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

Exeter College MS. 66

Hugo de S. Caro, et al., In epistolas Sancti Pauli; In epistolas canonicas; Oxford, England, 1463/4

Contents

Summary of Contents: Exeter College MSS 51–68, most of the texts in which are by or attributed to Hugo de Sancto Caro, were produced in Oxford for Roger Keys, d. 1477, whose many positions included the visitorship of Exeter College (1442), the wardenship of All Souls College (1443–5), the archdeaconry of Barnstaple (1450), and the precentorship of Exeter Cathedral (1459) (see BRUO, ‘Keyes’). His arms are found in the borders of several of the manuscripts (although others have been excised) and several manuscripts include a long ex dono inscription (see MS 53) recording his gift of the books to the rector and fellows of Exeter College on 1 January 1469/70. On Hugo de Sancto Caro see E. Mangenot, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, vii (Paris, 1921), 221–308. For two other great series of illuminated volumes produced in Oxford contemporaneously with these, then and now at Balliol College and Merton College, see K. L. Scott, ‘Two series of dated illuminated manuscripts made in Oxford 1450–64’, Watson Essays, 43–69. So far as is known from the incomplete series of dated colophons and the ex dono inscription, the manuscripts were written between 1452 and the late 1460s, but it is probable that they were delivered to the College singly or in twos or threes; a 1458 entry in the Rector’s Accounts records payments to John Godysson, stationer, for providing chains for three volumes of the set (Boase1, 21, Boase2, 40). Another series of entries in the Rector’s Accounts reveals, however, that MS 68 and another, probably MS 60, were not completed until after Keys’s death, between 1480 and 1484, perhaps for lack of money until that was supplied by M. John Combe (see Watson, Exeter, p. 85, and MS 68, History). In the whole series three principal scribes took part, assisted by several others in the last volume, MS 68. Four artists shared the illumination of the borders (and some of them also the spray decoration and small initials). For detailed analysis, see Watson, Exeter, pp. 85–87.

Language(s): Latin

1. (fols. 1r-26r)
Comm. 2 Gal.
Incipit: Galathe sunt greci etc. Incipit argumentum in epistolam ad Galathas. Et dicuntur tria in hoc argumento. Prima ostenditur quibus scribit apostolus
Explicit: ad fidem veritatis scribens eis ab Epheso.
Incipit: Paulus. Hec epistola diuiditur in tres partes. Primo permittit salutacionem
Explicit: ut intelligatis verum et ametis bonum. Amen, per hoc uerbum hebreum vera esse que locutus est ostendit.

Anononymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11159 (Turin, Bibl. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 256–71).

2. (fols. 26r-47r)
Comm. 1 Eph.
Incipit: Paulus apostolus. Incipit epistola ad Epheseos. de qua dicit Haymo in originali sic. Sciendum quod hec epistola est pene omnibus epistolis difficilior
Explicit: In principio optauit eis graciam et pacem et in hijs omnibus duobus terminat epistolam.

Anonymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11160 (Turin, Bibl. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 271–83).

3. (fols. 47r-64r)
Comm. Phillip.
Rubric: Prologus siue argumentum.
Incipit: Philippenses. Incipit argumentum in epistolam ad Philippenses que habet partes tres. Primo ipsos Philippenses notificat
Explicit: in odore suauitatis.
Rubric: Incipit Epistola beati Pauli ad Philippenses.
Incipit: Paulus. Hec epistola diuiditur in partes duas. In prima permitt
Explicit: aliquod autem peccatum est ex racione secundum viam fantasie. Amen.

Anononymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11161 (Turin, Bib. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 283–91).

4. (fols. 64r-78v)
Comm. Coloss.
Incipit: Paulus. Epistola hec ad Colocenses habet partes duas in quarum prima permittit salutacionem
Explicit: Sensus est. Gracia filij Dei et salus ac remissio peccatorum maneat semper vobiscum. Amen.

Anonymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11162 (Turin, Bibl. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 291–7).

5. (fols. 78v-94r)
Comm. 1 Thess.
Incipit: Thessalonicenses et cetera. Incipit argumentum in Epistolam ad Thessalonicences[sic] in quo tria continentur. Prima est de huius gentis nacione ... Paulus et Siluanus etc. Hec epistola diuiditur in tres partes
Explicit: et ut dicta peragatis et in bonis operibus proficiatis. Gracia domini nostri Iesu Christi sit vobiscum Amen.

Anonymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11163 (Turin, Bibl. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 307–11).

6. (fols. 94r-103v)
Comm. 2 Thess.
Incipit: Paulus et Siluanus. Incipit argumentum in epistolam secundam ad Thessalonicenses etc. Paulus et Siluanus etc. Hec epistola diuiditur in partes tres. In prima permittit salutacionem. In secunda sequitur intencionem primi
Explicit: Gracia domini etc. ne ab aliquo pseudo apostolorum potuisset corrumpi. Ita scribo. quomodo. Ecce. Gracia domini etc. Sic exponit Haymo.

Anononymous. Stegmüller, Bibl., 11164 (Turin, Bibl. Naz., MS 542 (D.v.29), fols. 311–18).

7. (fols. 103v-132v)
Comm. on 1 Tim.
Incipit: Incipit argumentum in epistolam ad Thimotheum vbi Thimotheum instruit et docet de ordinacione episcopatus et diaconij et omnis ecclesiastice discipline scribens ei ab urbe Corinthi uel a Macedonia per Titicum diaconum. Paulus etc. Diuiditur hec epistola in partes duas. In prima permittit salutacionem
Explicit: per quam ualeas commendatam seruare doctrinam Amen. Confirmacio est.

An unidentified commentary.

8. (fols. 132v-146v)
Comm. on 2 Tim.
Incipit: Paulus apostolus etc. Notandum quod in primis nouem Epistolis doctrina continetur qua informantur inferiora membra ecclesie subditi scilicet et scribuntur ille .ix. epistole
Explicit: Pax uobis. Gracia Dei uobiscum. Haymo .i. remissio peccatorum et reconciliacio Dei patris omniaque bonaque diuinitus gratis largiuntur sint vobiscum.

An unidentified commentary.

9. (fols. 146v-153r)
Johannes de Rupella, Comm. Tit.
Incipit: Paulus seruus dei etc. In prima ad Thimotheum informabat prelatum quantum ad scienciam regendi. In secunda quantum ad caritatem sustinendi
Explicit: Deinde ostend’ quam salutem eis optat omnibus dicens. Gracia Dei cum omnibus vobis. Amen.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 4912.

10. (fols. 153r-155v)
Comm. on Philemon.
Incipit: Paulus vinctus Ihesu Christi. In tribus precedentibus epistolis habet informacio prelatorum ecclesiasticorum quo ad scienciam virtutem et accionem
Explicit: Rarum autem et pium eosdem diligere que homines sunt.

An unidentified commentary.

11. (fols. 155v-223v)
Comm. on Hebrews
Incipit: Multiphariam multis que modis etc. Ro. xi. Quamdiu sum gencium apostolus minsterium[sic] meum honorificabo: si quomodo ad emuland’ pro uocem carnem meam et saluos faciam aliquos ex illis
Explicit: Si autem integram fidem habet: [followed by catchword ne scruteris] ||

An unidentified commentary. It breaks off shortly before the end, in ch. xiii in gloss on ‘in subiacete eis.’

12. (fols. 224r-238v)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. Jac.
Rubric: [In upper margin] Incipit prologus in Epistolas Jacobi
Incipit: Facies et velum de iacinto et purpura ... Hic breuiter notata quicquid in principio huius libri potest uel debet queri

[fol. 225r]

Rubric: Capitulum .i.
Incipit: Jacobus etc. Sicut predictum est .xii. tribubus scribit id est electis de Iudeis
Explicit: et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
Final rubric: Explicit epistola Iacobi.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3756 (BNF, MS lat. 156, fols. 378–85).

13. (fols. 238v-250v)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. 1 Pet.
Rubric: Incipit prima Petri. Capitulum i.
Incipit: Petrus apostolus etc. Hanc epistolam secundum Bedam scripsit Petrus
Explicit: cum omnibus vobis vobis[sic] quia vterque erat minister gracie generalis.
Final rubric: Explicit epistola Petri prima.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3758 (BNF, MS lat. 156, fols. 385–91).

14. (fols. 250v-259v)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. 2 Pet.
Rubric: Incipit secunda.
Incipit: Symon Petrus. Primitiua ecclesia passa est
Explicit: nemo toilet a vobis. Jo. xvj. .
Final rubric: Explicit epistola Petri ijª

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3759 (BNF, MS lat. 156 fols. 391–5).

15. (fols. 259v-274r)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. 1 Joh.
Rubric: Incipit epistola Johannis prima
Incipit: Quod fuit ab inicio quod audiuimus etc. Sicut contra hereticos male sescienties
Explicit: custodite ne eos imitemine.
Final rubric: Explicit epistola Johannis prima.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3762 (BNF, MS lat. 156 fols. 395–402).

16. (fols. 274r-276r)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. 2 Joh.
Rubric: Incipit secunda.
Incipit: Senior electe domine etc. Dubitauerunt quidam vtrum hec epistola et sequens essent Johannis apostoli
Explicit: te saluto post alios. Simile .i. Timoth’ in fine.
Final rubric: Explicit Epistola Johannis secunda.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3764 (BNF, MS lat. 156 fols. 402–3).

17. (fols. 276r-277r)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. 3 Joh.
Rubric: Incipit tercia.
Incipit: Senior Gaio karissimo. Iste Gaius fuit Corinthius. De quo Ro. xvi. Salutat vos Gaius. et .i. Cor. .i. nisi Crispum
Explicit: causa salutis eterne.
Final rubric: Explicit Epistola Joannis iijª.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3766 (BNF, MS lat. 156 fols. 403–4).

18. (fols. 277r-281v)
Hugo de S. Caro, Comm. Jud.
Rubric: Incipit epistola Jude.
Incipit: Iudas Ihesu Christi seruus. Hec est ultima epistolarum canonicarum uel quia ultimo edita
Explicit: in requie opulenta.
Final rubric: Expliciunt septem Epistole canonice penultimo die mensis Februarij Anno domini millesimo quadringentesimo lxiijº.

Stegmüller, Bibl., 3768 (BNF, MS lat. 156 fols. 404–6).

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: miserabiliter.
Form: codex
Support: parchment FHHF
Extent: 281 leaves, preceded by one post-medieval paper flyleaf and one medieval membrane half-sheet and followed by one post-medieval paper flyleaf
Dimensions (leaf): 418 × 280 mm.
Dimensions (column): 280 × 80 mm.

Collation

1–138 148 (wants 5) 15–348 352. The collation conceals the fact that a quire of 4 has been excised between quires 28/29. i.e. fols. 223/224. Catchwords up to fol. 223 are in the bottom centre of final leaves of quires but from there, where the scribe changes, they are in the bottom right-hand corners.

Layout

Two columns, 60 lines. Ruled in crayon.

Hand(s)

Written by Scribe 2; see MS 53, Script.

Decoration

Of the same type as MS 51 but by Artist C, for a characterization of whose work see Watson, Exeter, pp. 85–87.

On fols. 1r, 238v, 250v, and 274v, are 8- and 10-line illuminated initials. The same artist probably did sprays in Oxford, New College, MS 288 (Scott, Later Gothic Manuscripts, no. 114). At the beginning of some chapters are 3-line gold initials on a pink and blue coloured base with white tracery. There are red and blue paraphs and lemmata underlined red.

Binding

Stamped leather bindings over square-edged wooden boards, (presumably) rebound; stamp used was employed in Oxford between 1535 and 1621, here in the second phase state, probably c. 1605–10. Two straps held by nails. Refurbished in the 19th century (1839?): that volumes were resewn is indicated by the very tight binding, which makes collation difficult, and by the provision of new endbands; edges were stained red; book was reinforced by pasting long strips of canvas round the spine and attached to the boards, and the old spines were replaced. Sewn on seven bands. For other details see Watson, Exeter, p. 87.

History

Origin: 1463/4 ; Oxford, England

Provenance and Acquisition

On fol. iiv, a medieval half-sheet, is the same Keys ex dono inscription as in other manuscripts in this group; see MS 53, History. Keys’s arms are in the lower part of the border on fol. 1r.

Exeter library identifications are, on the front pastedown, bookplate 3, and on it ‘173–H–6’ deleted and replaced by ‘213.G.5’, and ‘Coxe LXVI’ in pencil.

Record Sources

Andrew G. Watson, A descriptive catalogue of the medieval manuscripts of Exeter College, Oxford (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 2000.

Availability

For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact Exeter College Library.

Funding of Cataloguing

Conversion of the printed catalogue to TEI funded by the Rector and Fellows of Exeter College.

Last Substantive Revision

2020-04-29: First online publication

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