MS. Digby 77
Summary Catalogue no.: 1678
Physical Description
Binding
Standard binding of the Digby collection; rebacked.
History
MS. Digby 77 – Part 1 (fols. 1-82(c))
Contents
Fols. 82(a)v-82(c)v blank.
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Fols. 1r-12v, 25r-56v: written space c. 150 × 102 mm. , c. 44 lines.
Fols. 13r-24v, 57r-82(a)r: written space 185 × 102 mm. , c. 52-54 lines.
2 columns. Frame-ruled in plummet.
Hand(s)
Anglicana, one hand.
Decoration
Pächt and Alexander iii. 745:
Initials in gold with penwork flourishing, fol. 1r, fol. 57r.
Other initials in blue with penwork flourishing in red.
Diagrams.
History
Provenance
John Dee: ex libris, fol. 1, and DM 114 in his catalogue.
Thomas Allen (?): not identified in his catalogue, but title on fol. 1 possibly in his hand; Digby-Allen inventory 'A. 121', fol. 1.
MS. Digby 77 – Part 2 (fols. 83-108)
Contents
Language(s): Latin
End only, continuing from Trinity College Dublin MS. 514 (see Provenance)
Added by John of London; perhaps written by him (?) (Barker-Benfield)
Physical Description
Layout
Ruled space 185 × 105 mm. 1 col., c. 35 lines. Ruled in plummet.
Hand(s)
Textualis libraria
Decoration
Blue or red initials flourished in red or light blue.
History
Provenance
John of London, monk of St Augustine's Canterbury: part of a manuscript compiled by him (Barker-Benfield II.932) and given by him to the abbey of St Augustine, Canterbury (see next).
Canterbury, Kent, Benedictine abbey of St Augustine (originally of St Peter and St Paul): formerly part (fols. 205-228) of a manuscript from the abbey of which fols. 1-204 and 230-279 are now Dublin, Trinity College, MS. 514. Identified in the Catalogue by second folio. Notes by Clement of Canterbury. (MLGB3: inferred evidence).
Thomas Allen: MS. 34 in the quarto section of his catalogue.
MS. Digby 77 – Part 3 (fols. 109-149)
Contents
ed. R. Newhauser (1991), sig. O5.
Added, 15th century.
IMEP 3.6-7.Notes, mostly from Apocalypse and Judges.
Added, 15th century.
Physical Description
Layout
Ruled space 170 × 95-100 mm. Ruled in crayon.
Hand(s)
Anglicana.
Decoration
Puzzle initial in blue and red, fol. 109r.
Otherwise plain initials, alternating blue and red.
History
Provenance
Fols. 109-149: Meaux, Yorkshire, Cistercian abbey of St Mary the Virgin: "Wilflete vult quod iste liber tradatur abbatie de Mews in Holdernes, quia emit eum ab uno monacho eiusdem domus pro viii s. et dubitat utrum monachus habuit potestatem vendendi. Volo etiam quod habeant Thomam de vitutibus [recte: virtutibus] theologie quem emit ab eodem pro iii s. iiii d." (fol. 147v), s. xv. A William Wilflete was master of Clare Hall 1448-1455. (MLGB3: evidence from an inscription of ownership by an individual member of a religious house (which may not, however, be evidence for institutional ownership)).
'Fenton', fol. 149, s. xv/xvi.
Thomas Allen: MS. 73 in the quarto section of his catalogue.
MS. Digby 77 – Part 4 (fols. 150-165 and 166-197)
Contents
Physical Description
Layout
Ruled space 140 × 93 mm. 1 col., c. 36 lines. Frame-ruled in crayon.
Hand(s)
Secretary by Wyke
Decoration
Blue initials with red penwork.
History
Provenance
Merton College, Oxford: fols. 150–97 were formerly part of Merton College MS. 251; seen by Bale at Merton; 'quod Wyke' on fols. 153r, 191v as in Merton Coll. 251, fol. 157r. (MLGB3)
Thomas Allen: fols. 150-165, his MS. 6 (octavo), fols. 166-197, his ms. 54 (octavo).
Additional Information
Record Sources
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)
Bibliography
Online resources:
Selected printed descriptions:
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2023-01: Matthew Holford: revised for publication on Digital Bodleian.