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Speculum Humane Saluacionis, written in the first half of the 15th cent.

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MS. Douce 204
Held at the Weston Library

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'Incipit speculum humane saluacionis | In quo patet casus hominis & modus reparacionis', in rhyming rhythmical verse: beg. 'In hoc speculo potest homo considerare.' Each page contains about 52 lines with two pen-and-ink drawings, slightly coloured, generally representing an antitype and type from the New and Old Testaments: and each leaf usually forms one of the 45 chapters. A 'tabula' (index) and 'prohemium' precede the text with some miscellaneous matter, and Douce has added many notes. The last leaf of the text is much discoloured. At the foot of fol. i is the coat of arms of a bishop or abbot, for whom the MS. was written, perhaps gules a key argent erect, the wards on the dexter side, with the motto ' Forte Verite.'.

Dates

  • Creation: written in the first half of the 15th cent.

Extent

7 leaves, in double columns

Language of Materials

  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 204

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 21778

Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. Douce.

Custodial History

'From the collection of Monsr [Claude de] St. George Arch-Bishop of Lyons', 1693-1714: the book also bears an 18th cent. armorial bookplate (of dr. Charles Chauncey, M.D., d. 1777) with the motto 'Sublimis per ardua tendo': at the Chauncey sale in 1790 it was bought by Douce.

Physical Facet

On parchment, with drawings

Dimensions

15 3/8 × 11 3/4 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom