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Merton College MS. 292

Former shelfmark: O. 1. 8

DUNS SCOTUS, JOHN SACKVILLE, SIMON OF FAVERSHAM &c.; S. XIV in.

Contents

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: efficientibus
Seven originally independent books or booklets, bound together during s. xiv.
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 385 leaves (iv + 382, omitting 116)
Dimensions (leaf): 295 × 225 mm.
The edges drastically retrimmed, affecting marginalia. Foliation of s. xiv, 1–401, omitting 38, 190–9, 333 in error; 58, 127, 236 twice, an unnumbered leaf before 109 (now 107), and showing that the original 96–7, 377–88 are missing. fols. 1 and 10 are misbound, upside down and in reverse order.

Collation

110, 26, 3–412, 512(lacks 11), 612, 76 / 8–912, 104, 11–1212, 1310, 146 / 1512, 168(8 canc.) / 17–1812, 194 / 20–2212, 2310 / 24–3312, 3410, 354(lacks 3–4), 364 / 3712(+ 1 after 12). Catchwords and occasional leaf-numbers. Misbinding and losses occurred both before and after the medieval foliation.

Binding

Maltby undated (post-Powicke), replacing one of s. xvii. fols. i-ii and 381–2 are modern blank paper binding leaves. fols. iii-iv are paper leaves from the former binding, the first the title page from the printed book as in MS 19.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

At the head of f. 279v is a smudged pen trial of s. xiv, ‘Caucio domini Willelmi de d[... e ... d ... ]’.

On f. 401, s. xiv ‘1 liber de Philosophia’, s. xiv-xv ‘Liber aule de Merton’ in Oxonia’.

On the last leaves are the marks of the large iron chain-staple.

Seen at Merton by John Bale (Appendix C, nos 26, 52), whose incipit shows that art. 2 still had its beginning. ‘8’ is inked on the foredge.

Inside the front board is a sheet of paper with table of contents, s. xvii, ‘E. 7, 5’, canc., and ‘Q. 2. 8. Art:’, canc. and replaced with ‘O. 1. 6 (CCXCII)’ in red; the College bookplate.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part I (fols. 1–69v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fols. 10vr, 1vr, 2–9v, 11–69; 69v blank)
JOHN DUNS SCOTUS, Quaestiones on ARISTOTLE, Metaphysics
Incipit: Omnes homines nature scire desiderant. In principio metaphisice quam pre manibus habemus premittit philosophus
Explicit: intentionem Aristotelis assignantis differentiam predictam
Final rubric: Expliciunt ista que tu Iohannes sophista.

Headed ‘Questiones metaphysicorum [doctoris subtilis]’, ‘Otleye’ over the erasure. Perhaps Simon de Otteley (BRUO 1410), fellow of Oriel College in 1347 and 1349.

DSO (Gál), 3(1–2), this copy (collated as A) at I, pp. vii-viii; the editors note that substantial parts of IX qq. 14 and 15 have been omitted. Lohr, pp. 192–3; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 240.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 250–5 × 130–90 mm.

Layout

Frame-ruled with multiple red lines, written in c. 60 lines, in 2 cols from f. 35v.

Hand(s)

The main text is written in anglicana (two scribes, changing at fols. 63v/64).

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics.

History

Origin: S. XIV in ; script of English appearance.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part II (fols. 70–94v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

2. (fols. 70–85)
JOHN SACKVILLE, De Principiis Naturae
Incipit: (Beg. impf.) habens et etiam quia speculacio intellectus discernit
Explicit: naturas singulorum.
Final rubric: Compilaciones intitulate Mihi cordi collecte per magistrum I. de Sicca Villa de principiis nature: prima pars que est de principiis nature in primo gradu scilicet materia forma et priuacione explicit.

On the author, who died c. 1295, see BRUO 1661–2. The work is also in BL Roy. 12 E. xxv (also from Merton Coll.), fols. 32–60.

Ed. R.-M. Giguère (Univ. of Montréal, Publs. de l’inst. d’études méd., Montreal/Paris, 1956); Sharpe, Handlist, p. 319.

3. (fols. 85–7v)
?JOHN SACKVILLE, De Excellentia Philosophiae
Incipit: ⟨C⟩um in omni natura per se subsistere sint tria, substantia, uirtus et operacio
Explicit: in logica ut ibidem dicit auctor
Final rubric: Explicit.

The unique copy; unpr.; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 319.

4. (fols. 87v-94v)
ROBERT KILWARDBY, De Natura Relationis
Incipit: ⟨D⟩e predicato relationis querunt aliqui
Explicit: subicitur priori expositiori in dictis suis.
Final rubric: Expliciunt commoditates super relacionem tradite a magistro Iohanne de Seccheuille.

Ed. L. Schmücker (Lenggries, 1980); Glorieux, Arts 411x; Kaeppeli 3515; Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 319, 562.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 215 × 150 mm.

Layout

Ruled with crayon in 2 cols of 56 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hand, showing anglicana features. Parts II and VI appear to be in the same hand.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics.

History

Origin: S. XIV in ; script of English appearance.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part III (fols. 95–157v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

5. (fols. 95–157v)
SIMON OF FAVERSHAM, Commentaries on ARISTOTLE, Logica Vetus
5.1. (fol. 95r)
Praed.
Incipit: Vtrum numerus sit quantitas. (Beg. impf. in q. 36) ex istis duobus tanquam ex mentali et formali constituitur
Explicit: de ea qualitas est in quantitatibus
5.2. (fol. 96v)
Periher.
Incipit: Primum oportet dicere &c. Nota quod passiones anime tripliciter accipiuntur
Explicit: iam tempus preteritum
5.3. (fol. 98)
Elench.
Incipit: ⟨S⟩icut dicit philosophus secundo de anima potentie distinguntur per actus
Explicit: concedo et ad naturalem
5.4. (fol. 110)
Prior.
Incipit: ⟨T⟩ria sunt genera causarum in entibus
Explicit: eterna in Deo quia saltim ydealis ideo &c.;
5.5. (f. 139)
Post.
Incipit: ⟨S⟩icut dicit philosophus x. ethicorum talis uita que uacat contemplationi ueritatis
Explicit: ad illam rationem.

Lohr, pp. 141–3; Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 612–13. 1 and 2 ed. P. Mazzarella, Magistri Simonis Anglici sive de Faverisham Opera Omnia 1 Opera Logica (Padua, 1957), pp. 71–143, 151–70 (from Milan, Bibl. Ambros., C. 161 inf.); 3 ed. S. Ebbesen et al. (Toronto, 1984); passages from 4 ed. S. Ebbeson in CIMA 53 (1986), 139–49 and 55 (1987), 158–60; 5 unpr.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 230 × 160 mm.

Layout

Ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 65 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hands, showing anglicana features.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics. On f. 136 is a circular diagram in ink of text.

History

Origin: S. XIV in ; script of English appearance.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part IV (fols. 158–185v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

6. (fols. 158–85v)
ROBERT GROSSETESTE, Commentary on ARISTOTLE, Posterior Analytics
Rubric: Lincolniensis super primum Posteriorum.
Incipit: ⟨O⟩mnis doctrina &c. Intencio Aristotelis in hoc libro est inuestigare et manifestare essentialia demonstrationis
Explicit: in omni syllogismo se habente.

The rest of f. 185v is filled with text in an anglicana hand.

Ed. P. Rossi (Florence, 1981); Thomson, Grosseteste, p. 84; Lohr, pp. 103–4.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 215 × 160 mm.

Layout

Ruled with crayon in 2 cols of 56 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hands, showing anglicana features.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics.

History

Origin: S. XIV in ; script of English appearance.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part V (fols. 186–231v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

7. (fols. 186–231v)
SIMON OF FAVERSHAM, Commentary on ARISTOTLE, Physics
Incipit: (Beg. impf. in Phys. II. 1) est .ii. in generali et in corporali secundum solutionem suam
Explicit: concordant omnes leges secundum quod dicit commentator.
Final rubric: Expliciunt questiones disputate a magistro Simone de Fauersham super libro phisicorum reportate a Roberto de Clothale.

The same explicit to the text is in Erfurt, Wissenschaftliche Bibl. der Stadt, Amplon. F. 348, f. 69.

Clothale (BRUO446), chancellor of St Paul’s, London, fl. 1290–1319.

Unpr.; see F. M. Powicke, ‘Master Simon of Faversham’, in Mélanges d’histoire du moyen âge offerts à M. Ferdinand Lot (Paris, 1925), pp. 650–8, D. A. Callus, ‘The introduction of Aristotelian learning to Oxford’, Proc. of the British Academy 29 (1943), 277–8; Lohr, pp. 143–4; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 613.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 220–230 × 160 mm.

Collation

Layout

Frame-ruled with pencil in 2 cols; written in 55–62 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hands, showing anglicana features.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics.

History

Origin: S. XIV in ; script of English appearance.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part VI (fols. 232–367v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

8. (fols. 232–315v)
PETRUS DE ALVERNIA, Quaestiones on ARISTOTLE, Metaphysics
Incipit: Omnes homines natura scire &c. Sicut dicit philosophus in xmo sue Metaphysice In omni genere est aliquod quod est principium
Explicit: (ends impf. in bk. IX q. ‘Vtrum sit una potentia secundum rationem duorum contrariorum’) differens tamen secundum rationem. substantia

Unpr.; Lohr, pp. 336–7 (listing published lists of quaestiones and excerpts).

9. (fols. 316–33v)
ALBERTUS MAGNUS, Commentary on ARISTOTLE, De Somno et Vigilia
Rubric: Incipit liber primus de sompno et uigilia ...
Incipit: ⟨S⟩ompnus et uigilia non sunt passiones
Explicit: a principio quere de hac materia.

AMO(Borgnet) 9. 121–207; Fauser 23.

10. (fols. 333v-41v)
ALBERTUS MAGNUS, De Spiritu et Respiratione
Incipit: ⟨M⟩ulta sunt animalia que quidem secundum locum non moueantur
Explicit: de differentiis eorum dicta sunt.
Final rubric: Explicit.

AMO(Borgnet) 9. 213–51; Fauser 24.

11. (fols. 341v-8v)
ALBERTUS MAGNUS, De Intellectu et Intelligibili bk. 1
Incipit: ⟨S⟩icut a principio istius operis diximus scientia de anima non satis complete habetur
Explicit: et de distinccione utriusque.
Final rubric: Explicit/

At the foot of f. 346 are two lines of polyphonic music, part of a Magnificat setting, s. xiv ex., 3-part on 5-line staves. incl. ‘tenor’ and ‘medius’.

AMO(Borgnet) 9. 477–502; Fauser 22.

12. (fols. 348v-55)
SIGER OF BRABANT, Quaestiones on ARISTOTLE, De Anima III
Incipit: ⟨D⟩e parte autem anime quam cognoscit e⟨t⟩ sapit. Et circa istum 3um librum contingit querere de intellectu quatuor
Explicit: non oportet quod eodem modo.
Final rubric: Explicit.

Ed. B. Bazan, Siger de Brabant: Quaestiones in tertium De Anima (Louvain/Paris, 1972), pp. 1–69; Lohr, p. 133, this copy only.

13. (fols. 355–61v)
SIMON OF FAVERSHAM, Quaestiones on ARISTOTLE, De Anima III
Rubric: Incipiunt questiones super tertium de anima disputate a magistro Symone de Fauisham, et precedentes sunt magistri Sigeri super eodem tertio.
Incipit: Queritur de intellectu nostro utrum sit de nouo factus an sit ab eterno
Explicit: (ends impf.) tenet singula perdens. Is

Ed. D. Sharp, AHDLMA 9 (1934), 307–68, who omits the last word and does not indicate that the text breaks off at the end of the quire; Lohr, pp. 144–5; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 613.

14. (fols. 362–6)
Quaestiones and sophisms
Incipit: (Beg. impf.) causam necessaria est habitudo
Explicit: (363) immo hoc est ens absolutum illud uocabulo dependens. Ista sufficiant ad presens.
Incipit: Sophisma. Sortes est hoc aliquid. Probatur sic. Omnis substantia pura est hoc aliquid Sortes est substantia
Explicit: (363v) est esse indiuisum principio diuidentis.
Incipit: Omnis substantia materialis est substantia quanta &c. Probatio et improbatio patet et solusio. Circa istud sophisma tria querebantur
Explicit: (365) suam ante malleacionem et prius.
Incipit: (365v) Accidens circa ens proponitur sciendi siue predicatur de diuidentibus

In the lower margin of f. 362 a hand of c. 1500 writes ‘Vtrum ens sit uniuocum sed deest primaquestionis pars’.

15. (fols. 366v-7)
Two graduation speeches
Incipit: Tullius 3º rethorice sue Omnis inquit humana laus ex tribus generibus bonorum enascitur
Explicit: Tenor similiter commendare dominus N. socium suum sed nulla instat necessitas ...

On f. 367rv is an added list of ‘Conclusiones libri Ethicorum’, as in Balliol Coll., MS 108, art. 3, but shorter, ending with bk. 4 quaest. 40, cropped. Lohr, p. 146 (as by Simon of Faversham).

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 220 × 160 mm.

Collation

Layout

Ruled with pencil in 2 cols of 56 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hands, showing anglicana features. Parts II and VI appear to be by the same hand.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics. Some rubrication, red paraphs and touching.

Merton College MS. 292 – Part VII (fols. 368–80v)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

16. (fols. 368–80v)
SIMON OF FAVERSHAM, Quaestiones on ARISTOTLE, Parua Naturalia
16.1.
Quaestiones on Aristotle's De somno et vigilia
Incipit: (Beg. impf.) Vnde odor propter animali mentalem condicionem
Explicit: (f. 372v) ex parte anime et corporalis.
Final rubric: Expliciunt questiones de sompno et uigilia reportate per dominum Symonem de F.
16.2.
Quaestiones super librum De motu animalium
Incipit: ⟨D⟩e motu eo qui animalium est &c. Sicut dicit philosophus in 10. physicorum motus reperitur tamen in tribus generibus
Explicit: sit ille quod predicatur a partibus similibus
16.3.
Quaestiones on Aristotle's De longitudine et brevitate vitae
Incipit: (f. 375) De eo quod est longe uite animalium. Communis queritur utrum de causa longitudinis et breuitatis uite possit esse sciencia
Explicit: ideo non procedit ratio
16.4.
Quaestiones on Aristotle's De iuventute et senectute
Incipit: (f. 378) De iuuentute et senectute et cetera. Quia philosophus dicit hic in principio quod natura et substantia anime est in particula determinata corporis
Explicit: nature quia uirtute calidum est
16.5.
Quaestiones on De inspiratione et respiratione
Incipit: (f. 379) Consequenter queritur circa partem illam Animalium autem quam hec quidem aquatilia et cetera. Vbi philosophus incipit determinare de respiracione et ibi queratur utrum respiratio sit necessarium alicui generi animalium
Explicit: non est purus sicut nec ad elementum.
Final rubric: Expliciunt questiones de iuuentute et senectute de inspiratione et respiracione disputate a domino Symone de Fauersham.

Unpr.; Lohr, p. 145, this and one other fragmentary copy; Sharpe, Handlist, p. 613.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Dimensions (written): 255 × 170 mm.

Layout

Ruled with crayon in 2 cols of 58 lines.

Hand(s)

Low-grade gothic rotunda book-hands, showing anglicana features.

Decoration

Unfilled spaces for coloured initials and rubrics.

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. 115–16; F. Pelster in Philosophisches Jahrbuch (1930), 478–82; Powicke, no. 518; O. Lewry in Mediaeval Studies 44 (1982), 138–80, at 146–51, 159–67, 175–80 (edn. of art. 15).

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

2019-10-25: First online publication

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