Shelfmark
MS 10
Author
Title
On the Psalms and the Canticles [manuscript]
Varying form of title
Title in M.R. James catalogue: R. Hampole on the Psalms
Varying form of title
Title in Ker, MMBL: R. Rolle, On the Psalms and Canticles (in English)
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, 1400-1500.
Physical description
1 v. : ill. ; 350 x 240 mm.
Language
Written in a northern Middle English dialect, with biblical quotes in Latin.
Note
Secundo folio: witte of ye worde.
Note
Material: membrane; Gregory's rule (FHHF).
Note
Format: codex.
Note
The dimensions of the leaves are irregular. Generally, 350 x 240 mm (written space: 265 x 177 mm).
Note
Number of leaves: iv + 170 + ii.
Note
Accompanying material: loose material between front flyleaves: (1) a typed card catalogue record with ms. transcription in pencil by "P.L.S." (i.e. Patrick Strong, former librarian and archivist at Eton); (2) letter from "A.C. Panes", dated 30th March 1900, presumably to the Eton librarian, asking about the version of Rolle's text in this particular copy; (3) a transcription of Rolle's Middle English comment to Psalm 25:8, to be compared with ECL MS 10 and attached to Panes' letter.
Note
Collation: 1-5¹² 6¹⁰ 7-13¹² 14¹⁶ (16 pasted down).
Note
Quire and leaf signatures in red, running a-o followed by roman numerals. The catchwords at the end of each quire are boxed in red and include colour touching of minims, also in red.
Note
Page preparation: ruled in plummet; horizontal lines often traced beyond the double-column grid to reach the closest line of vertical pricks to the column. It was not used as a writing space, and perhaps it was not intended as such. Pricking is visible on both margins, although the pricks on the short margins do not correspond to the ruling grid. The long margin sometimes shows two lines of pricking.
Note
Mise-en-page: double columns (40 lines) written in a cursive script. The quotes from the biblical text are underlined in red and written in a larger script. The incipits of psalms are in capital letters. Red underlinings. Paraphs. Psalm numbers in Arabic numerals in the margin. Guide letters for initials. Added ink decoration to ruled lines at ff. 4r-v.
Note
Decoration: red, blue, and purple initials (5-8 lines) with foliage central motif and red pen-flourishing. Red and blue capitals anf paraphs.
Note
Handwriting: Anglicana; one scribal hand, although the use of different pens affected the aspect of the pages. Latin quotes are written in Anglicana formata and are larger than the rest of the text.
Note
Few abbreviations. Punctuation include puncti and puncti elevati.
Note
Corrections are mostly omissions added in the margin; few spelling mistakes corrected by erasure and rewriting (e.g. f. 23r). They are contemporary with the manuscript, some of which were added by the main scribe.
Note
Marginalia, later additions: some signposts and nota ligatures by the main scribe and another contemporary hand. Boxed note erased at f.67r.
Formatted contents note
Contents: ff. 1-158: Richard Rolle's commentary on the psalms; ff.158-168: Richard Rolle's commentary on the six Old Testament canticles (Magnificat at ff. 167-168). Text uninterpolated.
Citation/references note
N.R. Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, v. 2 (1977), pp. 637-638
Citation/references note
M.R. James, A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), p. 5 and Addendum, p. 120
Citation/references note
D. Everett, 'The Middle English Prose Psalter of Richard Rolle of Hampole', Modern Language Review 17.3 (1922), pp. 218-219
Citation/references note
H.R. Bramley, The Psalter or Psalms of David and certain canticles with a translation and exposition in English by Richard Rolle of Hampole (1884)
Citation/references note
H.E. Allen, English Writings of Richard Rolle, Hermit of Hampole (1931), p. 172
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 10
Additional physical form available
Reproduction available; Bodleian Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; SFW 2456
Provenance
Origin: England.
Provenance
Provenance: Erased note on f. 170r : "pro salu... [...] thome [...] defunctorum orate pro animabus [...]" (Ker). Ms. note by M.R. James in annotated ECL copy of his Descriptive Catalogue: "The MS was for many years in Dr Furnivall's hands". Armorial bookplate of Eton College on front pastedown and of flyleaf facing f.1r. Former ECL shelfmarks: Bp.2.12, Bk.1.10, Bl.1.8.
Binding
18th-century calfskin over pasteboards by John Slatter c.1715, repaired by R.L. Day (1960-70). Covers decorated with blind double fillets to form a border, and a blind panel with tools at the corners; gilt dotted roll on board edges. Spine rebacked with five raised bands, decorated with blind fillets and gilt titling ("Gloss on the psalms."). Endpapers of undecorated paper; four flyleaves at the upper end of the textblock (2 of paper, 2 of membrane), two at the lower end (membrane).
Subject
Bible. Psalms Commentaries Manuscripts.
Subject
Bible. Old Testament Selections Commentaries Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Added entry--name
Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825 - 1910 associated name.
Added entry--name
Day, R. L. binder.
Added entry--place
England.
Language code
enm lat
Identifier
B49961