MS. Bodl. 284

Summary Catalogue no.: 2339

Psalms and Athansian Creed with commentaries of Alexander Nequam

Language(s): Latin

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.