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

MS. Bodl. 523

Summary Catalogue no.: 2199

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 4)
Robert Whittington, ‘De difficultate Iusticiæ seruandæ in Reipublicæ administratione’
Incipit: Quæ res in terris

A hexameter poem in praise of cardinal Wolsey.

2. (fol. 10)
Robert Whittington, ‘Panegyricus de quattuor uirtutibus cardineis[sic]
Incipit: Cum tuas multipharias uirtutes

In prose; preceded by an epigram on the same subject.

Before these pieces at foll. 1, 2 are an 'Epigramma' in verse and a dedicatory 'Epistola' in prose addressed to the cardinal, in fulsome terms of flattery and begging for patronage.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: i + 24 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 9.625 × 6.75 in.

Hand(s)

Perhaps written by Whittington. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 1174)

Decoration

Fine borders.

Fine initials. Imitation of French ornament. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 1174, pl. CVIII)

Binding

Brown leather with three large cross panels on each side, stamped in gold, three representing st. George and the Dragon and three bearing Tudor badges, a portcullis, rose and pomegranate (pl. vii in W. S. Brassington's Historic Bindings in the Bodleian Library, 1891)

History

Origin: c. 1519 ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

Presentation copy for Cardinal Wolsey, with his arms.

This MS. seems to have reached the Library in 1603, 1604 or the first half of 1605.

MS. Bodl. 523 - endleaves

Contents

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

History

Origin: 14th century

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (Jan. 2021) from the following sources:
Otto Pächt and J. J. G. Alexander, Illuminated Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, III (1973), no. 1174 [decoration, origin, date, provenance]
Summary Catalogue (1922)

Availability

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Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (1 image of binding from 35mm slides)

Microfilm

Microfilm available in the open shelf collections in the Weston Library (R. Films 101)

Last Substantive Revision

2021-01-15: Description revised to incorporate all information in SC and Pächt and Alexander.