Beinecke MS 501
Northern Italy, s. XV 2  ......
Hours, use of Rome

1. ff. 1r-12v	Calendar (2 pages for each month, r and v), in red and black ink; the computistical 
data are: the length of the solar and of the lunar month, the Golden Number and the Day Letter; 
the following feasts are to be noted: Hyginius (11 Jan.), Polycarpus (23 Febr.), Eleuchadius (27 
Febr.),  Herculanus (1 March),  Theodosia (2 April), Abundius bishop of Como (3 April), 
Boniface bishop of Ferentino (14 May), Venantius martyr in Camerino (18  May), Julia martyr in 
Corsica (23 May), Proculus martyr in Bologna (1 June), Prosper patron saint of Reggio Emilia (25 
June), Nabor and Felix martyrs in Milan  (12 July), Pastor (26 July), Venerius (13 Sept.), 
Eustache (20 Sept.), Justina martyr in Padua (6 Oct.), Cerbonius bishop of Populonia (10 Oct.), 
Domninus (11 Oct.), Vitalis and Agricola martyrs in Bologna (4 Nov.), Prosdocimus bishop of 
Padua (7 Nov.),  Bibiana (2 Dec.), Sabas (5 Dec.; his relics are in Venice), Syrus bishop of Pavia 
(9 Dec.).

The calendar contains numerous saint popes, a number of unidentified saints, and a large number 
of saints' feasts on the wrong dates.  Note the spellings "Madius", "Octuber".

2. ff. 13r-92v 	Hours of the Virgin, use of Rome. In Matins the first Nocturn is immediately 
followed by the Absolution, Lessons I-III and the Hymn "Te Deum". In Compline the Hymn 
"Memento salutis" precedes the Capitulum "Ego Mater". After Compline follows on f. 74r 
"Salve Regina", an oration and, from f. 75r onwards, the second and third
Nocturn of Matins: " 
Nota quod isti tres psalmi cum suis antiphonis dicuntur ad Matutinum die Martis et die Veneris" 
(f. 75r); " Nota quod isti tres psalmi cum suis antiphonis dicuntur ad Matutinum die Mercurii et 
die Sabbati (f. 79v). From f. 84r onwards follow the Vespers for Advent: " Notandum est quod 
ad Vesperas primi Sabbati de Adventu usque ad vigiliam Nativitatis Domini agitur officium 
beate Marie Virginis modo subscripto".

3. ff. 93r-117r		Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany.

4. ff. 117v-122r	Short Hours of the Cross.

5. ff. 122r-125v	Short Hours of the Holy Spirit.

6. ff. 126r-130r	Mass of the Virgin. 

7. ff. 130r-131v	Gospel Lesson of St. John. 


Parchment, ff. 131, 77 x 54 mm.

I 12 (ff. 1-12), II-XII 10 (ff. 13-122), XIII 10 (- 10, ff. 123-131). Horizontal catchwords in the 
middle of the lower margin, between two dots; no catchword on f. 92v (quire IX).
      
Ruled for one column of 14 lines below top line (16 or 17 lines in the Calendar), type 11,  traced 
in pale brown ink, 42 x 39  mm.
      
Written by a single scribe in Southern Gothica Textualis Libraria (Rotunda), especially marked by 
the use of  two forms of d (Uncial and Half-Uncial).
      Headings in red. The decoration consists of  (1) alternately gold and blue flourished 
initials, 1 line, within the text and in the Litany; the penwork is mauve with the gold initials, red 
with the blue ones; (2) dentelle initials, 2 lines, also used for "KL" in the Calendar; (3) decorated  
foliate initials, 5 lines, with full "Ferrarese" borders, painted at the beginning of the Hours from 
Lauds to Compline in the Hours of the Virgin; (4) large historiated initials, mostly 7 lines, at the 
opening of the various sections: f. 13r (Hours of the Virgin), Virgin with Child, full border with 
in its lower section a shield held by two putti; f. 93r (Penitential Psalms), King David in prayer, 
full border; f. 117v (Hours of the Cross), the Cross on a hill, two-margins border; f. 122r (Hours 
of the Holy Spirit), the Holy Spirit as a dove, two-margins border; f. 126r (Mass of the Virgin), a 
lily, full border.
      
Binding s. XVIII (?): parchment checkered with green-gold motifs. On the spine red title-label 
with gold-tooled inscription "Manuscrit du XIIIe siecle".
      
This tiny manuscript was written in Northern Italy as indicated by the Saints in the Calendar and 
the decoration. The shield on f. 13r does not contain a coat of arms, but the picture of a fountain. 
A blue Maltese cross is stamped on f. 131v. Gift of Henry Rogers Winthrop, Yale 1898; his 
bookplate on the front pastedown.

Albert Derolez

Updated 26.11.2007