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St John's College MS. 195

Richard Rolle, Latin Psalter and Parce michi; Phillip Karmerlyn on the decretals; John of Sacro Bosco, De sphera; ‘Disticha Catonis’

Physical Description

Comprising five separate MSS
Form: codex
Support: all on vellum (all FSOS/FHHF).
Extent: Fols. i + 252 (numbered 1–249, ii–iv) + i (numbered fol. v).
Dimensions (leaf): 168 × 115 mm.

Binding

A modern replacement. Sewn on four thongs. At the front, one modern paper flyleaf (dated 1861); at the rear, a second modern paper flyleaf (v).

History

Origin: ss. xiv med.–xv3/4 ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

‘Summa totalis libri’ (fol. iiiv, s. xv; some further s. xv pen-trials appear on fol. iv).

‘I Emgere Wystemntame’ (fol. 249, upper margin, s. xv ex.; another illegible inscription of the same date appears on fol. ivv).

‘f⟨..⟩ Iames suthampton’ (fol. 79, upper margin, rubbed, s. xvi med.).

‘the lord be thanked for his geftis and mercies euermore and with his ⟨....⟩ ever more and throwght his me⟨......⟩ you ⟨ ⟩ you ⟨ ⟩ to you per me thomas iones’ (fol. 173v, apparently in the same hand as the preceding); Thomas Jones also signs upside down on fol. ivv, and below that ‘Thomas wyhene in lumbert stryt’ in Jones’s hand.

‘harry lythting is put ⟨ ⟩’ and below ‘He that in youth no ⟨ ⟩ will vse […] ’ (fol. ii, in script similar to the two preceding ones, again defaced).

A list of contents (fol. iiv, s. xvii).

Liber Collegij Sanctj Johannis Baptistae Oxon’ ex dono Christophorj Coles Artis Bacchalaurej ejusdem Collegii conuictoris’ (fol. 1, vertically in the margin).

Manuscript 1 = Fols. 1–4

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. Fols. 1–4v:
Incipit: Si deus est animus nobis vt carmina dicunt | Hic tibi precipue sit pura mente colendus
Explicit: Miraris verbis nudus me scriber versus | Hec breuitas sensus facit consiungere binos
The Disticha Catonis,

books 1–4 complete but without the ‘breves sententiae’ at the head, ed. J. Wright Duff and Arnold M. Duff (Cambridge, Mass., 1934), 596–620.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Ipse tibi (fol. 2)
Extent: Fols. 4.
Dimensions (written): 152 × 90 mm.

Collation

Apparently 14 (a vellum strip down the gutter between fols. 2 and 3 obscures any sewings). Probably from the previous binding and extraneous to the remainder.

Layout

In long lines, 37 lines to the page. No prickings; bounded and ruled in lead.

Hand(s)

Written in anglicana, s. xiv med. or ex. No punctuation.

Decoration

Crude red lombards, lines joined by a red frame, capitals red-slashed in a single stroke from page top to foot.

History

Origin: s. xiv med. or ex

Manuscript 2 = Fols. 5–123

Contents

Language(s): Latin

2. Fols. 5ra–120va:
Incipit: magna spiritualis iocunditatis scilicet vanitas [l. svauitas?] illabitur mentibus cantica psalmorum deuote canencium […] [fol. 5rb, the text] Beatus vir scilicet cristus qui vir dicitur vel propter excellenciam virtutum
Explicit: [fol. 113vb] qui non leuiter intelligent profundos sensus scripture
Rubric: Explicit textus psalterij cum glosa secundum venerabilis memorie uirum RICARDUM heremitam DE HAMPOLE Hic sequitur canticum ysaye capitulo duodecimo |
Incipit: [fol. 114ra] Confitebor tibi domine id est laudabo nunc quoniam iratus es mihi prius in adam
Explicit: terre populi sui id est ecclesie que constat ex populo suo
Final rubric: Explicit textus psalterij cum glosa secundum RICARDUM HAMPOLE heremitam
ROLLE, Latin Psalter (Sharpe, no. 1370 [501–3] and Allen, 166 [no. iv]), with commentary on the first six Canticles, ed. D. Richardi Pampolitani Anglosaxonis eremitae […] in Psalterium Dauidicum … (Cologne, 1536), 1–88v. The scribe’s incomplete version of the prologue has been supplemented, omitted portions added later in the lower margin of fol. 4v and the upper and lower margins of fol. 5.

