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Merton College MS. 175

Former shelfmark: K. 3. 3

BEDE &c.; S. XV1

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(front pastedown)
Table of contents,

s. xv, as far as art. 14 in the hand of art. 9, then in another hand to art. 22. In place of art. 17 is ‘Item declaracio urbium et ciu’ que ponuntur in biblia ubique in quibus regionibus situantur et idem ponitur statim post O⟨meli⟩as et idem omnino post parabolas Salomonis et est declaracio Bede’.

Another table is on fol. i in a hand of s. xvii; fol. iv blank.

1. (fols. 1–28)
BEDE, De Tabernaculo
Incipit: ⟨M⟩oyses in montem Domini ...; Incipit exposicio uenerabilis Bede presbiteri de tabernaculo ...;
Incipit: ⟨L⟩ocuturi iuuante Domino de figura tabernaculi et uasorum atque utensilium eius
Explicit: semen tui benedixit Dominus.
Final rubric: Explicit liber tercius de tabernaculo testimonii beati Bede presbiteri.

CPL 1345; CCSL 119A (1969), pp. 1–139.

2. (fols. 28–30)
Bede, Epistola ad Plecguinum
Rubric: Incipit epistola eiusdem de sex etatibus seculi
Incipit: ⟨F⟩ratri dilectissimo et in Christi uisceribus honorando Plegwino
Incipit: Venit ad me ante biduum nuncius tue sanctitatis
Explicit: tuam sospitem conseruare dignetur.
Final rubric: Explicit epistola uenerabilis Bede presbiteri ad Flegwinum de sex etatibus seculi.

CPL 2319; CCSL 123C (1980), pp. 617–26.

3. (fols. 30–47)
Bede, De Templo Salomonis
Rubric: Incipit epistola Bede ad Notelmum de templo Salomonis.
Incipit: ⟨H⟩ortatur nos uas electionis
Explicit: quos Dominus benedicit pusillos cum iustioribus.
Final rubric: Explicit exposicio uenerabilis Bede presbiteri de templo Salomonis

CPL 1348; CCSL 119A (1969), pp. 143–234.

4. (fols. 47–74v)
Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles
Rubric: Incipit in epistola Iacobi apostoli exposicio uenerabilis Bede presbiteri.
Incipit: Iacobus Dei domini nostri I. C. seruus
Explicit: non ab inicio temporis alicuius sed autem omne seculum et nunc et in omnia s. s. amen.
Final rubric: Explicit exposicio uenerabilis Bede in epistola Iude apostoli

CPL 1362; CCSL 121 (1983), pp. 179–342.

5. (fols. 74v-85v)
Bede, Commentary on Acts
Rubric: Incipit prefacio uenerabilis Bede presbiteri in Actus Apostolorum missa Acce episcopo.
Incipit: Domino in Christo desiderantissimo
Incipit: Accepi creberrimas beatitudinis tue litteras
Incipit: ⟨P⟩rimum quidem sermonem feci ...; De omnibus se dicit Christi factis et dictis in euuangelio scripsisse
Explicit: cursum consummaui fidem seruaui.
Final rubric: Explicit Beda super Actus apostolorum complete

CPL 1357; CCSL 121 (1983), pp. 1–99.

6. (fols. 85v-7)
Bede, Nomina Regionum atque Locorum de Actibus Apostolorum
Incipit: ⟨A⟩cheldemac est ager sanguinis
Explicit: ludos scenicos contemplaretur.

CPL 2333; CCSL 121 (1983), pp. 167–78.

7. (fols. 87v-152v)
Bede, Homilies on the Gospels
Rubric: Omelie uenerabilis Bede per totum annum.
Incipit: ⟨A⟩duentum dominice predicacionis
Explicit: ac propulsabimus insidias, per ....
Final rubric: Laus tibi sit Christe per quem liber explicit iste.

In the order i. 1–2, 5–6, 3–4, 7–12, 14, 19, 15, 18, Ambrosius Autpertus 2, Bede 17, 24, 22, 25, ii. 6, 1, i. 23, ii. 2, 4, i. 13 (to p. 91 line 99), then an interpolation found in other copies, ‘Nam iuxta quod reuerentissimus de eo papa Gregorius luculenti ueracissimoque memorat relatu ... si petentium fides exigat miraculis choruscat prestante ...’, the effect of which is to change the homily’s subject from Benedict Biscop to Benedict of Nursia, ii. 3, 5, (bk. II) ii. 7, 9, 8, 10, 13, 11–12, 14–20, i. 20, ii. 22, 21, 23–5, i. 21, 16, Bede, Super Marcum iii. 9 (Grégoire, p. 468).

CPL 1367; CCSL 122 (1955), pp. 1–378.

8. (fols. 152v-4; 154v-6v blank)
Bede, Nomina Regionum atque Locorum de Actibus Apostolorum (art. 6 again)
Rubric: Incipit liber de descriptione situs terre a beato Beda prouinciarum, ciuitatum, insularum huic libro congruentium.
Incipit: ⟨A⟩cheldemach est ager sanguinis
Explicit: ludos scenicos contemplaretur.
Final rubric: Explicit libe[sic] in Dei nomine exposicionis Bede presbiteri in actus apostolorum, canc. and replaced, in another hand Explicit liber de descripcione situs terre ...
9. (fols. 157–62v)
Bede, In Libros Regum Quaestiones XXX
Rubric: Incipit epistola Bede presbiteri ad Nothelmum de xxx. questionibus.
Incipit: Dilectissimo fratri Nothelmo Beda salutem. Que de libro Regum dilucidanda
(capitula)
Incipit: Quod ait propheta ad Hely loquens ex persona Dei
Explicit: intrate in gaudium Domini uestri qui ...

CPL 1347; CCSL 119 (1962), pp. 289–322.

10. (fols. 163–200)
Bede, Commentary on Luke

Capitula.

Incipit: ⟨R⟩euerendissimo in Christo fratri et consacerdoti
Incipit: Sepe quidem tue sancte fraternitatis et absens
Incipit: ⟨D⟩omino beatissimo et nimium desideratissimo
Incipit: Mira uere est et uera mira
Incipit: De omnibus que fecit Iesus factus est docere
Explicit: et benedictione conclusit amen.
Final rubric: Explicit B. super Lucam. 14. 17.

CPL 1356; CCSL 120 (1960), pp. 1–425.

11. (fols. 200v-35)
Bede, Commentary on the Song of Songs

Capitula followed by the complete text of Cant. to fol. 201v.

Rubric: Incipit liber Bede contra Iulianum diuine gratie repugnatorem.
Incipit: ⟨S⟩cripturus Dei iuuante gratia in cantica canticorum primo
Rubric: (fol. 204) Incipit liber primus cantica canticorum
Incipit: ⟨C⟩antica canticorum in quibus sapientissimus regum Salomon misteria Christi et ecclesie
Explicit: incomprehensibilis permane.
Final rubric: ⟨B⟩eda Dei famulus nostri didascalus eui | falce pia sophie ueterum satalatam peragrans ... requie Deo felix feliciter et lege semper.

CPL 1353; CCSL 119B (1983), pp. 165–375.

12. (fols. 235v-56)
Bede, Commentary on Proverbs
Rubric: Beda super parabolas Salomonis.
Incipit: ⟨P⟩arabole Salomonis filii Dauid regis. Parabole grece latine dicuntur similitudines
Explicit: collaudare seruiciis amen.

CPL 1351; CCSL 119B (1983), pp. 21–163.

13. (fols. 256–7)
Bede, Nomina Regionum atque Locorum de Actibus Apostolorum (art. 6 again)
Incipit: Item de nominibus locorum ut patet per sanctum Orosium libro suo 7 de Ormesta. ⟨A⟩cheldemach ager sanguinis
Explicit: ludos scenicos contemplaretur.
14. (fols. 257–8; 258v-62v blank)
Pseudo-Bede, De Ponderibus et Mensuris
Rubric: Beda de ponderibus.
Incipit: ⟨P⟩onderum ac mensurarum iuuat congnoscere modum
Explicit: et onus cameli officiunt
Final rubric: Explicit Beda de ponderibus et mensuris.

= Isidore, Etym.. xvi. 25–6.

15. (fols. 263–75v)
JOHN SHARPE, De Orationibus Sanctorum, de Suffragiis Viatorum et de Pluralitate Beneficiorum
Incipit: ⟨R⟩euerendi magistri et domini cum secundum seriem euangelii omnis plantacio
Explicit: ad collacionem gracie et defunctis ad mitigacionem pene ... et definitis ad mitigacionem pene &c.
Final rubric: Explicit opus magistri Iohannis Scharp.

‘M. Iohannis Scherpe’ is scribbled in the upper margin of fol. 263.

Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 315; one of three copies.

16. (fols. 276–8)
JOHN SHARPE, De Potestate Sacerdotii
Incipit: Ad sacrificandum ut panem et uinum
Explicit: signum est quod saluabitur.

Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 315; the unique copy.

Followed by two notes: (1) ‘⟨L⟩icet curacio funeris et condicio sepulture seu pompa exequiarum magis sint uiuorum consolacio quam subsidia mortuorum non tamen contempnenda et abicienda sunt corpora defunctorum ...’; (2) ‘Nota quod anno 13. natiuitatis sue beate uirgo in utero concepit filium suum ...’.

17. (fols. 278–9)
Anon. treatise on the BVM
Incipit: ⟨A⟩ve Maria gratia plena. De cuius plenitudine omnes accepimus graciam pro gracia
Explicit: ut Eua iam non dicatur mater uiuencium sed Maria.
Final rubric: Thouȝ pu were neuere so gret a theef pi modyr wold not se pe hangyd. Sic Maria licet turpissimus peccator te dampnari nollet quia mater tua est.

A series of extracts.

Language(s): Latin and Middle English
18. (fols. 279v-85v)
WALTER HILTON, De Adoratione Imaginum
Incipit: ⟨N⟩umquid Domini nostri Ihesu Christi crucifixi beate uirginis Marie ac reliquorum sanctorum ymagines licite in ecclesiis poni
Explicit: dicit diuinam essenciam non est dicencia.

Ed. J. P. H. Clark and C. Taylor, Analecta Cartusiana 124 (Salzburg, 1987), pp. 179–214; Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 316, 735; J. M. Russel-Smith, ‘Walter Hilton and a tract in defence of the veneration of images’, Dominican Studies 7 (1954), 180–214.

19. (fols. 285v-7v)
JOHN DEVEROSE, De Materia Peregrinationis
Incipit: In materia peregrinacionis dicendum est Licitum est hominibus peregrinari ad reliquias sanctorum
Explicit: et execrabiliter sunt cecati. Explicit.

Unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 235, one of four copies.

20. (fols. 287v)
PETRUS ALFONSI, Dialogus contra Iudaeos, extract
Rubric: Dialogus. (tit. 12)
Incipit: ⟨Q⟩uid adhuc quasi in thesauro reseruaui tibi quod cum apposuero te absque defencione confido superari posse
Explicit: principium tibi prestet.
Incipit: Hec Petrus Alfonsus. Iste Petrus primo fuit hereticus et uocabatur Moyses postea cum factus fuisset catholicus uocabatur Petrus
Explicit: et alius catholicus Christianus Deo gratias.

PL 157. 670A-2; ed. K. P. Meith (Berlin, 1982); Diaz 893; Reinhardt 250–8.

21. (fols. 288–317)
Commentary on John 1
Incipit: In principio ...; Secundum glossam quatuor in hac parte recitatur Hoc uerbum erat
Explicit: (ends unfinished in 1: 11) necessarium Deus dimitteret atten’

The most recent authorities quoted are Aquinas, Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, ‘Doctor solemnis’ (Henry of Ghent), Grosseteste and Bradwardine.

22. (fols. 317v-25v; 326rv blank)
Bede, Retractatio on Acts
Rubric: Incipit prologus retractationis in Actus Apostolorum.
Incipit: ⟨S⟩cimus eximium doctorem ac pontificem Augustinum
Incipit: ⟨P⟩rimum quidem sermonem feci ...; Quod ait primum quidem non est aduerbum ordinis
Explicit: spiritualis uirtute habere grauidam.

CPL 1358; CCSL 121 (1983), pp. 103–63.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: domini gloriam
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 327 leaves (i + 326)
Dimensions (leaf): 380 × 260 mm.
Dimensions (written): 270–85 × 185–90 mm.
The edges retrimmed with loss of marginalia and stained yellow.

Collation

A singleton, 1–2112, 2210, 2312(+ 1 after 12), 24–712, 284(4 canc.); catchwords in banderoles.

Layout

Frame-ruled with pencil in 2 cols., written in c. 55–60 lines.

Hand(s)

Several scribes, of widely varying competence: an anglicana hand fols. 1–96v; secretary, probably Continental, fols. 97–154; anglicana fols. 157–62v, 317v-25v; an extraordinarily rough and uncalligraphic cursive which annotates earlier on, with occasional short passages by the previous hand fols. 163–200 and art. 14; a highly proficient upright anglicana formata fols. 200v-56; similar, but forward-slanting and tremulous art. 13; an anglicana hand fols. 263–317.

Decoration

Hardly any; unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics; art. 7 is rubricated; arts. 11–12 have rubrics and running heads in red.

Binding

Oxford, s. xvi in.: thick bevelled oak boards with slightly projecting squares, covered with blind-stamped brown calf, rebacked; resewn on five bands; formerly two straps from the front board to catches at the back, replaced s. xvii by cloth ties. Near the head of the rear cover were inked titles, of which ‘Opera quedam uenerabilis [Bedae]’ can still be read; below is ‘Liber ?.17.us’. Formerly chained from two positions at the foredge of the front board, near the foot; the lower one has not affected the front pastedown. Inside the back board are marks of the large brass chain-staple; these do not affect the leather cover. The binder who applied the cover was George Chastelaine (Oldham’s ‘Fruit and Flower Binder’), d. 1513, for whom see MS 119; here he used Oldham’s stamps 179, 180, 182, 184, 191, and the half-stamp Pearson 7.

History

Origin: S. XV1 ; script of English and Continental appearance.

Provenance and Acquisition

At the head of fol. i is ‘Liber domus scolarium de Mertone in Oxonia ut incathenetur in libraria eiusdem ad communem utilitatem ibidem studere uolencium ex dono magistri Henrici Seuer sacre theologie professoris ac custodis domus predicte. Oretis igitur pro eo.’ For Sever, warden 1455–71, see MS 6.

At the head of the front pastedown is ‘B. lier. 17us’ in the usual hand (see above, MS 60). Further down is ‘O. 7. 3. Art:’, s. xvii, canc. and replaced with ‘K. 3. 3 (CLXXV)’ in red; the College bookplate.

Seen at Merton by John Bale (Appendix C, no. 6).

At the head of fol. 1 is the James no. ‘229’, s. xvii in. ‘3’ is inked on the foredge.

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. 68–70; Powicke, no. 956.

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

2019-07-02: First online publication

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