Description of UB Bergen MS 1550, 6

Introduction

This fragment is a double leaf from a priest’s handbook, written in England in the 14th century. It was probably removed from the binding of one of the University library’s books in the 1960’s, but the record of which book it was, is unfortunately lost. The fragment was studied in October 2005 during an international workshop on manuscript fragments, and the origin determined. The preserved leaves contain parts of the Canon missae, i.e. the prayer after the singing of the prefatio in the mass (see also 1550, 2), and the Lord’s prayer Pater noster with musical notation. The prayers are supplied with instructions for the priest, written in red ink, like “Here the priest shall kneel before the altar”, and so on. The fragment had not previously been entered into the manuscript catalogue, and received its current signature in 2005.

Manuscript Identification

settlement

Bergen University Library, Art and Humanities Library

repository

Bergen University Library

idno

MS 1550, 6

Manuscript Content

The contents are parts from the Canon missae in the mass, more precisely the prayers Supra que propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris and Supplices te rogamus omnipotens deu iube hec perferri, followed by Pater noster with musical notation. Finally there is the prayer Libera nos quesumus domine ab omnibus malis. The prayers are supplied with instructions to the priest, written in red ink, like “Here the priest shall kneel before the altar”, or “after he has kissed the altar, he rises, saying:”, and so on, revealing that the fragment comes from a priest’s manual.

Parchment, one cropped bifolium, ca. 32, 5 x 42 cm (leaf size: ca. 32, 5 x 24,5 cm)

Lay-out: Writing space: 21,5 x 17, 5 cm. One column, 11 lines (8 lines when there is musical notation). There is no visible ruling, but there seem to be some “prickings” in the form of light brown rectangels, marking the x-height of each line.

Script: A large Gothic textualis formata (x-height: 1,1 cm). This is an example of a textus praescissus, meaning that the minims and the ascenders end flat to the baseline (with no serif going up to the right). Rubricated. The same scribe has written the main text and the rubrics (information from Mr. M. Gullick, Oct. 2005). One peculiarity is the tironian ”et”-sign with a hairline-stroke at the beginning. (A similar execution for the “et”-sign, only uncrossed, occurs in an early 14th century English Psalter, see Derolez 2003, pl. 27.)

Musical notation: Square notation on three red lines, with an F-clef.

Initials: Fleuronné: Two large initials have red pen-flourishing to a faded blue letter. There are also smaller, plain initials, alternating red and blue.

Condition: The fragment is in relatively good condition, although the verso-side is somewhat darkened.