Merton College MS. 2
Former shelfmark: A. 2. 2
AUGUSTINE ON JOHN; S. XIII ex.
Contents
Language(s): Latin
f. i blank; on f. iv, in a humanistic hand, ‘Augustinus in Evangelium Iohannis’.
Preceded by capitula
CPL 278; CCSL 36 (1954).
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Ruled with crayon in 2 cols of 37 lines.
Hand(s)
One large, variable English gothic rotunda hand, at first of liturgical appearance.
Decoration
Each homily opens with a handsome large (usually 6-line) red and blue flourished initial, probably by more than one hand. The scribe of the text writes explicits and lengthy incipits in red. As far as Tract. LXVII the numbers are given as running heads in red and blue capitals. Blue, red and green script, and red or blue initials flourished in the other colour, are used in the capitula , as well as red patterned line-fillers. Occasional highlighting in red or yellow.
Binding
As for MS 1; sewn on five bands. Formerly two broad leather straps from the front to clasps at the rear; marks of brass chain-staples at the foredge of the front board, near head and foot. The rear pastedown has two marks of pins from an earlier binding.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
At the foot of f. 289v are two thoroughly-erased inscriptions, one of which can be read as ‘liber primus’ (probably meaning that the book was once part of an electio ); on the rear pastedown is one more.
On f. 1v are: in a formal gothic quadrata hand with red initial flourished in violet, ‘Liber Magistri Iohannis Tailour sacre theologie professoris’; lower down, in an untidy secretary hand of c. 1500, ‘Librum istum dedit collegio bone memorie uenerabilis pater magister Iohannes Taylour nuper sacre theologie professor doctissimus ad communem utilitatem in hac bibliotheca studentium; et continet omelias beati Augustini super Iohannem. Oremus igitur omnes pro eo ut a peccatis soluatur’. Taylor (BRUO 1850–1) was provost of Oriel College (1479–92) and chancellor of Exeter Cathedral. This was one of three books brought to Merton by his executors on 16 Jan. 1493 and deposited in the Library on 2 Aug. 1494 (Registrum, pp. 168, 184). The other survivor is MS 316.
At the head of f. 1 is ‘M. A. 6’, s. xvii. On f. 1v: ‘N. 1. 2. Art:’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced by ‘A. 2. 2’ in purple ink; modern ‘(II).’ in red; the College bookplate. ‘2’ is inked on the foredge. (7) At the head of f. 2 is the James no. ‘9’ (wrongly), s. xvii in.
Record Sources
Availability
For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact Merton College Library.
Bibliography
Funding of Cataloguing
Conversion of the printed catalogue to TEI funded by the Warden and Fellows of Merton College .
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2018-08-01: First online publication