Three leaves, foliated 289, 294 and 300, from a dismembered Latin Bible of Parisian workmanship, possibly from the Carthusian monastery of Val-de-Benediction in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, France. The leaves contain the texts of Jeremiah 50.3 to 51.18, Baruch 2.11 to 4.25 and Ezekiel 12.7 to 14.21. The fragments are dated to c1250, and there are marginal and interlineal notes in 13th or 14th century hands. With this manuscript are photocopies of two leaves from the same manuscript, from the collection of Dr B. Barker Benfield, sold at Sotheby's on 14 Dec 1978.

Fragment of a large leaf, probably taken from a French missal, containing part of Psalm 131, v9-12, on the recto and Psalm 131, v18, and Psalm 132, v1-2 on the verso. Between Psalms 131 and 132, there is a line of square notation on a stave of four lines ruled in red, for the words 'Et om...'. On the verso, there are two 3 line decorated initials, both of the letter E. The fragment dates from around the 16th century.Inscribed in a 19th century hand 'Lyon, cut out of a folio Missal, said to have been part of plunder of the King's Library at Paris, in 1793'.

Manuscript volume of sermons, compiled in 1670, with later additions. The last five pages contain lists of theological works, one page being headed 'Catalogus Librorum 1670'. The third page of the manuscript, dated 20 Mar 1692, records the loan of two books, with a note that 'These are return'd'.

Two fragments of a medieval Dutch manuscript, subsequently used to re-inforce a binding, and containing part of a treatise on the Mass. The manuscript dates from the 14th century and is written in Flemish.

600 holograph sermons, 1805-1847, bound in 21 volumes, preached mainly at the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, by George Clark.

Manuscript volume lettered 'Memoire de Finance' containing two works written in the same hand, probably mid 17th century, and attributed by an inscription on the fly-leaf to Charles de Marillac, Archbishop of Vienne (c 1510-1560) and his nephew, Michel de Marillac (1563-1632). The first section of the volume comprises three Gallican tracts, namely 'De patrimonio ecclesie', in Latin and French (latest date mentioned is 1646), arguing that secular patronage was the source of ecclesiastical wealth; 'Cura et authoritas in his quae pertinent ad fidem', defending control of the church by the Chritian prince, with much reference to the early church; and 'La Jurisdiction en generale est un pouvoir et autorite publique', arguing that independent ecclesiastical jurisdiction was confined to spiritual matters, citing papal and royal legislation up to 1639.
The second part of the manuscript contains a treatise entitled 'Du Conseil du Roy', in French and dated to [1611], being a discussion of the personnel, functions and rules of the King's Council (begins on folio 110 + 2, latest date 1629).
The attribution to the Marillacs is made in a later hand than that of the main text.

Two consecutive vellum leaves from a Book of Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Roman use, containing part of the office of Lauds. Perhaps written in France in the 15th century.

Bound volume containing laid down and loose letters, papers and memoranda of the Brett family of Spring Grove, Wye, Ashford, Kent, mostly relating to work on historical, liturgical and biblical subjects in France and England, mainly from a non-jurist viewpoint, [1743-1776], including the following items: a note signed by Nicholas Brett, 13 Jan 1759; a letter written from Spring Grove on 25 Jul 1743, but not in the previous hand, addressed to 'Thomas Williamson, chez...George Waters, l'aisnè, Rue de Savoye, a Paris'; extracts of two letters in another hand to Bishop Robert Gordon, Nov 1757 and Aug 1758; fragment of a letter dated 16 Mar 1758 concerning 'the learned dissertation in your last concerning the antiquity of written liturgies'; autographed letter of 26 May 1773 from William Jones of Nayland [Suffolk] to Nicholas Brett; a list of printed books, on paper watermarked 1800, endorsed 'Books at Crewe not put up, and a list of those sent down'.

Incomplete Book of Hours, of Paris use, written in [north-east] France in the 15th century. The manuscript has had the full-page miniatures removed, and so, apart from a full calendar, contains only imperfectly the sequentiae of the gospels, the Hours of the Cross, the Hours of the Holy Spirit, the Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the seven penitential psalms, the office of the dead, the fifteen joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the seven requests.
There are notes at the beginning and end of the volume, in French in a seventeenth-century hand, relating to births, marriages and deaths in the family of Champregnault between 1561 and 1689. The hand is all one until 1617, and probably that of Quentin Champregnault, whose death is recorded at 1626.

Fragment of a leaf from an antiphoner, formerly a fly-leaf in a binding, containing part of the common of a martyr. The fragment was written in north-east France in the 13th or 14th century.

Eleven miniatures, probably cut from the first leaves of a psalter, illustrating scenes from the life of Christ. The subject of each is as follows: Annunciation, Nativity, Annunciation to the Shepherds, Adoration of the Magi, the Last Supper, Flagellation of Christ, Christ Crucified, Women at the Sepulchre, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Death of the Virgin.

Three vellum leaves, formerly paste-downs in the binding of of Omnia Opera by Angelo Ambrogini, called Poliziano (Venice, 1498), which was rebound in the twentieth century (Ref: Incunabula 1498 Strongroom), details as follows:

1. Leaf from a noted Missal, of Hereford Use, with part of the epistle, gradual, gospel, offertory, secret, communion and post-communion of the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, and the introit, epistle, gospel and secret of the 4th Sunday. The antiphons 'Timebunt gentes', 'Dextem domini' and 'Mirabantur omnes' have their musical notation. The fragment was written in Hereford, England, in the late 12th century. It is inscibed and extensively annotated by Maurice Birchinshaw (d 1564), and inscibed by Nathaniel Evans in the 17th century. It was later used as a cover for a manorial extent, and inscibed in a 16th-17th century hand 'A court of [surve]igh for the mannour of Much Markl (i.e. Much Marcle, Herefordshire], 35 of Eliz [1592/3]', and 'Extent of survey de Man. de Mark[le]'.
2. Bi-folium from an Antiphoner, with responds and versicles for the following feasts: St Mary Magdalene (22 Jul), St Peter ad vincula (1 Aug), St Laurence (10 Aug), Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) and Octave of the Assumption (22 Aug>). The fragment was written in the late 13th century.

Manuscript volume in several hands, probably written in Norfolk during the 15th century, containing eleven theological works, including Robert Holcot's Convertemini, the Speculum Christiani, and numerous sermons.
The manuscript also has two former pastedowns, which form part of a 13th century Collectar containing the Sanctorale for masses from 21 Oct to 13 Nov and the common of a confessor, confessors and a virgin.
The 29 strips of parchment which were separating and down the middle of each quire of the volume have been removed, and are taken from at least 5 documents of 15th century origin containing places and individuals connected with Norfolk. Several of the fragments appear to be from a letter of Archbishop Stafford to Gerald Hesyll, rector of Cley, and others.

Tripartite indenture made 13 June 1679 between Thomas Jameson, vicar of the parish church of St John, Hackney, the Wardens and Commonalty of the Goldsmiths' Company of London, and Josiah Williams, blacksmith, and Josiah Ebrell, merchant, churchwardens of the said parish, whereby Jameson entrusted the Company and the churchwardens with £100, the interest of which at 5% was to finance two annual sermons (on Good Friday and Ascension Thursday) to be delivered in St John's by its vicar, and alms for the poor.

Manuscript volume of sermons of James Robert Talbot, Vicar Apostolic, London District, and instruction on the sacraments of confirmation and confession. The vellum cover is dated 1765, but parts of the text were being delivered at least until 1777. A loose slip of paper bears, in another hand, the names of several parishes north-east of Newbury, Berkshire.

Single vellum leaf, formerly a pastedown, containing Lib.II, 20, 17-26, of the Decretales Gregorii IX, on testimonies in court. Includes a gloss and extensive interlineal and marginal annotations. The fragment is probably English, written in the late 13th century.

Manuscript volume of directions, devotions and prayers drawn up probably by a pastor particularly for use among the sick, perhaps of mid-18th-century date. The final leaf bears the date 1758, and has been used for keeping an account. Elsewhere are references to 'Charles Linton, Quebec', 10 Mar 1806, and again 'Charles Linton his book his father gave him, Quebec', 10 Mar 1812. A section of the volume contains the printed order for the administration of holy communion, baptism, the visitation and communion of the sick, the burial of the dead, the churching of women, etc.

Manuscript volume containing sermons written in a mixture of shorthand and longhand, Aug 1727-Feb 1728; some sermons have a second date, such as 1735 and 1736. Many blank pages are stamped with the inscription 'R Porter, Ironmonger, Cutler & Brazier, Tin, Zinc, & Iron Plate Worker, nr. St Peter's Church, Northampton'. There is also a copy of an unaddressed letter, R Porter, Northampton, 22 Dec [18]51 (f.116 verso). The name of George Porter appears on some pages. Pages at the beginning and end of the book are taken up with accounts of the sale of ironmongery, dated 1822-1835.

Manuscript Latin Bible dating from the early 13th century, being the first volume of a set, and containing the Books Genesis to Ruth preceded by a commentary. The manuscript is the work of several hands.

Premonstratensian Breviary from the abbey of Parc, diocese of Liège (now in the diocese of Malines, Belgium), with a calendar of folios 3-8v.

Medieval manuscript fragments formerly used as pastedowns, as follows:

1. Fragment of a leaf containing part of an abridgement of Seneca's De Beneficiis. Contains a complete paragraph beginning 'Iam vero transeamus' and ending 'deinde benficium' (corresponding to Book II, 18-19, p.36, line 26, to p.39, line 12 of the Teubner 1900 edition). The manuscript was written in the mid-12th century, and there are corrections and additional punctuation in a 12th-13th century hand.
2. Fragment of a leaf containing part of St Jerome's Epistola ad Paulum, headed LIII (53), from halfway through paragraph 7 'mundum ad poenitentiam' to the end, and the first few words of the Prologue to the Pentateuch (ending 'Latratibus patens'). The manuscript was probably written in France during the second half of the 13th century.
3. Fragment of a leaf containing Book III, 6 and 7, of the Clementinae, on testaments and burials. With gloss and annotations in a 14th century hand. The manuscript was probably written in Germany in the 14th century, and is also inscribed in a 16th century hand 'Francoise de Pont femme a Monsieur Jehan George Pipon faict avec Madame Monet Perrot sa femme'.
4. Fragment of a leaf containing part of the sanctorale from a Missal of Roman use, from the epistle of the Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) to the introit for the feast of St Agapitus (18 Aug), only the mass for St Laurence (17 Aug) being complete. The manuscript was probably written in Italy during the 14th century.

Two fragments cut from the head of two bifolia from a noted Missal, foliated 51 and 54, 56 and [-] in a 13th century hand, and containing part of the temporale from the introit for the 3rd feria of the 3rd week after Quadragesima to the 4th feria. The manuscript was written in the Low Countries or North-east France in the late 12th century.

Manuscript fragments used to strengthen a book-binding, as follows:

1. Leaf containing part of scholastic commentary on Psalm 101, 2-5. The exposition is broken up into paragraphs. The manuscript was written in England in the 14th century.
2. Letters, dated 1695, issued by the Greffiers of the Court of the Small Seals for Contracts, Paris, recounting proceedings before the notaries Jean Herrard and Charles Gaugnard which involve Pierre Rémy and others, Master-Tailors of Paris. With a printed heading.

Two fragments of leaves containing parts of the sequences 'Eia Recolamus laudibus piis digna' and 'Natus ante secula dei filius' for Christmas on the first leaf; and 'Festa christi omnis christianitas celebret' for Epiphany on the second. The manuscript was probably written in South-west Germany in the 14th century.

Leaf, foliated LXX in a late 16th century hand, from an Antiphoner, containing part of the office for the Commemoration of St Paul (30 Jun). Written in Spain (or possibly Italy) in the late 16th century.

Papers of Henry Clark Barlow, comprising papers relating to his Dante studies, both published and unpublished work, including manuscripts and notes for unfinished essays and lectures, titled manuscript notebooks, titled manuscripts, notes from codices and other sources, printed matter, and papers relating to the festivals of Dante; papers relating to his other studies, including a few items on geology and theology, and many sketches relating to the history of art, to architecture and to topography; personal papers, including Barlow's diaries and journals in which he wrote his observations on the architecture, art, geology, history and people of the places he visited, travel notes, and correspondence devoted almost entirely to Dante matters; acquired papers, including photographs, pictures, books, maps, plans, printed matter and ephemera.

Papers and correspondence of the Montefiore family, 1827-1885, mainly papers of Sir Moses Montefiore, comprising a volume containing a list of letters addressed to Sir Moses, covering the years 1844-1851 and including a record of correspondence from him; two letterbooks of Sir Moses, 1862, comprising copies of letters sent and received, with index; letterbook of Sir Moses, 1865-1870, comprising copies of letters sent and received, with index; account book of Sir Moses, 1827-1829, including in particular detailed records of his travels, with expenditure on hotels, horses, tolls, etc, and comments; account book of Sir Moses, 1856-1865, recording funds received and spent on behalf of the Holy Land Committee, and also including some records of correspondence; account book of Sir Moses, 1861, 1869-1872, recording sums received and expended on behalf of the Holy Land Committee; account book of Sir Moses, 1864-1884, recording sums received and spent mainly on behalf of the Jewish community in Jerusalem, and indexed; printed appointment diary of Sir Moses, 1879, with narrative entries and notes in his own hand and that of an amanuensis, and also including as inserts various almanacs, telegrams, etc; printed and manuscript addresses and testimonials, some illuminated, framed or in presentation cases, presented to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, 1840-1885 and undated, comprising c350 items, among them many centenary tributes, 1884, the donors including many Jewish communities and organisations in Britain, Europe, the USA, and elsewhere; bound volume of testimonials from Italian Jewish communities, 1884, comprising 165 items. There is also a manuscript volume, 'Talmud Torah ... ' (Jerusalem, c1875), with a dedication to Sir Moses Montefiore and his signature. Various other material on Jewish subjects and individuals, including artefacts and printed books, formerly belonging to the Judith Lady Montefiore College includes some material relating to Sir Moses Montefiore, notably eight large volumes containing addresses, letters of congratulation and poems presented to Sir Moses on his ninety-ninth and hundredth birthdays, 1883-1884, arranged alphabetically by place; copies of [Lady Montefiore's] Notes from a Private Journal of a Visit to Egypt and Palestine ... (2nd edition, privately printed, Wertheimer, Lea & Co, London, 1885). The collection also includes five volumes of letters of the family of Nathaniel Montefiore, c1850-1883, mainly letters from Nathaniel to his wife Emma, and also including letters from Leonard Montefiore to his parents.

Notes on biblical and classical subjects.

Notes by a student on lectures given by Dr Thomas Chalmers on divinity (vol. 4), churches (vol. 7), and various other subjects (vol. 12, watermark 1850).

Collection of autograph letters, 1756-1849, brought together by Lord Odo Russell. The correspondents are mainly European scientists, including Nikolaus Joseph and his son Joseph Franz Freiherr von Jacquin, both Professor of Chemistry and Botany at Vienna University; the zoologist Leopold Joseph Franz Johann Fitzinger; and the botanist István Laszló Endlicher. The letters concern the natural sciences, the medical sciences, the physical sciences, the arts, theology, dealers, diplomats and statesmen, and others. There is also a note from Beethoven (post 1824) and a letter from Goethe (1807).

Ordo Diei et Semita Vitae: Christian devotional manuscript. Written in one hand, a small neat italic with initials in red. Some annotations. There is a calendar at the end with dates from 1673 to 1722.

Fragments of mainly medieval and early modern manuscripts, primarily leaves from liturgical texts including missals, breviaries, psalters, bibles and biblical commentaries, but also including fragments of popular medieval textbooks including the Codex Justinianus and Graecismus . Also includes fragments of medieval music including noted missals, antiphonaries, graduals and noted breviaries. The music section includes fragments from two incunabula.

Manuscript volume, dated 1471: Sammelhandschrift, a collection of miscellaneous texts, comprising
(1) Calendar for the year 1471 (German), followed by instructions for use and chapters on the zodiac, the seven planets, the four 'complexions', blood-letting, etc, with plain and coloured ink illustrations (some incomplete) (ff 1v-92v);
(2) Aristotelis Brief Am Kunig Alexander (letter purported to have been written by Aristotle to King Alexander, offering advice on his health, in prose and in verse, in fact part of one of Aristotle's suppositious works, the Secreta Secretorum) (ff 93r-106v);
(3) Calendar for 1439, 1458, 1477 and 1496 (Latin), accompanied by astronomical chapters, with tables and instructions for use (ff 109v-130r);
(4) Elucidarus (a summary of Christian theology by Honorius Augustodunensis, in the form of a dialogue) (ff 131r-159r);
(5) Epistel Des Juden Samuel (epistle of the Jew Samuel) (ff 160r-186v).
The content of the two calendars, (1) and (3), is nearly identical.
Folios 107r-109r, 130v, 159v and 187r-187v are blank.
Signed by the scribe, Nicholas Pfaldorffer (f 106v).The guards in the centre of each quire consist of strips cut from a 13th-century manuscript. Folio 188r has a 16th-century house charm, consisting of words taken from the Antiphon of St Agatha.

Manuscript volume, dated 1456, comprising miscellaneous texts:
Von Den Vier Letzen Dingen, or Quatuor Novissima (on the Four Last Things);
poem on death, in Latin and German;
Lehre Aristoteles An Konig Alexander (lesson by Aristotle to King Alexander);
Isidorus;
untitled, beginning: Up eynre anderre stat van/ der gewaire oitmodichgeit ... ;
Klage Des Crucifixus (lament of the Crucifix), verse in German and Latin;
Tafel Des Christlichen Glaubens (table of Christian beliefs);
Gedicht Auf Die Ritterschaft Jesu (poem on the knighthood of Jesus);
three short rhymes in German and Latin;
Messiasbuch (Messiah book).

Manuscript volume, 15th century, consisting of two, originally independent, manuscripts: sermons of St Bernard, and a collection of miscellaneous sermons.

Late 14th century manuscript volume: Benediktinerregel (Rule of St Benedict), divided into 73 chapters (numbered in error as 72), each chapter consisting of a passage in Latin followed by the German translation. There are some ink sketches of monks (ff 6r, 37v, 38r, 82v) and one sketch of an abbot standing before a table (f 71r). The front cover bears a strip of parchment with the inscription: 'Regula Benedictj / Jn Theutunice'. The volume also contains a list of monastic orders with descriptions of the characteristic dress of each order (ff 94r-94v); the text of regulations, in Latin, containing many quotations from the Latin Rule (f 95r-97ra); and the later inscription 'Jste liber p[er]tinet ad mo[na]ste[r]iu[m] ot[e]nbure[n] (this book belongs to the monastery of Ottobeuren) (f 104r).

Manuscript volume, early 15th century, 'Das Büchlein vom schauenden und vom wirkenden Leben', bearing on the inside front cover 'Homiliensammlung, 14 Jh', but the contents comprise not merely a collection of homilies, but a complete text discussing the active and contemplative life, as exemplified by Martha and Mary, and include quotations from the New Testament and other religious texts. The original manuscript of the treatise, of which this is apparently a later and hastily written copy, was apparently written in Paris (f 2v), possibly by a disciple of Meister Eckhart, since it includes a number of quotations from him. A parchment book-guard in the centre of quires 1 and 2 bears Latin text in a 13th-century hand.

Prayer Book, 1592.

Manuscript volume, 12th century, comprising a collection of sermons and other liturgical texts.

Manuscript volume, 1462: Heiligenlegenden (Legends of the Saints). A parchment leaf at the end of the manuscript bears liturgical text in Latin in a 14th-century hand.

Manuscript volume, dated 1488: Mystische Traktate (mystical treatises). Possibly two originally independent manuscripts bound together. Book-guards consist of strips of parchment bearing text in a 14th century script.

Manuscript volume, late 15th century: Passio Christi (the Passion of Christ), including a detailed description of the Crucifixion.

Gebetbuch (Book of Prayers), early 15th century.

Gebetbuch (Book of Prayers), dated 1534, 1538 and 1539, with later additions, some dated 1656 and 1663.

Manuscript volume, late 15th century: Sammelhandschrift, a collection of miscellaneous texts, some dated 1491, 1493, 1496, and including a Carthusian calendar, sermons, religious poems, prayers, and other texts. With some 16th-century text and annotations.

Gebetbuch (Book of Prayers), c1521, including prayers to the Virgin (one in verse) and to St Catherine. Preceded by a calendar, including tables for the Golden Number and a table of signs of the zodiac.

Gebetbuch (Book of Prayers), 1466, including visitation of the sick, administration of the Last Sacrament, and burial of the dead.

Manuscript volume, 1733, 1738, containing two texts by Johann Heinrich Meister (Jean Henri Le Maitre), 'Christliche Glaubens- und Lebenslehre' (Instructions in the Life and Faith of a Christian), followed by a short tract, 'Examen des communicans pour l'usage de l'Eglise Françoise de Buckebourg' (examination of communicants for the use of the French church at Bückeburg).

Gebetbuch (Book of Prayers), 15th century-16th century. There are sketches at the base of some of the folios representing views of a landscape, probably in Germany, and two sketches of the Madonna, one of them dated 1676.

Anthology of religious poems, 17th century, including penitential prayers and verse meditations on the joys of the next world. Following an introduction (ff 1r-6v), the text from folio 7r is in verse. With marginal references to passages in the Bible, written in the authoress' own hand, throughout the text. Her identity is not revealed, except that her Christian name was Doroteha, and, given references in the introduction to her grandchildren and other relations, she probably wrote the book in later life. With the name Jacobs Himmelsleiter inside the front cover.

The vellum in which the volume is bound bears on the outside front cover traces of 13th-century text, with the heading ET VIGILIA.