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

MS. Add. A. 170

Summary Catalogue no.: 24709

Contents

Gualterus Anglicus (attrib.), Aesopus moralisatus
Incipit: (metrical preface) Vt iuuet et prosit.
Explicit: Explicit Liber Esopi . Deo gratias . Amen

62 fables in elegiac verse

The distich beginning 'Fine fruor' is found in this manuscript both at the end of the 60th and of the 62nd fable, the two supplementary ones being 'De capone et accipitre' and 'De pastore et lupo.'

Language(s): Latin

At the beginning there are prescriptions for making various colours and at the end are some medical recipes

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 20 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander ii. 928

Good initial

fol. 1r

  • Type initial U
  • Subject Floral designs

fol. 16v

  • Type drawing, lower margin
  • Subject Human half-figure, emerging from flames, supporting a scroll with catchwords

History

Origin: 15th century, first half ; Italy

Provenance and Acquisition

Fol. 18v: 'Iste liber est mei Bertus Nicholai de Rosarmia de Pisis' (15th century)

Purchased by the Bodleian at Sotheby's on 28th March 28th 1859 from the collection of Guillaume Libri. No. 12 in the sale catalogue

Record Sources

Description adapted (August) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1905)

Last Substantive Revision

2025-08-08: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1905)