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

MS. Bodl. 398

Summary Catalogue no.: 2229

Physical Description

Composite: fols. 1–113 || fols. 114–175
Form: codex
Extent: ii + 176 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 12.25 × 8 in.

Condition

In parts injured by damp, and rubbed

Layout

2 cols.

Musical Notation:

Notation on staves (see van Dijk 1957).

Decoration

Penwork.

Binding

Leather stained red on boards, 15th cent. English work.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Newark, Surrey, Augustinian priory of St Mary the Virgin and St Thomas the Martyr (?) : "the provenance of Bodl. 207 and 398 is inferred from the similarity of the medieval bindings to that of Auct. D. inf. 2. 10". (MLGB3: inferred evidence).

"Sir Geo. More gave it 1604". (MLGB3)

MS. Bodl. 398 – fols. 1-113

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1v)
Isidore, Sententiae
Rubric: Incipit liber primus sancti Ysidori Spalensis archiepiscopi de Summo Bono

Followed by the other two books, each preceded by a list of chapters.

2. (fol. 79)
Isidore, De differentiis rerum siue Differentiae spirituales
Rubric: Incipit liber Ysidori Iunioris de Virtutum & Viciorum differentiis
Incipit: Inter Deum et Dominum
Explicit: humilitatis Christi

With a short preface:

Incipit: Nonnulli norunt
3. (fol. 93, cf. 99)
Theodulf of Orleans, De ordine baptismatis
Rubric: Liber de ordine baptismi

With prologue omitting the author's name, and list of chapters; but the text ends abruptly in cap. xiii at the words 'legitur, preteritur'.

4. (fol. 100)
Alcuin, De uirtutibus et uitiis
Rubric: Liber Alchuini ad Widonem comitem

Followed by 'Epytaphium ipsius', sc. Alcuini

Incipit: Hic rogo pauxillum

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Initials, with additions of 13th century, beginning. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 246)

History

Origin: 12th century, end; additions, 13th century, beginning ; English

MS. Bodl. 398 – fols.114-175

Contents

Language(s): Latin

5. (fol. 114)
Odo of Cluny, Collationes
Rubric: Incipit prologus beati Odonis abbatis […]
6. (fol. 162)
Commonitiuncula ad sororem (?) (CPL 1219)
Rubric: Cerasius fac̄ [fecit?] has .vi. historias cuilibet de obędientie bono eiusque laudibus
Incipit: Tuę non inmemor peticionis hanc comonitiunculam
Explicit: virtutem memorię commendes
7.
Theological treatises
(fol. 165)
Evagrius Ponticus, De octo principalibus vitiis (Bloomfield 4251)
Rubric: Dicta famuli Dei Nili monachi de .viij. Viciis principalibus
Incipit: Principium fructus flores
Explicit: spiritus accidię fugiet a te

Perhaps unfinished.

(fol. 166v)
Jerome (?) (Ps.-Augustine), De obedientia
Rubric: Tractus sancti Augustini de obedientia
Incipit: Nichil itaque sic Deo

Of doubtful authorship.

(fol. 167v)

A few stories excerpted from the Lives of the Saints.

(fol. 170v)
Ambrosius Autpertus, De conflictu vitiorum et virtutum
Rubric: De conflictu uiciorum atque uirtutum, epistola beati Ambrosii episcopi
Incipit: Apostolica uox clamat ... atque in procinctu
(fol. 174)
Rubric: Abbas Moyses de appetenda discretionis gratia
Incipit: Omni conatu debet
(fol. 174v)
Ps.-Macharius, Ep. ad monachos (ep. 4)
Rubric: Epistola beati Macharij ad monachos
Incipit: In primis quidem si cęperit
(fol. 175)
Rubric: De diuersis uirtutibus psalmorum uel anime
Incipit: Ieronimus dicit. Quantum possunt psalmi

On fols. 176, 176v are Latin antiphons, a gradual and Alleluia, etc., with musical notes, of the first half of the 13th cent. On foll. iiv, 176v are a list of contents, partial index, etc.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Initials. (Pächt and Alexander i. 515)

History

Origin: 13th century, beginning ; French (?)

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (May 2023) from the Summary Catalogue (1922) with additional reference to published literature as cited. Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2023-05: Revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue