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

MS. Auct. E. inf. 7

Summary Catalogue no.: 2130

Contents

Pentateuch with gloss.

The first leaf of the preface and the first leaf of the text and gloss (before and after fol. 1) have been cut out. Exodus begins at fol. 60, Leviticus at fol. 116, Numbers at fol. 154, Deuteronomy at fol. 204, but the illumination at the latter reference has been cut out, mutilating the leaf.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: 236 fols.
Dimensions (leaf): 457 × 310 mm.
Dimensions (written): 315–25 × 210 mm.

Layout

1 col. of text and 1 or 2 of gloss; 33 and 69 lines.

Decoration

Fine initials (mutilated). By the same illuminator as Cambridge, Trinity College, MS. B. 3. 11 written by Roger of Canterbury.(Pächt and Alexander iii. 200, pl. XX)

Illuminated initials, one historiated.

Coloured initials.

Binding

White whittawed leather over boards, 15th century (?), repaired.

History

Origin: 1164 × 1170 ; France, Paris

Provenance and Acquisition

Given by Thomas Becket to Christ Church, Canterbury: 'ST' and 'Sancti Thome martiris', front pastedown, and '.TO.', fol. 1. Written for Becket during his exile in France, 1164–70.

Christ Church, Canterbury: no. 784 in Eastry's catalogue.

Richard Colfe, prebendary of Canterbury, d. 1613 (de Hamel, 'Dispersal of the library of Christ Church', in Books and Collectors 1200–1700, ed. Carley and Tite, 273).

Given to the Bodleian by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Colfe in 1616.

Record Sources

Description adapted (2018) from the following sources, with additional reference to published literature as cited:
A. G. Watson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts c.435–1600 in Oxford Libraries (Oxford, 1984), no. 49 [date, origin, physical description, provenance]
Otto Pächt and J. J. G. Alexander, Illuminated Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, III (1973), no. 200 [decoration]
Summary Catalogue (1922) [contents, acquisition]

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (6 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2018-07-30: Description updated to include all information from Watson, Pächt and Alexander, and SC.