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

MS. Hamilton 43

Summary Catalogue no.: 24473

A Ps.-Thomas Aquinas, Vita Christi, etc.; B Parati sermones; C Indexes and extracts; Jacobus de Clusa. Germany (partly Erfurt OCarth), 15th century (partly 1449)

Physical Description

Composite: three parts
Extent: ii + 1 + 268 (84 + 134 + 50) + 1 + ii; in addition several slips inserted in the volume, some unfoliated
Dimensions (leaf): 215 × 150 mm.
Foliation: i-iii (iii is an original endleaf), 1–271 (269 is an original endleaf); 22b, 97b, 111b, 130b, 131b are inserted sheets or slips.

Collation

Too tightly bound: evidence of watermarks, visible stiching, and quire numbering in part B suggests 1(12)-7(12) (fols. 1–84) | 8(12)-17(12) (fols. 85–204), 18(14) (fols. 205–18) | 19(12)-21(12) (fols. 219–254), 22(12+2: fols. 267–8 added after 12) (fols. 256–268). The apparent misplacing of text on fols. 98 and fol. 207 is difficult to explain.

Binding

Nineteenth-century quarter-binding.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Erfurt Carthusians: ex libris, 18th (?) century, fol. 1r. Note, fol. 1r: 'Vita christi forte secundum Thomam de Aquino sed hic valde incorrecte habetur, sed H 80 correctius'; identifiable as O.83 in the late-fifteenth-century library catalogue (ed. Lehmann, p. 502), where the same phrase occurs.

Friedrich Gottlieb Julius von Bülow, 1760-?1831: identifiable as 329 in the catalogue of part 3 of his sale, 10 Oct. 1836.

Sir William Hamilton, 1788–1856

Presented to the Bodleian Library by his sons and received in 1857.

MS. Hamilton 43 – Part A (fols. 1–84)

Contents

1. (fols. 1r-77v)
⟨Ps.-⟩Thomas Aquinas, Vita Christi
Incipit: Cristus iesus venit in hunc mundum peccatores saluos facere Apostolus in verbis propositis describit sacramentum dominice incarnacionis et humane redempcionis
Explicit: plus valebunt pura corda quam astuta verba et(?) est finis huius operis
Final rubric: Hec sunt dicta beati thome de achwino
Language(s): Latin
2. (fols. 78r-84v)
Sermons on the Virgin Mary
(fol. 78r-81r)
Incipit: Orietur stella ex Iacob […] Dixit balaam propheta hyla9 [hystoraliter?] Sicud deus non potest deesse iusticie ita non potest obliuisci misericordie
Explicit: velud per siccum in medio mari sicud dicitur Exo. 15
(fols. 81r-83v)
Rubric: De annunciacione virginis
Incipit: Intrauit rex assuerus in ortum […] Verba ista hystorialiter dicta sunt de assuero sed spiritualiter intellecta exponi possunt de christo
Explicit: et lilia colligat, id est ad celestia regna perducat
(fols. 83v-84v)
Incipit: Stetit sol in medio celi […] Vnusquisque moraliter operatur secundum sui conceptum que dicitur verbum mentis
Explicit: ad se traxit filium dei

Followed by note 'Sequitur de quolibet festo marie scilicet in terram respexit'.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in quarto. Watermark bull's head with cross above, not identifiable.
Foliation: Foliation in arabic as far as 24.

Layout

1 col., c. 32–34 lines. Frame-ruled (verticals only), written space c. 160–165 × 95 mm.

Hand(s)

Cursive, one scribe.

Decoration

2–3 line coloured red initials.

