If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I have often published in the past images of medieval animals and creatures – cats, dogs and snails – all from the British Library’s illuminated manuscripts. Today, it’s the turn of the Macclesfield Psalter to yield up its secret feline friends who appear in its folios.
The first two images below are most certainly magnificent micing medieval cats. But the last two? Are they cats… Or are they bears?
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 79v
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 106r
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 14v
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 182v.
He seems to be a cat with a beautiful winged hybrid creature in his mouth.
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It’s not often I start a blog with warning from a Shakespearean soothsayer, but today I shall because today is the Ides of March – the 15th day of March. The day on which, in 44BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by his Roman senators. Apparently 60 senators took part in Caesar’s mass stabbing and over 20 wounds were inflicted on him.
Below are medieval images of Caesar’s murder. I find it very interesting that in them, Caesar and his senators are depicted as Northern Renaissance wealthy merchants with their rich and ornate clothing, rather than toga and sandal-clad classical Romans. Could Medieval sensibilities not cope with classical clothes?
Beware the Ides of March!
Caesar being murdered from Bellum Gallicum (Les commentaires de Cesar), (France, N. (Lille) and Netherlands, S. (Bruges?), 1473-1476), shelfmark Royal 16 G VIII f.331v
Murder of Caesar from Les anciennes hystoires rommaines, (Paris, France, Last quarter of the 14th century), shelfmark Royal 16 G VIII f.389
Murder of Caesar from La grant hystoire Cesar, (Netherlands, S. (Bruges), 1479) shelfmark Royal 17 F II f.344
Murder of Caesar from La grant hystoire Cesar, (Netherlands, S. (Bruges), 1479) shelfmark Royal 18 E V f.355v
I can’t resist quoting that immortal line spoken by the late great Kenneth Williams during the film ‘Carry on Cleo’…
Can you believe that it’s finally March? The days for us in Britain are getting longer and the snow has hopefully gone once and for all. Is Spring just peaking around that elusive corner?
To celebrate, here is the calender page for March from the Macclesfield Psalter.
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Richard ye was sonne to Richard Duwke of yorke & brother un to kyng Edward ye iiijth Was kyng after hys brother & raynyd ij yeres & lyth buryed at leator [Leicester]
So the council car park in Leicester has yielded up its secret. The body discovered by archaeologists in September 2012 is that of King Richard III. The analysis by today’s live conference at the University of Leicester was remarkable – there can be absolutely no doubt that they have got their man. Science, genealogy and history all brought together with DNA analysis, wound analysis, genealogical and historical analysis to prove this.
The discovery is one of the most exciting historical events to happen in living memory. Not because the discovery adds more to our historical understanding of Richard III: it doesn’t. Or because it informs us of something that we didn’t already know: it doesn’t. The discovery of his body merely confirms what we already knew: that Richard died a brutal death on the battlefield of Bosworth, and in death was not treated with dignity.
But more staggeringly, his re-interment in Leicester Cathedral will be a never to be repeated link from our modern-day present to our past: the burial of a king of England. King Richard III – the last of the Plantagenets, the last truly medieval king, the last king of England to die in battle. Or the child-murderer hunchbacked bogeyman of Shakespeare and English history?
With all that will be written and said about Richard III in the coming days and weeks, let us return to contemporary documents written during Richard’s life – along with snippets written afterwards by his nemeses, the Tudors.
Signature of Richard, Duke of Gloucester – future King Richard III
King Richard III
Royal arms of England supported by boars and surmounted by a crown from De re militari (the Book of Vegecye of Dedes of Knyghthode), (London, England, c1483-c1485), shelfmark Royal 18 A XII f.1
Royal arms Anne Neville (wife of Richard III) from De re militari (the Book of Vegecye of Dedes of Knyghthode), (London, England, c1483-c1485), shelfmark Royal 18 A XII f.49
The Genealogy of Richard III The image at the start of this post is a small portion of The Biblical and genealogical chronicle from Adam and Eve to Edward VI, a remarkable document now in the care of the British Library. The chronicle is thought to have been written and illustrated circa 1511 (i.e. shortly after Henry VIII succeeded his father to the throne of England) with additions added by another hand after Edward VI’s death in 1553. The book stayed in the possession of the kings and queens of England until it was given to the British Museum by King George IV in 1823. Below is the full image of the kings – a stupendous display of Tudor propaganda proving that they were the rightful monarchs of England. The genealogy of the kings of England, including Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry VII from Biblical and genealogical chronicle from Adam and Eve to Edward VI (England, S. E. (London or Westminster), c. 1511 with additions before 1553) shelfmark King’s 395 ff.32v-33
Lady Margaret Beaufort’s Book of Hours Margaret Beaufort (born 1443, died 1509) was the mother of Henry VII. Below is an image of the entry for August from her Book of Hours. This Book was made between 1430 and 1443 and owned firstly by Margaret’s mother, Margaret Beauchamp (born 1405/6, died 1482), and then by Margaret. Margaret appeared to use her Book of Hours as a calendar to record significant events in the lives of her son and grandchildren. Thus, she used August to record her son’s landing at Milford Haven and the death of Richard III (we do not know if this is her hand or if a scribe wrote the entries for her).
‘August’ from The Beaufort/Beauchamp Hours (England, S. E. (London), c. 1430, before 1443) shelfmark Royal 2 A XVIII f. 31v.
The first left margin note in black reads
The day landed king harry the vijth at milford have[n] the yere of o[u]r lord vijth cccc lxxxv [1485]
The second left margin note reads
The day king harri the vijth won[n] the feeld [field] wher was slayn ki[n]g Richard the third Ao Do[m] 1485
Postscript Has the revival of interest in Richard III already started? At a Christie’s auction of Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts held on 13 June 2012, a rare manuscript with Richard’s signature fetched £109,250 against an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000. Two manuscripts signed by his usurper Henry VII, fetched £7,500 and £8,750; whilst one signed by Henry VIII only managed £20,000.
Henry VII may have won the battle and the crown but Richard III will be the king that will experience a renaissance with the next generation of modern-day historians.
Tuck’s postcard Richard III from Kings and Queens circa 1902
Richard Plantagenet – Duke of Gloucester, Knight of the Garter, Lord High Constable of England, Lord High Admiral, Governor of the North of England, Chief Justice of North Wales, Chief Steward and Chamberlain of Wales, Commander in Chief, Lord Warden of the West Marches, Lord Protector of England,. King of England, France and Lord of Ireland
What do you think about the search and discovery of Richard III? Please do leave your thoughts in the Comments box below.
On the first day of each month, to each person you greet, it is traditional to give a (small!) pinch and punch whilst you recite the above ditty. At the end, you must say ‘and no returns’ or ‘white rabbits’ to stop your poor victim from assailing you in return. At my school, it was tradition to return the compliment by saying – with the appropriate (gentle) actions: ‘Here’s a kick for being so quick’.
Instead of such extreme actions, how about you calm any such thoughts down by viewing the medieval calendar for February from the Macclesfield Psalter?
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History is full of coincidences and ironies. The date of 28th January is one such coincidence – 28 January 1457 and 28 January 1547 – two dates 90 years apart. The former the date of birth of the first Tudor despot, the later the date of his son’s death, the most tyrannical Tudor monarch of all.
Calendar page for January with additions from three different handwritting: 1. the obit of Catherine de Valois and the date of marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York (black ink); 2. the date of birth of Henry VII (in Latin – faded brown ink); and 3. the obit of Henry VIII (brown ink at bottom of folio), from Book of Hours (The ‘Beaufort/Beauchamp Hours’), Use of Sarum, (England (London), after 1401, before 1415) shelfmark Royal 2 A XVIII f.28 January
Below are close-ups of the entries for the birth of Henry VII and the death of Henry VIII.
Natale d[omi]ni Henrici filij Emundi comitis Richemondie ac d[omi]ne M[ar]rgarete vxoris sui filie Joh[ann]is nup[er] duc[?is] Somersete anno d[omi]ni millio cccc quinquagesimo sexto. Born Henry son of the Earl of Richmond and Margaret his wife daughter of John, Duke of Somerset 1456. (Latin text kindly transcribed by Rob Ellis of Medieval London)
The xxviijth [28th] daie of January deceassd the noble prynce Henry the eight the yere of owr lorde 1546.
Although Henry VII’s date of birth was 1457, and Henry VIII’s date of death 1547, the years above of 1456 and 1546 are correct because these are contemporary entries written at times when the old Julian Calendar was still in use in England. Until 1752, the 1st January was not the start of the New Year, but instead the change to a new year started on Lady Day (25th March). Thus English documents written prior to 1752 will have any dates between 1st January and 24th March written in the Old Style. Modern historians either have to adjust these dates to the New Style or ‘double date’ the entry to show both old and new date (e.g. the above dates would be dated ‘1456/7’ and ‘1546/7’).
Henry VII from Guild Book of the Barber Surgeons of York
(England, N. (York?), 2nd half of the 16th century)
shelfmark Egerton 2572 f.7.
Henry VIII from Guild Book of the Barber Surgeons of York
(England, N. (York?), 2nd half of the 16th century)
shelfmark Egerton 2572 f.8.
Henry VII giving the manuscript to the monks of Westminster
from Indenture for Henry VII’s Chapel (England, S. E. (London), 1504)
shelfmark Harley 1498 f.98.
Henry VIII praying in his bedchamber
from The Psalter of Henry VIII (England, S. E. (London), c1540-1541)
shelfmark Royal 2 A XVI f.3.
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Last year, I posted my first article on Medieval and early Tudor trade: a series of posts which uses images to illustrate the trades that were predominant and powerful in medieval England. Today’s post continues that theme – although some of the images have very loose connections to the trade which they are illustrating – but I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures anyway!
A sinful hermit sitting outside a tavern drinking ale; the alewife approaches him with a flagon from The Smithfield Decretals (France, Last quarter of the 13th century or 1st quarter of the 14th century) shelfmark Royal 10 E IV f. 114v.
Broderers (embroiders)
Plaque on the wall of Gutter Lane, London, EC2 – the original site of Broders Hall which was destroyed in 1940 during The Blitz. The Worshipful Company of Broderers are now located in East Moseley and are strongly associated with The Royal School of Needlework who are based at Hampton Court.
Butchers
Smithfield Meat Market – London’s traditional livestock market for 900 years. ‘Smithfield, or “Smoothfield”, a plain, grassy space just outside the City Walls, was well known in the Middle Ages for its horse Market. In 1173 William FitzStephen, clerk to Thomas Becket, describes the area as “a smoth field where every Friday there is a celebrated rendevous of fine horses to be sold.” There was also trading in sheep, pigs and cattle. In 1305 oxen were being sold for 5s 6d each. In 1400 the City of London was granted the tolls from the market by charter. Bartholomew Fair was held here from 1123 until its suppression for rowdiness and debauchery in 1855.’ (Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, ed, The London Encyclopaedia, (London, 1983) p.789.)
This blog
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Sometimes when I look through facsimile folios of the Macclesfield Psalter, I feel as though I’m playing a weird medieval game of ‘Where’s Wally?’. There is so much to discover and so many creatures hiding on each folio! At first glance, today’s image from the psalter is seemingly very plain (or plain by the standards of other folios within the psalter). But look closer….
On this folio, see if you can discover
– a beautiful song-bird
– the heads of red devils
– a two-legged creature with the body of a bird but the head of floppy-eared dog
– two strange creatures with long snake-like necks and sharp claws
– the head of a bearded man growing in a flower
Click on the image to open a new window where you can use your browser’s zoom to see the illustration in its full glory (300-400% works best for me).
If you do spot Wally, please do let me know where he is!
