A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

Merton College MS. 35

Former shelfmark: A. 3. 9

Augustine &c., ASTRONOMICA; S. XIV in.

Contents

fol. i was once pasted down, but was written on at an earlier date. fol. iiv blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: seruis eius
Two originally separate volumes, one main one and the fragment of another, together early.
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 249 leaves (ii + 247)
Dimensions (leaf): 320 × 210 mm.
the edges lightly retrimmed and stained yellow.

Collation

a bifolium, 1–1612, 176, 18–2012 / 2112, a singleton; I has framed catchwords and pencilled quire-signatures of the usual late medieval form.

Binding

s. xv, heavily restored: cushion-bevelled oak boards with slightly projecting foredges, now bare; two straps from shallow recesses in the front board to catches on the back, all gone. Rebacked with modern vellum; sewn on six bands. On the rear board, near the foot, is the mark of the large ?brass chain-staple. Possible marks on fol. 247v of the large iron chain-staple. A brass chain-staple was once at the foredge of the front board, near the foot.

History

Origin: S. XIV in.

Provenance and Acquisition

On fol. i are a number of partly-obliterated notes: at the head ‘Liber M. Willelmi Reed x E ’; the remains of an early table of contents; a single-line note of s. xiv ‘ Ioh. Malteby nuper defunct requiescat in pace’. At the head of fol. 1 is ‘Liber’, s. xiv, followed by a thorough erasure. On fol. iv: all in the hand of Walter Robert, ‘Liber M. Willelmi Reed socii domus scolarium de Merton’ in Oxon’ quem emit ibidem a quodam stacionario de bonis sibi datis per reuerendum dominum suum M. Nicholaum de Sandwico. Oretis igitur pro singulis supradictis.’; ‘Liber domus scolarium de Merton’ in Oxon’ in communi libraria eiusdem et ad usum communem magistrorum et sociorum ibidem studencium cathenandus. Ex dono uenerabilis patris domini Willelmi tercii episcopi Cicestrie. Oretis igitur pro eodem et benefactoribus eiusdem ac fidelium animabus a purgatorio liberandis. Walterus Roberti.’; ‘xxvii uolumen.’ For Reed, fellow from 1344 until at least 1357, d. 1385, see MS 8. This was apparently one of the books willed by him to the College. Between the first and second inscriptions, probably in Reed’s hand, is a lengthy table of contents, including the first art. of II.

On fol. 247 ‘Istum librum fecit reparari M. Ioh. Burbage sacre pagine professor’. For Burbage, see MS 3.

On fol. ii: ‘N. 3. 9. Art:’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced with ‘A. 3. 9 (XXXV)’, in red; ‘M. A. 4’, canc. and replaced with ‘M. 7’, s. ?xvii. ‘9’ is inked near the foot of the foredge, upside down.

Merton College MS. 35 – Part I

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fols. 1–13)
Ps.-Augustine, Hypomnesticon,

bks 1–4

Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris egregii contra quinque hereses ypponosticon id est abbreuiatus liber incipit
Incipit: Aduersarii catholice fidei
Explicit: subuenerit salutaris
Final rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris contra Pelagianos et Scelestianos Ypponosticon liber explicit

CPL 381; ed. J. E. Chisholm (2 vols, Paradosis 20–1: Fribourg, 1967, 1980), II, pp. 101–72.

2. (fols. 13–19v)
Ps.-Augustine (Quodvultdeus), Aduersus Quinque Hereseos
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris egregii contra quinque hereses liber incipit
Incipit: Debitor sum fratres factor
Explicit: qui credentes in se custodit in secula seculorum

CPL 410; CCSL 60 (1976), pp. 259–301.

3. (fols. 19v–22v)
Augustine, De Fide Rerum Inuisibilium
Rubric: Incipit liber beati Augustini de fide rerum inuisibilium
Incipit: Sunt qui putant Christianam religionem propterea ridendam
Explicit: in litore separari
Final rubric: Explicit ...

CPL 292; CCSL 46 (1969), pp. 1–19.

4. (fols. 22v–8)
Augustine, De Decem Chordis (Serm. 9)
Rubric: In nomine Domini nostri I. C. incipit sermo sancti Augustini de decem cordis
Incipit: Dominus et Deus noster misericors et miserator
Explicit: desideramus ibi inueniemus amen
Final rubric: Explicit ...

CCSL 41 (1961), pp. 100–51.

5. (fols. 28–43)
Augustine, De Genesi contra Manicheos
Rubric: Aurelius Augustinus doctor egregius iam in Affrica constitutus de genesi duos libros apertissime editos aduersum Manicheos in defensione ueteris legis quam uehementi studio oppugnabant
Incipit: Si eligerent Manichei quos deciperent
Explicit: que mihi uidebantur exposui
Final rubric: Explicit liber creature celi et terre Sancti Augustini episcopi contra Manicheos

CPL 265; PL 34. 173–220.

6. (fols. 43–9v)
Augustine, De Natura Boni

Preceded by the relevant extract from Retract

Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris egregii incipit prologus in librum de natura boni contra Manicheos
Incipit: Liber de natura boni aduersum Manicheos
Incipit: Summum bonum quo superius non est Deus est
Explicit: celestem uitam eternam que proponant. Amen.
Final rubric: Explicit liber sancti Augustini de natura boni contra Manicheos

CPL 323; CSEL 25, 2 (1892), pp. 853–89.

7. (fols. 49v–55v)
Ps.-Augustine (Vigilius Thapsensis), Contra Felicianum
Rubric: Incipit disputatio Aurelii Augustini doctoris egregii contra Felicianum hereticum de Trinitate
Incipit: Extorsisti mihi dilectissime fili
Explicit: retribuere mercedem
Final rubric: Explicit disputatio sancti Augustini cum Feliciano heretico

CPL 808; PL 42. 1157–72.

8. (fols. 55v–7)
Sermo Arianorum
Rubric: Incipit sermo Arrianorum
Incipit: Dominus noster I. C. Deus unigenitus
Explicit: et potestatem habens omnium, cui ...
Final rubric: Explicit ...

CPL 701; PL 42. 677–84.

9. (fols. 57–65v)
Augustine, Contra Sermonem Arianorum
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris Ipponensis episcopi contra istam Arrianorum perfideam liber incipit
Incipit: Eorum precedenti disputacioni
Explicit: isto fine concludimus
Final rubric: Explicit liber sancti Augustini contra Arrianorum perfidiam

CPL 702; PL 42. 683–708.

10. (fols. 65v–86)
Augustine, Contra Aduersarium Legis et Prophetarum
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris egregii contra aduersarium legis et prophetarum liber primus incipit
Incipit: Librum quem misistis
Explicit: quantocius explicare curabo

CPL 326; CCSL 49 (1985), pp. 35–131, 179–80.

11. (fols. 86–95v)
Augustine, De Praedestinatione Sanctorum
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris liber primus incipit de predestinacione sanctorum ad Prosperum et Ylarium
Incipit: Dixisse quidem apostolum scimus
Explicit: ne offendat unius nimia longitudo.
Final rubric: Explicit liber primus de predestinatione

CPL 354; PL 44. 959–92.

12. (fols. 95v–107v)
Augustine, De Dono Perseuerantiae
Rubric: Incipit liber secundus de bono perseuerancie
Incipit: Iam de perseuerancia diligencius disputandum est
Explicit: dignanturque nosse quod scribo

CPL 355; PL 45. 993–1034.

13. (fols. 107v–14)
Augustine, De Anima et eius Origine
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris de natura et origine anime ad Renatum liber incipit
Incipit: Sinceritatem tuam erga nos Renate
Explicit: (ends in 4. 2. 2) differt pecore si nescit

CPL 345; CSEL 60 (1913), pp. 301–81 line 10.

14. (fols. 123v, 123v–132; 132v blank)
Augustine, De Haeresibus

Preceded by Epist. 221

Rubric: Epistola Quoduultdeus diaconi ad beatum Augustinum
Incipit: Domino merito uenerabili et uere beatissimo
Rubric: Responsum beati Augustini et prohemium
Incipit: Domino sinceriter dilectissimo et condiacono
Explicit: me orationibus adiuuetis

CPL 314; CSEL 46 (1969), pp. 286–345.

15. (fols. 133–4)
Anselm, Meditatio 3
Incipit: Anima christiana de graui morte resuscitata
Explicit: quia tu es cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto Deus solus benedictus in s. s. amen

SAO 3. 84–91.

16. (fols. 134–98; 198v blank)
Hugh of St Victor, Commentary on Ps.-Dionysius, De Hierarchia Caelesti
Incipit: Iudei signa querunt et Greci sapientiam
Explicit: sanctitas condescendit

PL 175. 923–1154; Goy, p. 190. Passages of text and commentary alternate, the text in larger script on alternate lines.

