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

MS. Bodl. 596

Summary Catalogue no.: 2376

Physical Description

Composite: fols. 1–85 || fols. 86–174 || fols. 175–214
Musical Notation:

Neumatic notation on staves (see van Dijk 1957).

Binding

The binding is no doubt of 1605, in which year bp. William Cotton presented parts 2-4.

MS. Bodl. 596 – Part 1 (fols. 1-85)

Contents

1.
Life of Adam
Language(s): Middle English
2.
Religious texts
Language(s): Middle English and Latin
3.
Petition of Westminster Abbey
Language(s): Latin
4.
Historical lists and notes
Language(s): Latin
5.
Coronation order
Language(s): Latin
6.
Deposition of Richard II
Language(s): Latin and Anglo-Norman

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Good initials. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 863)

History

Origin: 15th century, beginning (after 1415) ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

The first part was presented by sir Richard Spencer in 1603: the binding is no doubt of 1605, in which year bp. William Cotton presented parts 2-4.

MS. Bodl. 596 – Part 2

Contents

1.
John Lydgate, The Life of Our Lady
Language(s): Middle English

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 1084, pl. CI:

Good miniatures (sketches).

Good borders.

Good initials.

History

Origin: 15th century, third quarter ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

Presented (with part 3) by bp. William Cotton in 1605.

MS. Bodl. 596 – Part 3 (fols. 175-214)

Contents

1.
Bede, Vita S. Cuthberti
Language(s): Latin
2.
Bede, Vita S. Cuthberti metrica (fragment)
Language(s): Latin
3.
Historia de sancto Cuthberto
Language(s): Latin
5.
Office of St. Julian (with neums)
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Good initials. (Pächt and Alexander i. 451, pl. XXXVII)

History

Origin: 11th century, end - 12th century, beginning ; English, Durham ; (and French, Normandy or West (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Canterbury, Kent, Benedictine abbey of St Augustine (originally of St Peter and St Paul): "Liber sancti Augustini Cantuarie. Di. ix, Gra. iii [altered to:] v cum A" (fol. 175 (blank recto)), s. xiii/xiv. (MLGB3: evidence from an ex-libris inscription or note of gift to an institution).

Presented (with part 2) by bp. William Cotton in 1605.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Summary description abbreviated from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (13 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2021-12-14: Add provenance information from MLGB3.