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

OR BROWSE BY

MANUSCRIPTS
WORKS
PEOPLE
PLACES

MS. Bodl. 117

Summary Catalogue no.: 1979

Notebook of William Mede of Sheen; England, 15th century, second half

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
Ps.-Augustine, De creatione primi hominis
Rubric: Libellus beati Augustini episcopi de Dignitate condicionis humane

Followed by 'Nota de horis nocturnis pariter & diurnis' (fol. 2) and a note 'De statura & decore corporis Christi' (fol. 4).

2. (fol. 4)
Sextus Pythagoreus, Sententiae (tr. Rufinus)
Rubric: Enchiridion beati Sixti pape
Incipit: Fidelis homo electus homo est

at fol. 9 is a descent of the kings of Israel and Judah.

4. (fol. 14v)
Henry Beaufort, Letters to a monk of Sheen
Rubric: Copia literarum transmissarum domino cardinali episcopo Wyntoniensi a quodam monacho huius domus Ihesu de Bethleem ordinis Cartusiensis de Shene
Incipit: Domine mi reuerendissime ... Cogitans recogitansque
Incipit: Reuerendissimo in Christo ... W. Cartusiensium minimus ... Domine mi reuerendissime, bonitati cordis mei
Incipit: Reuerendissimo ... Honoris paterni
Language(s): Latin

At fol. 20 is 'Modus laudandi Deum post missam celebratam & alijs temporibus'

5. (fol. 21v)
Historical notes and extracts
Rubric: Sequuntur Cronice notabiles

Excerpts from chronicles relating to miracles and incidents, chiefly in English history: specimens are noted in Hardy's Manuscript Materials (Rolls Series) ii. 6, 43: at fol. 30v is 'Errores Johannis Wyclyffe': at fol. 32v John Barton's Symbolum contra Lollardos: then the subjects range from music to Mohammed: in the margin of an account of the consecration of Henry V in 1413 is 'Henricus fundator huius domus' (fol. 68): at fol. 74v are 'Versus de Anglia', beg. 'Anglia terra ferax'.

Language(s): Latin
6. (fol. 84)
Notes on Jewish history

As contained in the books from Genesis to the second book of Kings: from Nicholas de Lyra and similar commentators. At end, after some moral verses, is 'Deo gracias, quod W. Edem, verso nomine [i. e. Mede]. Orate pro scriptore...'

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper
Extent: i + 132 leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 8.75 × 6.5 in.

Binding

Stamped leather on boards, English contemporary work.

History

Origin: 15th century, second half ; English, Surrey, Sheen, Carthusian monastery

Provenance and Acquisition

Compiled and written by W. Mede, monk of Sheen.

Sheen Charterhouse (?)

Presented by Nicholas Limbye, or Lymbe, B.D. of St. John's College, Oxford, in 1602.

Record Sources

Description adapted (April 2020) from the Summary Catalogue (1922).
Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 1, p. 144
Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 1, p. 145

Bibliography

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2020-04-07: Description revised to incorporate all information in SC.