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

Merton College MS. 68

Former shelfmark: K. 2. 2

THEOLOGICA; S. XV med.

Contents

Language(s): Latin with a little Middle English (items 16, 17)

fols. iii, iv-vv blank. On fol. iiiv is a table of contents, little later than the main text, keyed to the foliation. It shows that the missing fol. 118 contained ‘Liber Metodii de tempore Antechristi et de die iudicii’, which went as far as 118v or 119, on which began art. 20. Curiously, these two arts. are listed separately, at the end of the table. Doubtless this attracted the attention of a Protestant fellow, and accounts for their removal. The remover presumably did not realize that art. 20 continued much further on in the book.

1. (fols. 1–2)
‘De adoratione, latria, hyperdulia et dulia libellus’
Incipit: Latria est honor soli Deo debitus
Explicit: Sed iste actus uoluntatis est uere adoracio

Also in CCCC 365, fols. 143v–5, with a different ending.

2. (fols. 2–6)
Ps.-Bonaventure, Centiloquium
Rubric: Incipit paruum bonum fratris SS. Bonauenture quod a quibusdam uocatur meditatio eius
Incipit: Ecce tripliciter tibi eam descripsi Prov. 22. Cum omnis scientia gerat Trinitatis insigne
Explicit: prima tronorum 2a cherubin 3a seraphin amen
Final rubric: Explicit ...

pr. Strassburg, 1489 &c.; Glorieux, Théol. 305cb.

3. (fols. 6–16)
‘Liber de natura rerum’
Rubric: Incipit de proprietatibus rerum
Incipit: Iulius Siluius dicit quod aquila que acuti luminis dicitur in alto enim ascendit
Explicit: saxa penetrat et ypocritas signat

Bloomfield 2875, this copy only. In alphabetical sections, Aquila – Ysopus . On fols. 16–17v is an analytical index in 2 cols, organized by moralistic topics, Abstinencia – Ypocrisis .

4. (fols. 17v-18v)
?Thomas Sutton OP, De Vita Apostolica
Rubric: De uita apostolica
Incipit: Quia quidam emuli nostri impugnant in nos dicentes quod ordo predicatorum non seruet formam apostolorum
Explicit: sed magis consonum et apertum. Explicit uita apostolica

unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 684, one of two copies.

5. (fols. 18v-23v)
Walter Hilton OESA, De Adoratione Imaginum
Rubric: Tractatus ^Palmer^ de adoracione ymaginum
Incipit: Numquid Domini nostri crucifixi et beate Marie ac reliquorum sanctorum
Explicit: in claritate uisionis beate. Ad quam ...
Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de adoracione ymaginum secundum Thomam Palmer fratrem predicatorem et professorem theologie

ed. J. P. H. Clark and C. Taylor, (Analecta Cartusiana 124: Salzburg, 1987), pp. 179–214; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 735; J. M. Russel-Smith, ‘Walter Hilton and a tract in defence of the veneration of images’, Dominican Studies 7 (1954), 180–214. Also in MS 175, there ascr. to John Sharpe.

6. (fols. 23v-9)
?Giles of Rome OESA, De Originali Peccato
Rubric: Tractatus de originali peccato secundum Palmer ut dicitur
Incipit: Ego cum sim puluis et cinis loquar ad Dominum Deum meum
Explicit: ut facie ad faciem te uidere posse possimus qui ...
Final rubric: Explicit Palmer de peccato originali

unpr.; Glorieux, Théol. 400h; G. Bruni, Le opere di Egidio Romano (Florence, 1936), p. 120 no. 41; Bloomfield 1886; Sharpe, Handlist , p. 674, rejecting the implication of the explicit , that the author was Thomas Palmer OP.

7. (fols. 29–31v)
JOHN DEVEROSE, De Materia Peregrinationis
Incipit: In materia peregrinacionis dicendum in materia peregrinacionis est licitum est peregrinari hominibus
Explicit: et execrabiliter sunt excecati
Final rubric: Explicit materia perigrinacionis

unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 235. Also in MS 175, there ascr. to John Sharpe.

8. (fols. 31v-2)
Petrus Alfonsi, Dialogus contra Iudaeos
Incipit: Quid adhuc quasi in thesauro reseruaui tibi
Explicit: et alius catholicus Christianus amen

The complete text PL 157. 535–672; ed. K. P. Meith (Berlin, 1982); Diaz 893. It follows art. 7 again in MS 175.

9. (fols. 32–40)
Robert Allington, Determinatio de Adoratione Imaginum
Rubric: Alington de adoracione ymaginum
Incipit: Pro materia de adoracione ymaginum est notandum secundum doctorem solempnem
Explicit: in celis triumphat amen
Final rubric: Explicit determinatio M. Roberti Alyngton de adoracione ymaginum

unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 522; one of three known copies.

10. (fol. 40)
Thomas Aquinas, De Iudiciis Astrorum
Rubric: Incipit tractatus de iudiciis astrorum secundum Thomam de Alquino
Incipit: Quia petisti ut tibi scriberem an liceret iudiciis astrorum incendere
Explicit: dependent iudiciis astrorum uti
Final rubric: Explicit

ed. R. A. Verano and R. M. Spiazzi, Opuscula Theologica (Turin/Rome, 1954), I, p. 155; Glorieux, Théol. 14cn.

eTK 1227G
11. (fols. 40–2)
‘De obseruatione sabbati tractatulus.’
Incipit: Quia de tercio precepto prime tabule scilicet de sacrificacione sabbati
Explicit: et commode prouideri quod Deus concedat amen

Bloomfield 4674, this copy only.

12. (fols. 42–63)
?GILBERT THE MINORITE, Liber de Exemplis Sacrae Scripturae
Incipit: Tanta pollet excellentia predicacionis officium
Incipit: Abstinentia et ieiunium: precepit Dominus Ade Ge. ex omni ligno paradisi comode
Explicit: quod a Paulo dicebantur Act. 13

unpr.; Bloomfield 5978, 0143. The ascription of the prologue is uncertain. This copy is, apparently wrongly, listed under Bloomfield 1006.

(fols. 63–64)
An alphabetical word-index

AbstinenciaZelum

13. (fols. 64v-74v)
Ps.-Robert Grosseteste (Malachius Hibernicus), De Venenis
Rubric: Incipit tractatus de uenenis
Incipit: Racio ueneni potissime conuenit peccato
Explicit: aliis pretermissis et derelictis
Final rubric: Explicit tractus de veneno et eius remediis

pr. Paris 1518; Thomson, Grosseteste, pp. 268–70; Bloomfield 5102.

14. (fols. 74v-88v)
Stimulus Conscientiae (Latin translation)
Rubric: Hampole
Incipit: Ab eterno et ante tempora fuit Deus semper idem
Explicit: intra in gaudium Domini tui ad quod gaudium nos peruenere concedat qui ...
Final rubric: Explicit tractatus qui uocatur stimulus conscientie secundum Hampole

unpr.; Allen, Richard Rolle, p. 376; Bloomfield 0031, 1543.

15. (fols. 88v-95)
Richard Rolle, Emendatio Vitae
Rubric: Hic libellus est de emendacione uite siue de regula uiuendi
Incipit: Ne tardes conuerti ad Dominum
Explicit: ipsum eternaliter laudare cui ...
Final rubric: Expliciunt xii. capitula Ricardi heremite de modo uiuendi in uita contemplatiua &c

pr. Paris 1510 &c.; ed. N. J. Watson (Toronto, 1995), pp. 33–68; Allen, Richard Rolle, p. 234; Bloomfield 3191; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 502.

16. (fols. 95v-7)
Commentary on ‘Placebo Domino in regione uiuorum.’
Incipit: Placebo Domino in regionem uiuorum. I shall please my Lorde by worching in the regioun of them that be levyng. Forma placendi Domino notatur Michie sexto
Explicit: ubi est uita sine morte ad quam regionem nos perducat qui cum Patre
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
17. (fols. 97–112v)
Ps.(?)-Richard Rolle, Paruum Iob
Incipit: Parce mihi Domine ...; Lord for thi mercy thou me spare / Forsothe my dayes to note bethe fare. Ista fuerunt uerba beati Iob
Explicit: in numero seruorum Dei computemur ipse nobis concedat qui ...

The verses IMEV 1950, this copy only. The main treatise ed. M. R. Moyes, Elizabethan and Renaissance Studies 92/12 (Salzburg, 1988); Sharpe, Handlist, p. 503. Text, beginning ‘Tabula’, has been erased from the rest of the column.

Language(s): Latin and Middle English
18. (fols. 113–17v)
JOHN EYTON OA, De Vsuris
Rubric: Incipit prologus in tractatum de usura
Incipit: ⟨A⟩ppropinquante termino mundi huius
Rubric: Incipit tractatus magistri Iohannis Eytone canonici de Repindano de usura quem composuit anno Domini 1387 tunc regens Oxonie in theologia
Incipit: ⟨S⟩icut eius quod est in se decorum
Explicit: (ends impf. in c. 7) secundum Parisiensem comparatur usurarius cuiusdam||

unpr.; Bloomfield 5719; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 242.

19. (fols. 118–92)
John Wykeham, Quaestiones quas mouet Notyngham
Rubric: Iste sunt questiones quas mouet Notyngham in scripto suo super euangelia extracte secundum ordinem alphabeticum per Mag. Ioh. Wykham. Sequitur Abel.
Incipit: Queritur super 1º dicto Mt. 23
Explicit: (Zizania) bono inquam per naturam Petr. 5. 15
Final rubric: 5. 15

unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 354, one of six copies. Followed by a table of gospel readings for the year (fols. 192–8), ending ‘Expliciunt questiones Notyngham super euangelia’, and an alphabetical index of the key-words, fol. 198rv.

20. (fols. 199–201v)
WILLIAM BUTLER OFM, Determinatio contra Translationem Scripturae in Linguam Vulgarem
Rubric: Buttiler contra translacionem anglicanam
Incipit: ||intellexisse scripturam sacram et eam false composuisse
Explicit: nimium excedente absque inpactiuorum uerborum misera Christianitate
Final rubric: Explicit determinacio fratris et magistri Willelmi Buttiler ordinis minorum regentis Oxonie anno Domini mcccc primo

The unique copy, ed. M. Deanesley, The Lollard Bible (Cambridge, 1920), pp. 399–418; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 757.

At the foot of fol. 199 a note refers back to the beginning of the text on ‘fo. 119’, i.e. the now-lost leaf before f. 118.

21. (fols. 202–21)
AUGUSTINUS TRIONFI OF ANCONA OESA, Quaestiones super Magnificat

Capitula fol. 202rv.

Rubric: Incipit tractatus fratris Augustini de Anchona sacre pagine professoris ordinis fratrum heremitarum S. Augustini super magnificat
Incipit: Super illo uerbo Psalmi Deus canticum nouum cantabo tibi
Explicit: in hora mortis anima nostra perducatur amen
Final rubric: Explicit ...

pr. Lyon, 1506 &c.; Stegmüller, Bibl. 1548; Glorieux, Théol. 409j; Zumkeller 131, omitting this copy, which is the only known English one.

22. (fols. 221–5v)
Thomas of Ireland, De Tribus Ordinibus Angelicae Hierarchiae et Ecclesiasticae
Rubric: De ierarchiis angelorum
Incipit: Numquid nosti ordinem celi...; Secundum beatum Dionisium de ecclesiastica gerarchia ordinata est ad instar et similitudinem angelice gerarchie
Explicit: sacramentaliter absolui possunt &c.
Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de gerarchiis angelorum secundum beatum Dionisium

unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 661.

23. (fols. 226–54)
John Waldeby OESA, Homilies on the Lord’s Prayer or Itinerarium Salutis
Incipit: Sepcies in die laudem dixi tibi Ps. centesimo xviii. Scribitur Eccl. xxxiii. Sic contra malum bonum est
Explicit: qui dilexit nos et lauit nos a peccatis nostris in sanguine suo Ipsi gloria ...
Final rubric: Explicit itinerarium salutis fratris Iohannis Waldeby super orationem dominicam

unpr.; Stegmüller, Bibl. 5045–6; Bloomfield 9123; Zumkeller 617; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 336.

24. (fols. 254–69)
John Waldeby OESA, Homilies on Ave Maria
Rubric: Prologus super salutacionem angelicam
Incipit: Vas electionis Paulus doctor gencium egregius scribens
Explicit: ad laudis preconium cui ...
Final rubric: Expliciunt quinque omelie ... secundum fratrem Iohannem Waldeby ordinis heremitarum beati Augustini

ed. M. J. Morrin (Studia Augustiniana Historica 2: Rome, 1975), pp. 81–153; Stegmüller, Bibl. 5048; Zumkeller 616; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 336, listing two copies, not this one.

25. (fols. 269–91v)
John Waldeby OESA, Homilies on the Apostles’ Creed
Rubric: Incipit cimbolum eiusdem fratris
Incipit: Venerabili in Christo patri ac domino suo singularissimo domino Thome diuina prouidencia abbati de Sancto Albano
Incipit: Cum in loco sacro Tynmowthe
Incipit: Credo. Adiuua incredulitatem meam. Marc. Karissimi consideranti et superficialiter
Incipit: Credo in Deum ...; Iste articulus repellit tres errores
Explicit: auctor fidei nostre I. C. cui ...
Final rubric: Explicit expositio super symbolum fidei secundum fratrem Iohannem Waldeby

unpr., except for the letter of dedication to Thomas de la Mare, abbot of St Albans, ed. F. Roth, The English Austin Friars 1249–1538: Sources (New York, 1961), pp. 588–9; Stegmüller, Bibl. 5049; Zumkeller 620; Bloomfield 1010; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 335, listing two copies, not this one. Followed by alphabetical indexes of subjects and words, fols. 291v-7v, 298, in 2 and 7 cols respectively. fols. 298v-9v blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: miserat ad
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 307 (v + 302) leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 355 × 265 mm.
Dimensions (written): 255 × 190 mm.
The edges retrimmed and spattered with red.
Foliation: Contemporary foliation included the now-missing fols. 118–20.

Collation

A4(4 canc.), 1–912, 1012(lacks 10–12), 11–2512, a bifolium; catchwords; quire-signatures of the usual late medieval form.

Layout

Frame-ruled with pencil in 2 cols; written in c. 49 lines.

Hand(s)

Mainly in a single hand, writing a mixture of anglicana and secretary. Arts 18 and 20 are in a single secretary hand; the indexes on fols. 198rv and 298 are in another mixed hand.

Decoration

On fol. 1 is a red and blue flourished initial with 1-sided border. Otherwise blue initials flourished in red; red paraphs, highlighting and underlining. Arts 18 and 20 lack decoration.

Binding

Standard Merton s. xvii; sewn on six bands; formerly chained from the usual position. fols. i-ii, 300–1 are paper binding leaves, the outermost from a printed copy of ‘Expositio Topicorum Aristotelis’, s. xvi. An earlier binding had two straps.

History

Origin: S. XV med. ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Bequeathed by Hammond Haydok (for whom see MS 16): his ex dono , cropped by the binder, is at the head of fol. iv (only ‘Liber domus scolarium de Merton’ ex’ is legible).

Seen at Merton by John Bale (Appendix C, nos 28–9, 42, 54).

Inside the front board is a sheet of paper with an elaborate table of contents, s. xvii, ‘N. 6. 2. Art:’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced with modern ‘K. 2. 2’, in red, and the College bookplate.

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. 41–3; Powicke, no. 971; Dondaine & Shooner, no. 2145.

Funding of Cataloguing

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

Last Substantive Revision

2018-09-01: First online publication

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