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

MS. Bodl. 284

Summary Catalogue no.: 2339

Psalms and Athansian Creed with commentaries of Alexander Nequam

Contents

Language(s): Latin

Alexander Nequam , Commentary on Psalms
Incipit: De orto deliciarum quatuor emanant flumina
Incipit: Licet psalmus iste exponatur

The text of the Psalms, with the commentary on them by Alexander Neckam, the latter by the side or round the former, with prologue. Pss. cxlvii-1 are wanting, but the MS. is not imperfect. A 16th cent. index of the titles of the Psalms is on fol. 296.

(fol. 297)
Alexander Nequam , Commentary on Athanasian Creed
Incipit: (prol.) Caput aquile uisum
Incipit: Hec est enim uictoria

Neckam's commentary on the Athanasian creed, with the text, similarly arranged. The author's name does not occur anywhere in the volume.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: iii + 308 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 16.75 × 12.5 in.

Layout

In treble or double columns

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 359, pl. XXX

Fine borders.

Fine historiated initials.

Binding

Modern style about A.D. 1840-50. About 1655 Langbaine describes the volume as 'holosericatus, nigro tegmine, bullis æreis munitus'.

History

Origin: 13th century, first quarter ; English, Cirencester or Oxford (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Augustinian abbey of St Mary the Virgin: "Cirencestrie" (fols. iii recto, 119r, 153r, 294r); s. xvi. (MLGB3: evidence from an ex-libris inscription or note of gift to an institution).

Title in Leland's hand (?) (fol. iii recto), later than the "Cirencestrie" inscription. (MLGB3)

It was owned by king Henry VIII, see MS Bodl. 218 (S.C. 2054).

Presented by Charles Howard, earl of Nottingham, in 1604.

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (13 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2024-10: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue.