Merton College MS. 287
Former shelfmark: K. 1. 1
ISIDORE; S. XIII
Contents
Language(s): Latin
f. iii is blank, but contains setoff from a text in a very small hand, much obliterated. On the verso is ‘Ysidorus ethimolog’’, s. xv ex.
CPL 1186; ed. W. M. Lindsay, 2 vols (Oxford, 1911).
At the head of f. 168 are four lines of verse: ‘Mus sine murilego miles sine principe’. f. 168v blank.
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 46 lines.
Hand(s)
The proficient gothic rotunda bookhand of W. de Holkot. At the foot of f. 83 is pencilled ‘In principio istius quaterni recepit W. de Holkot d. pro scriptura per talliam uidelicet x d. pro sextario et recessit a mensa mea et hospicio. In octabis pasche et medium quod in pecunia numerata recepit ante predictas octabas pasche iiii s.(?)’
Decoration
Large and handsome red and blue flourished initials; red or blue initials flourished in the other colour; plain red or blue initials for capitula; running heads in capitals of the colours. On f. 79 is a table of consanguinity. Rough marginal pencil sketches of mathematical and astronomical instruments, animals &c., passim. In the outer margin of f. 96v, however (against xii. 2 ‘de bestiis’) is a roundel containing a fine tinted drawing of a lioness licking her cubs, in the inner margin a series of four roundels containing bestiary subjects from the text.
Binding
Standard Merton s. xvii, sewn on four bands; formerly chained from the usual position. Fols. i-ii are paper binding leaves, both from the same printed book as in MS 272. Fols. iii and 168 were pastedowns in an earlier binding.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
On f. 167 ‘Liber magistri Ricardi Fytz james sacre theologie professoris emptus per eundem ultimo die Ianuarii anno Christi 1481 precii xiii s. iiii d.’ On f. iiiv is an erased name, perhaps ‘French’: BRUO lists three of this name. Below is ‘Ysidorus Ethimologiarum Ex dono domini Ricardi Fitz James nuper Cicestrensis episcopi et custodis istius Collegii Cuius anime propicietur Deus Amen.’ Inside the front board is pasted the usual label, formerly nailed to the back cover of an earlier binding, with the title and Fitzjames’s ex dono and arms. For Fitzjames, fellow from c. 1468, warden 1483–1507, see MS 9.
At the head of f. 1 is the James no. ‘204’, s. xvii in. Inside the front board is a sheet of paper with contents, s. xvii, and ‘Q. 2. 3. Art:’, canc. and replaced with ‘K. 1. 1’ in red; the College bookplate. ‘3’ is inked on the foredge.
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
2019-10-14: First online publication