Composite of five unrelated manuscripts dating from 15th to 17th centuries, on different topics (lives of the Saints, shipbuilding, religious poetry, prayers, medical remedies, and memoranda). Only first manuscript (ff. 2-60) is within scope of this catalogue: a personal notebook copied mostly by Zorzi Trombetta (see below), dealing mainly with shipbuilding and other nautical matters; ff. 3'-8 contain polyphonic music, copied by three scribes. First scribe, a professional music copyist, entered pieces on ff. 3'-5'; remainder of music copied by Trombetta, except for piece on f. 6, copied by a third scribe. For some pieces, only tenor part present.

Music entered by professional scribe copied in northern Italy, perhaps in Venice or vicinity. (See LeechLCT for possible links to ParisBNN 4379, ParisBNN 4917, OxfBC 213). C. 1444, book came into the possession of Zorzi Trombetta, an itinerant sailor and musician from Modon (now Methone or Methoni), in southern Greece. Music in this manuscript may have been used by Trombetta in his employment as ship's musician. Subsequent history of manuscript unknown until 17th century, when it was acquired by the antiquarian Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631); further on Cotton collection under LonBLC Nero E.viii.

Original covers of brown and tan cloth and leather on boards

resembles Briquet #11878.

black full mensural with black void coloration; black void mensural. all scribes sometimes break longs of breves into constituent groups of repeated semibreves.

New ink foliation, 1-293 (five folios preceding f. 26 unnumbered).

3v-8

No initials or decoration

paper

Miscellaneous 15th-17th century writings, with polyphony: 13 French secular pieces (some without text)

(Binchois)-1, (Dunstable)-1, (Dunstable-anon)-1, (Machaut)-1, anon-6

ii + i + 297 + iii paper folios, 215 x 145. Composite of five unrelated manuscripts dating from 15th to 17th centuries, on different topics (lives of the Saints, shipbuilding, religious poetry, prayers, medical remedies, and memoranda). New ink foliation, 1-293 (five folios preceding f. 26 unnumbered). Original covers of brown and tan cloth and leather on boards. Only first manuscript (ff. 2-60) is within scope of this catalogue: a personal notebook copied mostly by Zorzi Trombetta (see below), dealing mainly with shipbuilding and other nautical matters; ff. 3'-8 contain polyphonic music, copied by three scribes. First scribe, a professional music copyist, entered pieces on ff. 3'-5', in black mensural notation with void coloration; remainder of music, in white mensural notation, copied by Trombetta, except for piece on f. 6, copied by a third scribe. All three scribes sometimes break longs or breves into constituent groups of repeated semibreves, probably to facilitate comprehension by amateurs. No initials or decoration. For some pieces, only tenor part present. Watermark resembles Briquet #11878.

Ca. 1420 (pieces entered by professional scribe), with additions ca. 1444-9. Music entered by professional scribe copied in northern Italy, perhaps in Venice or vicinity. (See LeechLCT for possible links to ParisBNN 4379, ParisBNN 4917, OxfBC 213). Ca. 1444, book came into the possession of Zorzi Trombetta, an itinerant sailor and musician from Modon (now Methone or Methoni), in southern Greece. Music in this manuscript may have been used by Trombetta in his employment as ship's musician. Subsequent history of manuscript unknown until 17th century, when it was acquired by the antiquarian Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631); further on Cotton collection under LonBLC Nero E.viii.