Item Summary

A compilation of English devotional treatises in prose and verse, beginning with the Ten Commandments.

Descriptive Information

Title
Decem precepta euangel[iorum] ... [etc.]
Call Number
Garrett MS. 143
Identifier
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dck3569k05x
Publisher
[England], [between 1400 and 1425].
Language
Middle English
Date Created
1400-1425
Format
Manuscript
Extent
51 leaves : parchment ; 140 x 96 (86 x 60) mm bound to 147 x 108 mm.
Provenance
Early provenance unknown. Marginal notes in a 17th century court hand refer to Walter Baynton, Esq. and to the Dean and Chapter of Wells Cathedral, Somerset County. Later owned by Sir Henry Hope Edwardes (1829-1900), 10th baronet of Shrewsbury. Sold at his sale at Christie's, London in 1901 and acquired by Bernard Quaritch who sold it to Robert Garrett (1875-1961), of Baltimore, Maryland, Class of 1897, on 20 September 1902. His gift to the Princeton University Library in 1942.
Source Acquisition
Gift; of Robert Garrett, Princeton Class of 1897, 1942.
References
Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, pages 332-334.
Ricci, S. de. Census of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the United States and Canada, volume, page 894,
Rights Statement
Copyright Not Evaluated
Contents
1. fol. 1r-21v: Decem precepta euangel[iorum].
2. fol. 21v-26v: Septem mortalia peccata.
3. fol. 26v-29v: Þe fyve bodili wittus.
4. fol. 29v-34r: Þe ten commandementis and telliþ hoo brekeþ hem
5. fol. 34r-35r: Þe seuen werkes of merci
6. fol. 35r-35v: Þe seuen werkes of gostli merci
7. fol. 36r-36v: How a man schulde haue in his hert fyue þynges þat desiryiþ to loue god
8. fol. 36v-38r: What is þe kynde of a man in bodi and in soule
9. fol. 38v-44v: Seint gregories trentel
10. fol. 44v-46v: Þe songe of saing þe best
11. fol. 47r-49r: Þe songe of þonkyng god of al
12. fol. 49r-51v: Þe songe of amendis makinge
Notes
Incipit: [Decem precepta] "Siten it is as crist seit in te gospel tat every man or woman tat wol entre into te kyndom of heuene most kepe te comaundementis of god ..." -- [Septem mortalia] "(!) incipiunt septem mortalia peccata. Siten men be bisie ny3t and day to kepe from here bodli enemyes ..." -- [Þe fyve bodili] "Hit is knowen of bileue tat oure good god hat geuen man fyue wittus with which a man schuld gouerne and lede his lijf ..." -- [Þe ten commandementis] "... and tellit hoo breket hem. The first commandement of god is tis tou schalt worschip no fals godes." -- [Þe seuen werkes of merci] "These ben te seuen werkes of bodli merci tat men schulden do to criste in his membris ..." -- [Þe seuen werkes of gostli merci] "The seuen dedis of gostili merci tat ben better tan te first stonden in tese seuen wordes." -- [How a man] "Hit bi houet specialli to eueri man tat desirit to love oure lord ihesu crist inwardli in herte have fyue tingis ..." -- [What is þe kynde] "Thow schalt vnderstonde tat a man is of two kyndis oon bodili anoter goostli ..." -- [Seint gregories] " I ffynde wreten a good storie te pope of , rome it wrot seynt gregorie ..." -- [Þe songe of saing] "The grete god so ful of grace , of whom al godnes growe ganne ..." -- [Þe songe of þonkyng] "Bi a way wandrynge as I went , Wel sore I si3ed for sorowe sad ..." -- [Þe songe of amendis] "Be a wild wodis side , as I walked my selue alone ..."
Explicit: [Decem precepta] "To te whiche blisse he breng’ vs tat bou3t vs with his preciouse blode merciful god. Amen.” -- [Septem mortalia] "... to te whiche every man is bonden after his power and connynge."-- [Þe fyve bodili] ".. tat tou causte for to gete ter with ti sustanaunce with trewet." -- [Þe ten commandementis] "And tese tre synnes enwrappit alle oter tat eny man doit." -- [Þe seuen werkes of merci] "... and tan tou schalt haue mede of god in heuen. Amen." -- [Þe seuen werkes of gostli merci] "... and herefor euery cristen man is holden to tese seuene." -- [How a man] "... with te floke of te dampnyd felaschip tan hit is nedful to knowe tisilf." -- [What is þe kynde] "... tan doth he contrarie to his kynde and vnablith hym silf to his owynne heritage." -- [Seint gregories] "Pray we alle tat hit so be , Amen. Amen purcharite. Amen." -- [Þe songe of saing] "... ffor godis loue so ful of grace , Alway fond to say te best." -- [Þe songe of þonkyng] "... tus iche man in his degre , I rede he tonke euer god of alle." -- [Þe songe of amendis] "In heuene a si3t of 3ou to se , And here to amendis make. Amen."
Ms. composite codex.
Title from incipit of first work (fol. 1r).
Collation: Parchment ; fol. iii (modern parchment) + 51 + iii (modern parchment) ; quires signed ; catchwords ; modern foliation in pencil.
Layout: 19-20 long lines per page ; ruled.
Decoration: Blue 2- to 3-line initials with red flourishes at the beginnings of texts and sometimes sections within texts.
Origin: Produced in England in the first quarter of the 15th century.
Binding Note
Later binding. England, 19th century by Francis Bedford. Full-bound in brown morocco over pasteboards. Gilt title on spine and gold-tooled turn-ins.

Discovery Information

Subject
Devotional literature, Latin (Medieval and modern)
Spirituality—Catholic Church—Early works to 1800
Manuscripts, English (Middle)—New Jersey—Princeton

Physical Characteristics

File Count
118

Institutional Information

Collection
Medieval and Renaissance Mediterranean Manuscripts
IIIF Manifest URL

https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/40f687d4-ba91-42b9-a240-5e702880bb56/manifest