Beinecke MS 196                                                  Lower Rhine, s. XV^^2
Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary

     1. ff. 1r-12v    Calendar in Latin, including the feasts of Basilius (1
     Jan.), "Anniuersarium patrem et matrem ordinis nostri" (6 Feb.),
     Translation of Augustine (28 Feb.), Suitbert (1 March), Heribert (16
     March), Translation of Monica (9 April), Monica (4 May, in red),
     Conversion of Augustine (5 May, in red), Michael archangel (8 May),
     Canonization of Nicolas of Tolentino (5 June), "Anniuersarium fratrum
     et sororum ordinis nostri" (7 July), "Festum niuis" (5 Aug.), Augustine
     (28 Aug., in red), Octave of Augustine (4 Sept.), Nicolas of Tolentino
     (10 Sept., in red), Michael Archangel (29 Sept., in red.), Translation
     of Augustine (11 Oct.), 11,000 Virgins (21 Oct., in red), Cordula (22
     Oct.), Cunibert (12 November).

     2. ff. 13r-83r    Hyer begijnt die prologijus van onser liever vrouwen
     pselter. Den der heilige leirre Sanctus Bernardus gemacht hait...Here
     doe op myn typpen ind mynen mont zo louer dynen abren helichsten ind
     onsprechlichsten naeme...Primo nocturno. O Ioncfer marja salich is die
     mynsch die lieff hait...[the 150 Psalms], Desen te deum hait gemacht
     petrus damyanus. Dich moder gotz louen wir...[followed by a litany to
     the Virgin and 2 prayers]. f. 83v ruled, but blank

     3. ff. 84r-95r    Dyt is onser lijever uer [?] pselter den begynt mon op
     onser liever vrouwen dath als ir der engel die baetschaff bracht Ind
     der salmen vort alle wechen eyns up den selven dach dat onser lieuer
     vrouwen dach dat Iaer...Dyt Nae volgende gebet Mater sij pijssima ad me
     miseram Gebet. O alre mijlste moder godes neige zo min onseliger dyn
     oren...[followed by the pericope from Luke, Missus est angelus Gabriel,
     in Ripuarian language, and then by prayers]. f. 95v ruled, but blank

     4. ff. 96r-113v    Hyer begynt der gulden Pselter den der gloriose
     vader Sanctus Augustinus gemacht hait...Ind he hait ander half hondert
     verssen Ind zo cynne eicklichen versse salmen eyn ave maria
     sprecchen...Gegruetzet sijstu Iuncfrouwe eyn holtz des leuens werdich
     alles loues du hais gehalden dyn geloifde...[150 short prayers,
     beginning in like fashion, each preceded by an Ave Maria and with Pater
     Noster added in the margin by a different hand after every 10 prayers].
     f. 114r-v ruled, but blank

     5. ff. 115r-177v    Hyr begynt eyn suuerlich gebet van onser lieuer
     vrauwen Ind is van al yrem heiligen leuen Ind van den leuen yrs lieuen
     kyndes...Tzo loue ind zo eren der glorioser Iuncfferen ind moder godes
     Maria. Die eyn moder is des uubeuleckden lemgens ihesus
     christus...[numerous prayers, each followed by an Ave Maria, divided
     into groups for the days of the week] f. 178r-v ruled, but blank

     6. ff. 179r-220v    Hyer begynnet die kroen des loefs marien Der alre
     glorioster koenynckynnen des hemels ind der erden Wylche yi tzo offeren
     is...O ewerdighe mich Dych tzo louen Beheiliche maget Maria myt onsen
     heren ihesum christum Der gebenedider vrucht dyns buychs...[numerous
     prayers arranged in 2 sections and quoting many authorities: Ubertinus,
     Franco abbas luginensis, Bernardus, Anselmus, Johannes gerson,
     Augustinus, ex horologio sapiencie, Salomonis, Petrus blesensis, Hugo
     de sancto victore] f. 221r-v ruled, but blank

     7. ff. 222r-238v    Hyer Begynnent die gulden getzijde van onser liever
     vrauwen seer suuerlichen. Maria Ioncfer Ontfanck die groisse die der
     van dem heren by dem heiligen engel gabriel...[an office for the
     Virgin; hymn at matins; Laist ons syngen dat goede ind dat suesse woert
     die engelsche groitze...] f. 239r-v ruled, but blank

     8. ff. 240r-256v    Dijt syn die vii Pselmen van onser lieuer vrauwen
     Die Ierste pselm. O Vrauwe Maria almechtich In der verbolgent heit gotz
     en verhenge ons...[Penitential "psalms" and litany of the Virgin] f.
     257r-v ruled, but blank

     9. ff. 258r-266r    Dijt is onser lieuer vrouwen krantz op die liter
     das namen Maria. Gegruet sijstu sterne des mers hoge godes
     moder...[translation in Ripuarian of 5 hymns, canticles or psalms,
     beginning with Ave maris stella and the Magnificat, each followed by 2
     prayers] f. 266v ruled, but blank

     10. ff. 267r-273r    Hyer Begynt dat gebet van den hondert. Ave. O
     Maria suesse maget ich vermanen dich der groisser vrouden Eeren ind
     werdicheit...[10 prayers to the Virgin beginning in like fashion to be
     said after 10 Hail Marys] f. 273v ruled, but blank

     11. ff. 274r-297r    Hyer begynt eyn ynnych getzuede Van dem gloriosen
     paschlichen hoechtzijde. Antiphona. O Heilige dach Ind eirlichen West
     gegruest ewelichen In wijlchen dagen got verwonnen hait die helle...[an
     office for Easter; hymn at matins: O here dyr si lof ind eere du die
     vur ons betzaelt heues den ewigen vader...] f. 297v ruled, but blank

     12. ff. 298r-320r    Hyer begynt eyn ynnych getzijde Van der ewiger
     wijsheit...Min siel hait dich begert in der nacht Ind myn geist in dem
     ynresten myns hertzen...[office of the Eternal Wisdom; hymn at matins:
     Ihesus soisse gedencknisse du geues waer achtige blijtscaf des
     hertzen...] ff. 320v-321v ruled, but blank

     13. ff. 322r-352v     [Prayers as follow:] Dyt gebet sal men sprechen
     err men die xxv benedixcien begint. O werde moder gotz des almechtigen
     konynchs gewerdige dich tzo intfangen...Hier begynen die xxv
     benedixcien van onser lieuer vrouwen...Ave maria. Gegrutzet systu Maria
     vol gnaden sich erlichen wael vol ind gebene dyt vol van
     gracien...[each of the 25 benedictions preceded by an Ave Maria]; (f.
     331v) Men seget soe wie dese xv blijtschaffen alle dage leset xv dage
     lanck...West gegruet in verblijt O Conynckynne des hemels blynckende da
     gerat...Ave maria gracia. Verblijt dich heilige tempel godes serr
     blynckende vas vol alre daechden...[an introductory prayer, then 15
     others, beginning in like fashion to be said before an image of the
     Virgin]; (f. 334v) Hyer begynnen die getzuede van den rouwe onser
     lieuer vrauwen. Ave. O alre heilichste Ioncfer maria om dat swaer
     versuchten daer dyn hertze...[a prayer for each of the canonical
     hours]; (f. 339r) Eyn schoen gebet van unser lieuer vrauuen der
     hemelscher konnyckyne. Gegroit sijstu schone hemelsche konynckynne Edel
     Ionffrauwe Maria vol genaden eynbeslossen garden alre welden...; (f.
     348r) Hier begynt eyn schon Gebet van onser lieuer vrouwen...O Gloriose
     vrouwe Ind alre suesste maget heilige Maria moder gotz vol alre god
     diensticheit.... f. 353r-v ruled, but blank

     14. ff. 354r-376r     [Prayers as follow:] Soe wer dit Gebet myt
     ynnicheit syns hertzen van eynen Satersdach zoe dem anderen leset Der
     hait eyn bede an onser lieuer vrouwen der suysser marien. Ich bidden
     dich heilige Ionffrouwen suysse maria dorch die groisse genade die dir
     got gedaen hait...[4 prayers beginning in like fashion, each followed
     by a Magnificat and a Pater noster; the rubric at the end reads:] End
     nu leyst magnificat inde pater noster Inde nompt die sach die du
     begerste myt gansszen betrouwen Ind sy sal dyr gegeuen werden Amen; (f.
     357r) Alsus plach der suysse leirre Bernart zoe sprechen zoe den
     mynlichen hertzen der glorioser Ionfferen Marien...Ich sprechen zoe
     dynen reynen hertzen O werdige Ionffer maria Inde anbeden dat als eynen
     heiligen tempel godes...; (f. 360r) Dyt is eyn suuerlich Gebet van
     onser lieuer vrouwen der hemelsche konnynckynnen. O Mylde Ionffrouwe
     maria alre heilichste moder Eyn konnynckynne der engelen...; (f. 362v)
     Dyt is Eyn schoen Gebet van onser lieuer vrouwen marien Inde hait
     gemacht onse heilige vader Sanctus Augustinus. O lieue selige inde
     heilige gebenedide Ionffrouwe maria du dochter des vaders du moder des
     sones...; (f. 365r) Eeyn schoen gebet van unser lieuer vrouwen. O
     Gloriose vrouwe inde mylde maget O heilige konnynckynne der hemelen
     vrouwen der engelen Inde eyn moder des leuendigen godes...; (f. 367r)
     Dyt gebet hait Sanctus Bernardus gemacht ind is van unser lieuer
     vrouwen. Godt groisse dich maria eyn maget dei heiliger
     driueldicheit...; (f. 368r) Hier begynt eyn schoyn Gebet van onser
     lieuer vrauwen der suesser moder. O Maria hoege loefde gebenedide
     hemelsche konynckgynne ich arme sun dich unnutze sundersche offer
     dir...; (f. 370v) Wanne eyn mynsche sunderlynge sachen begert die sal
     hie he nomen Gebet. O Maria vol genaden bewijse mir dyn oueroloidige
     genade want ich sicherlichen weis...; (f. 371v) O Maria du op brechende
     rode morgen van wilchen vort komen is die ewiche clair sonne der
     gotheit...; (f. 375r) Dyt is eyn suuerlich Gebet van onser lieuer
     vrauwen der suesser moder. Got gruys dich mynnentliche maget o moder
     alre genaden des paradijs suyssicheit.... ff. 376v-380v ruled, but
     blank

          Paper (watermarks similar to Briquet Armoiries 1656) and parchment
     for leaves heavily illuminated, ff. ii (original paper, i verso and ii
     recto ruled in ink for 19 lines, but blank) + 376 + iv (original
     paper), 131 x 102 (93 x 61) mm., trimmed. Written in 20 long lines;
     single vertical and double horizontal bounding lines, full across.
     Ruled faintly in lead; a few prickings along outer edge.
          Two original paper fly-leaves, connected to original parchment
     pastedown; I^^12, II-IV^^8, V^^8 (-4, following f. 40), VI-XI^^8, XII^^10,
     XIII^^8, XIV^^12 (-8, following f. 116), XV-XXI^^8, XXII^^12 (-1, following
     f. 186), XXIII-XXVI^^8, XXVII^^10, XXVIII-XXX^^8, XXXI^^12 (-1, 10,
     following folios 253 and 261), XXXII-XXXIV^^8, XXXV^^10, XXXVI-XLIV^^8,
     XLV^^10 (-1, following f. 367), four original paper fly-leaves connected
     to original parchment paste-down.
          Text written in varying bookhands, most with batarde influence;
     more formal scripts for some rubrics and portions of text on parchment.
          Two historiated initials, 12- and 10-line, on parchment bifolios:
     f. 15r (Primo nocturno) Mary as child before altar, and f. 84v (Prayer
     to the Virgin) Kneeling angel with harp, the letters gold and blue with
     brown and red penwork, the figures crudely drawn in pen and colored
     brown, blue and green, against bright red grounds with white
     highlights; brown and red calligraphic flourishes with red, green, blue
     and yellow dots extending along upper and side edges of written space.
     12-, 10-, and 9-line initials (ff. 13r, 96r, 115r, 179r, 222r, 258r,
     322v) gold (or red for ff. 258r, 322v) and blue, filled with brown
     floral penwork designs with calligraphic flourishes and dots, as above.
     Floral borders for each 12- through 9-line initial (except ff. 15r and
     258r), red, blue, and green flowers with gold dot centers, connected by
     brown ink stems, arranged in rows or spirals; ff. 13r and 84v with a
     vase and bird in the margins. Two 9-line initials, ff. 274r and 298r,
     on parchment bifolios, in a markedly different style, green and blue
     respectively, with yellow and white highlights, against gold grounds,
     filled on f. 274r with a large flower, blue and red, on f. 298r with
     short sections of curling pink and green acanthus. Borders large blue
     or red flowers with gold dots and centers or short sections of blue and
     red acanthus on spiraling brown stems with small green teardrop leaves.
     Numerous 7- through 2-line initials, red and/or blue, with brown
     penwork and flourishes, as above. I-initials, up to 13-line, red or
     blue throughout. Some capital W's in text in blue or red. 2-line
     KL
     monograms, alternating red and blue. Some portions of the text,
     including proper names, underlined in red. Notes for rubricator in
     gutter, perpendicular to text.
          Binding: s. xvi. Original sewing on four supports attached to
     wooden boards. Covered in dark brown calf with corner turn-in tongues.
     Blind-tooled with concentric borders, an X, roses and small flowers in
     the central panel, roses and rampant lions in the outer borders. Two
     clasp-and-catch fastenings, the catch on the upper board. Rebacked and
     the endbands probably added. Straps replaced. Covers lined with
     fragments of unidentified scientific text, in Latin (s. XV).

          Written in Cologne/Lower Rhine (Ripuarian language area) in the
     second half of the 15th century for Augustinian use (see art. 1); early
     provenance otherwise unknown. Belonged to Henri-Auguste Broelemann
     (bookplate inside front cover; polygonal label, white with blue edging
     and "A N^o 212/9x1" inside back cover); collection formed during the
     early part of the 19th century by Broelemann and sold by order of his
     great grand-daughter Madame Etienne Mallett (Sotheby's, 4-5 May l926,
     no. 175). Booktag of the bookseller Menno Hertzberger of Amsterdam.
     Acquired by Henry Fletcher and presented to Yale in 1955 by Mrs. Henry
     Fletcher.

     Bibliography: Faye and Bond, p. 39, no. 196.

     Barbara A. Shailor