Guide to the Clifford Collection of manuscripts mainly relating to Roman Catholicism

Latin Bible, France, 13th Century (Item 1)

Description: i-ii, 307, iii-iv leaves (vellum); faults in leaves 56, 90, 103, 132, 163, 239, 263, which are original faults of vellum skin; 164 x 112 mm.

Script: Gothic textualis rotunda; the hand that adds the manesses prayer and many of the marginal entries is near contemporary and shows palaeographical signs of being English c1300 (some loops and slight bifurcation to heads of ascenders, from anglicana script).

Decoration: F.1r has Genesis decorated with a vertical column enclosing tendrils of green and lilac on an alternate blue or gold ground, headed by a grotesque reptile; rubricated in red and blue throughout; very fine marginal flourishes (eg f.28v, 36v, 47r, and 57r) and line endings in red and blue; puzzle initials; first initials with zoomorphic decoration.

Layout: Double columns; 51 lines to the page; numerous marginal annotations; fold-out at foot of f.256r and f.274r to accommodate footnotes; running book titles and numbers alternating in red and blue; line rulings and prickings.

Binding: 17th century red morocco binding of decorative gilt corner-pieces enclosing in the centre an anchor within a frame of coiled hands, and within the points of the anchor the initials 'W.C.' (William Clifford?); remains of green silk ties.

Provenance: Inside front cover has Clifford family bookplate, motto 'Semper Paratus' (always ready) and two wyverns; the letter 'C' surmounted by a coronet in the lower margin of f.1r is the monogram of the Clifford family. Cover has a stamped monogram of a coiled rope with an anchor bearing the initials W.C.

Notes: Parisian study bible

Reference: Sinclair: No.3 pp.11-13; Manion & Vines: No.68 pp.169-70

Latin Book of Hours (some Middle English), England, 15th century (Item 2)

Description: i-iv, 166, v-vi leaves (vellum); 140 x 95 mm.; f.89v-f.92v and f.148v are blank.

Script: 16th century hand writing prayer in French on f.89r has anglicana features and is English, perhaps by the Ioannes, whose name occurs several times (see provenance note below)

Decoration: The first leaf after the calendar is decorated with a capital "D" in red and blue enclosing a strawberry mounted in a cup of green, blue and red leaves on a gold ground. The margin of the page is filled with a border of flower scrolls; similar capitals and decoration on pages f.21r, f.34v, f.38v, f.41r, f.43r, f.45v, f.48v, f.53v, f.93v and f.149v; numerous minor capitals in red and blue and gold, and capitals beginning most sentences illuminated and decorated. Some rubrics are written in English with line fillings in red, blue and gold. The stylised strawberry that occurs in initials is a symbol of the Virgin, of purity and of pure souls in heaven. Indicates London work.

Layout: One column; calendar of 12 leaves (f.1r-12v); 17 lines to the page.

Binding: Contained in a rare and interesting early English tooled binding of the mid-15th century; front depicts chained swans and chained stags (stags - symbol of Richard II) within blind-ruled borders; back depicts George slaying a dragon and the initials I.H.C. (monogram for 'Christ') set within crown of thorns; chained element could indicate Royalty; remains of the clasp which looks original and fastens from top to bottom board in English fashion; strap may be modern; the spine covering is missing.

Provenance: Front flyleaf ii (recto) annotated 'Liber Io…'; front flyleaf iii (recto) annotated 'Iste domini Symoni…', c.1500; front flyleaf iv (recto) has an ex libris of 'Ioannem', c1500; end flyleaf vii (recto) has some remaining evidence of ownership. Both Sinclair (p15) and Manion and Vines (p112) make note of the following detail 'Liber John Vernelli is written in a 16c hand on f.165r; f.166r has Liber Johannis with surname effaced'. While there does appear to be a name effaced at the top of f.165r, it is not decipherable. On f.166r there is no writing visible, but it does appear that there is an erasure.

Calendar: Essentially an abbreviated adapted Sarum calendar, but some entries are unusual and indicate that saints from Sarum rite were selected to suit local purpose. There is a strong southwest (Sherborne or Glastonbury) focus. The following saints are included: Bathilda/Balthild (indicates southwest England, Sherborne?); Brigid; Gilbert (added later); dedication of the Cathedral of St Peter; Cedd (missionary from Lindisfarne and associated with Bishoprics in Yorkshire and Essex); Erkenwald, London – patron saint of eyesight – associated with St Paul's (added later); David; Cuthbert; Bishop Richard; Kenelm; Oswald; Swithin; Medard; Gildard; Boniface (SW); Aldhelm (SW); Dunstan; Edith; Cuthburger; Winifred; Thomas (intact); Pope Stephen (intact)Notes: Thomas Becket not erased from calendar so this is a recusant book or out of UK after 1539; Sarum usage.

Reference: Sinclair: No.4 pp. 15-18; Manion & Vines: No.68 pp.112-13

Latin Bible, and Remigius, Interpretationes Nomium Hebraicorum, 13th century (Item 3)

Description: 479, i leaves (vellum); 155 x 105 mm.

Script: Either French littera gothica textualis or Gothic textualis rotunda. Corrected by an English hand with anglicana features c1300 (eg on f.175r)

Decoration: Capitals with fine marginal flourishes in red and blue ink and similarly flourished in-fillings of some capitals; red rubrics.

Layout: Double columns; 50 lines to the page; at f.23r part of Exodus had been misbound with a gathering of Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Binding: Bound in an early English calf binding with blind-tooled frame enclosing a stamped centre ornament; includes a fragment of a 12th century biblical book; heading at top of many pages appears to have been cut off and some indication bottom pages cut off too - indication of rebinding?

Provenance: 1. A 17th-century English hand has written 'This is John [Peg? Peter?] this boke' on several folios (175r, 221r, 274r, 278v, 341v, 352r and 388v). 2. Annotated 'Sainthill' in 17th Century on f.216r. 3. Letter 'C' surmounted by a coronet signifying the Clifford family on f.1r. 4. Annotation on f.296v: 'Md that I christofor Wallys of tottones in the [next word/s erased]' 5. On inside back cover is the motto 'Cui vult deus dat' and the monogram 'AH', 16th century.

Notes: Paris study bible. 16th-17th-century English annotations eg 'Here wanteth the rest of Exodus…' on f.24v – direct reader to continuation of the text later in the book; indications of close reading and readers' observations in the 14th and 17th centuries.

Transcription of 'Memo', inside front cover: 'That in St Peters church Wednesday 30 Ap. 1673 I met Mr [first word erased] Tho. [Hithergale?] who told me that this manuscript bible was Jerome's Latine translation approved by the Counsell of Trent for the best in those times and was given by his father-in-law Mr Je[…] [Jermiah?] [Long?] Justice, unto my father, Mr Walter Sainthill, deceased now also. It was written, hee said, in Glassenbury Abbey – per me E.S. scribitur Hoc'. Written under this: 'I doubt not a good bible this yet perhaps so though approved by that Counsell of Trent, for this it was considered handsome to some friends. E.S. 14 June 1680' [Possible reference to the King James version of the Bible then being in use?]. 'Walter Sainthill' may be from Hennock or Bovey Tracey, Devon, b. 1597, d. 1645 and this, coupled with ownership by Christopher Wallys of Totnes in Devon, would indicate a west county provenance, post reformation.

Reference: Sinclair: No.5 pp. 18-23; not in Manion & Vines

Latin Psalter and Missal, Germany, 14th century (Item 4)

Description: i, 401, ii leaves (vellum); 142 x 110 mm.; faults in leaves 214, 252 and 254 and on f.370r the marginal decoration is smeared.

Script: German littera gothica textualis

Decoration: Rubricated in red and blue; marginal flourishes in red and blue ink; calligraphic capitals in red and blue.

Layout: Part in double columns, 32 lines to the page; the greater part in one column of 26 lines to the page; calendar begins April (f.1r – f.5r).

Binding: Fine contemporary German tooled pig-skin binding of stamped vellum over champered oak boards with remains of original brass clasps. The stamped binding comprises a central rectangle of interlaced flower sprays surrounded by seven compartments of New Testament scenes, each with blind-stamped title. Includes image of David playing the harp, St Paul with his sword, Crucifixion etc. The lower cover is similarly stamped with the figures of Saints. Inside back cover appears to have a manuscript fragment underlying paper pastedown. Evidence that folios have been cut down (eg f.365v).

Provenance: 1. Cisterican church of St Mary in Furstenvelt, Diocese of Freising, with colophon dated 1306 of a monk, Heinrich von Biberach on f.399r. Freising was a major religious centre in the middle ages. 2. On front flyleaf i (recto) are two inscriptions which together suggest the name [Joannes Dir H. Mayer? or perhaps Ioannes Dirttmaiier?], dated 1569 and refer to his being adopted (perhaps by office rather than parents) in 1567. A naive drawing of a quadruped sits under this inscription. His inscriptions continue on front flyleaf i (verso) and say that he was ordained acolyte on the feast of St Cuthbert, 1569. 3. Inside front cover has an illuminated ex libris of Charles Clifford, 1839.

Notes: On the front flyleaf i (recto) are bon mots [good words] about mortality, dated 1569; end flyleaf ii and inside front cover contain the following text: Canticles for feast days; the addition of St Corbinian, patron of Freising and archdiocese of Munich, to the calendar in November (f.4v) reinforces that the manuscript is from the diocese of Freising. He is also included in a contemporary addition in main text at the foot of f.363r; St Acacius added to calendar in June (f.2r).

Reference: Sinclair: No.6 pp. 24-25; not in Manion & Vines

Latin and French Book of Hours, France, 15th century (Item 5)

Description: i-ii, 150, iii leaves (vellum); 178 x 125mm.

Script: French littera gothica textualis

Decoration: Twelve full-page miniatures (90 x 66mm) by two French artists. The work of the main artist is stylistically akin to Simon Marmion of Amiens, Valenciennes area, third quarter of the 15th century. Illustrations include: the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, the Manger, the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight into Egypt, the Crucifixion and a Pieta (f.141r) in a different style by another (possibly later) hand. Each miniature is surrounded by borders of scrolling foliage and fruits with grotesque beasts and birds in blue, green, pink, lilac and red. Most pages have marginal decoration of gold on red and blue grounds and line-fillings similarly decorated. Gilt-edged. Some illustrations have characteristic Flemish borders. Red ruling an indication of extra expense in producing the volume.

Two of the miniature pages are not in their original state – the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary on f.25r and the Annunciation to the Shepherds on f.43.r. Each folio has had a segment cut out and the miniature pasted onto it. Script and decoration on the back of each miniature is consistent with that of the rest of the volume but does not run on to the next page. The miniature on f.25r has been pasted onto a page that has the remains of an original border decoration on the left hand side. Matching foliate bar borders have been pasted onto the other three sides. The miniature on f.43r has no added borders. Possible scenarios for these two pages: something went wrong with the gold ground; the original borders were too 'explicit'; the original borders contained the initials of the previous owner; or the artist did not complete the border illustrations. Layout: One column; 17 lines to the page; calendar of 12 leaves (f.1r - f12v); blank pages on f.24v and f.92v.

Binding: Fine 17th century binding, possibly in the style of Samuel Mearne, of blind-tooled "drawn-handle" and floral arabesques within blind-tooled borders; spine is gilt; remains of silk ties.

Provenance: Inside front cover annotated 'I. Fontaine' in an 18th century hand; also contains a bookplate printed with the text 'From F.G. Dowty, Bookseller, Cornhill, Bridgwater'. This bookplate has been annotated 'Charles H. Clifford, 1854'.

Notes: The Calendar is written in the vernacular ie in French and probably originally created for a French patron. The first three leaves of the Calendar (f.1r-f.3v) have had the information carefully and fully excised, with only the illuminated initials remaining. Image of Bethsheba on f.70r has been excised, possibly by someone with a Puritan mind. Chalons-sûr-Marne usage.

Reference: Sinclair: No.7 pp. 25-27; Manion & Vines: No.76 pp.184-85

Latin Book of Hours, Italy, 15th century (Item 6)

Description: i, 141, ii leaves (vellum); 154 x 111 mm.

Script: Italina littera gothica textualis or possibly Italian Gothic rotunda

Decoration: Decoration is unfinished, with some initials not added or incomplete. Major initials in Ferrara foliate style. Incipit on f.1r 'Officinis Bte Marie virginis…', with initial letter "O" enclosing a miniature of the Virgin and Child, with borders of tendrils and flower sprays in red and blue and green on an illuminated frame. At the foot there is a shield of a camel in silver leaf raising from a pink gesso ground. The shield is surrounded by a laurel wreath, supported by putti borne upon tendrils of red, blue and green. Other capitals are painted in red, blue and yellow, and those not completed are sketched in ink; rubricated in red and blue throughout, and in the last leaves some marginal flourishes in red ink. On f.96r the Office of the Cross opens with a crescent moon man initial added by a later hand, which is supplying the unfinished initials. Catchwords have colophon decoration in late antique fashion, showing humanist interests.

Layout: One column; 14 or 15 lines to a page

Binding: Old mottled calf; spine gilt (spine slightly wormed and worn)

Provenance: Shield on bottom centre of f.1r possibly indicates association with the Gobio family of Mantua, whose family emblem is a silver dromedary positioned on a green ground with blue background. On f.141v in a late 15th century hand, almost obliterated, is inscribed a prayer 'Oratio post divinum officium', together with an illegible signature. Inscribed on inside front cover: 'Mary E. Kavanagh left this book to her nephew Lord Clifford, 1898.' The inside back cover is inscribed 'No. 30' in a 19th century hand. On f.22v is what appears to be an illegible name; erasures apparent on folios 9r, 17r and 55r.

Notes: Probable Franciscan influence as evidenced by the inclusion of St Clare of Assisi and St Bernadino of Siena in the litany. Rome usage.

Reference: Sinclair: No.8 pp. 27-30; Manion & Vines: No.27 pp.86-87

Latin Prayer Book, England, 15th century (Item 7)

Description: i-iii, 209, iv-v leaves (vellum); 137 x 90 mm.

Script: English littera gothica textualis formata + littera gothica textualis or perhaps a Gothic Textualis semi-quadrata. Two scribes, the second commencing on f.130r.

Decoration: The capital letters are written in blue with marginal flourishes in red ink, and capitals throughout in red and blue (passages in red have, in several instances been off-set on opposite surface). Psalms marked by major pen flourished initials and borders and traces of fore-edge book markers for them.

Layout: One column; 18 lines to the pageBinding: Bound in 17th century sprinkled calf, with two gilt rules enclosing a central panel of two gilt filets with leaves and acorn ornaments at corners; spine gilt.

Provenance: On inside front cover is a 'C' surmounted by a coronet signifying the Clifford family. The number '4' is written below. On front flyleaf iii (recto) is written 'Geo[rge] Kingsley' in an 18th-century hand in pale reddish crayon or ink.

Notes: The book has at some time has been slightly affected by damp, with spotting on some leaves. Has catchwords and systematic quire signatures (hi, hii etc). On back flyleaf iv (verso) is a 'prayer-like' text re Abraham and death. In the Vigils of the Dead (147r-201r) are many musical passages, four red line staves carrying black square notation.

Text opens modestly with some prefatory devotional matter before commencing with a major red and blue pen flourished initial to the Psalm 'Domine deus pater omnipotens…' on f.5r. There is some emphasis upon St Augustine, with long rubrics introducing matters attributed to him and some contemporary marginal insertions drawing attention to him in the text. There is also a 15th-century English cursive marginal annotation referring to Anselm of Canterbury. A particularly lengthy rubric (f.50v-52v) refers to prayer for time off from purgatory, which may be a popular prayer of the Church in 15th century, occurring in many Books of Hours. A prayer marked in rhyming couplets with red braces, like drama mss, is included on f.73v commencing 'Benedicta trinitas sis que me creasti...'. On f.96r-98v is a rubric referencing indulgence. On f.114r-115r a lengthy rubric about Thomas Becket whose name is unerased, possibly because it is embedded in the text, but probably indicating this is a recusant's book or was out of England after 1539 when Henry VIII ordered this name expunged. Also indicates, with the Anselm reference, a Canterbury interest and also perhaps Augustinian influence.

