis q<uia> in tua pietate c<on>fidimus'.
15. f. 37r/11-37v/17 contra uenenum | 'D<eu>s meus (erasure) pater et filius et sp(iritu)s |sanctus, Cui omnia subiecta sunt'. [This item is added to the end of the quire by a different hand using a similar style of writing, apparently to complete a suite, since it also occurs preceding the "Lorica of Lodgen" in British Library, Harley 585 on an added halfsheet.]
16. ff. 37v/18-40r "Lorica of Lodgen" (i.e., Laidcenn; also known as "Lorica of Gildas"; for title see Herren 1973): hanc luricam lodgen in anno periculoso | constituit, Et alii dicunt quod magna | sit uirtus eius, Si ter in die can<tatur> || 'SUFFRAGARE TRINITAS, | UNITAS unitatis miserere | trinitas'. [The rubric is written at the bottom off. 37v (which was blank at the time). This item is also in "Book of Cerne" (Cambridge, University Library, Ll.1.10) and Harley 585.]
17. f. 40v/1-11 Two charms added in an Insular minuscule hand, title written carelessly above the first line: p<ro> dolore oculoru<m> + 'O ie<s>u adesto cu<m> uisu es oculos', etc., and at line 7, '+ Caput chr<ist>i oculos gesreie frons nasuu<m>'.
18. f. 40v (bottom) ten lines of OE added in late 9c defining the boundaries of land owned by Ealhswiđ at Winchester (trans. and map, Birch 1889: 32-33).
19. f. 41r "Confiteor," absolution, and prayer on original leaf in late 10c hand.

PHOTO NOTES (letters in italics are visible in the gutter; letters in brackets are bound in too tightly to see):
f. 10v /4 milites /9 qui /16 mement[o]
f. 19v /6 necquis
f. 30v 17 desepulchro
f. 31v /2 acsingulari /8 mihi /9 et con /11 petri /17 sim /20 tua /21 indigni[s]
f. 34r /1 ossib; 2/ renis
f. 35r /6 dispicias /7 mero /8 ctum 13/licton1 16/ pP /17 tus /19 liberasti
/20 sū /21 necquiter
f. 35v /7 denullius /11 alliis
f. 36r /1 secrote /1-2 diuinital[tis] ministn1 /2-3 susci | [pi]as /3-4 per |[du]cas /5 [u]bi /6 [ga]udio /6-7 resur [re]ctionis /8 [in]scla /9 Scā /11 [l]uce’ /11-12 Sel[d]entib; /13 [p]ia /14 adiutrix /14-15 delic|torū /15-16 eual[d]ere /18 Sce /19-20 influ|uio /21 misericordem

f. 36v /1 caelestis /2 et[re] /3 cui /4 amen /6 in /11 Patientia /12 uitae
/14 tui /15 tuor
f. 37r /1 Liberame /3 DS /5 Da /6 pro
f. 37v A flap with a modern transcription interpreting the rubric partially obscures the Roscarrock arms; it is attached by its left edge and may be turned up.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Birch, Walter de Gray, ed. An Ancient Manuscript of the Eighth or Ninth Century, formerly Belonging to S. Mary's Abbey, or Nunnaminster, Winchester. Hampshire Record Society. London: Simpkin and Marshall; Winchester: Warren and Son, 1889.
Herren, Michael. "The Authorship, Date of Composition and Provenance of the So-Called Lorica Gildae." Eriu 24 (1973): 35-51.
Hughes, Kathleen. "Some Aspects of Irish Influence on Early English Private Prayer." Studia Celtica 5 (1970): 48-61.
Morrish, Jennifer. "Dated and Datable Manuscripts Copied in England During the Ninth Century: A Preliminary List." Mediaeval Studies 50 (1988): 512-38.
Parkes, M. B. "A fragment of an early-tenth-century Anglo-Saxon manuscript and its significance." Anglo-Saxon England 12 (1983): 129-40.