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Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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Almanac and calendar, with thunder prognostications
England, 1433
MS M.941 fol. 3r

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Folio divided into six sections. Top section has illustration of thunder prognostication, with representation of thunderstorm at top, enclosed in decorated frame, with accompanying caption at right:
1) December -- Beside field of grain are two men, both wearing hats, standing together.
Next four sections have small illustrations, possibly of historical events, with short inscriptions. Each section has four compartments in two or three registers:
2) On left: Cross-surmounted tripartite globe with inscription ABOREGUIEM (sic). Bust of Adam, wearing pointed cap, inscribed ADAM.
On right: Busts of two soldiers, both wearing suits and hoods of mail and holding axes, inscribed ...EBUGTHE (sic). Plants, inscribed CERDUN (sic).
3) On left: Bust of Eve, veiled, inscribed TEUE. Badly faded image, possibly of animal (?) head, inscribed ADAM.
On right: Bust of man, wearing ermine-collar, holding lighted candle (?). No inscription.
4) On left: Ship, inscribed NOTHE (sic). Infant Christ Child (?), nimbed, possibly swaddled, in basket or cradle (crib), inscribed NATIUITY... (sic)
On right: Object and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?); sickle (?) and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?); man, wearing crown (?), and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?); man, wearing crown (?), and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?); man, wearing crown (?), and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?); Crucifixion (?), and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff (?).
5) On left: Bust of Augustine of Canterbury, nimbed, wearing bishop's miter, holding aspergil or lighted torch, inscribed AUGUSTUN. Bust of Thomas ³l Becket, nimbed, wearing bishop's miter, holding raised sword, inscribed THOME.
On right: Saltire cross and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff; Ascension -- Feet and lower hem of Christ's garment, and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff; object, possibly building, and line-drawing of bannered cross-staff; church with tower at crossing, and bannered cross-staff; figure, possibly nimbed, and bannered cross-staff; Lamb of God, nimbed, laying before cross, and bannered cross-staff.
The last section is apparently blank and has been partially cut away at lower left.



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