Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 272: The Psalter of Count Achadeus

Placeholder Show Content

Abstract/Contents

Summary
This manuscript is known as the 'Achadeus Psalter' because of an inscription after Psalm 150 recording that Count Achadeus ordered it to be made. This need not imply, however, that Achadeus owned the book, or had any closer connection with it than simply paying for its materials. As well as the psalms and canticles the manuscript contains Psalter collects, a litany, and prayers. The litany includes mention of Pope Marinus (882-4), King Carloman (882-3), and Fulk, bishop of Rheims (883-900), and has on these grounds been dated to 883/4; the mention of Bishop Fulk and of local saints locates its use to Rheims. Although not necessarily made in the city itself, it seems to be from that region of France. CCCC MS 272 contains extensive marginal glosses largely taken from Cassiodorus' Expositio psalmorum. They are written in that form of English Caroline minuscule which developed in the first quarter of the eleventh century and continued in use until after the Norman Conquest. Consequently it seems that the manuscript was in England in the eleventh century; it has been suggested that it was brought over earlier than that, perhaps even by Grimbald of Saint-Bertin, who was sent to England by Fulk of Rheims in order to assist King Alfred the Great with his revival of English learning. If so the manuscript must have left Rheims relatively soon after it was made, as Grimbald was at Winchester by 887, and doubt has been expressed over whether a manuscript sponsored by an important count would have been lightly alienated. The manuscript has illumination in gold and colours and originally had large illuminated initials at the liturgical divisions of the Psalter, although all save that for Psalm 97 have been cut out. The Litany has elaborate arched column frames, and at the beginning of the Psalter a large B ornamental initial for the first psalm from an English early thirteenth-century Psalter has been inserted. MS 272 was certainly at Canterbury in the later middle ages, where parts of account rolls of Christ Church Canterbury are used as its endleaves.
Contents
The Psalter of Count Achadeus

Description

Alternative title Psalterium Achadei Comitis
Type of resource mixed material
Extent ff. 183 + 3
Date created [ca. 875 CE - 899 CE]
Language Latin
Material Vellum
Layout 20 lines to a page
Height (mm) 266
Width (mm) 210
Collation 1(8) (wants 4, 5) 2(8)-4(8) (wants 4) 5(8) 6(8) (wants 3) 7(8) (wants 7) 8(8) 9(8) (wants 8) 10(8) 11(8) (wants 8) 12(8)-14(8) (wants 4, 5) 15(8) 16(8) (wants 4) 17(8)-20(8) 21(4) 22(8) 23(8) 24(4) 25(8) 26 (one), 3 flyleaves.
Writing in a Caroline minuscule, pale ink, fine ornaments
Foliation ff. a-b + 1-2 + 2a + 3-183 + i-iii + c-d
Provenance Of the persons mentioned in the Litany (ff. 151r-154r) Marinus, consecrated Pope in December 882, died in May 884. Carloman, sole king in 882, died in 884. Fulco, Archbishop of Rheims, was consecrated on 10 March 883. This gives a date between March 883 and May 884 for the writing of the Litany., Of the Saints: Sixtus, Sinicius, Nivardus, are of Rheims. Also Sindulfus: Cilinia is mother of St Remigius. Theoderic is of Cambrai, Theodulf of Rheims. The occurrence of Remigius in gold capitals is a further indication of Rheims. It is not clear why Abundus is in gold unless it be to mark the end of the list of Confessors. The reason for the importance given to Columbanus is also to seek., That the book was in later times the property of Christ Church, Canterbury, the flyleaves at the end (ff. ir-iiv) seem to show: and also the large inserted frontispiece to the Psalter (f. 3v) appears to me to be in a style characteristic of Christ Church. It is like the work in the glossed Gospels (Trinity College B. 5. 5) only not so good.
Additions An old note (xvi) on f. 1r: Hic codex scriptus temporibus Marini papae et carlomanni anno Domini 885 Mar. Scot. ut infra in Litania.

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date ix late
Downloadable James Catalogue Record
Title
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:tm050gt6351/MS_272.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
Title
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:tp251df7820/272.pdf
Contains
Title
The Psalter of Count Achadeus. 1r-183v
Note
(1r) Title in red rustic capitals
Rubric
(1r) Incipit Prologus pro origo prophetiae Dauid regis psalmorum numerum cl
Incipit
(1r) Dauid filius iesse cum esset in regno suo
Note
(P. L. XCIII 477)
Explicit
(1v) canticum graduum xv
Rubric
(1v) Incipit Praefatio Sancti Hieronimi presbiteri
Incipit
(1v) Psalterium romae dudum positus
Note
(P. L. XXIX 117, etc.)
Explicit
(2v) de purissimo fonte potare
Rubric
(2v) Explicit praefatio Sancti Hieronimi presbiteri
(2v) Incipit cantica Psalmorum
Incipit
(2v) Canticum psalmorum animas decorat
Note
(P. L. CXXXI 142: P. L. CXLII 46)
Explicit
(2ar) in caelo deus mirificabit
Note
f. 3v was originally blank, apparently. It was covered by a leaf cut from a xiith cent. Psalter, once pasted on to it and now lifted
(3v) This leaf has an elaborate full-page initial B and the letters EATUS - VIA PECCATORUM in gold capitals on blue (and white) ground
(3v) The letter B is filled with conventional foliage and convoluted stems, in the curves of which are many small white animals. The ground of this is gold. In the stem of the B is a medallion with gold ground containing a crowned bust of David. Outside the letter the ground is blue
(3v) The frame is of gold and red (dotted with white): at the angles are four medallions and in the middle of the sides four half-medallions, all with gold ground. Those at the angles have: top L., bust of white-bearded man: lower L., bust of beardless man; upper and lower R., busts of kings. Those in the sides have: upper and lower C., busts of angels: L. side small man in red and blue: R., small man in red with shield
(3v) The work is bold and rich but not very delicate
(4r) Text begins imperfectly in Ps. ii. 2
Incipit
(4r) Asstiterunt reges terrae
Note
There is a marginal gloss in a very beautiful small hand. The references to the text are made (on ff. 4r, 5r) by Greek letters. It begins
Incipit
(4r) Reges autem terre herodem dicit qui infantes occidit. alterumque herodem nepotem eius qui pilato in nece christi consensit
Note
At the end of each Psalm is a Collect, that for Ps. ii is
Incipit
(4v) Disrumpe domine nostrorum uincula peccatorum
Note
The initials of Psalms and verses are usually in fluid gold throughout the book. On f. 7r are two initials filled with blue. On f. 1r the initial is handsome, in fluid gold edged with red, blue ground: the letter surrounded by gold foliage. On ff. 1v, 2v late pen-flourishing has been added to the initials
After f. 25v a leaf is gone with end of Ps. xxv and beginning of xxvi. The latter had a large initial occupying most of the page: the set-off is visible on f. 26r
After f. 39v a leaf is gone with the beginning of Ps. xxxviii. The set-off of the full-page initial is well seen on f. 39v
On f. 51r are two small decorative initials.After f. 51v a leaf is gone with most of Ps. li: little of the set-off can be seen.The first words of Ps. lii are in gold capitals
After f. 65v a leaf is gone with the beginning of Ps. lxviii. The set-off of the initial is very visible on f. 65v
After f. 81v a leaf is gone with part of Ps. lxxx. The set-off of the initial is very visible on f. 82r
On f. 98r is the only large initial which has survived; to Ps. xcvii. It is of gold edged with red, with panels of patterned blue, filled with green and with gold interlacings: outside is gold foliage in two colours of gold
After f. 100v two leaves gone with part of Ps. ci. Set-off of initial on f. 101r
After f. 114v a leaf gone with Ps. cix and part of cx
On 142r two small decorative initials
Ps. cl ends on f. 150r. The Collect is
Incipit
(150r) Armoniae nostrae suauissime melos
Note
Gloss ends
Explicit
(150r) in spiritu qui spiritus est laudare non desinit
Note
(150r) In gold capitals at the foot of the page is
(150r) Achadeus misericordia dei comes. hunc psalterium scribere iussit
f. 150v blank
(151r) Then follows the Litany on four leaves in a smaller script than before but very probably by the same scribe. The text is arranged in double columns and in arched or pedimented frames like those in which, in early gospel books, the Canons of the Gospels are written. In this MS. the shafts are purple or green, marbled, and have plants twined spirally about them. The plinth on which they stand is yellow with red patterns, and the lintel above in one case of purple and elsewhere of yellow and red. The tympana above this are filled with conventional foliage in gold and colour, and above the arches or gables are birds pecking at leaves
The text is
Rubric
(151r) Incipit letania
Note
(151r) Kyrieleison. Ter, Xpe eleison. ter, Kyrieleison. ter. Xpe audi nos. ter. Sancta Maria. or
(151r) (so far in gold capitals)
(151r) Michahel, Gabrihel, Raphahel. S. chorus archangelorum (red)
(151r) Petre, Paule, Andrea, Iacobe, Iohannes, Philippe, Iacobe, Toma, Bartholomee, Mathee, Simon, Tadee, Mathia. S. chorus apost. (red)
(151r) Stephane, Iohannes, Marce, Luca, Line, Clete, Clemens, Cleopha
(151v) Barnaba, Ignatii, Apollonaris, Chrisogone, Alaexander, Dionisi, Rustice, Eleutheri, Maurici, Corneli, Cypriane, Georgi, Cristophore, Iuliane, Leudegari, Sixte, Laurenti, Ypolite, Uincenti, Uictor, Candide, Quintine, Luciane, Crispine, Crispiniane, Cosma, Damiane, Uictorice, Tiburti, Ualeriane, Pancrati, Geruasi
(152r) Protasi, Celse, Sebastiane, Marce, Marcelliane, Fabiane, Urbane, Simphoriane, Saturnine, Nicasi, Timothee, Apollonaris, Rufine, Firmine, Ualeri
(152r) SCE REMIGI (gold capitals). Hilari, Benedicte, Germane, Romane, Siluester, Ambrosi, Gregorii, Hieronime, Augustine, Eusebi, Isidore, Martine, Leo, Sulpici, Aniane, Amande
(152v) SCE COLUMBANE (gold capitals, red dots) Brici, Goar, Medarde, Maximine, Candide, Antoni, Machari, Teuderice, Teudulfe, Memmi, Lupe, Arnulfe, Nivarde, Sixte, Sinici, Basole, Uedaste, Onesime, Sindulfe, Filiberte, Audoine, Siluine, Carlepphe, Richari, Pacomi, Fortunate, Troiane, Marcelline, Arseni, Celsine. Sce abunde (gold letters)
(153r) Felicitas, Perpetua, Sincletica, Agatha, Lucia, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, Genufefa, Scolastica, Eulalia, Eugenia, Eufemia, Petronilla, Cristina, Columba, Iuliana, Afra, Lucina, Beatrix, Tecla, Teodosia, Susanna, Sabina, Magra, Prisca, Saturnina, Cilinia, Eutropia, Eufrosina, Praxedis, Margarita
(153v) Potentiana, Balbina, Radegundis, Monegundis. S. chorus uirginum
(153v) Omnes sancti orate pro nobis
(153v) Propitius esto, etc...
(153v) Ut pacem uobis dones...
(154r) Ut Marinum apostolicum in sancta religione conseruare digneris
(154r) Ut Karlomannum regem perpetua prosperitate conseruare digneris
(154r) Ut (blank) reginam conseruare digneris
(154r) Ut Folconem episcopum cum omni grege sibi commisso, etc.
No specially monastic suffrages occur
Ends
Explicit
(154r) XPE AUDI NOS. TER. KYRIELEISON. XPELEISON. KYRIELEISON
Note
(154r) All in gold capitals
f. 154v blank
In a script of the former size
(155r) Ps. cli, beginning imperfectly
Incipit
(155r) Pascebam oves patris mei
Explicit
(155r) a filiis israel. Deo gratias
Rubric
(155r) Incipiunt Cantici
(155r) Canticum Isaie prophete ad matutinas feria II
Note
(155v) Canticum Ezechiae
The rubric here is
Rubric
(155v) OSCRIPTOREZACHARIE Probably a mistake for scriptura regis ezechie and not containing the name of the scribe
(156v) Canticum Annae
(157r) Canticum Moysi prophete
(158v) Canticum Abbacuc prophete
(159v) Canticum Deuteronomii
(162v) Hymnum trium puerorum
Note
(163r) (small decorative initial)
Rubric
(163v) Hymnum Zacharie
(164r) Canticum Sanctae Mariae
(164v) Canticum Simeon
(164v) Hymnum die dominico ad matutinas
Incipit
(164v) Te Deum
Rubric
(165v) Hymnum angelicum
Incipit
(165v) Gloria in excelsis
Rubric
(166r) Incipit fides catholica
Incipit
(166r) Quicumque
Rubric
(167v) Oratio Dominica
Incipit
(168r) Incipit symbolum
Note
(168r) (In margin the Aue in a hand of cent. xiv)
Rubric
(168r) Incipit Oratio Sancti Benedicti
Incipit
(168v) Dominator domine deus omnipotens qui es trinitas una
Note
(P. L. CI 1400)
Explicit
(170r) ut faciam uoluntatem tuam quia tu es deus meus tibi honor et gloria In saecula saeculorum. Amen
Rubric
(170r) Orationes ad uesperas seu ad matutinas et ad tertiam et ad nonam seu ad sextam
Incipit
(170r) Et ne nos inducas
Rubric
(170r) Orationes ad secundam
Explicit
(171v) Domine deus uirtutum conuerte nos
Rubric
(171v) Orationes maiores ad matutinas uel ad uesperas
Incipit
(171v) Oremus pro omni gradu ecclesiae
Note
(171v) Includes: Pro abbate nostro
Rubric
(172r) Orationes ad completa
Incipit
(172r) Domine exaudi, etc.
Note
On f. 173r near the end: Exaudi deus Karlomanno regi uita
Rubric
(173r) Incipit Responsoria per totum annum in diuino officio canenda. Isti responsi sunt canendi ab aduentu domini usque in uigilio domini. Capitulum
Incipit
(173r) Ecce dies ueniunt dicit dominus et suscitabo
Note
Neumes occur on f. 174v
The Responses for the Temporal end f. 176v. Then follow responses for S. Michael and for Common of Saints, ending f. 178r
Rubric
(178r) Orationes ad secundam
(178r) Orationes ad tertiam
(178r) Orationes ad sextam
(178v) Orationes ad nonam
(178v) Orationes ad vesperas
(178v) Orationes pro semetipso
Incipit
(178v) Domine deus meus qui non habes dominum
Rubric
(179r) Qualiter orat. pro uiuo aguntur
(179r) Qualiter orat. pro una femina
(179r) Qualiter pro pluribus uiuis
(179v) Qualiter pro uno defuncto
(179v) Incipiunt orationes
Incipit
(179v) Domine deus omnipotens qui in trinitate perfecta
Note
Six prayers
Rubric
(180r) Oratio Sancti Gregorii
Incipit
(180r) Rex seculorum et domine dominator
Rubric
(180v) Oratio Sancti Hieronimi
Incipit
(180v) Domine Iesu Christe dona mihi ut ambulem secundum mandata
Rubric
(180v) Alia
Incipit
(180v) Domine Iesu Christe noli me confundere
Rubric
(180v) Oratio Sancti Agustini Episcopi
Incipit
(180v) Miserere domine super animas quas creasti
Rubric
(181r) Dicit S. Gregorius Episcopus cognoscatis quicunque hanc orationem omni die cantauerit sic dicit ipse Sanctus Gregorius quod nec malus homo nec diabolus nocere non potest ipsi homini nec animae nec corpori
Incipit
(181v) Domine exaudi orationem meam quia iam cognosco quod tempus meum prope est
Rubric
(182v) Confessio
Incipit
(183r) Confiteor domino et tibi frater
Note
(183r) In another hand, not much later
Rubric
(183r) Collecta in Exaudi domine iustitiam meam
Incipit
(183r) Conuerte domine oculos
Rubric
(183r) Collecta in Nisi dominus aedificauerit
Incipit
(183r) Domorum spiritalium
Note
The above were omitted in the text
(183r) Prayer in the same hand
Incipit
(183r) Clementissime deus qui me inutilem famulum tuum
Explicit
(183v) adiuuante atque trahente qui
Note
(ir) The first two flyleaves (ff. ir-iiv) are from a roll or book of Christ Church, Canterbury, records of courts (xiv or xv)
Incipit
(iv) Acta in ecclesia Christi cant.
Note
(year not given)
Many Kentish place-names occur
(iiir) On the last flyleaf (f. iiir) are many unimportant scribbles
TJames 211
Stanley O. 5
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/gv751fq0828
Location MS 272
Repository UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Access conditions

Use and reproduction
Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC).

Collection

Parker Manuscripts

Loading usage metrics...