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

MS. Auct. F. 1. 8

Summary Catalogue no.: 2482

Physical Description

Composite: three parts
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: iv + 144 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 13.5 × 9.625 in.

Decoration

Fleuronnée initials. Addition of letter of Frederick II to the Roman cardinals of 1229, fol. 140v. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 396)

Binding

Stamped leather on boards, Oxford early 17th cent. work, by G. K.

History

Origin: 13th century, first half ; English

Provenance and Acquisition

On fols. 125, 140v are somewhat later additions, consisting of short Latin epigrams, a letter of Frederick II, emperor of Germany, to the Roman cardinals, March 10, 1229, beg. '... Cum sit Christus caput ecclesie': a list of the Seven Electors in verse and prose, etc.

MS. Digby 209 is a late 13th cent. transcript of this volume.

Presented by sir Richard Fermor of Somerton in 1603.

MS. Auct. F. 1. 8 - Part 1

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
John of Salisbury, Polycraticus
Rubric: Incipit Entheticus Johannis in Policraticum

The metrical prologue, followed at fol. 3 by the prose prologue, and at fol. 4 by the 'Policraticus de Nugis curialium & uestigiis philosophorum. Editus a magistro Johanne Sarisberiensi, postmodo Carnotensi episcopo, ad Thomam venerabilem Cancellarium Anglie, postmodo sanctum Cantuariorum Archiepiscopum & martyrem', in eight books.

Language(s): Latin
2. (fol. 100)
Arnulphus of Lisieux, Letters

Copies of eighty-two letters from Arnulphus bishop of Lisieux, also one 'Rescriptum domini pape Alexandri' tertii to Arnulphus (beg. '... Litteras nobis a tua prudentia', fol. 104v), and his sixteen short poems (fol. 120v).

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Layout

2 cols.

MS. Auct. F. 1. 8 - Part 2

Contents

Language(s): Latin

3. (fol. 126v)
Symmachus, Letters

About 320 short letters out of the first eight books of the Letters of Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, but here without author's name.

Preceded on fol. 126r by:

Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius, Ep. I. 2
Incipit: Sepe numero postulauisti
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Layout

2 cols.

MS. Auct. F. 1. 8 - Part 3

Contents

Language(s): Latin

4. (fol. 138)
Martial, Epigrams (extracts)
Rubric: Excer⟨p⟩tum de libro Epigrammatum Marci Marcialis. Valerii satirici

About 240 epigrams from the first eleven books of Martial.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Layout

3 cols.

Decoration

One coloured capital.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (2024) from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973).

Last Substantive Revision

2024-12: Description revised to incorporate all information from Summary Catalogue.