Manuscript leaf from a French Bible, in Latin, produced in Northern France

Text: From a French Bible, in Latin

Script: Praegothica

The leaf is from a northern French Bible, possibly a Paris Bible, and shows part of the Book of Psalms from the end of Psalm 23 to the beginning of Psalm 30.

The text is in double columns of forty-five lines, written in brown ink in a small, early, gothic bookhand.

Psalm 26 starts with a fine seven-line initial ‘D’ containing a portrait of King David. The round part of the ‘D’ is being bitten by a serpent with a lion’s head. The ‘D’ is painted in blue, a reddish brown, grey and black and adorned with burnished gold. . There are four two-line initials, all in blue or red with intricate penwork. Several capital letters are touched in red. Corrections to the text are written in the margins. Rubrics are in red.

Apart from special psalms each psalm is commenced with a two-line capital, painted alternately in either red or blue, with elaborate pen drawn extensions for the length of the psalm. Within each psalm each verse commences alternatively with either a blue or red capital letter.

In the non-monastic medieval liturgy, all one hundred and fifty Psalms were to be recited each week, most of them at Matins and Vespers. The cycle began with Psalm 1 at Sunday Matins. Psalm 26 was the first to be recited on Monday, Psalm 38 on Tuesday, and so on. It is because the leaf includes the beginning of the third cycle of Psalm recitation that a decorative initial appears where Psalm 26 is included.

Christopher de Hamel has written a good account of thirteenth-century bibles.

In the transliteration Chapter and Verse are shown in square brackets.

Reference:

Christopher de Hamel, The Book. A History of The Bible, Phaidon, London, 2001.

Transcription

Recto column 1

1 [23:10] . . dominus virtutu(m) ip(s)e est rex glorie [24:1] In(itium) s(anct)i

2 A D te domine levavi anima(m) [line filler] p(salmu)s .

3 meam : [24:2] d(eu)s meus in te (con)fido no(n) e- d(avi)d

4 rubescam . [24:3] N eq(ue) irrideant me i(n)imici me-

5 i (et) enim univ(er)si qui sustine(n)t te no(n) (con)fun-

6 dentur [24:4] C o(n)fundantur o(mne)s iniq(ua) age(n)tes :

7 sup(er)vacue . V ias tuas d(omi)ne demo(n)stra m(ihi) :

8 (et) semitas tuas edoce me . [24:5] D irige me in

9 v(er)itate tua (et) doce me : q(uoniam) tu es d(eu)s salva-

10 tor meus (et) te sustinui tota die . [24:6] R emi-

11 nisc(er)e mis(er)at(i)onu(m) tuar(um) domine : (et) mi(sericordi)ar(um)

12 tuar(um) q(uia) a s(e)c(u)lo su(n)t . [24:7] D elicta iuve(n)tutis me-

13 e : (et) ignorantias meas ne m(em)in(er)is S e-

14 cund(um) mi(sericordi)am tua(m) meme(n)to mei tu p(ro)p(ter)

15 bonitate(m) tua(m) d(omi)ne . [24:8] D ulcis (et) rectus d(omi)n(u)s :

16 p(ro)pt(er) h(oc) lege(m) dab(it) delinq(uen)tib(us) in via [24:9] D iri-

17 get mansuetos in iudicio . docebit mite(s)

18 vias suas . [24:10] V niv(er)se vie domini mi(sericordi)a (et) v(er)-

[i.e. U niverse

19 itas requirentib(us) testame(n)tum eius (et) te(s)-

20 timonia ei(us) . [24:11] P ropt(er) nome(n) tuu(m) domi-

21 ne p(ro)pitiab(er)is : p(e)cc(at)o meo m(u)ltum e(st) eni(m)

22 [24:12] Q uis est homo qui timet d(omi)n(u)m : legem

23 statuit ei in via q(uam) elegit . [24:13] A nima ei(us)

24 in bonis demorabi(tur) (et) : seme(n) eius here-

25 ditabit t(er)ram [24:14] F irmamentu(m) est d(omi)n(u)s ti-

26 mentib(us) eum : et testame(n)tu(m) ip(s)i(us) ut m(a)-

27 nifestetur ill(is) [24:15] O culi mei semp(er) ad d(omi)n(u)m

28 q(uonia)m ip(s)e evell(et) de laq(ue)o pedes meos [24:16] R es-

29 pice in me (et) miserere mei : q(uia) unicus

30 (et) paup(er) su(m) ego [24:17] T ribulationes cordis

31 mei multiplicate su(n)t : de necessitatib(us)

32 meis erue me . [24:18] V ide humilitate(m) me-

33 am (et) labore(m) meu(m) : (et) dimitte univ(er)sa

34 delicta mea . [24:19] R espice i(n)imicos meos

35 q(uonia)m multiplicati sunt : (et) odio iniquo

36 oder(un)t me . [24:20] C ustodi a(n)i(m)am mea(m) (et) erue

37 me : no(n) erubescam q(uonia)m sp(er)avi i(n) te . [24:21] I n-

38 noce(n)tes (et) recti adheser(un)t m(ihi) : q(uia) susti-

39 nui te . [24:22] L ib(er)a deus isr(ahe)l : ex om(n)ib(us) t(ri)bu-

40 lationib(us) suis . [25:1] Psalmus david .-:-

41 I udica me domine q(uonia)m ego in innoce(n)tia

42 mea ingress(us) su(m) : (et) in domino sp(er)ans

43 n(on) infirmabor . [25:2] P roba me d(omi)ne (et) te(m)pta

44 me : ure renes meos (et) cor meu(m) . [25:3] Q (uonia)m

45 mi(sericordi)a tua an(te) oculos meos es(t) (et) co(n)placui i(n)

Recto column 2

1 v(er)itate tua [25:4] N on sedi cum (con)silio vanit(a)-

2 tis (et) cum i(n)iqua gerentib(us) no(n) introibo .

3 [25:5] O divi eccl(es)iam maligna(n)tiu(m) : (et) cu(m) impii(s)

4 no(n) sedebo [25:6] L avabo int(er) innocentes man(us)

5 meas : (et) circumdabo altare tuum d(omi)ne .

6 [25:7] U t audiam voce(m) laudis : (et) enarre(m) uni- [‘Ut’ not ‘Et’

7 v(er)sa mirabilia tua [25:8] D omine dilexi de-

8 core(m) dom(us) tue : (et) locu(m) h(ab)itationis glorie

9 tue . [25:9] N e p(er)das cu(m) impiis d(eu)s anima(m) mea(m)

10 (et) cu(m) viris sanguinu(m) vita(m) mea(m) . [25:10] I n

11 quor(um) manib(us) iniquitates sunt : dex-

12 t(er)a eor(um) repleta est mun(er)ib(us) . [25:11] E go aute(m)

13 in in(n)ocentia mea i(n)gress(us) sum : redime

14 me (et) miserere mei [25:12] P es meus stetit

15 i(n) directo : in eccl(es)iis benedicam te d(omi)ne .

16 [26:1] In fine psalma d(avi)d p(ri)usqua(m) liniretur .

17 D Ominus illuminat(i)o

18 mea : et salus mea que(m)

19 timebo . D omin(us) p(ro)tec-

20 tor vite mee : a quo tre-

21 pidabo . [26:2] D u(m) appropia(n)t

22 sup(er) me nocentes : ut e-

23 dant carnes meas Q ui

24 t(ri)bulant me inimici mei : ip(s)i [i(n)]firma- [inserted ‘i(n)’

25 ti sunt (et) cecid(er)unt . [26:3] S i consistant ad-

26 v(er)sum me cast(ra) : no(n) timebit cor meu(m)

27 S i ex(s)urgat adv(er)sum me p(roe)liu(m) : i(n) hoc

28 ego sp(er)abo . [26:4] V nam petii a domino ha(n)c

[i.e. U nam

29 requiram : ut inh(ab)item i(n) domo domini

30 om(n)ib(us) dieb(us) vite mee V t videa(m) volu(n)- [i.e. U t

31 tate(m) domini : et (visitem) templu(m) eius . [visitem ?

32 [26:5] Q uoniam abscondit me in tab(er)naculo

33 suo : in die malor(um) p(ro)tex(it) me i(n) absco(n)di-

34 to tab(er)naculi sui . [26:6] I n petra exaltavit

35 me (et) nunc exaltavit cap(ut)) meu(m) sup(er) i(n)i-

36 micos meos C ircuivi (et) immolavi :

37 in tab(er)naculo eius hostiam vocifera-

38 t(i)onis cantabo (et) psalmu(m) dica(m) d(omi)no [26:7] E x-

39 audi domine vocem meam q(ua) clama-

40 vi ad te : miserere mei (et) exaudi me .

41 [26:8] T ibi dix(it) cor meum exquisivite : fa-

42 cies mea facie(m) tuam domine req(ui)ra)(m) .

43 [26:9] N e av(er)tas facie(m) tuam a me : ne decli-

44 nes in ira a servo tuo A diutor meus

45 esto d(omi)ne ne d(er)elinquas me : n(eque) despici- [ domine?

Verso column 1

1 as me d(eu)s salutatis meus [26:10] Q (uonia)m pat(er) m(eu)s

2 (et) mat(er) mea dereliquer(un)t me : d(omi)n(u)s aute(m)

3 assumpsit me . [26:11] L ege(m) pone m(ihi) d(omi)ne i(n)

4 via tua (et) dirige me i(n) semita recta p(ro)p(ter)

5 i(n)imicos meos . [26:12] N e t(ra)did(er)is me in a(n)i(m)as tri-

6 bula(n)tiu(m) me : q(uonia)m insurrex(er)unt i(n) me te(s)-

7 tes iniqui : (et) me(n)tita e(st) iniq(ui)tas s(ibi) . [26:13] C re-

8 do vid(er)e bona domini : i(n) t(er)ra vive(n)tiu(m) . [26:14] E x-

9 pecta dominu(m) virili(ter) age : et conforte-

10 tur cor tuu(m) (et) sustine d(omi)n(u)m . [27:1] P(salmu)s huic d(avi)d

11 A D te d(omi)ne clamabo d(eu)s meus ne si-

12 leas a me : nequ(ando) taceas a me (et)

13 assimilabor desce(n)dent(i)b(us) in lacu(m) . [27:2] E x-

14 audi [domine] voce(m) dep(re)cationis mee :

15 du(m) oro ad te dum extollo manus me-

16 as ad templu(m) s(an)c(tu)m tuu(m) . [27:3] N e simul t(ra)das

17 me cum pecc(at)orib(us) (et) cum op(er)antib(us) i(n)iq(ui)-

18 tatem ne p(er)das me . Q ui loquu(n)tur pace(m)

19 cum p(ro)ximo suo : mala aute(m) i(n) cordib(us)

20 eor(um) . [27:4] D a ill(is) s(e)c(un)d(um) op(er)a eor(um) (et)

s(e)c(un)d(um) nequiti-

21 am adi(n)ventionu(m) ip(s)or(um) S ecu(n)d(um) op(er)a

22 manuu(m) eor(um) t(ri)bue ill(is) redde retribut(i)o-

23 ne(m) eor(um) ip(s)is [27:5] Q (uonia)m n(on) intellex(er)unt op(er)a

24 domini (et) in op(er)a manuu(m) eius destrues

25 illos (et) no(n) edificabis eos . [27:6] B ened(i)c(tu)s d(omi)n(u)s :

26 q(uonia)m exaudivit voce(m) dep(re)cationis mee .

