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

St John's College MS 126

Letters: Arnulf of Lisieux, John of Salisbury excerpted, Peter of Cella; Jerome, ‘Interpretatio nominum Hebreorum’

Physical Description

Comprising five originally separate MSS
Form: codex
Support: Comprising five originally separate MSS, all on vellum (all HSOS/HFFH).
Extent: Fols. i + 176 (numbered fols. 1–175, ii) + i.
Dimensions (leaf): 225 × 152 mm.

Binding

A modern replacement. Sewn on five thongs. At the front, a modern paper flyleaf (with a College bookplate on the verso); at the rear a modern paper flyleaf (iii).

History

Origin: variously s. xii ex. and s. xiii in. ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

‘Hic liber est ecclesie Sancte Marie de Suwicha Quem qui ei uiolenter auferre uel titulum istum dolo dolere presumpserit nisi eidem ecclesie condigne satisfecerit sit anathema Maranat⟨ ⟩ amen amen amen’ (fols. 153v–4, lower margin in rubricator’s red). The erasure following item 4 (fol. 146v) apparently removed a similar statement of ownership; legible under ultraviolet light in the first line is ‘prior. Sut⟨ ⟩’.

Manuscript 1 = Fols 1–81

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. Fols. 3–71:
Rubric: Incipiunt epistole AERNULFI LEXOUIENSIS […]
Incipit: Epistolas que aliq\ua [later]/ndo diuersis a me sunt destinate personis in libellum redigi
Explicit: sine admonitionis pabulo diu non potent uiuere quin expiret Bene semperque valet
ARNULF OF LISIEUX, Letters

Sharpe, no. 132 (64), , ed. Frank Barlow, The Letters of Arnulf of Lisieux, Camden Society 3rd ser. 61 (1939); see especially pp. lxxxiii–lxxxvi and the table on pp. lxvii–lxx for the unique contents of this MS., These include about forty extra items at the end, most grouped by Barlow at 161–217, although the explicit is letter 10 (14). Fols. 1–2 have a table for the letters, s. xii/xiii; fol. 2v was originally blank but ruled, now with an added index for item 2. Fols. 71v–2v are blank but ruled. Dietrich Lohrmann, ‘Der Tod König Heinrichs I. von England in der mittellateinischen Literatur Englands und der Normandie’, Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch 8 (1973), 90–107 at 99–101, 107 edits Arnulf’s poem for one of Henry’s tombs from the correspondence.

2. Fols. 73–81:
Rubric: Epistola ad Egidiu [sic for Egidium] Rothomagensem archidiaconum de his que sequuntvr cxxiiij.
Incipit: Sermonem habitum in concilio turonensi scripto tradere quorumdam precatione conpulsus sum […]
Rubric: [the text] Sermo habitus in concilio Turonensi
Incipit: Hodiernum sermonem domini et patres mei mihi domini nostri qui presidet romani
Explicit: dum superuenire spiritus altissimus obumbrare filius uero dicitur incarnarj
ARNULF OF LISIEUX, ‘Sermones’,

ed. PL 201:151–170 A7. The prologue is numbered as the final epistle of item 1. Fol. 81v is blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: ad papam (fol. 2)
Secundo Folio: ut ducem (fol. 4)
Support: vellum (HSOS/HFFH)
Extent: Fols. 81.
Dimensions (written): 170 × 107 mm.

Collation

14? (–1, –4) 2–58 610 [a lost quire] 7–98, 104 118+1 (+9, fol. 81, which is pasted to the preceding leaf). Catchwords, at the centre of the leaf (to quire 4) or towards the gutter (thereafter), several cut away. Quires signed on the final leaf with a roman numeral, quires 2–9 = I–v, the lost quire, vij–ix. In addition, in quires 3–6, all leaves in the first half of each quire are signed with letters (quires 4, 5, 6) or with roman numerals (quire 3, a second set in red in quire 6).

Condition

A good many irregular, damaged, and patched leaves.

Layout

In long lines, 31–3 lines to the page (with considerable variation). Prickings; bounded and ruled in black ink.

Hand(s)

Several hands, all writing gothic textura semiquadrata, s. xii/xiii or xiii in.:

scribe 1 = fols. 1–34v;

scribe 2 = fols. 45–71;

scribe 3 = fols. 73–81.

The quire fols. 35–44v appears to have been copied by a committee. Scribe 1 punctuates by point and punctus elevatus; scribes 2 and 3 by point, medial point, and punctus elevatus.

Decoration

Red headings and epistle numbers.

Alternate red and green two-line arabesque initials, a few flourished in the other colour.

At the head, a blue seven-line capital with red flourishing.

History

Origin: s. xii/xiii or xiii in. ; England

Manuscript 2 = Fols. 82–94

Contents

Language(s): Latin

3. Fols. 82–94v:
Rubric: Incipit conpendiosa defloratio ex libro epistolarum Magistri IOHANNIS SARESBERIENSIS qui postmodum fuit episcopus carnolensis super causa beati thome Martyris a GUIDONE PRIORE SUWICENSE diligenter excerpta […] [the text] De epistola Magistri IOHANNIS SARESBERIENSIS Magistro Radulpho nigro directa […]
Incipit: Fides et deuotio tua testimonium habent maius iohanne que non uerborum strepitu
Explicit: Et quidem nutu faciente divino responsum est ne deitas cristi cuivs [CW: nomen judeis] ||
Final rubric:
JOHN OF SALISBURY, Letters

Sharpe, no. 408 (157), unprinted as such; see Anne Duggan, Thomas Becket: A Textual History of his Letters (Oxford, 1980), 95–8. The collection breaks off at a quire end in the 110th selection, John’s description of Becket’s martyrdom.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Humanitas
Support: vellum (HSOS/HFFH)
Extent: Fols. 13.
Dimensions (written): 175 × 105 mm.

Collation

128 136 (–5, a cancel with no loss of text). Catchwords; leaves of quire 13 signed a–e.

Layout

In long lines, 28–33 lines to the page. Prickings; bounded and ruled in black ink.

Hand(s)

A variety of mixed protogothic bookhand/gothic textura hands, s. xii ex., often writing very short sections. The final scribe (fols. 93v–4v) appears to be spacing out his writing in an attempt to produce a join with a quire no longer present. Punctuation by point and punctus elevatus.

Decoration

Headings and some marginal notes in red.

Two-line arabesque initials, at some points simply red (occasionally flourished in green), at others alternate red and green or alternate red and text ink.

History

Origin: s. xii ex. ; England

Manuscript 3 = Fols. 95–146

Contents

Language(s): Latin

4. Fols. 95–146v:
Rubric: Epistole ad quasdam personas Gallas destinate
Incipit: Domino suo karissimo et precordiali I episcopo Sancti Maclouij Suus cristi sacerdos [the three words over erasure later] id quod est et potest Karitas paciens quod mirum dictu est pene ad inpatientiam me imipellit
Explicit: improbitate sua si adquieuerimus prouocat et attrahit deinceps itaque iam noli scribere Explicit
PETER OF CELLA, Epistolae,

ed. C. Messiter, Epistolae Walteri abbatis Dervensis, Caxton Society 10 (1850); cf. PL 202:405–636, where the incipit = ep. 13 (col. 415) and the explicit = ep. 66 (col. 513). The attribution was corrected by Heinrich Hohenleutner, ‘Die Briefsammlung des sogenannten Walter van Dervy (Montier-en-Der) in der Oxforder Handschrift St John’s College MS 126’, Historisches Jahrbuch 74 (1954), 673–80. Beneath the explicit on fol. 146v are eight erased lines in red (see Provenance below).

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: hec reposita
Support: vellum (HSOS/HFFH)
Extent: Fols. 52.
Dimensions (written): 180 × 104 mm.

Collation

14–168 1710 188 1910. Two catchwords in the centre of the leaf, both partly cut away. Each quire originally signed with a roman numeral in red on the last leaf, quires 14–16 = I–iij; later signatures, also roman numerals, on the first leaf of each quire, quires 14–19 = xi, –, xiii–xvi.

Layout

In long lines, 31–7 lines to the page (increasing at the end). Rare prickings; bounded and ruled in brown and black ink.

Hand(s)

Written in incipient gothic textura (above top line), with a change of hands at fol. 128 (and perhaps more scribes), s. xiii in. Scribe 1 punctuates by point, medial point, punctus elevatus, and punctus flexus; scribe 2 by point, occasional punctus elevatus and punctus interrogativus.

Decoration

Red and alternate red and gold 1- and 2-line arabesque capitals.

Red rubrics, a substantial number of spaces for them unfilled.

History

Origin: s. xiii in. ; England

Manuscript 4 = Fols. 147–52

Contents

Language(s): Latin

5. Fols. 147ra–8vb:
Incipit: […] nomen meum apud gentes Item in psalmo cix. ante luciferum genui te Iurauit dominus et non penitebit
Explicit: omnes fines tibi et adorabunt in conspectu tuo omnes patrie gentium quoniam deum est regnum et dominabitur omnium gentium
IVO OF CHARTRES, sermo 5 ‘Opusculum de convenientia veteris et novi sacrificii’,

ed. PL 162:538 C2–543 A2 (excerpted).

6. Fols. 148vb–9ra:
Incipit: IVO dei gratia CARNOTENSIS ecclesie minister pontio uenerabili cluniacensium abbati in regimine sibi commisso placere summo rectori Quesiuit a paruitate mea prudens diligentia
Explicit: altiora et sacratiora ex auctoritate uel diuina inspiratione dicere ualuerit
Final rubric:
IVO OF CHARTRES, Epistola 231,

ed. PL 162:233–4 C 3.

7. Fols. 149ra–52va:
Incipit: De monacho qui in ignem cadendi inueni causa fuit non uoluntate sed casu non uidetur mihi esse criminale quod fecit
Explicit: attendi debet sed quam cito superbunt gratia [?gessura] discessit et sibi derelictus precipitium incurrit
Questions on canon law, unidentified.

There are only four lines on fol. 152v, which is not ruled.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: sic et potestas
Support: vellum (HSOS/HFFH)
Extent: Fols. 6.

Collation

206. No catchwords or signatures.

Layout

In double columns of varying format, at the start each column 190 × 54 mm. , with 9 mm between columns, in 39 lines to the column. No prickings; bounded and ruled at the start in brown ink.

Hand(s)

Written in several gothic textura semiquadrata hands, s. xiii in.: one to fol. 148rb / 7, another of an older aspect to the end of item 5; item 6 in a third hand; the first hand then returns through fol. 149vb, after which there appear a succession of different writers. Punctuation by point and occasional punctus elevatus.

Decoration

Red-slashed capitals and some text ink paraphs, occasionally also red-slashed.

Three 2- or 3-line lombards, two dark blue on red flourishing, one red and unflourished.

History

Origin: s. xiii in. ; England

Manuscript 5 = Fols. 153–75, ii

Contents

Language(s): Latin

8. Fols. 153ra–75ra:
Rubric: Prologus IERONIMI presbiteri in librum de interpretatione nominum hebreorum
Incipit: Philo uir desertissimus iudeorum origenis quoque testimonio comprobatur edidisse librum […]
Rubric: [fol. 153rb, the text] Incipit liber IERONIMI presbiteri de interpretatione nominvm hebreorum
Incipit: De Genesi Aethiopiam tenebras uel caliginem Assiriorum dirigentium Adam homo siue terrenus
Explicit: Syon specula Syna mensura Siue mandatum uel temptatio Sathan aduersarius uel preuaricator
Final rubric: Explicit liber IERONIMI de [as the initial rubric]
JEROME, 'Interpretatione nominvm hebreorum'

CPL 581, , ed. Paul de Lagarde, CC 72 (1959) 59–161., Following the explicit, added material (fol. 175rab): notes of other etymologies in Jerome, first entries for the Song, not treated in the text, then five etymologies from Adversus Iovinianum. Fols. 175v and ii are blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Chus
Support: vellum (HSOS/HFFH)
Extent: Fols. 24.

Collation

218 2210 236. Catchwords under the inner columns. Quires 21 and 22 are signed with roman numerals I and ijus in red; all leaves in the first half of quire 22 are signed with letters.

Layout

In double columns, each column 168 × 57–60 mm. , with 8 mm between columns, in 40 lines to the column. Fairly regular prickings; bounded and ruled in brown ink.

Hand(s)

Written in early gothic textura semiquadrata, above top line, s. xiii in. Punctuation by point, occasional punctus elevatus and punctus interrogativus.

Decoration

Headings in red.

Alternate red and blue 1-line initials for the individual entries.

Three-line alternate red and blue arabesque capitals on flourishing of the other colour at the head of the prologue and the text.

History

Origin: s. xiii in. ; England

Additional Information

Record Sources

Ralph Hanna, A descriptive catalogue of the western medieval manuscripts of St. John's College, Oxford (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)

Availability

For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact St John's College Library.

Bibliography

    Frank Barlow (ed.), The Letters of Arnulf of Lisieux, Camden Society 3rd ser. 61 (1939).
    Eligius Dekkers and Aemilius Gaar, Clavis patrum latinorum, 3rd edn. (Turnhout, 1995).
    Anne Duggan, Thomas Becket: A Textual History of his Letters (Oxford: Clarendon, 1980).
    Heinrich Hohenleutner, ‘Die Briefsammlung des sogenannten Walter van Dervy (Montier-en-Der) in der Oxforder Handschrift St John’s College MS 126’, Historisches Jahrbuch 74 (1954), 673–80.
    Paul de Lagarde (ed.), Jerome, Liber Interpretations Hebraicorum Nominum, Corpus Christianorum 72 (1959).
    Dietrich Lohrmann, ‘Der Tod König Heinrichs I. von England in der mittellateinischen Literatur Englands und der Normandie’, Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch 8 (1973), 90–107.
    C. Messiter (ed.), Epistolae Walteri abbatis Dervensis, Caxton Society 10 (1850).
    Jacques-Paul Migne (ed.), Patrologia Latina 162 (Paris, 1854).
    Jacques-Paul Migne (ed.), Patrologia Latina 201 (Paris, 1855).
    Jacques-Paul Migne (ed.), Patrologia Latina 202 (Paris, 1855).
    Richard Sharpe, A Handlist of the Latin Writers of Great Britain and Ireland before 1540. Publications of the Journal of Medieval Latin 1 (Turnhout, 1997).

Funding of Cataloguing

Conversion of the printed catalogue to TEI funded by the Thompson Family Charitable Trust

Last Substantive Revision

2023-01: First online publication

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