History

Origin: c. 1420–30 (as part B) ; Germany

MS. Hamilton 43 – Part B (fols. 85–218)

Contents

3. (fols. 85r-218v)
Parati sermones
Incipit: Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus In verbis istis facit apostolus duo

Schneyer IV.523–48 (this ms. not listed), nos. 92–95, (fol. 94v) additional sermon, below, (fol. 95v) 96 (text continues from fol. 97(a)v to fol. 99r; for fols. 97(b), 98 see below), 97–9, 100 (additional passage from Bernard of Clairvaux at the end), 101–5, (fol. 114v) de letania, (fol. 115v) 106, (fol. 116v) de ascensione, (fol. 117v) 107–10, (fol. 123v) ⟨De spiritu sancto⟩, (fol. 124v) 111–15, 117–118, 120–122, 124–9, (fol. 148r) additional sermon, (fol. 149v), 130–7, (fol. 158r) additional sermon, (fol. 160r) 138–9, 140 (with additional sentences at the beginning, citing 'commentator super librum de celo et mundo' and additional exemplum at the end), (fol. 166r) additional sermon, (fol. 167r) 141 (but beginning differently, 'legimus in Daniel 6o capitulo quod cum Darius ...'), 142–5, (fol. 174r) additional sermon, (fol. 175v) 146 (beginning differently, 'In historia britonum scribitur de arthuro ...'), 149 (beginning differently, 'Philosophus in libro animalium dicit quod si sangwis(?) in animali fuerit sanus ...', and ending differently), 147–8, (fol. 183r) additional sermon, (fol. 185v) 150 (ending at 'damnatus est', without the additional exemplum), 151–8, 159 (without the final exemplum), 160–2, 163 (without the final reference to Kings), 164 (without the final exemplum from Luke xi), 165, 166 (text continues from fol. 206v to fol. 208r, for fol. 207r-v see below), 167–72.

Additional sermons and texts:

(fols. 94v-95v)
Incipit: Cum esset sero die illa quod dominus surrexit vna sabbatorum id est prima dies post sabbatum que nunc dominica dicitur, et fores essent clause
Explicit: quicumque nomen domini vocauit salus erit

Cf. John 20.19–30.

(fols. 97br-98v)

Fol. 97br-v is an inserted slip with a note on humility, beg. 'Debet enim homo esse humilis...' and ending 'hoc (?) dobergosz'. Fol. 98r-v is a misplaced (?) leaf containing a text on the resurrection, beg. 'Notandum quod christus post resurrectionem suam 4 dotes in suo corde habuit...'.

(fols. 114v-115v)
Rubric: De letania
Incipit: Letania bis fiunt in anno videlicet maior et minor. Maior est prima que fit in die marti
Explicit: Et isti dies dicuntur rogationem quia omnium sanctorum suffragia imploramus ut deus bella que tempore veris instarent pacificet et ut teneres fructus terre multiplicaret et ad recipiendum nos spiritum sanctum dignos efficeret

Cf. Jacobus de Voragine, Legenda Aurea, c. 66

(fols. 116v-117v)
Rubric: De ascencione
Incipit: Ascencio domini xl die post resurreccionem domini facta est in hunc modum. Luc. dicit in Act. primo quod dominus noster
Explicit: faciet valde manifeste videntibus omnibus hominibus
(fols. 123v-124r)
⟨De spiritu sancto⟩
Incipit: Spiritus sanctus in hunc mundum missus est multis modis post ascencionem. Reuersi sunt vndecim discipuli cum maria matre domini
Explicit: omnia erant eis communia distribuebantur prout vnicuique aptus(?) erat nec quisquam egens erat ultra inter illos
(fol. 148r)
Incipit: Inveni ouem meam quam perdideram In isto ewangelio continetur due parabole quas
Explicit: merita et premia de quibus eternaliter reficiemur
(fols. 158r-160r)
Incipit: Quot sunt panes dicunt ei septem etc ut supra Nota quod homo debet habere hos panes quos si non habuerit deficiet in via regni celestis. Primus panis est panis penitentie
Explicit: obseruantes usque in die resurrexionis. Ecce quale gaudium, qualem consolacionem diuinitus susceperunt
(fols. 166r-167r)
Incipit: Fascite uobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis Fidelis amicus racio inuenitur. Homo bene expertus fuit filius cuiusdam Philippi, de quo legimus
Explicit: ut cum moriemur recipient nos in eterna tabernacula
(fols. 174r-175v)
Incipit: Omnis qui se humiliat exaltabitur Sicud sagitta quanto inferius in corda trahitur tanto superius et altius sublimatur, sic illi per humilitatem
Explicit: carnem humiliando se assumpsit humanam ut superbia concularet
(fols. 183r-185v)
Incipit: Beati oculi qui vident ... sciendum quod sunt triplices oculi scilicet viciosi virtuosi et fructuosi
Explicit: quos deus videtur quod nobis concedat

Followed by note 'Quere alium sermonem in sexterno ante scilicet Diliges deum etc.'.

(fol. 207r-v)
Incipit: Hora septima reliquit eum febris Id est frigus et calor vnde ista verba exponendo pro nostra .... informacione est
Explicit: reliquid eum toam infirmitas spiritualis sic quod totus sanus est in anima quod nobis concedat

Misplaced (?)

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks (A) keys, consisting in two lines, round handle, without noose (B), fols. 169–218, bull's head with indistinct motif above, but probably six- or seven-petalled flower with two leaves (cf. Piccard xii.627–9, documented 1422–1430)

Collation

Quires numbered 1–11 in arabic in the top left corner of the opening recto.

Layout

1 col., c. 35–41 lines. Frame-ruled (often verticals only); written above top line. Written space c. 165–185 × 95–100 mm. , the written area increasing noticeably towards the end of the manuscript.

Hand(s)

Cursive, two hands, one only contributing on fols. 150r-151r and 154v-155r; the main scribe probably the same scribe as part A.

History

Origin: c. 1420–30 (watermarks) ; Germany

MS. Hamilton 43 – Part C (fols. 219–66)

Indexes and extracts; Germany (Erfurt), c. 1449

Contents

Language(s): Latin

4. (fol. 219ra-233rb)
Index to Basil of Caesarea, Asceticon Paruum (tr. Rufinus) ('Regula sancti Basilii')
Rubric: Doctrina sancti Basilii distinguitur per responsa 203
Incipit: Abrenuncciacio perfecta est carere penitus passionibus
Incipit: Abstinere ultra vires propria voluntate periculosum est
Explicit: Zelus concitatus contra peccantem cognoscitur bonus […]

For the original text see PL 103.485–554 (CPG 2876)

5. (fols. 233rb-238rb)
Extracts from monastic rules:
(fol. 233rb-234rb)
Regula S. Augustini (CPL 1839a)
Rubric: Conclusiones ex regula beati augustini
Incipit: Nichil proprium. Victus et vestitus non equaliter distribuatur sed prout cuique opus est
Explicit: et forte non expedit sue voluntati non odediatur
(fol. 234rb-235vb)
Regula S. Benedicti
Rubric: Ex regula sancti Benedicti
Incipit: Abbas nichil extra preceptum domini quod absit debet aut docere aut constituere aut iubere
Explicit: Non omnis iusticie obseruatio in hac regula est constituta, doctrine autem patrum sanctorum ducunt ad celsitudinem perfectionis. Hac autem regule(?) minima inchoacio descripta est
(fol. 235vb-238rb)
Bernard of Clairvaux, De praecepto et dispensatione
Rubric: Excerpta de libro beati Bernhardi de precepto et dispensacione
Incipit: Quod quid ex uoluntate suscepit ex necessitate tenebit
Explicit: Ipsa que intra nos sunt subtiliori nature sue invisibilitate eciam supra nos sunt

All arranged in order of the original text.

6. (fols 238rb-239ra)

Theological extracts

On dispensare, lex, debita onera, discretio, ieiunium; mostly from Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologica (1a2ae 97.4; 1a2ae 96.1–2; 2a2ae 147.3; 2a2ae 120.1); one extract from John of Freiburg, Summa confessorum 3.33.14, and one from Bernard, De praecepto et dispensatione.

Incipit: B. tho. q. 97 articulo 3º uel ultimo prime secunde dicit possunt etiam rectores in multis legibus dispensare. Cum enim dispensacio importet commensuracionem
7. (fols. 252rb-266vb)
Index to ⟨Ludolf of Saxony⟩, Vita Christi
(fols. 239ra-252rb)
Rubric: Registrum in primam partem libri vite christi
Incipit: Accipere personam in corrigendo non licet 76.h.j.
Explicit: septem leucas habet prope Iericho 51.x.y. Tan est littera ultima in cuius signo omnes saluandi signantur 52.m
(fol. 252rb-266vb)
Rubric: Registrum in 2am partem libri vite christi \que incipit a clauibus datis sancto petro/
Incipit: Abraham primus publice predicauit fidem vnius dei 16.h
Explicit: Zelus non valet nisi sit discreta voluntas ⟨20⟩

Followed by short sentences from Ambrose ('Procul sit a religiosis indignacio...') and Chrysostom ('Vindicasti si no vindicaueris...').

Colophon: (fol. 266vb) 1446 1449 Sabbato Karitatis scilicet ante solempnitatem Sacrosanctissime summe Trinitatis completum est hoc Registrum duplex in ambas partes libri vite predilectissimi mei domini ihesu christi Qui est deus benedictus in eternum et ultra. Venerabilis dominus doctor sacre theologie \professor/ quondam abbas \Cisterciensis/ et pater dominus Iacobus \de Paradiso/ factus Cartusiensis et vicarius huius domus Erffordensis sub anno domini 1443 purificacionis ipse comparauit nobis librum vite Christi in duabus solempnissimis partibus conscriptum ad cuius beniuolentiam karitatis Ego suus discipulus Iohannes licet indignus et immeritus collegi hoc Registrum materiarum in cella crucis.
8. (fols. 267ra-268vb)
Jacobus de Clusa, De cantu in diuinis apud reformatos
Rubric: De cantu in diuinis apud reformatos per doctorem Jacobum Carthusiensem
Incipit: Contemplor inter venerabiles et religiosos patres dominos abbates ordinis sancti benedicti
Explicit: nullum habet vestigium istorum statutorum
On two folios apparently tipped at the end of the final quire. Pr. and discussed D. Mertens, 'Der Streit um den Bursfelder Liber ordinarius', Studien und Mitteilungen zur Geschichte des Benediktiner-Ordens und seiner Zweige 86 (1975), 728–759; according to Mertens this is Clusa's autograph.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks, indistinct, apparently bull's head with seven-petalled flower and bull's head with cross, neither identifiable.

Layout

2 cols., c. 43–60 lines; written space c. 175–190 × 120–5 mm. , c. 11 mm. between columns.

Fols. 267r-268v: 1 col., c. 43–4 lines, written space c. 185 × 130 mm.

Hand(s)

Probably one main hand, cursive/hybrida (predominantly loopless forms) by 'Johannes' (fol. 266vb), although Watson distinguished two scribes, fols. 219ra-252ra and fols. 252rb-266vb

Fols. 267–8 cursive by Jacobus de Clusa.

Decoration

2–4 line coloured red initials.

Fols. 267–8: no decoration.

History

Origin: c. 1449 (colophon; fols. 267–8 not dated but roughly contemporary) ; Germany, Erfurt, Charterhouse

MS. Hamilton 43 - fol. 22b

Contents

Language(s): Latin

Sermon
Incipit: Fons egrediebatur de loco voluptatis […] In quibus verbis quatuor tanguntur. Primo quis sit locus voluptatis
Explicit: De hoc fonte dicitur Zacha. xiij In die illa erit fons patens domus dauid et habitatoribus ierusalem in ablucionem||

Schneyer IX.336 no. 143. Leaf from a different manuscript, tipped in between folios 22(a) and 23.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper.
Extent: one folio
Dimensions (leaf): 150 × 93 mm.

Layout

1 col., 22–3 lines. Frame-ruled, ruled space 112 × 67 mm.

Hand(s)

Cursive

Decoration

Space for 3-line initial not filled in.

History

Origin: 15th century ; Germany

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description by Matthew Holford, Dec. 2020. Previously described in the Summary Catalogue.

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2020-12-17: Finalize description for Polonsky German.