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Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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Almanac and calendar, with thunder prognostications
England, 1433
MS M.941 fol. 1v

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Folio divided into two sections. The first section is divided into two registers each composed of a row of portrait busts of saints, with names inscribed above them, with corresponding lettered calendar (?) below:
1) Structure (building ?)and cactus-shaped object, inscribed OIMILEOR (sic), with lines to letters "D" and "E". Monk, nimbed, tonsured, beside object, inscribed AIARS (sic), with line to letter "B". Leonard of Limoges, nimbed, wearing bishop's miter, holding axe, inscribed LEONARDI, with line to letter "G". Nimbed bishop, holding crozier, illegible inscription, with line to letter "B". Edmund of Canterbury, nimbed, wearing bishop's miter, holding object (now partially lost where folio is split), inscribed EDMUNDI, with line to letter "E". Saint Clement, nimbed, crowned, holding dart (?), inscribed CLEMET, with line to letter "B". Unidentified saint, nimbed, wearing triple crown (?), holding object, illegible inscription, with line to letter "E". Apostle Andrew, nimbed, crowned, flanked by sword (?) and saltire cross, inscribed ANDREE, with lines to letters "G" and "E".
In row of letters is fish with mouth to letter "D" at far right.
2) Barbara of Nicomedia, nimbed, veiled, beside tiny dragon, inscribed BARBRA, with line to letter "B". Nicholas of Myra, nimbed, wearing bishop's miter, beside nude youth in barrel, inscribed NICHOLAI, with line to letter "D". Saint Mary, nimbed, crowned, holding scepter, inscribed MARIA, with line to letter "F". Fish, with line to letter "D"; beside the line is written LUCIE. Saint Thomas, nimbed, tonsured, holding spear, inscribed THOME, with line to letter "E". Christ Child, nimbed, swaddled, laying in basket beneath star, inscribed NATIVTA (sic), with line to letter "B". Stephen Protomartyr, nimbed, bleeding from head, beside pile of stones, with name inscribed STEPHI, with line to letter "C". Cup with dragon, with line to letter "D". Evangelist John, nimbed, tonsured, bleeding from wounds on body, with sword through his breast, inscribed JOHANNIS, with line to letter "E". Thomas ³l Becket, nimbed, bleeding, with sword in his head, inscribed THOME, with line to letter "F". Innocent I, with triple crown tiara, inscribed INNOCET, with faint line to letter "A".
In row of letters are fish, with mouth to letter "E"; unidentified object adjacent to letters "EFG"; fish with mouth to letter "A"; figure (?); and swaddled infant at letter "A".
The second section has seven registers perpendicular to those above, labeled a-g:
a) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; building (?) with domes (?); stacked barrels; unidentified wavy shapes; three bundles of grain; two hooded soldiers with axes and shields inscribed with crosses; ox, laying down; two figures beneath blanket (?); castle with three towers; crowned king; Cardinal, wearing hat; crowned king; stacked barrels; and unidentified objects.
b) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; man, laying down, with rain (?) falling from above; unidentified wavy shapes; stacked barrels; unidentified object; crowned figure, wrapped in shroud inscribed with cross; unidentified object; two swaddled infants; two spears held in hands of unseen figures; two darts; sword; fire; three barrels.
c) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; building (?) with domes (?); three bundles of grain; darts entering mouth of lamb, laying down; unidentified wavy shapes; two ships; five figures, including king, and two wearing stepped hats; ship; barrels.
d) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; unidentifed wavy shapes; castle with three towers; hills under rainy skies (?); woman, with hair in snood, laying beneath covers with breasts bared; seven men, including king, man with sword, two tonsured priests, and soldier with axe; ship; barrel.
e) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; bloody axe on cutting board; building (?) with domes (?); unidentified wavy shapes; three barrels; dart entering mouth of lamb; tripartite globe; star; cross; two kings flanking Cardinal; stacked barrels; three bundles of grain; hills under rainy skies.
f) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; building (?) with domes (?); stacked barrels; unidentified wavy shapes; six eyes (?); three bundles of grain; hills under rainy skies; two men with axes in ships; four darts; castle with three towers; two figures beneath blanket (?).
g) Hooded figure; crowned king; field of grain (?); footed bowl containing food (?); fruit trees; hills under rainy skies; man laying down; unidentified wavy shapes; barrels; three standing bundles of grain; fire (?); three bundles of grain; ship; four figures, including three kings; barrel; bishop, wearing miter; figure laying down.



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