Signatures and Anagrams in the Queen’s Manuscript
(London, British Library, Harley MS 4431)1

Lori J. Walters, November 30, 2012  

I. The Forms Taken by Christine’s Signature in the Queen’s Manuscript

1.	χριne

“xpi” derives from the Chi Rho, the christogram is formed by superimposing Chi (Χ) and Rho (Ρ), the first two letters of the name “Christ” in Greek. Interestingly, (pagan) Greek scribes placed the Chi Rho symbol in the margins to signal a particularly valuable or relevant passage, the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning "good."In the fourth century the Chi Rho became part of official imperial insignia when Constantine adopted it as a symbol of the moral and military superiority of his Christianized Roman Empire. The Chi Rho is related to “IHS”, the most common christogram of Latin-speaking Christianity, which denotes Iota (I), Eta (H), Sigma (S), the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus. Of special significance for Christine’s use of “xpi” is the finding of Ludwig Traube Nomina sacra: Versuch einer Geschichte der christlichen Kürzung, Munich, 1907) that certain ‘holy names’ — names of the deity and related biblical names and terms — were abbreviated not out of scribal convenience but out of reverence, from the belief that the name of God was ultimately inexpressible.

The following is an example of the short form of the signature.2 It is found on fol. 237a, line 8: Christine short signature 2. χριne de pizan3 The following is an example of the long form of the signature, found in the last line of fol. 237b.4 It appears at the end of the dedicatory epistle of Le Debat sus le Rommant de la Rose that Christine addressed to the Queen of France, Ysabel de Bavière..5 Christine long signature 3. Cristine cristine.6 An example in which the letters of Christine’s name are spelled out appears on fol. 241d. In his epistle of September 15, 1401, Gontier Col addresses Christine with the words: “A femme de hault entendement, damoiselle Cristine". Christine full name II. Christine’s Signatures in the Different Sections of the Queen’s Manuscript: an Overview7 SECTION 1 (fol. 2c-d), La Table des dictiez en general (Item 0) 1 χριne 1 χριne de pizan Total: 2 SECTION 2 (fol. 3a-94a), Prologue adreçant a la royne; Formes fixes; Debates (Items 1-16) NONE SECTION 3 (fol. 95a-141c), L’Epistre Othea (Item 17) 1 χριne Total: 1 SECTION 4 (fol. 143b-177d), Le Livre du duc des vrais amans (Item 18) NONE SECTION 5 (fol. 178a-219c), Le Chemin de lonc estude (Item 19) 8 χριne Total: 8 SECTION 6 (fol. 221a-236c), Le Livre de la pastoure (Item 20) NONE SECTION 7 (fol. 237a-254a), Les Epistres du debat sus le Rommant de la Rose (Item 21) 11 χριne 6   χριne de pizan 1   Cristine Total: 188 SECTION 8 (fol. 255d-289b), Devotional and didactic works, including Le Livre de prudence, and the table of contents of Le Livre de la cité des dames (Items 22-28) 18 χριne 2  χριne de pizan Total: 20 SECTION 9 (fol. 290a-374a), Le Livre de la cité des dames (Item 29) 80 χριne 2  Cristine cristine Total: 82 SECTION 10 (fol. 376a-398b), Les Cent balades d’amant et de dame, including the Lay de dame (Item #30) NONE TOTALS 119 = χριne 9     = χριne de pizan 128 = Total using the divine abbreviation 3     = Cristine, cristine 131 = Grand Total9 III. Christine’s Signatures in the Queen’s Manuscript: a Detailed Listing SECTION 1 (fol. 2c-d), La Table des dictiez en general (Item 0) 1. Fol. 002c:38 = χριne.10 2. Fol. 002d:06 = χριne de pizan.11 SECTION 2 (fol. 3a-94a), Prologue adreçant a la royne; Formes fixes; Debates (Items 1-16) NONE SECTION 3 (fol. 95a-141c), L’Epistre Othea (Item 17) 1. Fol. 95b:31 = χριne12 SECTION 4 (fol. 143b-177d), Le Livre du duc des vrais amans (Item 18) NONE SECTION 5 (fol. 178a-219c), Le Chemin de lonc estude (Item 19) 1. Fol. 181a:02 = χριne (rubric, accompanies a miniature) 2. Fol. 183a:02 = χριne (rubric, introduced by a cross, accompanies a miniature) 3. Fol. 188a:02 = χριne (rubric, introduced by two diacritical marks, accompanies a miniature) 4. Fol. 189c:21 = χριne (rubric, accompanies a miniature) 5. Fol. 192d:02 = χριne (rubric, introduced by a cross, accompanies a miniature) 6. Fol. 194b:30 = χριne (rubric) 7. Fol. 218d:01 = χριne (rubric) 8. Fol. 219b:03 = χριne (text) SECTION 6 (fol. 221a-236c), Le Livre de la pastoure (Item 20) NONE SECTION 7 (fol. 237a-254a), Les Epistres du debat sus le Rommant de la Rose (Item 21) 1. Fol. 237a:05 = χριne de pizan (rubric) 2. Fol. 237a:08 = χριne (rubric) 3. Fol. 237b:39 = χριne de pizan13 4. Fol. 237c:03 = χριne de pizan 5. Fol. 237c:10 = χριne 6. Fol. 237c:16 = χριne 7. Fol. 237c:24 = χριne 8. Fol. 237c:27 = χριne 9. Fol. 237c:34 = χριne 10. Fol. 237d:05 = χριne14 11. Fol. 238b:29 = χριne (heading) 12. Fol. 238c:02 = χριne de pizan15 13. Fol. 241d:23 = χριne 14. Fol. 241d:32 = Cristine16 15. Fol. 242b:19 = χριne (heading) 16. Fol. 243a:18 = χριne de pizan17 17. Fol. 254a:12 = χριne de pizan18 18. Fol. 254a:19 = χριne19 SECTION 8 (fol. 255d-289b), Devotional and didactic works, including Le Livre de prudence, and the table of contents of Le Livre de la cité des dames (Items 22-28) L'Epistre à Eustace Morel 1. Fol. 257a:19 = χριne de pizan20 Les Enseignemens que Cristine donne a son filz 1. Fol. 261c:15 = χριne (rubric)21 2. Fol. 262r:01 = χριne; rubric (running head) 3. Fol. 263r:01 = χριne; rubric (running head) 4. Fol. 265r:01 = χριne; rubric (running head)22 Le Livre de Prudence 1. Fol. 283c:22 = χριne23 2. Fol. 287c:37 = χριne de pizan24 Le Livre de la cité des dames Book I. Table of Contents: 1. Fol. 288c:18 = χριne (Chapter 2) 2. Fol. 288c:22 = χριne (Chapter 3) 3. Fol. 288c:28 = χριne (Chapter 4) 4. Fol. 288c:32 = χριne (Chapter 5) 5. Fol. 288c:36 = χριne (Chapter 6) 6. Fol. 288d:04 = χριne (Chapter 7) 7. Fol. 288d:06 = χριne (Chapter (8) 8. Fol. 288d:09 = χριne (Chapter 9) 9. Fol. 288d:15 = χριne (Chapter 11) 10. Fol. 288d:23 = χριne (Chapter 14) 11. Fol. 289a:09 = χριne (Chapter 27) 12. Fol. 289a:23 = χριne (Chapter 33) 13. Fol. 289b:11 = χριne (Chapter 43) SECTION 9 (fol. 290a-374a), Le Livre de la cité des dames (Item 29) Book I. Chapters of Le Livre de la cité des dames 14. Fol. 291b:08 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 2 15. Fol. 292a:10 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 3 16. Fol. 293a:10 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 4 17. Fol. 293d:34 = χριne; text of Chapter 6 18. Fol. 294b:22 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 7 19. Fol. 294d:05 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 8 20. Fol. 296b:13 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 9 21. Fol. 299b:31 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 11 22. Fol. 301a:29 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 14 23. Fol. 310a:31 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 27 24. Fol. 312d:23 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 33 25. Fol. 312d:27 = χριne; text in Chapter 33 26. Fol. 316a:12 = χριne; text in Chapter 38 27. Fol. 318b:13 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 43 28. Fol. 318b:17 = χριne; text in Chapter 43 Book II. Le Livre de la cité des dames Table of Contents: 29. Fol. 322a:14 = χριne (Chapter 7) 30. Fol. 322a:25 = χριne (Chapter 13) 31. Fol. 322a:37 = χριne (Chapter 19) 32. Fol. 322b:11 = χριne (Chapter 25) 33. Fol. 322b:21 = χριne (Chapter 28) 34. Fol. 322b:27 = χριne (Chapter 30) 35. Fol. 322c:04 = χριne (Chapter 37) 36. Fol. 322c:24 = χριne (Chapter 47) 37. Fol. 322c:36 = χριne (Chapter 53) 38. Fol. 322d:03 = χριne (Chapter 54) 39. Fol. 322d:18 = χριne (Chapter 62) 40. Fol. 322d:30 = χριne (Chapter 66) 41. Fol. 322d:37 = χριne (Chapter 69)25 Book II, Chapters of Le Livre de la cité des dames 42. Fol. 323b:05 = χριne; text in Chapter 1 43. Fol. 326c:25 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 7 44. Fol. 329a:03 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 13 45. Fol. 332a:35 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 19 46. Fol. 333a:02 = χριne; text in Chapter 19 47. Fol. 333c:02 = χριne; text in Chapter 22 48. Fol. 333d:06 = χριne; text in Chapter 23 49. Fol. 334b:19 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 25 50. Fol. 335b:25 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 28 51. Fol. 336d:16 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 30 52. Fol. 340a:35 = χριne; text in Chapter 36 53. Fol. 340d:24 = χριne; text in Chapter 36 54. Fol. 340d:26 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 37 55. Fol. 341d:27 = χριne; text in Chapter 41 56. Fol. 342c:23 = χριne; text in Chapter 44 57. Fol. 343d:18 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 47 58. Fol. 350c:13 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 53 59. Fol. 350d:34 = χριne; text in Chapter 53 60. Fol. 351a:31 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 53 61. Fol. 351a:36 = χριne; text in Chapter 53 62. Fol. 357b:10 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 62 63. Fol. 357b:15 = χριne; text in Chapter 62 64. Fol. 358c:16 