MS. Bodl. 789
Summary Catalogue no.: 2643
Contents
1. (fols. 1r–51v)
, Meditationes de passione Christi (English translation) Rubric: Here is a meditacion of the cardinal Bon Auenture
Incipit: The tyme neighynge & comynge to of the pite & merci of the Lorde.
Listed at IPMEP 837 as a prose version of IMEV 248 and 646
Language(s): Middle English
2. (fol. 52r–68v)
Lay Folks' Catechism Rubric: ... Sixe thingis to know bi God Almighti
Incipit: The lawe and the lore to knowe God Almyghti
DIMEV 671
IPMEP 71
cf. EETS o.s. 118, even pages (starting at p. 20)
Language(s): Middle English
3. (fols. 68v–85r)
, Speculum peccatoris Rubric: Speculum peccatoris
Incipit: Quoniam carissime dum in huius uia uite
Here anonymous.
Language(s): Latin
4. (fols. 85v–96r)
, Formula honestae uitae Rubric: Formula honeste uite beati Bernardi ad fratrem suum
Incipit: Petis a me, mi frater
Followed at fol. 94v by two Latin prayers, one attributed to st. Bernard.
Fol. 96v blank.
Language(s): Latin
5a. (fols. 97r–102v)
Commentary on Pater Noster Incipit: We schal bileue
A preceding passage in English on fol. 97r is erased.
IPMEP 810
Select English Works of Wyclif, III. 93-97.
Language(s): Middle English
5b. (fol. 102v–108v)
Commentary on Ave Maria IPMEP 455
Select English Works of Wyclif, III. 111-113.
Language(s): Middle English
5c. (fol. 108v–123r)
Commentary on the Ten Commandments English text is erased on fols. 119v-120r.
IPMEP 49
Select English Works of Wyclif, III. 82-92.
Language(s): Middle English
6. (fol. 123r–139v)
, Horologium sapientiae (Middle English translation, 'The seven points of everlasting wisdom'; extract from ch. 5) Rubric: The moost profitable sentence to deedli men, in the whiche thei moun leerne for to knowe to deie
Incipit: To kunne deie is to haue the herte
IPMEP 465
Language(s): Middle English
7. (fol. 140r–146r)
Contemplations of the Dread and Love of God (extract, chapter AB) Rubric: A techynge & oon ensaumple bi what meditation a man or a womman may be stired to trewe deuocion
Incipit: Whanne thou schapist the to praie
IPMEP 362 (Contemplations); this chapter has an independent circulation, for which see IMEP, Rawlinson, under MS. Rawl. C. 894 art. 7.
EETS o.s. 303, pp. 41-44.
Language(s): Middle English
(fol. 146r–v)
Rubric: This is an orisoun to the holi trinite
DIMEV 417
Language(s): Middle English
(fols. 146v–147r)
Rubric: Here men mai biholde a dreedful sentence that crist schal speke at the doom to men that schulen be dampned
Pr. J. Hirsch, 'Prayer and meditation in late mediaeval England: MS. Bodley 789', Medium Ævum, Vol. 48, No. 1 (1979), 55-66 at 60
Language(s): Middle English
(fol. 148r–149r)
DIMEV 2846, the last verses also listed as DIMEV 2850
Language(s): Middle English
(fols. 149r–150r)
DIMEV 3624
Language(s): Middle English
8. (fol. 150)
Commentary on the Lord's Prayer Rubric: The Pater Noster schortli declarid
Incipit: Pater Noster . that is Lord oure Fader
Language(s): Middle English
9a. (fol. 152)
Rubric: An . ab. c. of the Passioun of oure Lord
Incipit: In eueri place men mai see
DIMEV 2566
Language(s): Middle English
9b. (fol. 156)
Rubric: Foure thingis that maken God oure freend
Incipit: The first is quyk bileue
Language(s): Middle English
9c. (fol. 157)
De visitatione infirmorum Rubric: Wordis of greet cumfort to seke men
Incipit: Seynt Austyn in his book
Language(s): Middle English
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 164 leaves
Dimensions (leaf): c. 220 × c. 150 mm.
Layout
1 col., 18 lines; ruled in mauve ink; ruled space c. 130 × c. 80 mm.
Hand(s)
Formal textualis, probably one hand.
Decoration
Penwork (blue initials flourished in red).
Binding
18th(?)-century.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
'Orate pro animabus Isabelle Willielmi Katerine Johannis Isabelle Henrici Sab.. et animabus omnium' (fol. 162v, 15th century).
'Henricus Feld', 16th cent., is written on fol. 155.
Fol. 162 'Edm. Smythe owythe this boke', 16th century
He gave it in 1601 to his brother (fol. 162r: 'Donat. patri abs avunculo Edmundo Smith').
'The gifte of Sir James Lee' who gave SC 2438 in 1611, but this and SC 2552 probably about 1612.
Record Sources
Description adapted by Matthew Holford (2025) from the following sources, with reference to published literature as cited and limited additional description:
Otto Pächt and J. J. G. Alexander, Illuminated Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford, addenda, by Bruce Barker-Benfield
Summary Catalogue (1922)
Bibliography
Online resources:
JONAS: Répertoire des textes et des manuscrits médiévaux d'oc et d'oïl (but manuscript contains no French)
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2025-04: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue.