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Data Source: Parker on the Web

• Résumé : 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.

  
  

  Contenu :

  
  

  Langue(s) des textes : latin

  
  

  1r-183v - The Psalter of Count Achadeus

  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

  rubric : (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

  Note : (3v) This leaf has an elaborate full-page initial B and the letters EATUS - VIA PECCATORUM in gold capitals on blue (and white) ground

  Note : (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

  Note : (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

  Note : (3v) The work is bold and rich but not very delicate

  Note : (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

  Note : 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

  Note : 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

  Note : 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

  Note : 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

  Note : After f. 81v a leaf is gone with part of Ps. lxxx. The set-off of the initial is very visible on f. 82r

  Note : 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

  Note : After f. 100v two leaves gone with part of Ps. ci. Set-off of initial on f. 101r

  Note : After f. 114v a leaf gone with Ps. cix and part of cx

  Note : On 142r two small decorative initials

  Note : 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

  Note : (150r) Achadeus misericordia dei comes. hunc psalterium scribere iussit

  Note : f. 150v blank

  Note : (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

  Note : The text is

  rubric : (151r) Incipit letania

  Note : (151r) Kyrieleison. Ter, Xpe eleison. ter, Kyrieleison. ter. Xpe audi nos. ter. Sancta Maria. or

  Note : (151r) (so far in gold capitals)

  Note : (151r) Michahel, Gabrihel, Raphahel. S. chorus archangelorum (red)

  Note : (151r) Petre, Paule, Andrea, Iacobe, Iohannes, Philippe, Iacobe, Toma, Bartholomee, Mathee, Simon, Tadee, Mathia. S. chorus apost. (red)

  Note : (151r) Stephane, Iohannes, Marce, Luca, Line, Clete, Clemens, Cleopha

  Note : (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

  Note : (152r) Protasi, Celse, Sebastiane, Marce, Marcelliane, Fabiane, Urbane, Simphoriane, Saturnine, Nicasi, Timothee, Apollonaris, Rufine, Firmine, Ualeri

  Note : (152r) SCE REMIGI (gold capitals). Hilari, Benedicte, Germane, Romane, Siluester, Ambrosi, Gregorii, Hieronime, Augustine, Eusebi, Isidore, Martine, Leo, Sulpici, Aniane, Amande

  Note : (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)

  Note : (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

  Note : (153v) Potentiana, Balbina, Radegundis, Monegundis. S. chorus uirginum

  Note : (153v) Omnes sancti orate pro nobis

  Note : (153v) Propitius esto, etc...

  Note : (153v) Ut pacem uobis dones...

  Note : (154r) Ut Marinum apostolicum in sancta religione conseruare digneris

  Note : (154r) Ut Karlomannum regem perpetua prosperitate conseruare digneris

  Note : (154r) Ut (blank) reginam conseruare digneris

  Note : (154r) Ut Folconem episcopum cum omni grege sibi commisso, etc.

  Note : No specially monastic suffrages occur

  Note : Ends

  explicit : (154r) XPE AUDI NOS. TER. KYRIELEISON. XPELEISON. KYRIELEISON

  Note : (154r) All in gold capitals

  Note : f. 154v blank

  Note : In a script of the former size

  Note : (155r) Ps. cli, beginning imperfectly

  incipit : (155r) Pascebam oves patris mei

  explicit : (155r) a filiis israel. Deo gratias

  rubric : (155r) Incipiunt Cantici

  rubric : (155r) Canticum Isaie prophete ad matutinas feria II

  Note : (155v) Canticum Ezechiae

  Note : The rubric here is

  rubric : (155v) OSCRIPTOREZACHARIE Probably a mistake for scriptura regis ezechie and not containing the name of the scribe

  rubric : (156v) Canticum Annae

  rubric : (157r) Canticum Moysi prophete

  rubric : (158v) Canticum Abbacuc prophete

  rubric : (159v) Canticum Deuteronomii

  rubric : (162v) Hymnum trium puerorum

  Note : (163r) (small decorative initial)

  rubric : (163v) Hymnum Zacharie

  rubric : (164r) Canticum Sanctae Mariae

  rubric : (164v) Canticum Simeon

  rubric : (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

  Note : 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

  rubric : (178r) Orationes ad tertiam

  rubric : (178r) Orationes ad sextam

  rubric : (178v) Orationes ad nonam

  rubric : (178v) Orationes ad vesperas

  rubric : (178v) Orationes pro semetipso

  incipit : (178v) Domine deus meus qui non habes dominum

  rubric : (179r) Qualiter orat. pro uiuo aguntur

  rubric : (179r) Qualiter orat. pro una femina

  rubric : (179r) Qualiter pro pluribus uiuis

  rubric : (179v) Qualiter pro uno defuncto

  rubric : (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

  Note : (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)

  Note : Many Kentish place-names occur

  Note : (iiir) On the last flyleaf (f. iiir) are many unimportant scribbles