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

MS. Bodl. 535

Summary Catalogue no.: 2254

Lives of Saints; 11th century, late, England, in part Winchester

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
Hilduin of St. Denis, Passio metrica sancti Dionysii
Rubric: Passio beati Dyonisii sociorumque eius heroico carmine edita
Incipit: Post Crucis insignes subiit quam sponte triuphos
Final rubric: Explicit exametro decurrens Passio uersu | Magni cum sociis Dyonisii iure uerendis | Quos celebrent summos populi per secla patronos
Hilduin of Saint-Denis: the Passio S. Dionysii in prose and verse, ed. M. Lapidge (2017)
2. (fol. 39)
Life of St Neot
Rubric: ... Vita sancti Neoti presbiteri et confessoris
Incipit: (prol.) Beati Neoti confessoris uitam compendioso
Incipit: Sanctus igitur Neotus fecundę

BHL 6054: a 16th cent. hand ascribes this Life to William of Ramsey, but not listed in Sharpe, British Writers, s.n..

3. (fol. 52)
Life of St Mary Magdalene
Rubric: ... Vita sancte Marię Magdalene
Incipit: (prol.) Quam quam per quattuor mundi climata
Incipit: Fuit igitur secundum seculi fastum

BHL 5439.

4. (fol. 62)
Life of St Malo
Rubric: ... Vita sancti Machutis episcopi atque confessoris
Incipit: Domino meo uenerabili Ratuili aepiscopo . ac meo magistro Gregorio in Sancta Trinitate. Bili Leuita humilis perpetuam salutem . Magnitudo claritatis

Then follows (at fol. 62v) an address from the religious of Aleth who have edited this Life 'de uirtutibus Sanctorum': then a second prologue.

Incipit: Religiosorum uirorum gesta praedicabilia
Incipit: (text) Igitur auctorem omnium

BHL 5116b.

On fol. ii is a Latin note on praevaricatio Salomonis, etc.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 95 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 8.625 × 6.375 in.

Hand(s)

Written in four hands.

Musical Notation:

'Nicolaus' is written in an early 13th cent. (?) hand on fol. 94v, where there are also some late 11th cent. (and later) neums scribbled.

Decoration

Initials (fols. 39–93). (Pächt and Alexander iii. 54)

History

Origin: 11th century, end ; English, Winchester (fols. 39–93)

Provenance and Acquisition

Winchester, Hampshire, Benedictine cathedral priory of St Peter, St Paul, and St Swithun: Early 12th-cent. material concerning prior and monks of Winchester. (MLGB3: evidence from locally specific contents, including obits, scribbles, etc.).

In an early 12th cent. hand are written on fol. 37v two short Latin poems commemorating Godefridus, prior of St. Swithin's, who benefited 'Wintonie monachos', and Hardingus 'Wintonię cantor': the former died in 1107 or 1126. 'Nicolaus' is written in an early 13th cent. (?) hand on fol. 94v, where there are also some late 11th cent. (and later) neums scribbled.

'L⟨iber⟩ Henrici Jackson Collegii Corporis Christi Oxoniensis anno Christi Millesimo Sexcentesimo Maii 21°', an erased inscription on fol. 93.

Acquired probably by purchase from Jackson in 1619-20.

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (2 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2024-09: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue.