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

MS. Bodl. 251

Summary Catalogue no.: 2332

Contents

Nicholas de Lyra, Postilla (part I, Genesis to Ecclesiasticus)
Rubric: Prima pars postille super Bibliam compilate per fratrem Nicholaum de Lyra sacre theologie professorem ordinis fratrum Minorum

The first two leaves have been torn out, the text beginning 'teria possit distingui'.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: iii + 399 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 18.875 × 13.625 in.

Layout

2 cols.

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander i. 614, pl. XLVI

Fine coloured drawings.

Fine coloured diagrams.

Fine borders.

Fine initials.

History

Origin: 14th century, end ; French

Provenance and Acquisition

William Courtenay: "Prima pars Lyre Willelmi Cowrtenay Cantuariensis archiepiscopi" [s. xiv ex.]. The volume was left by the Archbishop to his nephew Richard Courtenay with reversion to Canterbury on his death (1415).

On fol. 398 are four notes of the MS. having been deposited in the Waugham chest of Oxford University: two are almost illegible (dated 1401, 1403), but the third runs 'Caucio magistri Johannis Blew, Ricardi Courtenay, Roberti Newby, Wileimi Oldeni [?], Philippi Morgan, magistri Thome ... , exposita in cista Waugham Hussy pro xviij marcis in festo Sancti Thome martiris anno Domini M° CCCC° ij°'. (See Bodleian Quarterly Record, Vol. II, no. 17.)

Canterbury, Kent, Benedictine cathedral priory of Holy Trinity or Christ Church Prima pars lyre quam Willelmus Courtenay dedit ecclesie Christi Cantuariensi", s. xv (flyleaf ii verso, facing fol. 1r of text). Christ Church signs in margins passim. (MLGB3: evidence from an ex-libris inscription or note of gift to an institution). Catalogue of 1508 (M. R. James, Ancient Libraries of Canterbury, etc. (1903), p. 152).

Given by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Colfe, 1616.

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1966).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (15 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2024-09: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue.