London, British Library, Cotton Vespasian D. xiv

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Vespasian D. xiv

Contents
Date
Medieval Provenance

General Information

Ker

209

Gnuess/Lapidge

first half not listed; 392

Summary

A broad collection of homiletic, hagiographic and educative material, much of it drawn from the first and second series of Ælfric's Catholic Homilies. Among the materials not attributed to Ælfric are the Anonymous Homilies , Homilies for Specified Occasions, Sanctorale: Saint Neot (fols 145v-51r), a homily on the Phoenix (fols 166r-68r), the Old English Dicts of Cato (fols 7r-11v), a collection of prognostications (fol. 75v), the Vision of St Furseus, translations of a homily by Ralph d'Escures on the Virgin Mary (fols 151v-58r), and extracts from the Elucidarium of Honorius Augustodunensis (fols 159r-63v, 163v-65r). Also present are portions of Ælfric's Letters: Letter to Sigefyrð (fol. 6v) and Letters: First Old English Letter for Wulfstan (fols 13v-15r, 75r-v), and many other short texts, some of which are extracts from longer English works, and others of which are composite texts filling previously blank parts of folios. A copy of Isidore's Synonyma is among a number of Latin texts comprising a second volume written in a continental hand of s. ix, bound together with the twelfth-century English collection at least since Cotton's acquisition. The former volume has a few glosses in English in drypoint. The first and second items in the manuscript assist in understanding the provenance of the English collection, which seems to be in the hands of an 'ancilla' by the later twelfth-century. The same hand, in the second item on fol. 4r, writes a prayer concerning Thomas Becket, who was 'recalled from exile to our [or "his"] own church', suggesting that this prayer was written, perhaps, in Canterbury. It may be that the writer ('ego ancilla') was a member of St Sepulchre's, a nunnery founded by Anselm to the south-east of Christ Church. While the origin of Vespasian D. xiv has been variously posited as Christ Church (see Handley 1974) or Rochester (see Richards 1979), incremental evidence does point more convincingly to Canterbury.

Digital Surrogate

https://em1060.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj24871/f/styles/large-scaled/public/vespasian_d_xiv.png?itok=LUPYjz8i

Manuscript Items
  1. Item: Fol. 4r/1-13

    • Title: Prayer to the Virgin Mary

      Rubric (initial): Oratio de sancta maria matre domini.

      Incipit (Latin): O dulcissima domina maria pietatis et misericordie

      Explicit (Latin): Aue maria | gratia plena dominus tecum benedictum in multis

      Text Language: Latin

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 54

  2. Item: Fol. 4r/14-19

    • Title: Prayer to St. Thomas

      Incipit (Latin): Deus qui beatum Thomam archipresulem | ab exilio reuocatum in ecclesia propria.

      Explicit (Latin): Per dominum nostrum Ihesum Amen.

      Text Language: Latin

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957 Art. 54

  3. Item: Fols 4v/1-6v/14

    • Title (B.1.1.2): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: De Initio Creaturae

      Incipit: (fol. 4v/1-2) AN anginn is ealra þingen. þæt is god | ælmihtig.

      Explicit: (fol. 6v/13-14) ˥ hine þæt gelogode. | ac he ƿearð þurh deofles sƿicdome ut adræ | fd

      Text Language: English

      Note: Text ends mid-page.

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 1

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 1, pp. 1-3

      Thorpe 1844-46, pp. 8-12

      Clemoes 1997 pp. 178-89

  4. Item: Fol. 6v/14-22

    • Title (B.1.8.5): Ælfric, Letters: Letter to Sigefyrð

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 6v/14) Emb Clænnysse þe gehadede mæn healden scy | len

      Incipit: (fol. 6v/15) Ælfric abbod gret Sigefryð.ʹ freondlice

      Explicit: (fol. 6v/21-22) Nu secge ic þe leofe man þæt me is lað to tælen | ægne godes freond.ʹ gyf he godes riht drifð.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Fragment.

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 2

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 2, p. 3

      Assmann Angelsächsiche, 1889, p. 13

      Wilcox 1994, p. 125, no. 8d, cf. 83-4

  5. Item: Fols 7r/1-11v/21

    • Title (B.7.1): Proverbs: Distichs of Cato

      Incipit: (fol. 7r/1-2) Mann sceal þurh his modes snoternysse | hine sylfre geglengen to ƿisre lare.

      Explicit: (fol. 11v/19-21) Ne nym þu medsceattes | for heo ablændeð ƿisra manna geðancas. ˥ ƿæn | deð rihtƿisra ƿord.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Cox 1972

      Ker 1957, Art. 2

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 2, p. 3

      Assmann Angelsächsiche, 1889, p. 13

      Wilcox 1994, p. 125, no. 8d, cf. 83-4

  6. Item: Fols 12r/1-13v/7

    • Title (B.1.1.22): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Feria III de fide catholica

      Incipit: (fol. 12r/1-2) AN Scyppend is ealra þingen geseoƿenlicre | ˥ ungeseoƿenlicre.

      Explicit: (fol. 13v/6-7) For þan þe heo hæfeð | þry þing on hire untodælendlice ƿyrcende.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 4

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 4, pp. 8-9

      Thorpe 1844-46, pp. 274-76, 282, 288

      Clemoes 1997, pp. 335-36, 341-42, II. 7-38, 112-13, 185-208

  7. Item: Fols 13v/8-15r/19

    • Title (B.1.8.3): Ælfric, Letters: Second Old English Letter for Wulfstanextract

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 13v/8) Decalogum moysi.

      Incipit: (fol. 13v/9-10) ƿe sculen cunnen gemyndelice ˥ mannen eac | seggen. þa ten ælice ƿord þe god tæhte moysen.

      Explicit: (fol. 15r/18-19) ˥ us þe nu | synden.ʹ æfter christes acænnednysse.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 5

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 5, pp. 9-11

      Fehr 1914, pp. 189-205

  8. Item: Fols 15r/19-21r/20

    • Title (B.1.6.2): Ælfric, Tracts: De Duodecim Abusivis

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 15r/19-20) De .xii. abu | siuis secundem disputatione Sancti Cipriani martyris.

      Incipit: (fol. 15r/21-2) Nu synd tƿelf abusiua . þæt synd tƿelf unðeaƿes | þe ƿe eoƿ secgeð onleden.

      Explicit: (fol. 21r/18-20) þæt hé ure faƿlen un | derfo. þe he asænde to þan lichamen. by him a | ƿuldor ˥ ƿurðmynt. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 6

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 6, pp. 11-16

      Morris 1867-68, pp. 299-304

  9. Item: Fols 21r/20 - 22r/19

    • Title (B.1.3.17): Ælfric, Third Series of Homilies [Lives of Saints]: Memory of the Saintsextracts

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 21r/20) De .via. principalibis viciis.

      Incipit: (fol. 21r/21-22) Nu syndon ehte heafodlehtres þe us on ƿinneð | sƿyðe.

      Explicit: (fol. 22r/17-19) ˥ þone mann macað eac | gyf he modegað tofƿðe. þæs deofles gefere þe | feoll ær þurh heo.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 7

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 7, pp. 16-17

      Skeat 1881-1900, pp. 354-58, II. 267-311

  10. Item: Fols 22r/19-23v/20

    • Title (B.1.3.17.2.EM): Ælfric, Third Series of Homilies [Lives of Saints]: Memory of the Saints [extracts]extracts

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 22r/19) De .via. virtutibus.

      Incipit: (fol. 22r/20) Nu synden ehte heafodmægna.

      Explicit: (fol. 23v/20) ámid gode sylfen gyf þe sƿincað nu her.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 8

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 8, pp. 17-19

      Skeat 1881-1900, pp. 358-62, ll. 312-81

  11. Item: Fols 23v/21 - 25r/12

    • Title (B.1.1.27): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: John the Baptist

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 23v/21) Of Sanctus Iohanne baptiste.

      Incipit: (fol. 23v/21-22) Se Godspellere lucas | aƿrat on cristes bech beo accænnednysse | jahes þæs fulhteres þuss cƿeðende.

      Explicit: (fol. 25r/12) Ofet hine fedde ˥ ƿude hunig. ˥ oðre ƿaclice þing.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 9

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 9, pp. 19-20

      Thorpe 1844-46, pp. 350-52

      Clemoes 1997, pp. 379-80

  12. Item: Fols 25r/13-25v/11

    • Title (B.1.1.28): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Peter and Paul: Gospel text only

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 25r/13) In Festo Sancti Petra apostoli.

      Incipit: (fol. 25r/13-15) Venit iesus in partes | cesaree philippi.ʹ ˥ reliqua. Matheus se godspel | lere aƿrat on þære godspellice gesettnysse þuss | cƿeðende.

      Explicit: (fol. 25v/11) þæt byð gebunden on heofone. ˥ sƿahƿætt sƿa þu unbinst | on eorðen; þæt byð unbunden on heofonen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 10

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 10, p. 20

      Thorpe 1844-46, p. 364

      Clemoes 1997, pp. 388, II. 1-16

  13. Item: Fols 25v/12-30r/10

    • Title (B.3.3.11): Anonymous Homilies, Homilies for Specified Occasions, Sanctorale: James the GreaterAccording to Ker, "Concerning James, the Brother of John".

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 25v/12) Of Iacobe Iohannes broðer.

      Incipit: (fol. 25v/13-15) Ðæt iudeissce folc brohte þan hundredes eal | dren feo. for þy þæt heo mosten jacoben sƿa | ateon sƿa heo ƿolden.

      Explicit: (fol. 30r/9-10) ƿan sy ƿul | dor ˥ ƿurðmynt and on ealra ƿurlde ƿurld. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 11

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 11, pp.21-25

      Schmetterer 1981, pp. 54-93

  14. Item: Fols 30r/11-31v/5

    • Title (B.1.2.34): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: James and the Seven Sleepers

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 30r/11) VI. kalendes Augusti. Sanctorum Septem Dormientium.

      Incipit: (fol. 30r/12-13) ƿe ƿylleð eoƿ eac gereccen seortlice þæt nu | æfter tƿam dagen is þære seofan slæpe | ran gemynd.

      Explicit: (fol. 31v/4-5) se þe leo | fað ˥ rixeð and on ecnysse. ameN.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 12

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 12, pp. 25-26

      Godden 1979, pp. 274-48, II. 182-231

  15. Item: Fols 31v/5-33r/3

    • Title (B.1.2.31): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Peter and Paul

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 31v/5-6) Kalendes Augusti. | Ad Vincula Sanctt Petri apostoli

      Incipit: (fol. 31v/7-10) LVcas se godspellere us sæde on þyssen pistol | rædinge. þæt herodes king ƿolde æfter cristes | upstige to heofone gesƿæncen sume of þære ge | laðunge.

      Explicit: (fol. 33r/2-3) þiss ƿæs gedon on þysser nihte. | ˥ on þan andƿeardan dæge þe ƿe hateð hlafmæsse.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Ker 1957, Art. 13

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 13, pp. 26-27

      Godden 1979, pp. 221-22, ll. 1-52

  16. Item: Fols 33r/4-40r/5

    • Title (B.1.1.30): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 33r/4) Dominica .xi. post Pentecosten.

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 33r/5) Cum appropinuaret iesus ierusalem. ˥ reliqua. On summe | re tide ƿæs se hælend farende to ierusalem

      Explicit: (fol. 40r/4-5) Seo þe lof | ˥ ƿuldor on ealra ƿurlda ƿurld. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 14, pp. 28-34

      Thorpe 1844-46, pp. 402-14

      Clemoes 1997, pp. 410-17

  17. Item: Fols 40r/5-48v/10

    • Title (B.1.2.35): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 40r/5-6) Dominica .xii. | post Pentecosten.

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 40r/6-8) Dixit iesus ad | quosdam qui in se confidebant tanquam | iusti et aspernabantur ceteros parabolam istam ˥ reliqua.

      Explicit: (fol. 48v/9-10) oððæt se hae | lend crist to þussen life becom.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Concludes with the story of Daniel from Ælfric, 'De falsis diis' ed. Pope 1967-68, 693-703, no. 21, ll. 300-496.

      Bibliography:

      Pope 1967-68, 693-703, no. 21, ll. 300-496

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 34-41, no. 15

      Godden 1979, 249-54

  18. Item: Fols 48v/10-54v/3

    • Title (B.1.1.32): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Assumption of the Virgin

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 48v/10-11) In Assumptione | Sancte Marie.

      Incipit: (fol. 48v/11-13) IERonimus se halge sacerd aƿrat | ænne pistol beo forðsiðe þære eadigen marien | godes cænnestre. to sumen halgen mædene.

      Explicit: (fol. 54v/1-3) ˥ cƿæð þæt heo | him geðingod hæfde ƿið þone heofonlice deme hire | agene sune.

      Text Language: English

      Note: cf. fols 58r/1- 60r/18 below.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 41-46, no. 16

      Thorpe 1844-46, 436-48

      Clemoes 1997, 429-36, ll. 1-198

  19. Item: Fols 54v/3-57v/22

    • Title (B.1.2.36): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Assumption of the Virgin

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 54v/10) Omelia

      Incipit: (fol. 54v/3-8) Mænn þa leofeste hƿi | lon ær ƿe gerehten eoƿ þone pistol þe se halge ieroni | mus sette beo forðsiðe þære eadigen marien christes | moder þurh þone he adƿæsete þa dƿollice gesettnysse | þe samlærede mæn sæden beo hire forðsiðe.

      Explicit: (fol. 57v/20-22) Synd sƿa | þeh get þa dƿollice bec æigðer gea on leden gea | on ænglisc.ʹ ˥ heo rædeð ungeræde mæn.

      Text Language: English

      Note: The explanatory note and pericope, fol. 54v/3-10, is written over an erased rubric and follows the preceding item without a break, but is followed by a red rubric at fol. 54v/10 and an enlarged and decorated coloured initial. Thus, Warner (1917 for 1915) edits this as a new text, but the manuscript textual divisions on fol. 54v are ambiguous, with a large initial 'S' apparent at line 54v:11, even though Warner's item begins at line 3 on fol. 54v, with the incipit as above.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 47-50, no. 17

      Godden 1979, 255-59, ll. 1-126

  20. Item: Fols 58r/1-60r/18

    • Title (B.1.1.32.1.EM): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Assumption of the Virgin [second part]

      Incipit: (fol. 58r/1-2) ƿe ƿylleð eoƿ gereccen beo geændunge þæs | arleasen godes ƿiðersacan julianes.

      Explicit: (fol. 60r/16-18) Se þe leofeð ˥ rixeð mid | fæder ˥ halgen gaste on eallre ƿurlde ƿurld. | ameN

      Text Language: English

      Note: cf. fols 48v/10-54v/2 above

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 50-52, no. 18

      Thorpe 1844-46, 448-54

      Clemoes 1997, ll. 199-273

  21. Item: Fols 60r/18-67r/23

    • Title (B.1.1.34): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Decollation of St John the Baptist

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 60r/18-19) .iiii. kalendes septembris Passio Sancti Iohannis | baptiste.

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 60r/19-20) Misit herodes ˥ tenuit iohannem. | et reliqua.

      Explicit: (fol. 67r/21-23) To þan life us gelæde se mildheorte drihten | se leofeð ˥ rixeð mid fæder ˥ mid halge gaste. | abuten ænde. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 52-58, no. 19

      Thorpe 1844-46, 476-90

      Clemoes 1997, 451-58

  22. Item: Fol. 67v/1-21

    • Title (B.1.4.4): Ælfric, Homilies of Ælfric: Dominica III in Quadragesima

      Incipit: (fol. 67v/1) Se helend cƿæð on his godspelle.

      Explicit: (fol. 67v/20-21) 's'e byð ƿyrse þone | se deofel.

      Text Language: English

      Note: 'Final two sentences, partly differentiated through a coloured initial 'S' at fol. 67/17, drawn from Ælfric, CH I. 21' (Ker 1957, Item 209). Ker (1957) notes that this item has been added in a blank space, is 'perhaps [of] another hand', and that the last 5 lines (17-21) 'are not part of the homily'; they come instead from Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Ascension. See Thorpe 1844-46, p. 304, ll. 4-5, and Clemoes 1997, p. 350, ll. 146-48. (Wilcox 2000).

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 58-59, no. 20

      Pope 1967-68, 267, no. 4, ll. 41-55

  23. Item: Fols 68r/1-70r/12

    • Title (B.1.2.40): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Matthew

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 68r/1) In .xi. kalendas octobres. De Sancto Matheo apostolo.

      Incipit: (fol. 68r/2-3) Se godspellere matheus þe ƿe | todæig ƿurðigeð

      Explicit: (fol. 70r/11-12) Sy | him þæs ƿuldor aa on ecnysse. Amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 59- 61, no. 21

      Godden 1979, 272-74, ll. 1-79

  24. Item: Fols 70r/13-74v/11

    • Title (B.1.1.36): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Dedicatio ecclesiae sancti Michaelis

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 70r/13) In .iii. kalendas Octobres.

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 70r/14-15) Accesserunt ad iesum discipuli dicentes. Quis | putas maior est in regno coelorum. Et reliqua.

      Incipit: (fol. 70r/16-17) Ðiss dægðerlice godspell cƿyðð þæt drihtenes | leorningcnihtes

      Explicit: (fol. 74v/10-11) ˥ þingere on heofone to þan aelmih | tigan gode. se þe leofeð ˥ rixeð a on ecnysse. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 61-65, no. 22

      Thorpe 1844-46, 510-18

      Clemoes 1997, 469-75, ll. 133-279

  25. Item: Fol. 74r/12-15

    • Title (B.1.2.37.1.EM): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: First Sunday in September [partial]

      Incipit: (fol. 74v/12) Godes gecorene synd

      Explicit: (fol. 74v/15) to bitere sarnysse.

      Text Language: English

      Note: The full homily occurs below beginning at fols 139r-145v, and these lines recur at fol. 143v/4-7.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 65, no. 23

      Godden 1979: 265, ll. 157-59

  26. Item: Fols 74v/16-75r/5

    • Title (B.9.8): AugustineExcerpt from Homilies of St Augustine

      Incipit: (fol. 74v/16) Augustinus sæde on his cƿiðbocan þæt nan mann ne | mihte asmeagan godes ǽ.

      Explicit: (fol. 75r/5) sƿa sƿa he sylf cƿæð on his godspelle.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 65, no. 24

      Schmetterer 1981, 94-105

  27. Item: Fols 75r/6 - 75v/2

    • Title (B.1.8.2): Ælfric, Letters: First Old English Letter for Wulfstan

      Incipit: (fol. 75r/6-7) Iohannes se godspellere on his gastlican gesihðe | þone hælend geseh

      Explicit: (fol. 75v/2) sƿa sƿa he sylf getæhte ær his þroƿunge

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 65-66, no. 25

      Fehr 1914, 83-87

  28. Item: Fol. 75v/3-21

    • Title (B.23.3.5): Prognostic

      Incipit: (fol. 75v/3-4) Ðonne forme geaƿesdæig byð sunendæig.ʹ hit | byð god ƿinter.

      Explicit: (fol. 75v/20-21) ˥ ealle ƿæstmes yfeles geƿænde. scep | cƿelleð ˥ ealde mænn.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 66, no. 26

      Assmann, Angelsächsiche, 1889, 369

  29. Item: Fols 76r/1-76v/18

    • Title (B.24.21): The Coming of Antichrist

      Incipit: (fol. 76r/1-2) Hit sæigð on halgen bocan. þæt æfter gearan ymb | ryne

      Explicit: (fol. 76v/17-18) byð sƿyðe mycle ungeðƿærnysse. ˥ ðrahlice ƿiten | on manna bearnen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 66-67, no. 27

      Schmetterer 1981, 106-28

  30. Item: Fols 76v/18-82v/8

    • Title (B.1.1.42): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Second Sunday in Advent

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 76v/18) Dominica .ii. iN aduentu domini

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 76v/19) Erunt signa in sole et luna. ˥ stellis. et Reliqua.

      Incipit: (76v/20-21) Se godspellere lucas aƿrat on þyssen dæigðer | licen godspelle.

      Explicit: (fol. 82v/5-8) for þy brucan þæs fyr | stes þe us god forgeaf. ˥ geearnigen þæt ece lif mid | him. se þe leofeð. ˥ rixeð on eallra ƿurlda ƿurld | ameN.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 67-72, no. 28

      Thorpe 1844-46, 608-18

      Clemoes 1997, 524-30

  31. Item: Fols 82v/10-86v/23

    • Title (B.1.1.38): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: All Saints

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 82v/10) Secundum matheum.

      Incipit (Latin): (fol. 82v/10) Videns turbas iesus.

      Incipit: (fol. 82v/11-12) Ðæt halige godspell þe nu lyttle ær ætforan | eoƿ gerædd wæs.'

      Explicit: (fol. 86v/21-23) scyppend ˥ alysend ealre | halgena mid fæder ˥ mid þan halgen gaste. a on ecnysse. | ameN.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Fol. 86v ruled for an extra line to complete this item.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 73-77, no. 29

      Thorpe 1844-46, 548-56

      Clemoes 1997, 491-96, ll. 147-291

  32. Item: Fols 87r/1-87v/8

    • Title (B.8.4.6.4): Gospels: John14:1-13

      Incipit: (fol. 87r/1-2) Iohannes se godspellere aƿrat hƿu se hælend spæc to his | leorningcnihten. ˥ cƿæð.

      Explicit: (fol. 87v/7-8) ˥ eall þæt ge beseceð æt | mine fæder on minen name.ʹ eall ic hit do.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 77, no. 30

  33. Item: Fols 87v/9-100r/22

    • Title (B.8.5.3): Apocrypha: Gospel of Nicodemus Homilies

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 87v/9) De Resurrectione domini

      Incipit: (87v/9-11) Ðæs dæiges þe ure | hælend for ure alesednysse geðolede pine on | þær halgen rode.

      Explicit: (fol. 100r/22) Seo drihtene lof.ʹ ˥ deofle sarege. ameN.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 77-88, no. 31

      Hulme 1903-04

  34. Item: Fols 100v/1-102r/8

    • Title (B.8.5.4): Apocrypha: Vindicta Salvatoris

      Incipit: (fol. 100v/1-3) ON Tiberies dagen þæs mycele caseres hit ge | lamp binnen lyttle fæce æfter þan þe | crist ahangen ƿæs.

      Explicit: (fol. 102r/7-8) ˥ ƿyrðmynt fæder[?] | ˥ sune. ˥ þan halgen gaste. aa buten ænde. Amem.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 88-89, no. 32

      Assmann, Angelsächsiche, 1889, 193-94

  35. Item: Fols 102r/9-103v/9

    • Title (B.24.22): The Fifteen Days Before Judgement

      Incipit: (fol. 102r/9-10) On þan nexten fiftene dagen beforen domes | dæge.

      Explicit: (fol. 103v/9-9) sƿa þæt on mid | denearde ne belæfð naht unclænes gesene.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 89-91, no. 33

      Assmann, 'Vorzeichen', 1889

  36. Item: Fol. 103v/9-24

    • Title (B.23.3.5.3.EM): Prognostic

      Title (manuscript): Emb þunre

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 103v/9-10) Emb | þunre

      Incipit: (fol. 103v/9) On Ianuarius monðe gyf hit þunreð.

      Explicit: (fol. 103v/23-24) On decembre. | hit bodeð god gear on tilðe. ˥ sibb. ˥ sehte.

      Text Language: English

      Note: The scribe has here written two extra lines to end this item at the end of this folio, which is the last in its quire.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 91, no. 34

      Assmann 1888

  37. Item: Fols 104r/1-119r/20

    • Title (B.9.7): Alcuin, De Virtutibus et VitiisTranslation of Alcuin, De Virtutibus et Vitiis, Chapters 1-16, each with its own rubric and textual demarcation within the manuscript.

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 104r/1) De Scientia.

      Incipit: (fol. 104r/1-3) Ærest ealre þingen | æighƿylce mæn is to secene hƿæt seo se soðe ƿi | sedom.

      Explicit: (fol. 119r/18-19) his saƿle to for | ƿyrde on ecere pine.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Internal rubrics are in red and followed by coloured initials, alternately green and red.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 91-105, no. 35.

      Assmann, 'Übersetzung', 1889

  38. Item: Fols 119r/21-123r/8

    • Title (B.1.1.39): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Clementabbreviated

      Incipit: (fol. 119r/21-22) Oft hƿonlice gelefde mænn smegeð mid | heora stunten gescade.

      Explicit: (fol. 123r/8-9) ˥ to þan ecen life gelæde. se þe leofeð | ˥ rixeð. abuten ænde. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 106-9, no. 36

      Thorpe 1844-46, 566-76

      Clemoes 1997, 502-6, ll. 148-280

  39. Item: Fols 123r/8-130v/22

    • Title (B.1.2.25): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Feria III in Letania MaioreVisio Fursei

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 123r/8) Sanctus Furseus gesihðe.

      Incipit: (fol. 123r/9-10) Mæn þa leofeste. Paulus se apostel eallra | þeode larðeaƿ aƿrat beo him sylfen

      Explicit: (fol. 130v/22) se þe is ealre leode ƿealdend.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 109-16, no. 37

      Godden 1979, 190-98

  40. Item: Fols 131r/1-136r/14

    • Title (B.1.2.26): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: Alia Visio

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 131r/1) Of Drihtelme

      Incipit: (fol. 131r/1-4) BEDA ure larðeaƿ aƿrat | on þære bech þe is gehaten historia | anglorum be sumes mannes æriste on þyssen | eglande.

      Explicit: (fol. 136r/12-14) on þan mæig æighƿa beo þyssen | genihtsumlice geheren se þe heo oferræden | ƿyle. gyf he þæt andgit understanden cann.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Doxology omitted, per Ker. Note that Ker (1957) makes two items of this one item, breaking the text at fol. 135r/15, when the manuscript shows no indication of a new textual item. We thus retain the single item numbering here, as Warner (1917 for 1915) item 38. Early Modern note, 'Liber Dialogorum gregory | Anglie habebat', at the foot of fol. 136r refers to the OE at fol. 136r/9-10.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 116-20, no. 38

      Godden 1979, 199-205

  41. Item: Fols 136r/15-137r/7

    • Title (B.1.1.20): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: In Letania Maioreextract

      Incipit: (fol. 136r/15-16) God spæc to anen ƿitege þe ƿæs Ionas geha | ten.

      Explicit: (fol. 137r/6-7) for heora lehtren mid heofonlice fyre for | bærnde. sƿa sƿa þe eoƿ gereccen mugen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 120-21, no. 39

      Thorpe 1844-46, 244-46

      Clemoes 1997, 317-18, ll. 14-39

  42. Item: Fols 137r/8-139r/2

    • Title (B.1.1.29): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Paul

      Incipit: (fol. 137r/8) Soð is to secgene. þa þa ƿyreceð on godes ƿille. | þa becumeð on myrhðe. Ðæt godspell | cweðð. Ælc þære þe forlæt.

      Explicit: (fol. 139r/1-2) ˥ geefenlæcen þan apostlen þæt ƿe mid heom and | mid gode þæt ece lif habben moten. Amen.

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 121-22, no. 40

  43. Item: Fols 139r/3-145v/18

    • Title (B.1.2.37): Ælfric, Second Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies II]: First Sunday in September

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 139r/3) Forbisne of Iob.

      Incipit: (fol. 139r/3-5) Mine gebroðre. ƿe rædeð | nu æt godes þenunge beo þan eadigen ƿere | Iob.

      Explicit: (fol. 145v/16-18) eallra his | ƿundra ˥ his ƿeldæden se þe ana is god a on | ecnysse. amen.

      Text Language: English

      Note: The entire text of a homily, a fragment of which is also included above at fol. 74v/12.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 123-29, no. 41

      Godden 1979, 260-67

  44. Item: Fols 145v/18-151r/23

    • Title (B.3.3.28): Anonymous Homilies, Homilies for Specified Occasions, Sanctorale: Saint Neot

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 145v/18) Of Seinte Neote.

      Incipit: (fol. 145v/19-20) Mæn þa leofeste. Ƿe ƿylleð eoƿ cyðen beo su | [?] men dæle emb þyssen halgen

      Explicit: (fol. 151r/22-23) ˥ þæt ƿe moten æfter forðsiðe | to ecere reste becumen.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Rubric on fol. 145v is in green, unlike the red used in all other cases. The text is fitted onto fol. 151r through the addition of a half-line beneath the usual ruled space.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 129-34, no. 42

      Richards 1971

       

  45. Item: Fols 151v/1-158r/12

     

    • Title (B.3.3.22): Anonymous Homilies, Homilies for Specified Occasions, Sanctorale: In Festis Sancte Mariea translation of a Latin sermon by Ralph d'Escures

      Rubric (initial): (fol. 151v/1) Sermo in festis Sancte Marie virginis.

      Incipit: (fol. 151v/2-4) Se godspellere Lucas sæigð on þyssen | godspelle. þæt se hælend com in to sumen | cæstele.

      Explicit: (fol. 158r/10-12) sohten urne drihten mid sme | rigeles inne his þruge þa þa he beby | riged ƿæs

      Text Language: English

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 134-39, no. 43

      Förster 1925

      Treharne 2006

  46. Item: Fols 158r/13-159r/8

    • Title (B.24.26.2): The Age of the World(possibly two texts, since enlarged initial M at fol. 159r/5 is in red ink. Ker (1957, p. 275), decides on two textual items here.)

      Incipit: (fol. 158r/13-14) Ƿe rædeð on bocan þæt Nabugodonosor | geheregode ierusalem.

      Explicit: (fol. 159r/6-8) Mann sægð þæt fram þan time þe ærest Adam gescapen ƿæs. oððe christes tocyme. ƿæron | agane fif þusend. ˥ fif hundred ˥ fif ˥ | tƿentig geare.

      Text Language: English

      Note: 'Darius' at fol. 158r/20 and 158v/15 overwrites an erasure in a different hand; D tipped with green. At fol. 158r/20, 'Swa swa writen seggeþ' is written in a different hand in fading red ink. On fol. 159r/9, lines of Latin have been squeezed in, beginning 'cum sit nostra presens intentio'.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 139-40, no. 44

      Förster, 'Weltzeitalter', 1925

  47. Item: Fols 159r/10-163v/8

    • Title (B.9.9): Honorius of Autun, ElucidariumHonorius Augustodunensis, Elucidarium

      Incipit: (fol. 159r/10) Sum mann sæigð þæt synne nis nan þing

      Explicit: (fol. 163v/8) heo gebideð frofre ˥ blisse.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Condensed translation of Book 2, Chapters 1-6

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 140-43, no. 45

      PL 172: 1133-38

  48. Item: Fols 163v/11-165r/13

    • Title (B.9.9.1.EM): Honorius of Autun, Elucidarium [second part]

      Incipit: (fol. 163v/11-12) hƿy aƿas ure drihten /of deaðe\ þæs formeste dæges | þære ƿuca.ʹ

      Explicit: (fol. 165r/12-13) feoƿertig dagen æfter | þær pine þe heo þoligeð under ante criste;

      Text Language: English

      Note: Condensed translation of Book 1, Chapters 23-25.

      Hand: Written in the hand of a minor scribe (see below).

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 144-45, no. 46

      Förster 1901

      PL 172: 1126-27

  49. Item: Fols 165r/14-166r/10

    • Title (B.1.1.21): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Feria III de dominica oratione

      Incipit: (fol. 165r/14-15) NE becymð nan mann | to godes rice buten he sy afondod.

      Explicit: (fol. 166r/8-10) þonne he mid soft | nesse ˥ mid yfele lusten geearnian þa ece tin | trege mid deofle on helle ƿite. aa.

      Text Language: English

      Hand: Fols 165v/1-166r/10 are in the hand of a minor scribe (see below); fol. 165r/14-22 is in the hand of another scribe.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 145-46, no. 47

      Thorpe 1844-46, 268-70

      Clemoes 1997, 330-31, ll. 148-77

  50. Item: Fols 166r/12-168r/23

    • Title (B.3.4.17): Anonymous Homilies [for unspecified occasions, published]: Kluge 1885, 474: De sancto iohanne

      Incipit: (fol. 166r/12) SANCTUS Iohannes geseh ofer garseg | sƿylc hit an land ƿære.

      Explicit: (fol. 168r/21-23) crist us generige | þæt ƿe on ƿynne ƿunigen móte. mid þan þe leo | feð ˥ rixeð a bute ænde. Amen.

      Text Language: English

      Note: Known as the Homily on the Phoenix

      Hand: In the hand of Scribe 3.

      Note: A line is added to fol. 168r to complete the item on this leaf.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 146-48, no. 48

      Kluge 1885

  51. Item: Fols 168v/1-169r/21

    • Title (B.1.1.14): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Annunciation

      Incipit: (fol. 168v/1-2) Sum æƿfest godes þeign ƿæs ge | haten zacharias.

      Explicit: (fol. 169r/20-21) ˥ tostenc | te þa modigan.

      Text Language: English

      Hand: In the hand of Scribe 3.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 148-49, no. 49

      Thorpe 1844-46, 202

      Clemoes 1997, 287, ll. 169-90

  52. Item: Fol. 169v/1-21

    • Title (B.1.1.11): Ælfric, First Series of Homilies [Catholic Homilies I]: Quinquagesima

      Incipit: (fol. 169v/1-2) Se hælend cƿæð on his godspelle. Ic eam | weig

      Explicit: (fol. 169v/21) Hit gelimpð gelomlice þone se mann

      Text Language: English

      Note: Ends imperfectly.

      Bibliography:

      Warner 1917 for 1915, 149, no. 50

      Thorpe 1844-46, 154-56

      Clemoes 1997, 261, ll. 59-71

  53. Item: Fols 170-224v

    Note: Part 2 of the manuscript is written in s. ix, and probably from Italy. Texts include extracts from the Meters of Boethius's Consolatio Philosophiae, Isidore, Synonyma: De lamentatioaone animæ peccatricis. English glosses, mostly in s. x.

    Bibliography:

  54. Item: Fol. 170v, top margin

    Addition: S.Y.

    Note: Ker (1957) notes that this mark may be s. xii. An Isidore text from Christ Church, Canterbury, now CUL Kk. 1. 28 has the same mark.

    Bibliography:

Object Description

Form

Form: Codex

Support: Substrate, probably vellum, of relatively good quality. First original folio, fol. 4, is damaged and yellowed, and has tear repaired with silk thread. Final folio, fol. 169v, is darker and shows signs of exposure, as does succeeding folio, the opening of the earlier conjoined codex. Most folios in the English part show signs of use, as corners and foredge margins are soft and dirty. Hairsides are generally very yellow and waxy. Manuscript smells smokey. Hair faces hair, flesh faces flesh throughout.

Extent: Part 1: fols 4-169 ii + 223 + iv leaves, trimmed; some marginal text cropped. The thickness of the unpressed volume is 57mm. Not all leaves are full size: fol. 106 is 159 mm tall, fol. 144 is 104 mm wide, fol. 166 is 112 mm wide (Wilcox 2000).

  • c. 159 mm x c. 146 mm (dimensions of most - size of leaves)

Foliation and/or Pagination:

The manuscript has been foliated three times, the two erroneous foliations are now both struck through.

Collation:

  • Quires: Part I: 12, 28, wants 2-8, 310, wants 1, 4-88, 910, 108, 1110+1 leaf after 10, 128, 138+1 leaf after 8, 14-158, 1610, 17-218. Part II: 16+2 singletons, 2-58, 68, wants 4, 78
  • Signatures: Quire 2, 8-13, 15 are signed respectively II, I-IV, VIII at the foot of last versos, often trimmed and just visible.

Condition:

The manuscript is in good condition. First original folio, fol. 4, is damaged and yellowed, and has tear repaired with silk thread. Final folio, fol. 169v, is darker and shows signs of exposure, as does succeeding folio, the opening of the earlier conjoined codex. Most folios in the English part show signs of use, as corners and foredge margins are soft and dirty. Hairsides are generally very yellow and waxy. Manuscript smells smoky. Repairs are made to damaged areas, such as fol. 4. An original repair can be seen in the outer margin of fol. 51, where it is stitched at lines 3-4. Notable is the fold across the middle of fols 4, 5, 6, the first quire, which suggests this was carried separately for some time before being joined to the manuscript.

Layout description:

  1. Layout:

    Written in one column throughout; 24 lines per page. Double vertical bounding lines, ruled in plummet, with top and bottom horizontal rulings extended full page width. Writing on top line. Generous interlinear spacing rendering manuscript highly legible.

    • Columns: 1
    • Written Lines: 24
    • Locus: Fols 1-24r
    • Dimensions: 35mm x 27mm; written space

Hand Description

Hand
  • Number of hands: 3
  • Hand: SC1
    • Scope: major
    • Script: Late English Vernacular Minuscule
    • Description: Scribe A - fols 4v-169r (except folios noted below) fols 4v/15-169r. A relatively formal bookhand. This hand is not found elsewhere, but is generally similar in aspect to the prickly script of Christ Church, Canterbury and Rochester.
    • Summary of the characteristics of the hand:
    • Hybrid forms of single-compartment a with a very indistinct head.
    • Tall, round-backed d.
    • Vernacular minuscule forms of f.
    • 8-shaped g (typical of mid-twelfth-century script), often ligatured by straight stroke to next letter, has a hairline stroke closing lower bowl from which an otiose tail extends from the left corner, probably contemporary, but possibly added later.
    • h is Caroline.
    • Slightly uneven minims, with generous space between doubling of nasal consonants.
    • p has a pronounced onset stroke, with a distinctive 45º foot to the right of the descender.
    • Vernacular minuscule form of r.
    • Tall, uncial and long forms of s.
    • t has a notable otiose onset stroke at 45º to the headstroke.
    • Straight-limbed, dotted y.
    • ð has an exaggerated cross-stroke low on the ascender, with a flick down to the right at the end.
    • Backward leaning þ.
    • ƿ has a pointed bowl.
    • Tall ascenders, often wedged or split.
    • descenders taper to the left.
    • bowls are angular.
    • Ligatures: Ligatures include st, comprosed of long or high s and t, crossed at half-way point.
    • Abbreviations: Abbreviations are few, but include þ with angular, upward-curving stroke towards the top of the ascender.
    • Punctuation: Punctuation includes punctus on, or slightly above, line; punctus elevatus; and very angular hairline hyphens at line-ends to show run-over of lexemes.
  • Hand: SC2
    • Scope: minor
    • Script: Late English Vernacular Minuscule
    • Description: fols 4v-6v/14, 67v, 165r/14-22, 166r/13-168. Additional articles in the manuscript (). Written in a hand later than - but, arguably, identical to - the first. It has a rounded duct, and letter forms are laterally expansive.
    • Summary of the characteristics of the hand:
    • a is two-compartment.
    • Tall, round-backed d.
    • e often has an extended tongue in final position.
    • Vernacular minuscule forms of f where the mid-bar curves up (as opposed to Scribe 1, where it curves down).
    • 8-shaped g (typical of mid-twelfth-century script), often ligatured by a straight stroke to the next letter, has a very angular hairline stroke closing lower bowl; insular g also occurs in final folios, used for the palatal spirant, where Caroline g is used for the stop.
    • h is Caroline with an exaggerated right limb, curving under the left limb.
    • Slightly uneven minims, with generous space between doubling of nasal consonants.
    • p has a distinctive 45º foot to the right of the descender.
    • Vernacular minuscule form of r is distinctive with its shoulder curving back towards the downstroke and occasionally closing before it curves up to the right.
    • s is generally tall in all positions.
    • t has a notable angular onstroke at 45º to the headstroke.
    • Dotted y has limbs that turn outwards, the whole letter tipping slightly to the right.
    • ð is formed with a wavy stroke piercing the ascender; in the latest stints, the top of the crossbar is emphatically flagged to the left.
    • þ has a low ascender.
    • ƿ has pointed bowl.
    • ascenders are tall, often wedged or split.
    • descenders exploit the generous interlinear space and taper to the left.
    • Ligatures: Ligatures include st, which occurs frequently. There is some biting (e.g., fol. 5r/17, 'scyppend').
    • Abbreviations: The tironian nota often sits on the line, and curves up at the bottom to the right. Abbreviations are few, but include þ with a cross-stroke through the ascender; cw with a macron over the ƿ; a Latin curved hook for '-er', and an upward curved macron over nasal or denoting (in English) omission of nasal.
    • Punctuation: Punctuation includes low punctus; punctus elevatus; and hyphen at varying heights and angles at line-end.
    • Corrections by insertion mark and interlinear addition.
  • Hand: SC3
    • Scope: minor
    • Script: Late English Vernacular Minuscule
    • Description: Additional articles in the manuscript (fols 163v/11-165r/13, 165v-166r/10. ). Partially written by Scribe 3 and Scribe 2. The main characteristics of Scribe 3's hand are its rounded, slightly backward-leaning aspect, and its regular duct. The script is calligraphically consistent. The scribe uses rustic capitals occasionally for Latin names.
    • Summary of the characteristics of the hand:
    • a is two-compartment.
    • æ is formed with single compartment a, the lower part of edescending slightly below the line.
    • d is round-backed.
    • e often has an extended tongue in final position.
    • Vernacular minuscule forms of f where the mid-stroke is often slightly longer than the headstroke.
    • 8-shaped g, often ligatured by straight stroke to next letter, has a hairline stroke closing lower bowl, with an occasional oblique stroke finishing the lower part of the tail. Insular g begins from the left of the headstroke and sweeps round into an angular, but controlled tail. Insular g is used for the spirant; Caroline, for the stop.
    • Caroline h.
    • Even minims, often with slight serifs to the right.
    • There is a very slight 45º foot to the right of the descender of p.
    • Vernacular minuscule form of r with very slight hook up at end of right limb.
    • s is generally long in all positions; uncial s occurs in Latin names.
    • t has a well-formed curved downstroke.
    • ð is formed with a short curved stroke piercing the ascender.
    • þ has a curved, tapered descender.
    • y is dotted, with both upper limbs turning to the left.
    • ƿ has pointed bowl, but otherwise is quite similar to p.
    • Rustic N is used at line-ends.
    • Tall ascenders are controlled, and often flagged to the left.
    • descenders exploit the generous interlinear space, tapering and curving to the left.
    • Ligatures: Ligatures include st, with a narrow, high aperture, and tcrossed through a mid-point. There is some biting.
    • Abbreviations: The tironian nota has a slightly wavy head, and usually descends below the line, but occasionally sits on the line and flicks up at the bottom to the right. Abbreviations are few, but include þwith a cross-stroke to the right of the ascender; Latin 9-shaped mark for '-us', and upward curved macron over 'sce' or denoting English omission of nasal.
    • Punctuation: Punctuation includes low punctus; punctus elevatus; punctus interrogativus (tipped over); and punctus versus at end of text.
    • Corrections by insertion mark, interlinear addition, erasure and overwriting.
Decoration Description

Frequent decorated initials in red and green to mark main items, sometimes alternating between the two colours, for example;

  • fol. 4r, O and D in red, together with the rubrics;
  • fol. 4v, red A with green infill and additional red splashes on particular graphs within the text;
  • fol. 7r, green M with red lines along the two oblique bars.
Additions

Fourteenth-century: pen-trials ('Sciant presentes' 'Domine dominus noster') in margins of fol. 58v; pencil scratches at bas-de-page of fol. 76r. Erased pen-trials in margins of fols 111v, 113v, 116v. Richard James's table of contents appears on fol. 2r and another table of contents appears on fol. 3r.

The manuscript contains later sixteenth-century: annotations in the hands of Robert Talbot, John Joscelyn, and Laurence Nowell.

Binding Description

Bound in s. xvii in brown and red leather with shield on front in gold tooling, with green leather on the spine. Number 691 at top, A at bottom. 'Homilies of Abbat AElfric, Saxon, etc.' written in a green square.

Accompanying Material

Added flyleaves of a printed edition of a Latin text at the beginning and the end of the manuscript.

Additional Information

Administration Information

Manuscript described by Elaine Treharne with the assistance of Orietta Da Rold, Zöe Enstone, Hollie Morgan, Owen Roberson, William Green and Takako Kato (2010; 2013).

Surrogates

History

Origin

Origin:

Written in the South-East of England, almost certainly at Christ Church, in the period 1140-1160. The manuscript seems to show a gradual accumulation of texts over time, if alterations in the various hands' letter-forms are anything to go by, including the identification of the same or a very similar hand in a Christ Church charter of the same period (Treharne forthcoming).

Provenance:

Nothing is known of the manuscript's history, prior to its acquisition by Cotton, except that it seems to have been used by a female 'ancilla' (as noted above) by the later twelfth century. Further annotations and pen-trials show the manuscript was available for users, but little else can be deduced as yet. What is known is fully detailed in Wilcox (2000). Acquisition Given to British Library as part of Cotton collection.

Provenance

Canterbury Christ Church

Bibliography

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Catalogue Entry Authored By

Elaine Treharne

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