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

MS. Bodl. 587

Summary Catalogue no.: 2359

Physical Description

Composite: six parts
Extent: i + 231 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 8.625 × 6.5 in.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Presented by Thomas Twyne in 1612.

MS. Bodl. 587 – Part 1 (fols. 1-57)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
Chirius Fortunatianus, Ars rhetorica (imperfect at beginning)
3. (fol. 42)
Martianus Capella, Liber de arte rhetorica (book 5 of De nuptiis) (cc. 31–38)
4. (fol. 46)
Ps.-Augustine, Principia dialectica
Rubric: Dialectica est bene disputandi scientia

The later rubric 'Gunthorpi Rhetorica' (by Brian Twyne) misled the Summary Catalogue regarding the authorship of these items, for which see Marie Schütt, 'Bishop Gunthorpe', The Modern Language Review, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Jan., 1928), pp. 43-44.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Hand(s)

Written by John Free.

History

Origin: 15th century

MS. Bodl. 587 – Part 2 (fols 58-93)

Contents

5. (fol. 58)
Ps.-Cicero, Synonyma
Rubric: Sinonomorum Ciceronis liber ... scriptus atque editus ad Lucium Veturium
Final rubric: Expliciunt Sinonoma Ciceronis Quod Gunthorpe
Language(s): Latin
6. (fol. 73)
John Gunthorpe, Orations

Five or more orationes legatinae of Gunthorpe when English ambassador abroad: two are dated Oct. 23, 1466 and July 8, 1465. These are unfinished but revised copies.

Language(s): Latin

At fol. 94a are some English notes of stories illustrating the Decalogue (16th cent.).

Language(s): English

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Hand(s)

Fols. 58-93 written by John Gunthorpe.

History

Origin: 15th century

MS. Bodl. 587 – Part 3 (fols. 95-136)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

7. (fol. 95)
Thaddaeus de Bononia , Medical treatise
Rubric: Compilacio magistri Thadei de Bononia de aquis et oleis medicinalibus
Incipit: Testante propheta scientia
eTK 1567L
8.

Followed by some recipes (fol. 120v) and a treatise 'de vinis medicinalibus ', perhaps by the same author.

Incipit: Vinum roris marini
eTK 1698A
9. (fol. 132)
Medical treatise
Rubric: Liber de transformacionibus qui fertur ab Egiptijs adinuentus
Incipit: Vt cucumeri nascantur
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

History

Origin: 15th century ; Italy (?)

MS. Bodl. 587 – Part 4 (fols. 137-190)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

10. (fols. 137–155)
John Free

Notes of lectures on Virgil, Horace, Terence etc.

11. (fol. 156)
John Free

Copies of some letters from John Phreas or Free, followed by some diagrams, some of them published in the Journal of Comparative Literature, vol. i, no. 1, Jan. 1903.

12. (fols. 175–190)
John Free

Lecture notes, as fols. 137-55.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Hand(s)

Written by John Free.

Decoration

Diagrams.

History

Origin: 15th century

MS. Bodl. 587 – Part 5 (fols. 191-200)

Contents

13. (fol. 191)
Pius II, Bullae

Two bulls, one dated Jan. 14, 1459/60, the other imperfect at end, both against the Turks. Foll. 202-3 are some 17th cent. medical notes pasted in.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Hand(s)

Written by the scribe 'V.f.L.' who worked for John Tiptoft.

History

Origin: 15th century

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the following sources:
Duke Humfrey and English Humanism (Oxford, 1970), no. 82
Summary Catalogue (1922)

Last Substantive Revision

2024-09: Description revised to incorporate all information in printed catalogues.