Manuscript, on parchment, in a single hand, incomplete, containing the text of a prose allegorical pilgrimage of the soul. The narrator's soul is led by Dame Inspiration to the Fountain of Penitence (Fontaine de penitence); after being washed there, the soul continues her journey toward the Promised Land (Terre de promission) on the Ship of Penitence (Navire de penitence).
Description:
In Middle French., Laid in: autograph letter,signed, from the Liverpool bookseller Jaggard to Allan Heywood Bright, 1896 April 27, concerning the unknown early provenance of the manuscript. With autograph and typed notes by Allan Heywood Bright, 1898 and undated., Title from ownership inscription by Remy Megret (f80r)., Opening sentence: Les continuelles meditationes de la volubilite et soudaine mutation des creatures raisonnables., Layout: single columns of 19 lines., Script: gothic bastarda., and Decoration: 13 large full-color miniatures in architectural frames illustrating various events in the allegorical pilgrimage of the author's soul, guided by Dame Inspiration. The opening miniature is full-page and depicts the author asleep beneath a tree hung with her coat of arms. Other subjects include: the soul, accompanied by Dame Inspiration, begins her pilgrimage to the Fontaine de Penitence f.9; Inspiration explains to the soul what needs to be done in order to reach the Fontaine de Penitence f.11, the soul, carried on the back of Inspiration, flies to the Château de Contention diabolique f.17, Inspiration and the soul meet Raison f.20; the soul enters the Chemin de Crainte de Dieu f.35; souls are cleansed in the Fontaine de Penitence f.47; the soul sets off on her journey to the Terre de Promission f.50v; the company journey to the coast where they find boats awaiting them f.53; the company embark f.58; the company sets off on the Navire de Penitence f.61; the company is attacked by seven other boats f.63; the company is swept up by the Vent de Hypocrisie f.69v.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Amboise, Catherine d', 1481?-1550. and Megret, Remy.
Subject (Topic):
Allegories, Devotional literature, French, French prose literature, Illumination of books and manuscripts, French, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Renaissance, Manuscripts, Medieval, Repentance, Soul, Women, Conduct of life, and Women authors, French
Manuscript bifolium, in a single hand, containing text from chapters 34, 35, and 39 of this prose romance
Description:
In Middle French., Layout: double columns of 52 lines., Script: gothic script., and Decoration: Rubricated. Three-line initials in gold against blue and rose grounds.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Arthurian romances, French prose literature, and Manuscripts, Medieval