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On New Year’s Day 2013, I shared with you that I’d been given permission by Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum to reproduce images from the exquisite medieval illuminated manuscript, The Macclesfield Psalter on my blog.
Over the Christmas break, I poured over facsimile images of the psalter from the Fitzwilliam’s cd/pdf, trying to decide which folios and images to share with you. As far as I’m aware, the illustrations on the psalter have not been indexed. So as well as marvelling over each image, I also had to painstaking go through the psalter folio by folio writing up descriptions of each image. I felt like a child running around a shop full of the shiniest and sparkliest sweeties with them all shouting ‘pick me, pick me’! There are so many images – animals, men, women – along with strange hybrid grotesque creatures and bizarre Monty Python-sque scenes.
I couldn’t resist showing you the image below. A giant skate (beautifully drawn) attacks a scared man whilst a rat-like creature but with a beak and webbed duck-like feet looks on with menacing glee. Note also the crowned man in a circle above the skate attack – who is he? Click on the image to open a new window where you can use your browser’s zoom to see the illustration in its full glory (300-400% works best for me).
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I am delighted to be able to share with you that the Keeper of Manuscripts and Printed Books at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, has given me permission to publish images of the Macclesfield Psalter on this blog.
The modern day story of this beautiful medieval illuminated manuscript is just as remarkable as the manuscript itself. Unknown and undiscovered, the book lay for centuries on the shelves of the library at Shirburn Castle, the seat of the Earl of Macclesfield. It was only discovered when the Earl’s library was dispersed and auctioned in 2004. The resulting Sotheby’s auction of the library saw the psalter being sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum in America. Correctly understanding that this was a work of great British national importance, the British Government’s Arts Minister placed a temporary export bar on it until early 2005 so to give British organisations the chance to buy it – with the recommendation that it should by kept by public institution within Britain. The Fitzwilliam Museum (part of Cambridge University) recognised both the national importance of the psalter and the East Anglian connection. A public campaign was started, and, in the Fitzwilliams’ own words:
‘This was a campaign in which no contribution was too small. The support of the public was truly astounding and cannot be measured in figures. If listed in full, the names of donors would fill up a book larger than the Macclesfield Psalter.’
Fortunately, the public campaign was successful – the Macclesfield Psalter arrived in the Fitzwilliam Museum in February 2005 – where it still remains. I am one of those fortunate enough to have seen it in ‘real life’ – although admittedly only under the glass case of its display cabinet. The story of the Macclesfield Psalter and its patron, provenance, and East Anglian context is divulged here.
Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to showing you folios from this wonderful Psalter and exploring together the exquisite images of a lost age. Today, New Year’s Day, we start with the medieval calendar for January – containing the lists of the important feasts for Christ, the Virgin Mary and that’s month’s saints. Click on the image to open a new window where you can use your browser’s zoom to see the illustration in its full glory (400% works best for me).
If you want to read more about The Macclesfield Psalter from my blog, please do subscribe either by using the ‘Subscribe via Email’ button top right of my blog, or the button at the very bottom. If you’ve enjoyed reading this post, then please do ‘Like’ it with the Facebook button below.
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The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 79v
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 106r
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 14v
The Macclesfield Psalter – folio 182v.
Tuck’s postcard Richard III from Kings and Queens circa 1902
Natale d[omi]ni Henrici filij Emundi comitis Richemondie ac d[omi]ne M[ar]rgarete vxoris sui filie Joh[ann]is nup[er] duc[?is] Somersete anno d[omi]ni millio cccc quinquagesimo sexto. Born Henry son of the Earl of Richmond and Margaret his wife daughter of John, Duke of Somerset 1456. (Latin text kindly transcribed by Rob Ellis of 
The xxviijth [28th] daie of January deceassd the noble prynce Henry the eight the yere of owr lorde 1546.
Plaque on the wall of Gutter Lane, London, EC2 – the original site of Broders Hall which was destroyed in 1940 during The Blitz. The Worshipful Company of Broderers are now located in East Moseley and are strongly associated with 
