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

MS. Bodl. 422

Summary Catalogue no.: 2321

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
Origen, Homilies on Genesis

tr. Rufinus

Rubric: Incipit tractatus Origenis in Vetus Testamentum

Then follow seventeen homilies on Genesis (the last not by Origen), preceded by a list of the chapters.

2. (fol. 56v)
Origen, Homilies on Exodus

tr. Rufinus

Rubric: ... Expositio Origenis in Exodum

Thirteen homilies or 'libri': preceded by a list of the chapters.

3. (fol. 104)
Origen, Homilies on Leviticus

tr. Rufinus

Rubric: ... Expositio Origenis in Leuiticum

Sixteen homilies.

On fol. 176v, in a hand of about A.D. 1200, are added two sets of rhyming hexameters, partly leonine, the first comparing a man with a sheep, the second describing hell: containing thirteen and sixteen lines respectively. The margin of fol. 106 is injured.

Incipit: Vilior est humana caro quam pellis ouina
Incipit: Si petis inferna te suscipit illa cauerna

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: excelsis. nichil
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: i + 176 leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 295 × 200-5 mm.

Layout

2 cols., 38 lines, ruled space 220-5 × 130-5 mm.

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 110, pl. XI:

One fine historiated initial copying an earlier, probably insular, model/

Many good initials, some of which perhaps added, 12th century, second half. ()

Binding

White parchment on boards, clasp lost, but three old parchment book-markers remain, connected at the top, contemporary English work, repaired. Title on spine.

History

Origin: 12th century, second quarter ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

In some monastic library this volume bore the mark ‘.i.f’ and ‘.lj.’ (front pastedown)

Presented to the Library by sir Robert Cotton (who writes an inscription on a 'votiva ara' at fol. 1) in 1603.

Record Sources

Description adapted (August 2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922) with limited additional physical description. Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Last Substantive Revision

2024-08: Incorporate all information from printed catalogues.