Language(s): Latin
(fols. 1r–178v)
Peter Lombard,
Commentary on the Psalter prologue At top of fol. 1r, ‘Sancti spiritus assit nobis gratia’.
Incipit: (fol. 1r) Cum omnes prophetas spiritus sanctus reuelatione constet esse locutos⹎
Explicit: (fol. 2r) Ac si dicat. Primus homo infelix. qui abiit. stetit. sedit. Et secundus est beatus.
Psalms 1–150 Incipit: (fol. 2rb) Beatus cui omnia succedunt optata. uir⹎ scilicet contra prospera. et aduersa firmus.
Explicit: (fol. 178v) Penitentie igitur uox est. Miserere mei deus. Iustitie uox est. Misericordiam et iudicium cantabo tibi domine. Vitae eterne uox est. Omnis spiritus laudet dominum.
(fols. 179r–184r)
Glossed canticles Is. 12, Is. 38:10–20, 1 Sam. 2:1–10, Exod. 15:1–19, Hab. 3:2–19, Deut. 32:1–43. Rubric: (fol. 179r) Canticum ysaie prophete.
Incipit: (fol. 179r) Non timebo quid faciat michi homo;
(fol. 184v–188r)
Alexander Neckam,
Commentary on the Athanasian Creed Rubric: (fol. 184v) Expositio fidei catholice a magistro alexandro edita.
prologue Incipit: Capud aquile uisum ab ezechiele eminentius erat tribus ceteris capitibus
Explicit: (fol. 184v) et eradicare intendit athanasius in hoc simbolo dicens.
text Incipit: Hec est enim uictoria que uincit mundum fides nostra;
Explicit: (fol. 188r) ut eueniret unam. et eandem personam esse deum et esse hominem.
(fols. 188v–189r)
Gerald of Wales,
Letter 24, to Walter Map Rubric: (fol. 188v) Epistula Girardi archidiaconi. ad W. map.
Incipit: Familiare est sapienti tolerare nescientem. praesertim ubi mentis conceptum prodit affectio. et intime uis dilectionis emergens⹎ per litteras aut uoces ad exteriora prorumpit.
Explicit: (fol. 189r) In hac uero non solum morari⹎ uerum etiam salubriter mori desiderabile ualde et percarum habeamus. Vale.
J.S. Brewer, ed., ‘Symbolum electorum’, in Giraldi Cambrensis opera, vol. 1, 10 vols., Rolls Series 21 (London: Longman, 1861), 197–395 (at 271–289).
(fol. 189v)
Distinctiones showing aspects of various words, e.g. ‘Fumus’, ‘Fons’, ‘Fontes’, ‘Vox dei’ Incipit: Fumus eterne dampnacionis.
Explicit: mentis bene constitute. et tunc proprie accipitur.
(fol. 190r–v)
Alan of Tewkesbury,
Sermon on Rev. 22:14 Rubric: (fol. 190r) Sermo magistri Alani. abbatis teukesbir’.
Incipit: Beati qui lauant stolas suas in sanguine agni. ut sit potestas eorum in ligno uite. Est igitur lignum uite. est et lignum mortis. Posuit enim dominus duo ligna in medio paradisi.
Explicit: (fol. 190v) quod nemo scit nisi qui accipit, hoc est benedictionem et uitam usque in seculum.
At head of page, ‘Sancti spiritus assit nobis gratia.’
Johann Baptist Schneyer, Repertorium der lateinischen Sermones des Mittelalters, für die Zeit von 1150–1350, 11 vols., Beiträge zur Geschichte der Philosophie und Theologie des Mittelalters. Texte und Untersuchungen 43 (Münster: Aschendorff, 1969–1990), 1:84.
(fol. 191r–v)
Alan of Tewkesbury,
Sermon on Ps. 47:11, for Christmas Day Rubric: (fol. 191r) Sermo eiusdem.
Incipit: Secundum nomen tuum sic et laus tua in fines terre. Ad nominis sui laudem inuitat nos dominus. et non solum inuitat sed et uocat.
Explicit: (fol. 191v) et perseueranter usque in finem. ut mereamur cum cristo regnare post finem. quod ipse prestare dignetur. qui est natus hodie saluator mundi. qui cum patre et spiritu sancto uiuit et regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.
Further distinctiones in bottom margin, continuing fol. 189v.
