{"id":1535,"date":"2018-11-06T00:30:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-06T04:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/hargretthoursproject\/?p=1535"},"modified":"2018-11-06T00:30:34","modified_gmt":"2018-11-06T04:30:34","slug":"praying-for-your-enemies-the-hastings-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/hargretthoursproject\/praying-for-your-enemies-the-hastings-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"Praying for Your Enemies: The Hastings Hours"},"content":{"rendered":"

This particular Book of Hours is London, British Library, Add. <\/span>MS 54782<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s often called \u201cThe Hastings Hours\u201d due to its only known owner during the late Medieval Period: William, Lord Hastings. Hastings\u2019 arms appear four times in the manuscript. However, since they appear to be added in and not an original ornamentation, it\u2019s possible that the book had an owner before him. Potentially, it was given to him as a gift at some point, but there are only speculations as to who that might have been, though it\u2019s possible this book was given to him by King Edward IV, of whom Hastings was a close friend and courtier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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f.13r of the Hastings Hours, the Hastings Arms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before delving into Hastings\u2019 book, however, it\u2019s necessary to learn a little about him. Luminarium.org, <\/em>while an online anthology of English literature,\u00a0offers an encyclopedia of the people and places mentioned in its works, which is where I gained the following information about Hastings:<\/span><\/p>\n

William, Lord Hastings<\/span><\/a> was born into a high-ranking family around 1430. Hastings would grow up just in time to participate in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster. When choosing a side, Hastings swore fealty to and served Richard, Duke of York, in exchange for an annuity. The House of York gained the throne after a decisive victory in 1459, and Richard became the royal heir. But, nearly two years later, Richard would meet his death in battle, and Richard’s eldest son, Edward,\u00a0with whom Hastings had become close with, would be crowned Edward IV in 1461. Immediately and over the following years, Hastings was awarded several titles, becoming a baron and given portions of forfeited estates from the Lancastrians. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Image from luminarium.org<\/em>‘s entry on Hastings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to L<\/em>uminarium,<\/em>\u00a0Hastings is characterized as having an <\/span>unshaken loyalty to Edward IV, of which he was praised repeatedly throughout his life. He would even follow Edward IV in exile in 1469 to the Continent and in Edward\u2019s return the following year with forces to retake the throne and secure his reign. His loyalty also led him to escorting Edward IV\u2019s son, Edward V, to London to be crowned king after Edward\u2019s death. <\/span>However, Richard<\/a>, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest brother of recently-deceased Edward IV and uncle to the child-king Edward V, would claim that the Queen\u2019s children were illegitimate (Edward having married her instead of the contracted spouse) and accuse the Queen of sorcery (on account of Richard\u2019s withered arm or some such). On these grounds, Richard effectively delivered the figurative and literal killing blow: accusing Edward V’s supporting party of treason. Hastings, as Edward’s most loyal supporter and strongest obstacle to uncle Richard, was immediately beheaded, without trial, outside the Tower of London. Edward V and his brother, yet another Richard, would also be killed, though the details are fuzzy about their deaths. Uncle Richard was crowned Richard III not long after.<\/span><\/p>\n

This particular account of Hastings seems to paint him into a martyr for the House of York. For a different view of Hastings’ execution, you can check this Murrey and Blue<\/em>\u00a0blog post<\/a>\u00a0detailing potential reasons that Hasting’s execution by Richard might not have been unjustified. For all I know, Hastings was just as ambitious as Richard III. But, for now, despite the intriguing rabbit hole of Hastings’ potential guilt, it’s best we move on to the manuscript.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hastings\u2019 Hours is a particularly large manuscript, comprising of 300 parchment leaves divided into multiple sections besides the expected Hours of the Virgin. However, the text I’ll be focusing on is a single prayer in a miscellaneous Devotions section beginning on folio 19r. It\u2019s a devotion to Christ, not an uncommon topic in the Christian faith, but this prayer was placed as the first in the section, already near the front of the book, probably for easy reference. Additionally, each of the devotional prayers of the section are given special treatment in the form of a lovely full-page miniature, this one being no exception:<\/span><\/p>\n

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f.18v of the Hastings Hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opposite the miniature, the prayer itself:<\/span><\/p>\n

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f.19r of the Hastings Hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, what makes this prayer to Jesus special is the line that it sets its foundation upon: \u201cpater dimitte illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt.\u201d This is the Latin translation of one of Jesus\u2019 last utterances during the Passion: \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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f.19r of the Hastings Hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What might a prayer that includes this be doing? <\/span><\/p>\n

This prayer, ultimately, is asking for the salvation of one\u2019s enemies, and it would be performed in a similar circumstance. Not crucifixion, of course, but in the trials any person might face in life, particularly the tribulations that are imposed by others. This is a fitting prayer for the Book of a political martyr, don\u2019t you think? However, one would assume (as certainly I did before being corrected) that the precant (performer) is channeling Jesus\u2019 words in order to forgive his enemies, but this isn\u2019t the case. Interestingly enough, while it does include the \u201cpater dimitte\u201d saying, it\u2019s not presented in the performer\u2019s voice. The saying is actually quoted in context and explained to a \u201cyou,\u201d who is Jesus, of course. But, the precant more or less goes on to ask that Jesus provide for the necessities of his enemies: to care for them and ultimately provide what\u2019s necessary for that person to attain salvation. <\/span><\/p>\n

A prayer including Jesus\u2019 \u201cpater dimitte\u201d that doesn\u2019t directly offer forgiveness from the persecuted party is interesting. It\u2019s possible that the author of this prayer merely considered the performer\u2019s forgiveness irrelevant, that Jesus\u2019 forgiveness of sins is the only forgiveness worth receiving. Though it is a Christian principle to forgive one\u2019s enemies, only Jesus\u2019 forgiveness of sins can save someone from condemnation. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, this prayer\u2019s content is about being the object of persecution under the assumption that it\u2019s unwarranted, which brings me to the main interest I had in this prayer: anyone could place himself in the \u201cright\u201d by performing it. While the precant may not be putting himself directly in the place of Christ, the prayer essentially recalls Jesus\u2019 example of forgiveness and asks that that forgiveness be extended to the performer\u2019s enemies. As such, by asking that Jesus ultimately provide the needs for the enemies\u2019 salvation, the prayer assumes that the precant is innocent and that his enemies are evildoers, the malefactors (\u201cmalefactoribus\u201d) in a pseudo-Passion. How many aristocrats or politicians might have performed this prayer while under pressure from their rivals? I like to think that Hastings might have muttered this prayer under his breath as he went to the chopping block. But, what I\u2019ve read of Hastings has heroified him in my mind, and there are cases to be made, like in the blog post I mentioned earlier, that Hastings was incredibly ambitious and a possible conspirator. I’m not sure that would justify him losing his head, but let’s not make a saint of him, yet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This prayer is a devotion to Jesus and based upon one of his last utterances. But, there are countless prayers to Jesus in Catholic liturgy, and this is likely not the only ever prayer of Christ\u2019s \u201cpater dimitte\u201d utterance. Books of Hours are like personalized, liturgical anthologies, and just as anthologizers have to decide which texts go into their works, whoever commissioned this Book purposefully chose this prayer and placed it near the front for easy reference. Looking at this prayer, we should wonder, who or what determines that a prayer like this makes the cut?<\/span><\/p>\n

By: Zachary McCannon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This particular Book of Hours is London, British Library, Add. MS 54782. It\u2019s often called \u201cThe Hastings Hours\u201d due to its only known owner during…<\/p>\n

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