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The Psalter, in Latin, written chiefly in about the middle of the 14th cent., perhaps at Norwich

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MS. Douce 366

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Preceded by a (rather later) calendar and paschal table, and followed at fol. 189v by the usual canticles, creeds and (fol. 206) litany: a second more local litany has been added in about A.D. 1400 at fol. 209v.

There are fine miniatures and borders on fols. 10, 38, 55v, 71v, 72, 89, 109, 128, 131, 147, and smaller ones elsewhere in profusion, many with grotesques. The latter part of the volume is instructive for the art of illumination, as in some margins the drawing only is finished, other leaves have only the clay ready for gold, others the gold leaf burnished, and so on. Fol. 9 is later and bears on the recto part of the first psalm (from secus decursus) and on the verso a very fine illuminated 'Jesse tree' exhibiting kings, prophets, etc., springing from Jesse, and portraits of an abbot and a monk (Robert de Ormesby?), the centre bearing the words 'Beatus uir qui non.' This leaf is quite separate but perhaps of the same date as the calendar, and both of these and the second litany may be of Robert of Ormesby's time (about A.D. 1400?). See Waagen's Art Treasures (1854) iii. 92, and H. Shaw's Illuminated Ornaments (1833), no. ix, where there are facsimiles of parts of fols. 55v, 72, with description by sir F. Madden, mentioning the coats of arms in the volume.

'[P]salterium Roberti de Ormesby monachi Norwyci per eundem assignatum choro ecclesie sancte Trinitatis Norwici ad iacendum coram Suppriore qui pro tempore fuerit in perpetuum' (abt. A.D. 1400?), see above. Marked 'A. j' and 'xlij' probably in some list in the Benedictine abbey of the Holy Trinity (now the Cathedral) at Norwich. 'A. Gray 1654.'.

Dates

  • Creation: written chiefly in about the middle of the 14th cent., perhaps at Norwich

Extent

214 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Latin

Conditions Governing Use

Select.

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 366

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 21941

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

Physical Facet

On parchment, with fine miniatures, and illuminated borders, capitals, etc., binding: red leather on boards covered with a large piece of white sheep-skin, contemporary

Dimensions

15 1/2 × 11 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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