Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday, 17 February 2025

Arma Christi roll discovered in York


The BBC News website has a report about the discovery in the collections of Bar Convent in York of a later fifteenth century copy on a roll of the devotional poem about the Instruments of the Passion, the Arma Christi. This particular roll appears to have been intended for group recitation rather than just private meditation. 

Devotion to the Instruments of the Passion, and indeed to the physical sufferings of Christ developed over time and grew particularly in the later medieval period as can be seen from a Wikipedia article at Arma Christi

The poem is available with a commentary as can be seen from this online flier from Routledge at The Arma Christi in Medieval and Early Modern Material Culture: With a Critical Edition of 'O Vernicle'

In York itself in the Minster evidence for the devotion can be seen in one of the carved shields in the spandrels of the arches of the Lady Chapel. 

The illustrated article about the chance discovery at York can be seen at 

Rare medieval rolled manuscript found in York Bar Convent archive


For those who do not know the extraordinary history of Bar Convent there is an introduction on Wikipedia at Bar Convent


2 comments:

Zephyrinus said...

A magnificent discovery, John, and many thanks for highlighting it.

It is such a treasure. To top it all, the Arma Christi will now be used by Mother Superior and her Nuns during their Service.

How wonderful. Made in 1475 and now being used in 2025.

Such devotion.

Zephyrinus said...
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