Litany includes St Gildard and St Medard of Soissons, the sole UK dedication to whom is the church of Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, near Stamford. Litany also contains St Edith of Wilton and eight of the twenty-one churches dedicated to her are in Lincolnshire. For this reason the volume or patron is probably from Lincolnshire. St Genevieve, patron of Paris and France, also occurs in litany and there is a church dedicated to her at Fornham St Genevieve, Suffolk. Female saints in the litany and emphasis on the Virgin may suggest female use, but not overwhelmingly so.

Reference: Sinclair: No.9 pp. 30-34; Manion & Vines: No.53 p.131

Latin Breviary, Germany, 15th century (Item 8)

NOTE: because of the thickness of the volume and the tightness of the binding, it was not possible to digitise all of the pages in this volume for viewing online. Images of the following pages are available: Recto of: fi-vii, f1-59, f61-138, f160; recto and verso of: f139-159, f161-178; and verso of: f179-326, fviii-x.

Description: i-vii, 326 leaves (vellum), viii-x; 123 x 85 mm. with outside measurement 12.5 x 8.7 mm. and 11.25 mm. thick; original cutting of lower edges of some leaves irregular.

Script: German littera cursiva but possibly German Gothic textualis semi-quadrata; not very well penned, with some prefatory matter and notes in German cursive. Script is not of highest quality, as is often the case with such German liturgical volumes, but the flourishing is quite proficient.

Decoration: Calligraphic capitals in red, blue and green ink; rubricated in red throughout.

Layout: One column; 18 lines to the page

Binding: Housed in the original German kermes stained red vellum binding; original heavy corner bosses and central boss on lower board to protect volume during storage (centre boss of upper cover missing from its fixing-pin, which remains).

Provenance: Inscribed on front flyleaf 'Honble Mr Clifford, Munich' in a 19th century hand; inside back cover is inscribed by a 15th century hand 'Maria sit semper' and also has the number '636' in modern pencil.

Reference: Sinclair: No.10 pp. 34-35; Manion & Vines: No.64 p.152

Latin Book of Hours, Southern Netherlands, 15th century (Item 9)

Description: i-ii, 126, iii-iv leaves (vellum); 195 x 140mm. F.72v and f.126v are blank.

Script: English littera gothica textualis formata or possibly Gothic textualis semi-quadrata

Decoration: Decorated with 26 full-page miniatures (96 x 70mm) of good quality. These include Christ with an orb and angels, the Trinity, John the Baptist, St. George and the Dragon, the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Saint Anne, Mary Magdalene, Saint Catherine, Saint Barbara, the vigil in Gethsemane, and the taking of Christ. There are also miniatures depicting Christ brought before Pilate, the scourging of Christ, the road to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the Descent from the Cross, the Entombment; the Virgin and Child, the Resurrection, with instruments of the Passion, and others. Each miniature is surrounded by broad borders on two sides, and tendrils on the opposite sides, with scrolling stems of flowers and fruit in red, blue, pink and green, heightened with gold (some borders only slightly rubbed). There are diaper backgrounds to some miniatures in red, blue, green and gold checks; nine small miniatures of the Passion; numerous decorated initials, and capitals throughout in red, blue and gold; line fillings similarly decorated and illuminated. Red rubics.

Layout: One column; 22 lines to the page; prickings on outer margins; rulings in red ink throughout.

Binding: Bound in a contemporary blind stamped calf binding; blind ruled and with frame of two lines of stamped scrollwork.

Provenance: In the calendar for January (f.1r) a late 16th or 17th-century English hand has added 'Notalis mei Tho. Babi'. In the calendar for 18 September (f.5r) a 16th century hand has added 'Richard Ravenhill died ora pro[eo]' There are Richard Ravenhill's by 18th century connected to Middleton in Herefordshire and Mathon in Worcestershier. In October (f.5v) the same hand has added 'St Thomas of Hereford'. Therefore, a Herefordshire provenance by 16th- 17th century seems likely. On f.21v in a later hand Ioannis? Salisbury, now erased.

Notes: Saram usage. On the illustration of the Crucifixion (f.65r), the faces of the men nailing Christ to the cross have been erased. The illustration of St Catherine (f.21r), who was the Patron Saint of Child Birth, has evidence of being stroked for good luck and marginalia for this illustration appears to depict 'The Virgin's belt' which is unusual.

