Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts in Special Collections & Archives

Five vellum sheets, 28x20 cm, containing 700 lines of verse in Old French. The first sheet contains lines 1998-2132 of the Maugis d'Aigremont, part of the Fils d'Aymon/Renaut de Montauban cycle; the remaining sheets contain lines from unidentified chansons de geste, a genre of medieval French literature. The name is Old French, translating to “song of heroic deeds.” Renaud de Montauban, also known as The Four Sons of Aymon, was one of the longest and most popular chanson de geste. It tells the story of the four sons of Duke Aymon and their adventures, including a magician cousin, a magical horse, and conflicts with King Charlemagne. These manuscript fragments were found in March 1938 in the bindings of incunables, where the sheets had been used as endpapers. Some pages are faded or glue-stained and one page is torn, affecting some lines of text. The text is in alexandrines throughout and appears in two columns, 35 lines to the column, on both the recto and verso of each sheet. The text is decorated with red and blue initials and rubrication. Bequest of Charles H. Livingston, 1965.

Music and Latin text on vellum. Attributed to French or Italian use. 199 ff, 52 cm. An apparent compilation, including antiphonary--one of three liturgical books that are used for the Divine Office, or series of prayers said throughout the day, in the Catholic faith--and other liturgical music. Like most antiphonary, the Lewis one is large in order to allow a whole choir to read it. It contains full pages of music in six four-line staves and includes historiated initials, illuminated miniatures, rubrications, and various manuscript hands employing uncial style lettering, chiefly 14th century or later. Bound in early full leather boards, with metal bosses. An accompanying 20th-century binder contains typescript provenance information along with a transcription and an English translation of the text. Given in memory of Weston Lewis (Bowd. 1872) and his son, Henry Lewis (Bowd. 1905) by Weston Lewis II (Bowd. 1936) and William B. Lewis.

Vellum, ca. 1330, 44 ff., 18x13 cm., 18 lines, in verse. Five large decorated initials in colors on a gilt ground, and small decorated initials in gilt on a colored ground. Manuscript codex of poems written in Paris, approximately 1330, probably commissioned from the libraire Thomas de Maubeuge on the rue Neuve Notre Dame. Contains: Tournois des dames (incomplete) -- Dis del aignel et du lyon -- Dis de la riviere qui ist hors de son chanel -- Dis du preu chevalier -- Dit des VII vertus -- Dit de la nois. Incomplete at beginning and end. Ruled in lead point, top and bottom two full across, pricking visible. Bequest of Charles H. Livingston, 1965.