A Psalter in Latin, with liturgical accessories, written apparently for the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul at Moissac (Moissiacum) in the Diocese of Cahors (Cadurcum), written in about A.D. 1025 in or near Moissac (?) in South France
The chief contents are:
- (fol. 1v) A calendar with coloured calendarial tables, wanting the tables for October, all for November, and the calendar for December. The names of stt. Amand (Feb. 6), Ansbertus (Sept. 30) and Leotadius (Oct. 23) prove an original connexion with Moissac: and those of stt. Maiolus (May 11), Odilo (Jan. 1) and Consortia (June 22) suggest Cluny. Moissac became Cluniac in A.D. 1067
- (fol. 12v) A litany, with some of the original names of saints altered.
- (fol. 14) Calendarial tables, Greek letters being used for dates: one series extends from A.D. 1026 (*8 κ ς) to A.D. 1539 (8 Φ λ θ), showing the probable date of the writing of this volume. A Greek alphabet is given on fols. 14v, 17r.
Also comprises (fol. 18) introductory pieces, including:
- Letter of Damasus to st. Jerome, with answer, '... Versus Damasi ...' (beg. 'Nunc Damasi monitis')
- '...Versus sancti Hieronimi ...' (beg. 'Psallere qui docuit')
- Various prefaces, 'Tituli psalmorum', '... inquisicio qualis psalmus primus fuerit cantatus', 'Scriptum Alcuini ad Karulum imperatorem' (beg. 'Beatus igitur Dauid')
- liturgical rules for the recitation of the Penitential Psalms, with some collects, capitula, a litany and prayers, etc.
Also comprises (fol. 51) The Psalter, wanting the first leaf, followed (fol. 142v)by Canticles, including:
- The Te Deum, here called 'Canticum sancti Hilarii'
- The Lord's Prayer with a short commentary
- The Apostles' and Athanasian creeds.
Also comprises:
- (fol. 155) A Commune Sanctorum for the Hour services.
- (fol. 167) A Hymnale, with two later hymns on fol. 165.
- (fol. 197) The Breviarium Psalmorum of st. Prudentius bp. of Troyes (with no title or author's name): pref. beg. 'Cum quedam nobilis matrona', the work beg. 'Domine Ihesu Christi rex altissimi filius.'.
(fol. 210) A Proprium de Tempore and Proprium Sanctorum (in one series) for the Hour services, followed by:
- (fol. 231) Orationes
- (fol. 233) Capitula
Also comprises from (fol. 237) minor offices:
- (fol. 239v) Minor offices: The office for the visitation of the sick, the burial of the dead
- (fol. 242v) 'Exorcismus salis'
- (fol. 243) Orationes 'in oratorium', 'in vestiario', 'in dormitorio', etc.
- (fol. 244v)(added) 'Ordo ad monachum benedicendum', etc.
Although leaves are missing after fols. 50 and 245, there are several fine illuminated capitals left, as at fols. 167, 18, 63, 71v, 80, 89, 99, 109v, 119, 123v, 188v, some showing traces of Hiberno-Saxon influence. The fly-leaves are some 14th and 15th cent. monastic records, probably from Moissac, in French.
On fols. 187v, 216v and elsewhere there are some musical notes.
[On palaeographical grounds I believe the MS. to be some half century later. And S. Odilo, who died 1 Jan. 1049, is in the Calendar (written by a single hand) as well as over an erasure in the first litany. Of 5 Abbats of Moissac who were saints, only Amandus and (over an erasure) Ansbertus appear in either litany, and none in the Proprium Sanctorum: 3 Abbats of Cluny who were saints are inserted over an erasure in the first litany, but none in the second, and only Maiolus in the Proprium Sanctorum.
The two Proverçal entries on f. 246v I read:
- Aquest libre es del couuen de moysac [then in another hand] lausat sia Dieu que la donat ['praised be God that he has given it'] amen
- Sapiἀci [= Sapian si ?] tots que yeu Raimô [= Raimon] de beluese ay reliat ['have bound'] aeqst libre. Gratis pro deo [i.e. gratis for the service of God], E.W.B.N.].
Dates
- Creation: written in about A.D. 1025 in or near Moissac (?) in South France
Extent
247 Leaves
Language of Materials
- Latin
Shelfmark
MS. D'Orville 45
Former reference:
Auct. X. 1. 2. 13
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 16923
Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. D'Orville.
Custodial History
'Cest libre es du conuen de moysac ...' (about A.D. 1400?): another inscription seems to testify that 'Raim. de beluese [?]' owned the book early in the 15th cent. (?). The armorial bookplate of N. J. Foucault (d. 1721) is in the book.
Physical Facet
On parchment, with illuminated capitals
Dimensions
12 7/8 × 8 3/4 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk