December 8th – Whole ‘quires’ of angels sing

Philosopher and admirer of Descartes, Henry More, provides us with today’s carol. Published under More’s pseudonym “Francisus Palaeopolitanus”, it appears towards the end of his snappily titled (take a breath):

 “Divine dialogues, containing sundry disquisitions & instructions concerning the attributes of God and his providence in the world. Collected and compiled by the care and industry of Franciscus Palaeopolitanus. Whereunto is annexed a brief discourse of the true grounds of the certainty of faith in points of religion, tother with some few plain songs or divine hymns on the chief Holy-Days in the year.”

The volume, dating to 1713, was printed and sold by Joseph Downing in Bartholomew-Close near West-Smithfield.

Perhaps it is no bad thing that in his choice of ‘divine hymn’ More has not felt the need to expound Cartesian philosophy, sticking to more routine gospel imagery of angels and shepherds. Bibliophiles may also appreciate the appearance of “quires” of angels, as printed in this early-modern text:

“The Holy Son of God most High,

For love of Adam’s lapsed Race,

Quit the sweet pleasures of the Sky,

To bring us to that happy place. (1)

Whole Quires of Angels sing

The Mystery of this Sacred Birth,

And blest News to the Shepherds bring,

Filling their watchful souls with Mirth. (4)

Our copy still retains its lovely printed fold-out, showing the realms of the earth and heaven, with, handily enough, seven angels hovering over the earthly plane.

Angels also feature in the vibrantly and beautifully decorated Ethiopian psalter, held within our manuscript collections, though they are depicted as rather more powerful than the philosopher-angels in More’s text.

Reference:

Franciscus Palaeopolitanus [Henry More], “Divine dialogues, containing sundry disquisitions & instructions concerning the attributes of God and his providence in the world. Collected and compiled by the care and industry of Franciscus Palaeopolitanus. Whereunto is annexed a brief discourse of the true grounds of the certainty of faith in points of religion, tother with some few plain songs or divine hymns on the chief Holy-Days in the year.” (1713, s BT130.M6)