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Breviary (Latin, late 12th-early 13th cent.)
Robert of Gretham, 'Mirur' (English, mid-13th century)
'Le Manuel des Péchés' by William de Waddington, and Robert of Gretham, 'Mirur' (1250-1300)
Romances and Fabliaux (French, early 13th cent)
'L'Estoire del Saint Graal' (French, early 13th century)
John Gower, 'Confessio Amantis' and other works (English, c.1425)
'Speculum Vitae' and 'The Lay Folks' Catechism ' (early 14th century)
Prayer Book (15th century)
Fragment of an English Life of St Zita of Lucca (c. 1450-1475)
Fragments of The South English Legendary (English, early 14th century)
An imperfect manuscript of 38 leaves, including noted hymns.
Five quires from the sanctorale in an English breviary; the materials here run from early in the service for St Margaret to the anthem following the sixth lection for St Giles, i.e. 20 July to 1 September.
The text predates the development of the Sarum Use, to which it conforms only in the outlines of the services.
Late 12th century.
Image shows f. 29 recto.
A series of vernacular verse sermons on the Gospels written in Anglo-Norman French in about 1250. Imperfect, in 101 leaves and unbound.
Mid-13th century.
Image shows f. 46 recto
The first of the texts in Anglo-Norman French is an imperfect copy of William of Waddington's Le Manuel des Péchés , composed c. 1220-1240, to instruct the laity. Robert Manning’s Handlyng Synne is an English verse adaptation of this text. The volume also includes a copy of the Mirur .
c.1250-1300.
A collection of 18 stories written in French, including seven romances and ten fabliaux, illustrated with 83 miniatures including knights on horseback and other scenes and grotesques. Textual contents include the unique copy of 'Le Roman de Silence' by Heldris de Cornuälle, Benoît de Sainte-Maure’s the Roman de Troie , Ille et Galeron by Gautier d’Arras, and La Chanson d’Aspremont . 351 folios.
1200-1250.
Image shows f. 188 recto
An imperfect copy of L’Estoire del Saint Graal or Roman de Joseph d’Arimathie , the first ‘branch’ of the ‘Vulgate cycle’, lacking its first leaves. The collection of Arthurian French prose romances known as the Vulgate Cycle begins with this text, describing the adventures of Joseph of Arimathia and his companions, as they travel to Britain with the Holy Grail.
c.1200-1250.
Image shows the back cover of L’Estoire del Saint Graal
A copy of Gower's masterpiece of medieval English poetry, containing the second version of the Confessio Amantis , written in the late 14th century. It is followed by his French poem Traiti é pour essampler les amantz marietz together with its accompanying Latin verses (201 r-203v), and the Latin Carmen super multiplici viciorum pestilencia (204r-205v). This is a combination found in seven other manuscripts. Spaces were left for decoration which was never executed. A later user has added pen sketches of animals and leaves.
c.1425.
Image shows a folio with drawing of leaves to cover blemishes in parchment
A 14th-century Middle English devotional poem giving guidance on the elements of the faith and the vices and virtues.
The Lay Folks' Catechism (248r-257r), composed by John Gaytryge in the mid-14th century, provides basic doctrinal instruction in the tenets of the faith. Retains an early, perhaps original binding.
Early 15th century.
Image shows the first folio of The Lay Folks' Catechism
An illuminated Latin devotional book with an identified Oxford binding from the 1470s. In fragile condition. Front fly leaf is supplied from a 15th-century legal document. Unidentified shields at end.
Second half of 15th century.
Image shows the cover of prayer book in Oxford binding, c. 1460
A single paper leaf which is the only surviving evidence of a medieval English vernacular translation of the life of St. Zita of Lucca (d. 1272).
c. 1450-1475
Parchment fragments containing lines on the life of St. Bridget of Ireland from the late 13th-century English collection known as The South English Legendary . According to the account of the fragments in the HMC report, they were used as patches in a Sarum Missal printed in 1520 which belonged to Henry Willoughby and which is now in the collection of Liverpool Cathedral.
Early 14th century, probably 1310s.
Image shows side 1.
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