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 65 65. Fol. 358d:01 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 66 66. Fol. 359a:27 = χριne; text in Chapter 66 67. Fol. 359d:22 = χριne; text in Chapter 68 68. Fol. 359d:32 = χριne; text in Chapter 68 69. Fol. 360c:03 = χριne; text in Chapter 68 70. Fol. 360c:14 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 69 26 Book III, Le Livre de la cité des dames Table of Contents 71. Fol. 360d: 27 = χριne27 Chapters of Book III, Le Livre de la cité des dames 72. Fol. 361a:17 = χριne; text in Chapter 1 73. Fol. 366c:22 = χριne; text in Chapter 9 74. Fol. 366c:25 = χριne; rubric of Chapter 10 75. Fol. 366c:27= χριne; text in Chapter 10 76. Fol. 366c:33 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 77. Fol. 366d:19 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 78. Fol. 367a:02 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 79. Fol. 367b:34 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 80. Fol. 367c:03 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 81. Fol. 367c:07 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 82. Fol. 367c:03 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 83. Fol. 367d:15 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 84. Fol. 367d:29 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 85. Fol. 367d:34 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 86. Fol. 368a:16 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 87. Fol. 368a:23 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 88. Fol. 368a:35 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 89. Fol. 368b:13 = Cristine; text in Chapter 10 90. Fol. 368b:19 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 91. Fol. 368b:26 = χριne; text in Chapter 10 92. Fol. 368c:08 = χριne;28 text in Chapter 10 93. Fol. 372b:12 = χριne; text in Chapter 18 94. Fol. 372d:32 = χριne; text in Chapter 18 95. Fol. 373a:16 = cristine;29 rubric of Chapter 19 SECTION 10 (fol. 376a-398b), Les Cent balades d’amant et de dame, including Le Lay de dame (Item 30) NONE IV. Christine’s Anagrams in the Queen's Manuscript30 1. Item 2, Cent balades, fol. 21b: En escrit y ay mis mon nom.31 2. Item 14, Le Livre du debat des .ii .amans, fol. 71b: Mais de trouver s’aucun au deffiner A voulenté Quel est mon nom sans le querir planté, S’il le cerche trouver le peut enté En tous les lieux où est χριenté.32 3. Item 15, Le Livre des .iii. jugemens, fol. 81a; Mais au derrenier ver vueil dire et retraire Quel est mon nom qui le vouldra hors traire Comme il deffine Et en la fin de pensée enterine Qui vous ottroit joye parfaite et fine, Pry Ihesucrist, qui ne fault ne ne fine.33 4. Item 16, Le Livre de Poissy, fol. 94a: Et en la fin Du derrenier ver de cuer loyal & fin Me nommeray et Dieu pry au deffin Que bonne vie et puis à la parfin Son paradis Il vous ottroit et à tous les gentilz Vrays fins loyaulx amans et non faintis Que vraye amour tient subgès & creintis.34 1. All of the information I include here has been gathered from the website dedicated to this manuscript, located at . I thank Florida State University for granting Diana Olson an Undergraduate Humanities Research Grant that enabled her to check an earlier version of this chart. 2. For an analysis of the use of the authorial signature in the Rose Debate Epistles, see Lori J. Walters, “Signature and Voice in the Queen’s MS: The Example of the Livre des Epistres du Debat sus le Rommant de la Rose,” Acts of the 8th International Christine de Pizan Colloquium (Poznan, Poland, 10-14 July, 2012), forthcoming. 3. “xpine” in the signatures “xpine” and “xpine de pizan” exhibit the characteristics of hand X described, with illustrations of three other examples, on page 26 of the Album Christine de Pizan (G. Ouy, C. Reno, I. Villela-Petit, Brepols, 2012). The term xpine is “surmonté d’un long tilde abréviatif.” (Please note: with the fonts available to me, I cannot reproduce the long abbreviation mark that spans the letters “xpi,” a mark that can be seen clearly in the image reproduced above). The authors describe “le tracé habile et gracieux des x, dont le second élément descend en décrivant un arc très fin” and “le ductus du e ‘cornu’ en position finale.” 4. In this paper I generally adopt the spelling and capitalization of the texts as they appear on pages 317 and 333 of the Album. 5. I write the Queen’s name as it is transcribed throughout the manuscript. The spelling “Ysabel” appears in the presentation copies of all of Christine’s texts. 6. This form of Christine’s signature appears rarely in the manuscript (three times out of a total of 131); in the first two examples (fols. 241d:32 and 368b:13), the first letter is larger or more prominent than the others, in the third (fol. 373a:16), it is the same size as the others. 7. James Laidlaw and Mark Aussems presented the new section divisions that I am using here in a paper entitled, “Who copied the Queen's Manuscript (London, BL, Harley 4431)?” which is forthcoming in the Acts of the 8th International Christine de Pizan Colloquium (Poznan, Poland, 10-14 July 2012). 8. The Epistre a la reine, now effaced, occupied fol. 255a-c; see Album, p. 333. 9. This is the same total as the one recorded in the Concordance listed at . 10. “Item. Une epistre que xpine envoya a Eustace Morel tout de rimes equivoques.” 11. "Item. Les enseignemens que xpine de pizan donne a son filz.” 12. "Moy nommee xpine femme indigne.”] 13. This is how Christine’s signature appears in her dedicatory epistle to Queen Ysabel. 14. "A prudent, honoree et sçavent demoiselle xpine.” 15. "moy xpine de pizan, femme ignorant d’entendement et de sentement leger.” 16. The salutation of Gontier Col’s second letter to Christine reads: “A femme de hault entendement, damoiselle Cristine.” 17. This is how Christine signs herself in her second letter to Gontier Col: “la tienne, xpine de pizan.” 18. This is the explicit of Christine’s letter to Pierre Col: “Escript et complett par moy, xpine de pizan, le .iie. jour d’octobre, l’an mil .IIIIc. CCCC et deux.” 19. This is how Christine signs herself in her letter to Pierre Col: “Ta bien vueillant amie de science, xpine.” 20. This is the signature found in Christine’s letter to Eustache Morel (Deschamps): “Xpine de pizan, ance celle de science.” 21. "Ci commencent les enseignemens que xpine donne a son filz.” 22. On fol. 265r the rubric, “Les enseignemens que xpine donne a son filz,” extends over the opening of the following text, Une Oroison de Nostre Dame. 23. This introduces a note that the author places within the text. 24. "Explicit le livre de la descripcion et diffinicion de prudence fait et compilé par xpine de pizan.” 25. "Item, parle xpine aux princesses, aux dames, et a toutes femmes.” Note, however, that her name is written out as “cristine” in the corresponding chapter heading in the text. 26. "Parle xpine aux principces et a toutes femmes.” 27. Note that the entry in the table of contents, “Item. De sainte xpine vierge,” refers not to Christine, but to her patron saint. 28. Book 3, Chapter 10 contains the highest concentration of occurrences of the divine abbreviation in the Queen’s MS. The spelling “xpine” is found once in the rubric announcing Chapter 10 and 17 times within the chapter itself. The name written as “cristine” occurs only once, when the voice of Jesus Christ calls out the saint’s name, which Christine records on fol. 368b:13. 29. Here “cristine” addresses all ladies. This is the second occurrence found in Book 3, and the last of the three times it appears in the entire manuscript 30. It is of note that Section 1 contains four anagrams, but does not include any of the three forms of her name listed in Part I of this study. 31. This verse is the refrain of the final ballad of the Cent balades, occurring at the end of each of the ballad’s three stanzas. Note that “escrit” contains “cri,” a term that Christine emphasizes elsewhere in her works. 32. The transcription on the website reads “crestïenté.” I transcribe it here as it appears on the page. Expert scribe that she is, Christine reinforces the similarity between her name and the term “Christianity” by the similar way that she transcribes the two. 33. The words “Crist” and “fine,” minus the “f,” form “Cristine.” The name “Ihesucrist” is underlined in red. The underlining in this manuscript is most probably the work of Christine. I determined this working in private consultation with Justin Clegg, Curator of Medieval Literary Manuscripts at the British Library, London. 34. The anagram “Creintis” refers to the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Psalm 111:10). This is the first of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The next six, in ascending order, are piety, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, understanding, and wisdom. Christine had included another occurrence of the anagram “Creintis” in the version of L’Epistre au dieu d’amours, found in BnF, fr. 835, the first volume of the “Duke’s MS,” where it appears on fol. 50a (Album, p. 230).