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

MS. Bodl. 561

Summary Catalogue no.: 2345

Physical Description

Composite
Extent: iii + 159 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 9.5 × 7 in.

Decoration

Some illuminated capitals.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

'At least seven distinct sections ... Two versions of an early list of contents on the fly-leaves show that the miscellany had taken more or less its present form by c.1200' (M. Brett, 'The Collectio Lanfranci and its Competitors', in Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages: Essays Presented to Margaret Gibson, ed. L. Smith and B. Ward (London, 1992), p. 157). For the date of parts 2-4 see Memorials of St. Anselm, ed. R. W. Southern and F. S. Schmitt (1969), p. 304.

Presented by sir George More in 1604.

MS. Bodl. 561 – Part 1

Contents

(fol. 2)
Collectio canonum
Rubric: Incipit Prologus Iuonis Carnotensis episcopi de conuenientia & dispensatione regularum ęcclesiasticarum
Incipit: Exceptiones ecclesiasticarum regularum

Fols. 1-33 comprise the preface of Ivo of Chartres, followed by canons derived mostly from the Tripartita B collection and from Pseudo-Isidore, longer form, in the version brought by Lanfranc from Bec, the Collectio Lanfranci. Fols 35-60 are essentially a text of Tripartita B, xxix, cc. 8-283A. The collection is analysed in more detail by M. Brett, 'The Collectio Lanfranci and its Competitors'.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Initials.

History

Origin: 12th century, early ; English (see Brett)

MS. Bodl. 561 – Part 2

Contents

Language(s): Latin

Texts relating to the debate on whether monks should be priests, all surviving uniquely in this manuscript, and printed with discussion by R. Foreville and J. Leclercq, 'Un débat sur le sacerdoce des moines au XIIe siècle', in Studia Anselmiana 41 (Analecta Monastica, 4th ser.) (1957)

(fol. 61)
Theobald of Étampes, Improperium cuiusdam in monachos
Rubric: Improperium cuiusdam in Monachos
Incipit: Turstano Dei gratia ... In primis si uales
Foreville and Leclercq, 'Un débat sur le sacerdoce', text at pp. 52-3

Followed by the reply:

(fol. 62)
Rescriptum cuiusdam pro monachis
Rubric: Rescriptum cuiusdam pro monachis
Incipit: Sicut ex supradictis conicere possumus
Foreville and Leclercq, 'Un débat sur le sacerdoce', text at pp. 54-103
(fol. 87v)
Incipit: Scribere decreui quia ludum fingere sueui

Poem against priests.

Foreville and Leclercq, 'Un débat sur le sacerdoce', text at pp. 103-108
(fol. 90v)
Rubric: Quod ex auctoritate ueterum scripturarum sanctorumque canonum monasticus ordo predicare & promoueri ualeat
Incipit: Quotienscumque fideles ęcclesię
Foreville and Leclercq, 'Un débat sur le sacerdoce', text at pp. 108-111

Fols. 96v-97r: fragments from the school of Anselm of Canterbury, pr. Memorials of St. Anselm, ed. R. W. Southern and F. S. Schmitt (1969), pp. 305-8.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

History

Origin: 12th century, first half ; English

MS. Bodl. 561 – Part 3

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fol. 98)
Sermon
Incipit: Homo quidam erat diues qui habebat uillicum Dominus noster Ihesus Christus discipulos suos
(fol. 106)

Theological notes, including a short poem on the Christmas liturgy

Incipit: In Natale sacro
(fol. 107)
Sermon
Rubric: In dedicatione ecclesię
Incipit: Quia sancta dedicationis

Pr. Memorials of St. Anselm, pp. 310-19; an enlarged version of Alexander of Canterbury, Dicta Anselmi, c. 20.

(fols. 115v–118)
Rubric: De cimiterio

A continuation of the preceding (Memorials of St. Anselm, p. 304)

(fol. 118r–v)

Fragments from the school of Anselm of Canterbury, pr. Memorials of St. Anselm, pp. 308-9

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

History

Origin: 12th century, first half ; English

MS. Bodl. 561 – Part 4

Contents

Allegories and moralizations from the school of Anselm of Canterbury (Memorials of St. Anselm, pp. 304-5)

(fols. 119r–129r)
Rubric: De aratro et carro
Incipit: Homo cum in honore esset
(fols. 129r–139v)
Rubric: De naui
Incipit: Sicut ex uerbis euangelicę lectionis

The second part is based on Alexander of Canterbury (?), Liber Anselmi de humanis moribus per similitudines, cc. 41-2.

(fols. 139v–147r)
Rubric: De molendino
Incipit: Sciamus quoniam si terrestris domus
(fols. 147v–149r)
Rubric: De Milite temporali et spirituali
Incipit: Sicut miles temporalis

A version of Alexander of Canterbury (?), Liber Anselmi de humanis moribus per similitudines, c. 193 (Memorials of St Anselm, pp. 97ff:).

Language(s): Latin
(fols. 149v–150r)

Fragments from the school of Anselm of Canterbury, (partly?) pr. Memorials of St. Anselm, ed. R. W. Southern and F. S. Schmitt (1969), pp. 309-10

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

History

Origin: 12th century, first half ; English

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922) with additional reference to published literature as cited..

Last Substantive Revision

2024-10: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue with reference to literature as cited.