17. (fols. 199–234v)
Giles of Rome OSA, De Corpore Christi Theoremata
Rubric: De corpore Christi
Incipit: Quia inter cetera sacramenta ecclesie eucaristie sacramentum plus difficultatis continere uidetur
Explicit: corporis et sanguinis sacrum qui ...
Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de corpore Christi editus a fratre Egidio Romano fratrum heremitarum ordinis Sancti Augustini. Deo gratias.

pr. Bologna 1481 &c.; Glorieux, Théol. 400i. The theorems are written in larger script on alternate lines.

Physical Description

Layout

Written space 225 × 135–45 mm. , ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 50 lines (58 fols. 133–56 = quires 12–13). Double lines were ruled right across the page for running heads, supplied spasmodically in later hands.

Hand(s)

Practised English rotunda bookhands.

Decoration

Large red and blue flourished initials; blue initials flourished in red.

History

Origin: S. XIV in. ; England, probably professionally made at Oxford

Merton College MS. 35 – Part II

Contents

Language(s): Latin

18. (fol. 235rv)
John Holywood, Algorismus (fragm.)
Incipit: ||(Beg. impf. at 139; edn. p. 194 line 416) et spissitudinem ita numerus
Explicit: tam in numeris quadratis quam cubicis. Explicit.

ed. F. Saaby Pedersen, Petri Philomenae de Dacia et Petri de S. Audemaro Opera Quadrivialia 1 (Corpus Philosophorum Danicorum Medii Aevi 10. 1–2: Copenhagen, 1983–4), pp. 174–201; eTK 0991A, ; Sharpe, Handlist , p. 306.

19. (fols. 235v–7v)
De Compositione Quadrantis
Incipit: ⟨P⟩ost chilindri compositionem et officium eiusdem
Explicit: scies altitudinem cuiuslibet rei erecte
Final rubric: Explicit compositio chilindri cum arte sua que composita fuit Oxonie

unpr.; eTK 1062E, listing another three English copies; additional copies are in Bodl. Libr., Digby 2 and 98. Accompanied by tables.

20. (fols. 238–9v)
Treatise on the quadrant
Rubric: Incipit tractatus de quadrante
Incipit: Scito quod quadrans est quarta pars circuli continens 90 gradus
Explicit: colloca margaritam in paralello ut supra
Final rubric: Et in hoc expletur doctrina quadrantis Deo gratias

Accompanied by large tables in red and black.

21. (fols. 239v–40)
Regula quadrantis
Rubric: Regula quadrantis
Incipit: Cum secundum diuersos diuersimode sciencia quadrantis describatur
Explicit: totam non dubites ad 7

Accompanied by large tables in red and black.

22. (fols. 240v–6)
John Holywood, De Sphaera
Incipit: (prologue) ⟨T⟩ractatum de spera quatuor capitulis distinguimus dicentes primo quid sit spera
Incipit: Spera igitur ab Euclide sic describitur
Explicit: aut mundana machina dissoluitur. Deo gracias.

ed. J. Thorndike (Chicago ILL, 1949); eTK 1577L. With circular diagrams.

23. (fol. 246rv)
John of Seville, On the Astrolabe
Incipit: ⟨A⟩strologice speculacionis exercicium habere uolentibus
Explicit: (ends impf.) ⟨D⟩e scriptis predictis restat alancabuth quod interpretatur aranea

ed. J. Millás Vallicrosa, Las traducciones orientales en los manuscritos de la Biblioteca Catedral de Toledo (Madrid, 1942), pp. 316–21; eTK 0156D, 0156I; Carmody 170. With circular diagrams. fol. 247v blank.

Physical Description

Layout

Written space 250 × 160–80 mm. , ruled with crayon in 2 cols of 47 lines.

Hand(s)

Rotunda bookhands of Italian or southern French appearance.

Decoration

Plain red initials and rubrics, often omitted.

History

Origin: S. XIV in. ; France, south (?), or Italy (?)

Additional Information

Record Sources

R. M. Thomson, A descriptive catalogue of the medieval manuscripts of Merton College, Oxford (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer), 2009.

Availability

For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact Merton College Library.

Bibliography

    Coxe, pp. 23–4; Powicke, no. 531; Römer 2. 303.

Funding of Cataloguing

Conversion of the printed catalogue to TEI funded by the Warden and Fellows of Merton College .

Last Substantive Revision

2018-08-01: First online publication

See the Availability section of this record for information on viewing the item in a reading room.