27 [27:7] D (omi)n(u)s adiutor meus : (et) [protector meus] in ip(s)o sp(er)avit cor [deleted text

28 meu(m) (et) adiutus su(m) . E t refloruit caro

29 mea (et) ex voluntate mea co(n)fitebor ei

30 [27:8] D (omi)n(u)s fortitudo plebis sue (et) p(ro)tector sal-

31 vationu(m) (christi) sui e(st) . [27:9] S alvu(m) fac p(o)p(u)l(u)m tuu(m)

32 domine (et) b(e)n(e)dic hereditati tue (et) rege

33 eos (et) extolle illos . usq(ue) i(n) et(er)nu(m) . [28:1] p(salmu)s d(avi)d i(n) (con)su(m)-

34 A fferte domino filii dei mat(i)o(n)e tab(er)n(a)-

35 afferte d(omi)no filios arietu(m) [28:2] A fferte c(u)li

36 d(omi)no gloriam (et) honore(m) afferte d(omi)no glo-

37 riam no(min)i ei(us) adorate dominu(m) i(n) atrio

38 s(anc)to ei(us) . [28:3] V ox d(omi)ni sup(er) aq(ua)s d(eu)s maiestati(s)

39 i(n)tonuit : d(omi)n(u)s s(upe)r aquas multas .[28:4] V ox

40 d(omi)ni in virtute : vox d(omi)ni i(n) magnifice(n)tia .

41 [28:5] V ox domini confringentis cedros : et

42 (con)fringet d(omi)n(u)s cedros libani . [28:6] E t (com)minu-

43 et eos tanq(uam) vitulu(m) libani : (et) dilectus [it should be ‘eas’

44 qu(em)admod(um) filius unicorniu(m) [28:7] V ox d(omi)ni i(n)t(er)-

45 cidentis flamma(m) ignis . [28:8] vox d(omi)ni (con)cu-

Verso column 2

1 tientis desertu(m) : (et) (com)moveb(it) d(omi)n(u)s desert(um)

2 cades . [28:9] V ox domini p(re)parantis cervos

3 (et) revelabit (con)de(n)sa (et) in templo eius

4 o(mne)s dice[n]t gloriam . [28:10] D omin(us) dilu-

5 viu(m) i(n)h(ab)itare facit : (et) sedebit d(omi)n(u)s rex

6 i(n) et(er)nu(m) [28:11] D omin(us) virtute(m) p(o)p(u)lo suo da-

7 bit : d(omi)n(u)s b(e)n(e)dicet p(o)p(u)lo suo in pace .

8 [29:1] p(salmu)s ca(n)tici in dedicatione domus david .

9 [29:2] E xaltabo te d(omi)ne q(uonia)m suscepisti

10 me : nec delectasti i(n)imicos me-

11 os s(upe)r me [29:3] D (omi)ne d(eu)s m(eu)s clamavi ad te :

12 (et) sanasti me . [29:4] D (omi)ne eduxisti ab i(n)fer-

13 no animam mea(m) salvasti me a

14 descendentib(us) i(n) lac(um) . [29:5] P sallite d(omi)no s(anc)ti

15 eius (et) (con)fitemini memorie s(anc)titatis

16 eius .[29:6] Q (uonia)m ira i(n) indignat(i)o(n)e eius (et) vita

17 i(n) voluntate ei(us) . A d vesp(er)um demo-

18 rab(itu)r fletus : (et) ad matutinu(m) leticia .

19 [29:7] E go aute(m) dixi i(n) habundantia mea .

20 no(n) movebor i(n) et(er)num . [29:8] D (omi)ne in volu(n)-

21 tate tua p(re)stitisti : decori meo virtute(m)

22 A v(er)tisti facie(m) tua(m) a me : (et) f(ac)t(u)s sum co(n)-

23 turbatus . [29:9] A d te d(omi)ne clamabo (et) ad

24 d(eu)m meum dep(re)cabor [29:10] Q ue utilitas

25 i(n) sang(ui)ne meo : dum desce(n)do i(n) corrup-

26 tionem . N umquid (con)fiteb(itu)r t(ibi) pul-

27 vis aut annu(n)tiabit v(er)itate(m) tuam .

