Manuscript, on parchment, in a single hand, containing the text of William of Nassington's poem. The Speculum vitae is followed by several other devotional texts in prose and verse, including Walter Hilton's prose commentary on Qui habitat and Bonum est; and poems on Purgatory, the evils of covetousness, a prayer to Jesus, and two dialogues, one between Christ and Man, and the second between Christ and a sinner
Description:
In Middle English, with rubrics in Latin., Ownership inscription for the Francisan convent at Lichfield?, dated 1486., Layout: double columns of 50-58 lines., Script: English bookhand., Decoration: initials in red and blue penwork., and Binding: original wooden boards, rebacked.
Subject (Geographic):
England., Connecticut, and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
William, of Nassington, -1354. and Franciscans
Subject (Topic):
Devotional literature, English (Middle), English literature, English poetry, English prose literature, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Purgatory
Manuscript on paper, in a cursive hand, of thirty-three prayers for the relief of the souls in Purgatory. The prayers open with "We salute thee o most sweet Lord Jesus," and focus particularly on redemption through the events of the Passion and Resurrection. The final prayer asks Him "mercifully to forgive us all our omissions of intention in these prayers and let them not be through our coldness less meritorious to these poor souls.", Pages 54-[55] contain a devotional practice "For y.e Holy Conversation," directing daily recital of the Litanies of Loreto, weekly Mass on Tuesday, "a pair of Beads" on "y.e first Tuesday of y.e month," and receiving Communion three times a year, "upon y.e Feast of the Circumcision, of y.e purification, and of St. Joseph." Dated "12 Jan 1675/6.", and This text is almost identical to that of Three and thirty most godly and deuout prayers and salutations...for faithfull soules departed [St. Omer, 1620-40?]. Also includes a translation of Psalm 50 (51), the Miserere, which combines phrasing from the Douai version and the revised version which appeared in The Primer, or Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in English... (St. Omer, 1673).
Description:
Binding: Contemporary English calf, spine gilt., Corrections include careful renumbering of all prayers past Prayer 5 on pasted-in small slips., For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator., Separate title page with decorated print capitals., and Spine title: "33 prayers for the souls in purgatory" (paper label).
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church--Customs and practices, Catholic Church--England, Catholic Church--Prayers and devotions, and Jesus Christ--Passion--Prayer-books and devotions
Subject (Topic):
Catholics--England, Devotional exercises--Catholic Church, Devotional literature, English, Miserere, Prayers for the dead, and Purgatory
