Beinecke MS 605
France, s. XV
Honore Bovet, L'arbre des  batailles

1. ff. 1r-4v	L'arbre des batailles de maitre Honore Bonnet Prouvencal au roy Charles VI [title 
added s. XVI]. // Du temps monseigneur Clement le quart, XLIIII. Du temps monseigneur 
Gregoire le Xe, XLVII. Du temps monseigneur Innocent le Ve, XLIX ... La Ve doctrine, VIxx 
XIIII. La VIe doctrine sur champ clos, VIxx XIIII. Maintenant devise quelles choses doivent 
estre en ung bon empereur, VIxx XV. En la fine devise quelles choses doivent estre en ung bon 
roy, VIxx XVI .  Finis tabule.

Table of Contents of art. 2, referring to the original foliation. The first two pages are missing.

2. ff. 5r-142r	A la saincte couronne de France, en laquelle aujourduy par l'ordonnance de Dieu 
regne Charles le VIe roy en cellui nom, tres bien ame et par tout le monde
redoubte, soit donnee 
gloire et lox sur toutes seignouries terriennes. Tres hault prince, je,
appelle par mon droit nom 
Honere Bonet, prieur de Salon en Provence, docteur en decret, souvent et menu ay eu en 
voulente de faire aucun livre ... mais je pry humblement a Dieu qu'il par sa
pitie vous doint en tel 
forme gouverner vostre royaulme et la saincte couronne qu'il vous a commis, que apres la fin il 
vous amainne en la sienne saincte gloire de paradis. Amen.  Explicit.	f. 142v blank

Honore Bovet (often erroneously named Bonet, c. 1345-1405), L'arbre des  batailles, composed 
between 1386 and 1389. E. Nys, ed. (Brussels, Leipzig etc., 1883). See G.W. Coopland, The 
Tree of Battles (Cambridge, 1949), who refers to our MS as the "Seilliere MS" and demonstrates 
that it contains an interpolation. 


Paper , ff. III + 142 + III, 270 x 190 mm. Watermark similar to Briquet 389?? Original foliation 
in red ink in the upper corner of the recto pages, from "I" to "VIxx XIX", corresponding to ff. 5 
-142 of the modern foliation followed here. The outer bifolium of quire I, containing  the 
beginning of art. 1 and f. "XI", is missing. 

I 16 (-1, -16; ff. 1-14; loss of text), II-IX 16 (ff. 15-142). Horizontal catchwords at right.

Art. 1 has lead ruling for one column of 29 lines below top line, type 13, 184 x 126 mm. Art. 2 is 
frame-ruled in lead for one column of 35-37 lines (rarely as few as 32), same dimensions. 

Probably copied by one hand, writing Gothica Cursiva Libraria  (Bastarda).

In art. 1 red heightening of the majuscules. In art. 2 paragraph marks and underlining in red; red 
2-line plain initials; at the opening of the text (f. 5r) 4-line red and blue littera duplex without 
penwork. Guide-letters. 

Binding s. XIX/XX by Chambolle-Duru: crimson morocco over cardboard, preserved in fleece-
lined folder. Spine with five raised bands and gold-tooled title: "L'ARBRE DES BATAILLES 
PAR HONORE BONNET - MANUSCRIT DU QUINZIEME SIECLE". Gilt edges.

On f. 142v written upside-down pen-trial and verses s. XV/XVI difficult to read: "Bonnes gens 
parlent de bonte, / Rephardeurs [l. Reprehandeurs ?] de rephardeon [l. reprehansion?] ; / Le 
meschant de mechainsete  / Le bergier de sa bergeronne",  and in another hand  "Katherina La 
Bacle religieuse a Nostre Dame aux Nonnains de Troyes de l'an mil cinq cens et quatre, le jour 
sainte Katherine [25 Nov. 1504]. Dieu luy doint faire son saulverneur". Collection of Baron 
Francois Florentin Achille de Seilliere (sold at Sotheby's, Febr.-March 1887, lot 158). Sir Thomas 
Brooke F.S.A., Armitage Bridge (armorial bookplate). George William Coopland. Purchased 
from C.A. Stonehill on the Edwin J. Beinecke Fund, 9 Febr. 1979.

Bibliography: Shailor, "Acquisitions", pp. 96-97.

Albert Derolez