Manuscript on sheepskin of Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Distinctiones, with alphabetical index
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by several similar hands in small, highly abbreviated Northern Gothica Textualis Libraria (Semitextualis)., Decoration: initials in red and blue, some with ornamentations and extensions in red and blue tracery. Guide letters in the margins., and Binding: 19th century English blue leather with artificial cross grain over pasteboard. Gold-tooled inscriptions in the compartments of the spine. The damaged state of the final leaf of the manuscript shows that the original binding probably was chained at a staple fixed to the lower edge of the rear board.
Manuscript on parchment of Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Distinctiones, an alphabetical repertory in aid of preachers
Description:
In Latin., Script: Probably copied by a single hand writing a highly abbreviated small Gothica Semitextualis Libraria., Red headings. Alternately red and blue paragraph marks. Alternately red and blue flourished initials with marginal extensions, 2- or 3-line, sometimes 4-line; the larger initials are found at the beginning of each letter of the alphabet. Line-fillers (in black ink) in the first quire only., A large section of f. 157 is torn off, causing the loss of an important part of the text in both outer columns. Holes and parchment repairs before writing, e.g. ff. 22, 118., and Binding: Early. Undecorated brown calf over heavy rounded wooden boards (rebacked), sewn on five split leather thongs. Marks of four clasps attached to the front board. Front pastedown and flyleaf from a document on parchment, 1300-1350, written in Gothica Cursiva and dealing with sales of land (?), mentioning other documents dated 1245 and 1314 and the names of many persons. Rear flyleaf and pastedown are leaves of an alphabetical index to a moralistic treatise, written on parchment in Gothica Cursiva Libraria, 14th century. It contains part of the letter C, the full letter D and parts of the letters M and N and for each lemma refers to one or more numbers followed by one or more letters. Each new letter opens with a black plain initial.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Nicolas, de Byard.
Subject (Topic):
Alphabet books, Catholic preaching, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Nicolaus de Byard, Tractatus de vitiis et virtutibus
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by one hand in rounded Gothica Semitextualis Libraria with southern features, except ff. 154v-158v16, which are copied in an angular and bold Gothica Textualis Libraria., Red headings and paragraph marks. Red stroking of majuscules., and Binding: S. XIX (?) plain parchment binding over cardboard. On the flat spine the handwritten erroneous title “JOHANNES / DE / TURRECREMATA / FLOS THEOLOGIE”.
Manuscript on parchment containing 1) Nicolaus de Byard (ca. 1250), Tractatus de vitiis et virtutibus, often improperly titled Summa de abstinentia (themes treated in alphabetical order). 2) Readings for the liturgical year, referring to the chapters of Tractatus de vitiis et virtutibus, arranged as follows: the Vespers on Saturdays; Temporale and the feast of the Dedication of the church; Sanctorale ("De sanctis"), at the same time Common of the Saints
Description:
In Latin., Script: probably copied by one hand, writing a small, rapid Gothica Textualis/Semitextualis Libraria with numerous abbreviations., Headings and underlining in red. Alternately red and blue paragraph marks. Alternately red and blue 2-line half inset flourished initials, respectively with penwork at the opening of the chapters, with guide letters. 6-line littera duplex with penwork in the same colours on f. 1v., and Binding: spine with four raised bands. On the spine and partly on the covers, an 18th century paper title label with handwritten inscription "Ancien / Manuscrit / sur / Velin / Complet / et ********" (cfr. MSS 940 and 941).
