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

Merton College MS. 108

Former shelfmark: L. 2. 2

HENRY OF GHENT ; S. XIV in., med.

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fol. iirv blank; iiiv-vv)
A table of articuli and quaestiones

Added in an anglicana hand little later than the main text, ending ‘Questiones in uniuerso ccc.lxxiiij.’ This table includes the sections of text now missing.

(fols. 1–36v, 37–331v; 332–3 blank)
HENRY OF GHENT, Summa Theologica (arts 1–3, art. 4 qq. 5, 8–9, art. 5 qq. 3, 5)
Incipit: Quia theologia est scientia in qua est sermo de Deo
Explicit: adeo in futuro id est reprobabitur
Incipit: Sequitur de causa materiali huius scientie
Explicit: ab intellectu intellectus a uoluntate.

Sometimes articuli begin on a new recto or quire, accounting for wholly or partially blank leaves: completely blank are fols. 183v, 302rv.

Ed. R. Macken et al., Henrici de Gandauo Opera Omnia XXVII (Louvain, 1991-); Glorieux, Théol. 192j, not this copy.

On fol. 333v is another index of quaestiones, apparently in the same hand as the prefatory matter. Presumably it extended further on leaves now lost.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: positum quia
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 339 leaves (v + 334)
Dimensions (leaf): 340 × 240 mm.
Dimensions (written): 285 × 180 mm.
(fols. 1–36)
Dimensions (written): 250 × 180 mm.
The edges heavily retrimmed, affecting running heads and marginalia, and spattered with red. The first three quires seem to be a slightly later addition, and may originally have been part of another book altogether.

Collation

A4, 1–312 / 46, 5–612, 76, 8–1612, 174(4 canc.), 18–2312, 244(4 canc.), 25–2712, 288, 29–3012, 316, a singleton; catchwords, mostly trimmed off; pencilled quire-signatures of the usual late medieval form. Quires (probably three) are missing after 3.

Layout

Fols. 1–36: ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 70 lines; running heads are between two lines ruled right across the page.

Ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 58 lines.

Hand(s)

English gothic rotunda bookhands of university type; the hand of quires 1–3, however, may be Continental. Much annotation in early anglicana hands, using both pencil and ink.

Decoration

On fol. 1 is a 5-line blue initial with red and blue flourishing and 2-sided border; red initials flourished in blue, blue initials flourished in violet quires 1–3, in red thereafter; red or blue paraphs; running heads in red and blue capitals. From quire 4 on profile faces appear as nota-marks.

Binding

As for MS 107, doubtless replacing a standard College binding of s. xvii; sewn on seven bands; fols. i and 334 are blank paper binding leaves. fol. ii was the front pastedown in an earlier binding. At the foot of fol. 333 is the mark of the large iron chain-staple.

History

Origin: S. XIV in., med. ; England, Oxford and France (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Probably made at Oxford, except for the first three quires, which may be French.

On fol. iii, s. xiv, ‘Liber domus scolarium de Merton’ Oxon’ de empcione p’ xx s.’ UO47. 154.

Inside the front board is a sheet of paper with ‘D. 7, 4’, s. xvii, canc.; two tables of contents, s. xvii; ‘O. 1. 2. Art:’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced with ‘L. 2. 2 (CVIII)’, in red; 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. 51–2; Powicke, no. 283; Macken, no. 125.

Funding of Cataloguing

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

Last Substantive Revision

2019-05-28: First online publication

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