28 [29:11] A udivit d(omi)n(u)s (et) mis(er)tus e(st) mei . d(omi)n(u)s

29 f(ac)t(u)s e(st) adiutor meus . [29:12] C o(n)vertisti pla(n)c-

30 tu(m) meu(m) i(n) gaudiu(m) m(ihi) (con)cidisti saccu(m)

31 meu(m) (et) circu(m)dedisti me letitia . [29:13] V t ca(n)-

[i.e. U t

32 tet t(ibi) gl(ori)a mea (et) n(on) (con)pu(n)gar : d(omi)ne

33 d(eu)s m(eu)s in et(er)nu(m) (con)fitebor t(ibi) [30:1] In fi(nem)

p(salmu)s . d(avi)d

34 [30:2] I N te d(omi)ne sp(er)avi no(n) (con)fu(n)dar p(ro) extasi

35 i(n) et(er)nu(m) : in iustitia tua lib(er)a me . [30:3] I n-

36 clina ad me aure(m) tua(m) : accelera ut e-

37 ruas me . E sto m(ihi) in deu(m) p(ro)tectore(m) (et)

38 i(n) domu(m) refugii ut salvum me faci-

39 as . [30:4] Q (uonia)m fortitudo mea (et) refugiu(m)

40 meu(m) es tu (et) p(ro)p(ter) nom(en) [tuu(m)] (d)educes me (et)

[missed word ‘tuum’ is written in the margin

41 enut(ri)es me . [30:5] E duces me de laq(ue)o q(uem) [‘hoc’ missed out

42 absco(n)der(un)t m(ihi) : q(uonia)m tu es p(ro)tector m(eu)s .

43 [30:6] I n man(us) tuas (com)me(n)d(ab)o sp(iritu)m meu(m) re-

44 demisti me d(omi)ne d(eu)s v(er)itatis . [30:7] O disti

45 observantes vanitates : sup(er)vacue .

Notes:

A Letters: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u/v,x.

Capitals: D,N,O.

B Versals: A,B,C,D,E,F,I,L,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U/V.

C Alternative forms of letters ‘i’(2), ‘r’(2) and ‘s’(3).

Note the use of a trailing ‘s’, e.g. in ‘deus’ (recto 1, line 3).

D Fusion between letters ‘bo’, ‘de’, ‘do’, ‘ho’, ‘oc’, ‘oe’, ‘og’, ‘os’,

‘pe’, ‘po’ and ‘pp’, and possibly others.

E Ligature between letters ‘st’, e.g. in ‘est’ (recto 1, line 1).

F Regular use of the uncrossed Tironian ‘et’ (e.g. recto 1, line 8).

G Abbreviation of ‘quoniam’ (recto 1, line 9).

H Abbreviation of ‘seculo’ (recto 1, line 12).

I Abbreviation of ‘propter’ in (recto 1, lines 14 and 16).

J Abbreviation of ‘misericordia’ (recto 1, line 18).

K Abbreviation of ‘quia’ (recto 1, line 29).

L Abbreviation of ‘animam’ (recto 1, line 36).

M Abbreviation of ‘michi’ (recto 1, line 38).

N Abbreviation of ‘sibi’ (verso 1, line 7).

O Abbreviation of ‘terra’ (verso 1, line 8).

P Abbreviation of ‘nequando’ (verso 1, line 12).

Q Abbreviation of ‘sanctum’ (verso 1, line 16).

R Abbreviation of ‘secundum’ (verso 1, line 20).

S Abbreviation of ‘christi’ (verso 1, line 31).

T Abbreviation of ‘populum’ (verso 1, line 31).

U Abbreviation of ‘presbyteri’ (verso 1, line 22).

V Abbreviation of ‘sancto’ (verso 1, line 38).

W Abbreviation of ‘super’ (verso 1, line 39).

X Abbreviation of ‘preparentis’ (verso 2, line 2).

Y Abbreviation of ‘factus’ (verso 2, line 22).

Z Abbreviation of ‘tibi’ (verso 2, line 32).