The miniature of the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury on f.16r is intact, indicating this is either a recusant book or post 1539.

On f.126r someone has started to copy out a charter of Henry VIII. It is in a proficient 16th-century hand and gives Henry VIII's titles and says he appends his seal at Westminster, and sends greetings to 'Harford' (possibly Hartford in Cheshire, a person, corruption of Herefordshire or Hertfordshire?), but the text is incomplete and probably a copy from a fuller one, so cannot be determined.

Made for an English patron, as evidenced by the incipit for the Hours of the Virgin 'secundum usum anglorum'(f.24r), the inclusion of devotions popular in England such as the fifteen O's (f.7r-12v) and the inclusion of English saints in both the calendar and the litany.

Gertrude of Nivelles, who appears in the litany (f.79r-85v), was a 7th-century abbess in Belgium connected to Irish mission of St Foilan, brother of St Fursey of Burgh Castle near Norwich and is a patroness of mental illness, travellers, gardeners and widows. Her cult was known in England but perhaps not very widely.

Page layout, script and decoration are all consistent with Flemish productions of the late 15th century.

Reference: Sinclair: No.11 pp. 35-38; Manion & Vines: No.54 pp.132-33

Latin Chertsey Cartulary, England, 14th century (Item 65)

Description: i-iv, 153, v-viii leaves (vellum); 273 x 180mm. All sheets are cockled. The following pages are blank: 28v, 31v, 37v, 49r, 51v, 53v 80v, 89r-v, 91v, 107v, 116v, 119v, 120v, 127r-v.

Script: Two English scribes (i) f.1r-141v and (ii) f.142r-153v. Both use cursive court hands of the first half of the 14th century.

Decoration: Decorated with red rubrics; capitals red and blue; initials blue and with red penwork, and red with blue (often faded to mauve) penwork; many initials have marginal extensions. Silver, now tarnished, has been employed on some of the large initials (egs f.54r, f.66r, f.72r and f.81r).

Layout: One column; 32-33 lines to the page for f.1r-141v; mainly 35-36 lines to the page for the remaining folios.

Binding: Rebound in England by bookbinder Sydney Cockerell before being exported to Australia in 1975. The National Library of Australia holds the original boards (one complete and two sections of the second) of the Cartulary which consisted of a 17th century binding in sprinkled and panelled calf. The full board contains the remains of five cords. The original spine, which is gilt in six compartments with red morocco label and lettering, is glued into the back inside cover together with a fragment of original binding. Also glued into the back inside cover is a note from the binder, written in 1975.

Provenance: Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Chertsey, Surrey, England, 14th-15th century; inside front cover has the crest of the Clifford family; on back flyleaf v (recto) at the top of the page is written 'Thomas Croch[?]n is a good boy'

Notes: Written within the Abbey of Benedictine monks in the English County of Surrey about 1348 and comprising transcriptions of original documents and charters relating to the administration of the abbey for the period 1313-1345 in the abbacy of John de Rutherwyck. Example of an unusual chronicle-cartulary arranged by year; one of three extant 14th century Chertsey Abbey cartularies, the other two being held by the British Library: BL Lansdowne MS 434 and BL Lansdowne MS 4345.

Front flyleaves (iii and vi) and back flyleaves (v and vi) comprise four folios from the mid-14th century which appear to have been cut down from a roll and list the only known extant original accounts for the abbey

On f.153v is a very faint 14th century hard point annotation which commences 'Sex…'

The Charter of the Abbey is at the front of the volume and a number of Quitclaims and other documents are at the back. Continuation of text after the end of the book seems to have been added later in 14th century.

On the inside front cover is pasted a 19th century newspaper cutting advertising the sale of materials that made up the buildings and enclosures of the abbey.

Reference: Sinclair: No. 12, pp.38-41;, not in Manion & Vines

Related works: The National Library holds the following related works: Chertsey Abbey cartularies, volume II, part I: being the second portion of the Cartulary in the Public Record Office ; Chertsey cartularies, volume II, part 2: being extracts from British Museum Lansdowne MS. 435 and the Clifford Cartulary, together with index to volume II ; and Charters of Chertsey Abbey, edited by S.E. Kelly