The remainder was originally blank; now with added texts, written in secretary with occasional anglicana r, s. xv3/4:

a. Fols. 120vb–1:
On calendar
Incipit: ⟨C⟩vm in plerisque dubijs que in kalendario tanquam incerta et vaga omnino variantur
Explicit: videlicet prima pro litera dominicali in eodem Anno et eciam secundum propter diem Pasche
b. Fols. 121v–2v:
Incipit: Fistulat hec duplici celer astat glos feriendi | Heu cingo blesas
Explicit: ductu bifurcate amandis | Gloria finem datur cristo bellantibus Augur Amen
WIC 6561 (cited as unique).
c. Fols. 122v–3:
On dangerous days
Rubric: Hic sequuntur dies periculosi
Incipit: Quidam magister astrologus asserebat pro vero quod xxxijo. dies sunt in anni circulo metuendi
Explicit: et in prima die Augusti et tercia die kalendarum Decembris
d. Fol. 123:
On sleep
Rubric: De modo dormiendi et sompnium ante prandium
Incipit: Cum tu vero refectus fueris ascende super stramina mollia deinde temperate dormi
Explicit: in ventre vel grauitate tunc medicinale superpone camisiam

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: et legiste
Extent: Fols. 119

Collation

2–1012 1112(–12, a cancelled blank). Catchwords towards the gutter, most boxed. All leaves in the first half of each quire signed with a letter and arabic numeral, a few cut away; in this system, quires 2–11 = a–k.

Layout

In double columns, each column 118 × 38 mm. , with 3–4 mm between columns, in 50 lines to the column. No prickings, bounded in brown and black ink, no rules.

Hand(s)

Written in anglicana, s. xv med. Light punctuation by point and punctus elevatus.

Decoration

Rough 3-line blue lombards on red flourishing at the head of each psalm.

Versal initials alternate blue and red 1-line lombards.

The biblical text underlined in red.

History

Origin: s. xv med

Manuscript 3 = Fols. 124–73

Contents

Language(s): Latin and Middle English

3. Fols. 124ra–70vb:
Incipit: Parce michi domine […] Exprimitur autem in hiis verbis humane condicionis instabilitas que non habet
Explicit: draconum et incensi ignis inhabitat in eternum Ad cristus nos liberet qui cum patre [form ending] Amen
Final rubric: Explicit tractatus RICARDI heremite DE HAMPOLE super nouem leccionibus Mortuorum
ROLLE, Parce michi (Allen, 132 [no. xvii]), ed. Malcolm R. Moyes, Richard Rolle's Expositio super Novem Lectiones Mortuorum Volume Two, Elizabeth and Renaissance Studies 92/12 (Salsburg 1988), 124–283.

The remainder of the book was originally blank, now with one added text:

e. e. Fols. 171–2:
Rubric: Decem mandata
Incipit: I haue not loved god aboue all thing | I haue not dred hym
Explicit: Falsarios litterarum pape Procurantes vel scienter falsatis vtentes Casus reseruati ad diocesanum […]
An excerpt from (?) a form of confession (cf. Jolliffe C), with appended instructional lists, ed. OT 91, ending with two lists of cases reserved, the second the rubric only. Mostly in English, written in secretary, s. xv3/4.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: probari
Extent: Fols. 50

Collation

12–1412 1514. Boxed catchwords at the gutter; no signatures.

Layout

In double columns, frequently scarcely separated, with an overall writing area of 123 × 85 mm. , in 36 lines to the column. No prickings, bounds or rules.

Hand(s)

Written in anglicana, s.xv med. Light punctuation by medial point and virgula.

Decoration

A crude 4-line blue lombard on red flourishing at the head.

Crude 2-line unflourished red lombards at internal divisions.

The liturgical text underlined in red.

The text divided by red paraphs and red-slashed capitals.

History

Origin: s.xv med

Manuscript 4 = Fols. 174–233

Contents

Language(s): Latin

4. Fols. 174–232v:
Incipit: Liber enim decretorum in tres \partes/ distinguitur quarum prima continent distincciones 101. […] [fol. 180] Aaron et moysy indignati sunt data et abiro’ 7 q 1 deique Aaron Caritas de pe di 2a i
Explicit: Zelotopie purgacio 2 q 5 confiliust’ Zizannia sinite crescere 11 q 3 nolite
Final rubric: Explicit tabula super librum decretorum secundum Magistrum PHILIPPUM KARMERLYN
Phillip of Karmerlyn, on the decretals

Unidentified; fundamentally an index (from fol. 180), the incipit resembling that of JOHANNES DE DEO, Decretale abbreviatum.

The remainder of the book was originally blank, now with an added text:

f. f. Fols. 232v–3:
Incipit: Ars saccarij mundus iste totus quasi quoddam scaccarium est cuius vnus punctus est albus
Explicit: vbi non liberabitur nec prece nec precio quia in inferno nulla est redempcio
Final rubric: Ista moralitas de scaccario est domini INNOCENIJ PAPE TERCIJ

The Moralitas de scaccario ascribed by Richard Sharpe to Innocent IV and identified by Warner & Gilson, Cat. Royal, 2. 58, , as an extract from John Waleys, Communiloquium siue Summa collationum, I 10. 7.; there are other ascribed copies in our MS 135, fol. 47v; and Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 177, fol. 26v. Written in contemporary anglicana.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: In 4 74a
Extent: Fols. 60
Dimensions (written): 125 × 77–80 mm.

Collation

16–2012. Catchwords in the gutter (one boxed). All leaves in the first half of each quire signed with a letter and an arabic numeral; in this system, quires 16–20 = a–e.

Layout

In long lines, 30 lines to the page. No prickings; bounded in brown ink, unruled.

Hand(s)

Written in anglicana, s. xv med. No punctuation.

Decoration

At the head, an unflourished 4-line red lombard; the text divided by red paraphs and red-slashed capitals; index entries introduced by alternate 1-line red and blue lombards.

History

Origin: s. xv med.

Manuscript 5 = Fols. 234–49, ii–iv

Contents

Language(s): Latin

5. Fols. 234–49:
Rubric: Incipit spera
Incipit: Tractatum de spera in 4or. partes distinguimus dicentes primo quid sit spera […]
Rubric: Quid sit spera quid eius centrum
Incipit: Spera igitur ab euclide sic describitur spera est transitus circumferencie dimidij
Explicit: in eadem passione dixisse aut deus nature patitur aut mundana machina dissoluitur
JOHANNES DE SACRO BOSCO, De sphera (Sharpe, no. 865 [306]), ed. Libellus de anni ratione seu ut uocatur ulgo Computus Ecclesiasticus (Paris, 1550), fols. 5–54. Astronomical diagrams follow the explicit on fol. 249. The remainder is blank; fol. ii is bounded.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: a variacione
Extent: Fols. 19
Dimensions (written): 93 × 60 mm.

Collation

2112 228 (–8, a cancelled blank). A boxed catchword at the bounding line for the gutter. Fol. iv appears to have been a pastedown in an earlier binding.

Layout

In long lines, 31 lines to the page. No prickings; bounded in lead, no rules. The text area has apparently been planned to occupy a small proportion of the page in order to accommodate glosses, added sporadically but occasionally densely.

Hand(s)

Written in mixed anglicana/secretary, s. xv med., above top line. Light punctuation by medial point, virgula, and double virgula.

Decoration

Headings in red.

Sections of the text introduced by two- line unflourished lombards, in blue on the first page, thereafter in red.

History

Origin: s. xv med. ;

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), with correction to identification of item [f] and correction to folio reference for Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 177.

Availability

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

Bibliography

    Hope Emily Allen, Writings Ascribed to Richard Rolle Hermit of Hampole (New York, 1927).
    J. Wight Duff and Arnold M. Duff (ed. and trans.) Minor Latin Poets. Vol. 2. Loeb Classical Library 434. (Cambridge, Mass., 1934).
    Malcolm R. Moyes (ed.), Richard Rolle's Expositio super Novem Lectiones Mortuorum Volume Two, Elizabeth and Renaissance Studies 92/12 (Salsburg 1988).
    S. J. Ogilvie-Thomson (ed.), The Index of Middle English Prose VIII: Manuscripts Containing Middle English Prose in Oxford College Libraries (Cambridge, 1991).
    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).
    Hans Walther, Initia carminum ac versuum Medii Aevi posterioris Latinorum, 2nd edn (Göttingen, 1969).
    Sir George Warner and Julius Gilson, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Old Royal and King's Collections in the British Museum (London: British Museum, 1921).

Funding of Cataloguing

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

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2022-02: First online publication

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