Photographs and descriptions of literary leaves
from the Lorraine Lemire Medieval Manuscript Collection now on permanent display in
the Alison
Eliason Library.
You may view these items by appointment at the Library.
These leaves are not
for sale.
1250 English Breviary** Leaves,
in Latin on Vellum, Use of Sarum***.
There are thirty-five lines of double column text in microscopic
minuscule Gothic script. These are extremely rare leaves due to King Henry VIII
of England
destroying many Catholic Books, particularly in the south and west of England.
150 x 100 mm
**Roman
Catholic Church: a book containing all the daily psalms, hymns,
prayers,
lessons, etc., necessary for reciting the office; a book of daily prayers
and readings in some other churches.
[Middle English breviarie, from Old French breviaire, from
Medieval Latin breviārium,
from Latin, summary, from brevis, short
***The Sarum Use was the local use of the Roman rite associated with the
diocese
of Salisbury, England. It is also called the Use of Salisbury or, less
correctly, as the Sarum Rite.
In 1066, the Normans invaded England. There were some abortive attempts at
changing
entirely to the related uses of northern France. However, monasteries
particularly in the
western parts of the island (especially Sherbourne Abbey and Glastonbury Abbey)
proved intransigent.
The Norman bishop of Sarum, Osmaund, arranged the services for his new cathedral
according
to the practices that he saw around him—both Norman and Saxon/Celtic.
The Sarum rite as known was probably arranged by Richard La Poore, who moved
the See from
Old Sarum to New Sarum (Salisbury) in the 13th c. From this period, the Sarum
enjoyed
the sterling reputation as being the best liturgy anywhere in the West, and thus
had influence on the
liturgy of other local churches in the Isles and the Continent.
The Sarum Breviary, like the
Sarum Missal, is essentially
Roman.
By 1219, the limitations of space on the hilltop site (pictured above)
had become cause for concern,
with the cathedral and castle in close proximity and their respective chiefs in
regular conflict.
When Bishop Poore's men were held out of the hill-fort by the King's men,
Poore formally requested the cathedral's relocation.
Henry II of England held his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, prisoner at Old Sarum.
The site of a new cathedral (above) was consecrated later that year, and in
1220 the bishop
started construction on the banks of the Avon . A new settlement grew up around
it,
called New Sarum— eventually known as Salisbury. By 1217, the inhabitants of Old
Sarum
had removed their residence, and constructed their new habitations with
the materials they razed from their old. As one city increased in population and
extent,
so the other almost as rapidly decayed.
Contact: Marc Belair, 360-738-4919
marcjamesllc@comcast.net
 | This leaf has four two-line initials "D", "G", "C" and "H", all in blue inc, each with a exceptional dragons in red pen work.* |
 |
Verso of above leaf with two two-line initials "U" and "E", all in blue ink, each with a lovely dragon in red pen work.* |
 | This leaf has four two-line initials "D", "Q", "P" and "D", all in blue inc, each with a lovely dragon in red pen work.* |
 |
Verso of above leaf with two two-line initials "S" and "E", all in blue ink, each with a lovely dragon in red pen work.* |
 | This leaf has four two-line initials "A", "T" and "D", all in blue inc, each with a exceptional dragons in red pen work.* |
 | Verso of above leaf with two two-line initials "A", "E" and "C", all in blue ink, each with a lovely dragon in red pen work.* |
* Provenance: Anthony L. Griffon Ph.D. Collection, Griffon's Medieval Manuscripts.
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