(fol. 192r)
Gerald of Wales,
Sermo in synodo Meneuensi Rubric: (fol. 192r) Sermo Girardi archidiaconi. in sinodo meneu’
(‘in sinodo meneu’’ part of note for rubricator, but omitted when copied.) Incipit: Labia sacerdotis custodiunt scientiam. et legem requirunt de ore eius. quia angelus domini exercituum est. (Mal. 2:7) Verba sunt hec mallachie prophete ad sacerdotes et prelatos pertinentia. Cuilibet enim sacerdoti uel prelato duo sunt necessaria.
Explicit: (fol. 192r) Ad quam uite uiam. uel pocius uie uitam nos una cum grege commisso perducere dignetur⹎ ille qui solus uia. ueritas et uita. Via sine offendiculo. Veritas sine ambiguo. Vita sine fine. Amen.
J.S. Brewer, ed., ‘Symbolum electorum’, in Giraldi Cambrensis opera, vol. 1, 10 vols., Rolls Series 21 (London: Longman, 1861), 197–395 (at 253–259).
(fol. 192v)
Distinctiones , continuing fol. 189v and 191v. Incipit: ⟨S⟩pes tripliciter accipitur pro confidentia. Vt ibi in te domini speraui.
Explicit: Est misericordia dei relaxans est et penitus liberans
Form: codex
Support: Parchment; paper flyleaves
i + 193 leaves Dimensions (leaf): 345 × 335 mm.
Foliation: Modern foliation, 1–193.
Collation
a4–3 (2–4 cancelled), 1–1810, 1910–1 (10 cancelled), 204–1 (4 cancelled), b4–3 (1–3 cancelled). Gathering 20 is an addition (with thinner parchment).
Most gatherings have catchwords added in ink at the bottom of the final page (many trimmed). Secundo Folio: eadem est que et totius libri
Layout
Fols. 1r–178v pricked on all edges of the page for border and line spacing (4 mm); ruled in pencil. The psalms text is written in a slightly larger script (but using same line spacing as commentary) and is cut into the column as needed, taking half of the column width, with ruling providing a guide. Ruled in 2 columns of 58 lines, 225 × 125 mm. .
Fols. 179r–184r have canticle text in larger script on every other line, in the second column from the inner edge of the page (slightly wider than the other three). Interlinear and marginal glosses added as needed, taking inconsistent amounts of space. Ruled in pencil, pricked on all edges of page, line spacing 4 mm. Ruled in 4 columns of 55–61 lines, 220 × 172 mm. .
Fols. 184v–188r have a continuous commentary, with Creed text written in a larger script every other line, using the full column width. Fol. 184v uses same ruling as canticle glosses, with inner column thinner than the outer two. Ruled in pencil, pricked on all edges of page, line spacing 4 mm. Ruled in 3 columns of 61 lines, 218 × 169 mm. .
Fols. 188v–192r contain additions not planned as part of the original book. Ruled in plummet for line spacing of 4–5 mm, with margins varying significantly on each page. Not pricked. Ruled in 3 columns of 59–79 lines, 278–295 × 210 mm. .
Hand(s)
Fols. 1r–188r written in Gothic textualis, first half of the thirteenth century, with contemporary corrections pencilled in the margins (e.g. fols. 39v, 44r–45r, 74r–77r). At least two scribes, one writing a smaller, more delicate script.
Fols. 188v–192r written in a different style, first half of the thirteenth century, at least two scribes.
Decoration
Fleuronnée borders, as at fols. 86r and 178v. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 398)
Fols. 1r–188r: Pen-flourished initials in red and blue open prologue (12-line) and commentary (11-line). Each text being commented on opens with an initial filling the margin, usually decorated with pen flourishing, while new sections are indicated with simpler enlarged initials; both alternate between red and blue.
Fols. 188v–192r open new texts with a simple enlarged initial in red, except for fol. 188v, with a two-line initial in green.
Rubrics.
Additions: The psalms commentary includes many marginal notations in a thirteenth-century Gothic textualis hand and a fourteenth-century Gothic cursive hand.
Binding
Brown tanned calf over laminated pulpboard.
Origin: 13th century, first half ;
England Provenance and Acquisition
The name 'Arderne' (15th cent.) occurs on fol. 2.
Presented by Dr William Cotton, bishop of Exeter, in 1605. Bodleian pressmarks: ‘(2330) Bod. 333’ (fols. ir, 1v); ‘NE.E.6.11.’, ‘Th. P 10. 8.’ (fol. 1v).
