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

MS. Bodl. 40

Summary Catalogue no.: 1841

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
⟨Alexander of Ashby⟩, Liber festiualis
Rubric: Libellus de Sanctorum miraculis

A festial in two books, known to be by Alexander Essebiensis (prior of Canons' Ashby), see MS. Bodl. 527, art. 4: but after the Life of st. Guthlac in book 2 the two MSS. differ, MS. Bodl. 527 going on (fol. 125) to st. Marina, and then st. Edward king and confessor, whereas the present MS. (fol. 33) omits Marina.

2.
⟨Petrus Riga⟩, ⟨Floridus aspectus⟩

Stegmüller, Bibl. 6822

(fol. 38v)
(De nativitate Christi)
Incipit: Nectareum rorem
(fol. 40)
(De Iob, Noe et Daniele)
Incipit: Tres recipit celum. Danielem. Iob. Noe. claro
3.
(fol. 41)
Hymn to Christ
Incipit: Iesu Christe fili Dei | Viui miserere mei
(fol. 41)
Hymn to the Virgin Mary
Incipit: O cuntis excelsior angelorum choris
Metrical creed
Incipit: Firma fides simplex confessio nostra quod unus | Est Deus
Poem concerning this creed against Joachim of Fiore
Incipit: Creditis о fratres hec omnia? Credimus, ergo | Abbatis Ioachim dampnamus scripta magistri
4. (fol. 43v)
⟨Henry of Avranches⟩, Vita sancti Birini
Incipit: Et pudet & fateor

D. Townsend, 'The Vita Sancti Birini of Henri of Avranches', Analecta Bollandiana 112 (1994) 309–338.

5. (fol. 53)
⟨Decretum versificatum⟩
Incipit: (prologue) Est Decretorum complexio causa duorum

Latin verses on the thirty-six Causae of the second part of the Decretum of Gratian, WIC 5639

6. (fol. 57)
⟨Henry of Avranches⟩, Vita sancti Oswaldi
Incipit: In noua fert animus antiquas uertere prosas
Incipit: Tempore quo nuper Iuti Saxones & Angli

D. Townsend, 'Henri of Avranches: Vita Sancti Oswaldi', Mediaeval Studies 56 (1994) 1–65.

(fol. 69v)

A form of admission to novitiate in a Benedictine monastery, 14th century.

(fol. 72)

A list of the books of the Bible, in five verses

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 74 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 7.875 × 5.125 in.

Decoration

Coloured capitals.

History

Origin: 13th century, first half ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

Ramsey, Benedictine abbey: evidence of marginalia (MLGB).

fol. 51v 'Disce mori. Dodisthorp', 14th cent.

Apparently acquired in 1603 or 1604.

Record Sources

Description adapted (March 2020) from the Summary Catalogue (1922), with reference to other published literature as cited.

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2020-03-18: Description revised to include all information in SC updated in the light of published literature as cited.