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

MS. Holkham misc. 39

Summary Catalogue no.: Not in SC (late accession)

Latin-English dictionary, with additions in Latin and English; England, early 16th century

Contents

1.
Latin-English dictionary
Incipit: Abacus et hic idem est quam mensa a cowtyngbord

The explanations of Latin words are given either by Latin synonyms, or in English; for A-E the words originally entered were underlined in red and additions were later made by the same hand. In the margin against many entries is a reference to Hugotio's Derivations under which the word can be found.

Language(s): Latin and English
2. (fols. 435v-)
Notes on ortography and verbs
Language(s): Latin and English
3.

Short pieces in verse and prose, including:

(fol. 438r)
Incipit: Si sapiens fore vis sex serva que tibi mando
(WIC 17963)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Dulcia non meruit qui non gustavit amara
(WIC 4781)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Lex est defuncta quia iudicis est manus uncta
(WIC 10275)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Qui faciendo moram prandendi preterit horam

[four lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Cum fueris qui vis probat accio tua quid sis

[one line]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Condicione bona sunt in cane bis duo dona

[three lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Qwan erde hath erde wyth wo I gete

IMEV 3940, followed by the Latin version

Incipit: Terra tenet terram quando cum ve sibi nacta
Language(s): Latin and English
(fol. 438v)
Incipit: Mors tua mors christi fraus mundi gloria celi
(WIC 11275)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Presbiteri nati non possunt esse beati

[five lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Nos pugnant triplici certamine tres inimici

[three lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Constat in altari carnem de hanc creari
(WIC 3214)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Seiquis wlt legere velit legenda videre

[two lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: [margin torn ...] Intus quis tu?, Quis ego sum quid queris ut intrem
Language(s): Latin
(fol. 439r)
Incipit: Dum cor non erat in vanum lingua laborat

[four lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Tres infelices in mundo novimus esse
(WIC 19393)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Cum fuerint anni completi mille ducenti
(WIC 3617)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Post mortem carnis vix inveniatur amicus

[four lines]

Language(s): Latin
Incipit: Miserere miseris welle ful of grace

[four lines]

Language(s): Latin and English
Incipit: Per dominum dicas, ad patrem presbiter cras
(WIC 13935)
Language(s): Latin
(fol. 439v)
Incipit: To freyys and a fox makyn thre chrewys

[two lines, with Lain translation in four lines:]

Incipit: In duo fratres et simul vulpes hii pravi
Language(s): Latin and English
Incipit: Qwan browin beryth apelys and homulok hony

Two lines, with Latin translation:

Incipit: Poma mericas ederis dicas melle cecutas
Language(s): Latin and English
Definition of woman
Incipit: Mulier est hominis confusio. Sit timor in despibus bendiccio leccio tempus
(WIC 18347)
Language(s): Latin
4. (fols. 440r-)
Dictionary

From 'audio' to 'epiteusio', giving synonyms, examples in verse, and a few English translations.

Language(s): Latin and English

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Innermost and outermost bifolium of each quire parchment, the remainder paper. Watermarks: steer, full length cf. Briquet 2776; three mountains in circle, not identified in Briquet(fol. 355).
Extent: iii (modern paper) + 446 + iii (modern paper)
Dimensions (leaf): 210–20 × 145 mm.
Dimensions (written): 155–70 × 110 mm.
Foliation: Modern pencil: i-iii, 1–449.

Collation

1(16)-9(16), 10(16)(wants 7 and 9), 11(16)-29(16), 30(16)(16 canc.) catchwords quires signed a-z with first eight folios in each numbered

Layout

Varying number of lines per page. Frame ruled.

Hand(s)

Untidy cursive script.

Binding

Polished brown leather with blind and gilt tooling, the spine lettered in gilt 'VOCABULARIUM | LATINUM' and 'M. S.'; rebacked.

History

Origin: English ; 16th century, early

Provenance and Acquisition

Apparently compiled by Laurencius and transcribed by John Mendames, parson of Broomsthorpe, Norfolk, c. 1530: 'Qui fecit librum sit benedictus. Amen. Laurencius est nomen ...' (fol. 446r, on an inserted slip); 'Somtyme Sere John Mendames parson of Bronenstrope and somtyme the espytale preste of Coxfor abbe and late soul preste with William Joly dyssessed and he wrete this bokke of a trewethe' (fol. 446v). John Mendham was collated to Brunsthorpe, Norfolk, in 1529, and on his resignation in 1532 it was appropriated to Coxford Priory (see Blomefield, Norfolk, 1807 edition, VII.7).

William Jolly of Shereford: 'Thys is Wylliam Jolys booke of sherforde' (fol. 445v, cf. fols. 19v, 50v, 58v, 69v, 71r, 79v, etc.; 189v, 446v, 223r), late 16th century (cf. MS. Holkham misc. 16), with numerous other names of William Joly's relations and contemporaries: 'William Joly | Herry Joly | Thomas Joly' (fol. 206v); 'Herry Joly' (fols. 242r, 314r); 'Thomas Bull' (fol. 173v, 177v); 'Sir Roger Townsend' (fols. 180v, 181r); 'William Wyly' ?? (fol. 188v); 'Thomas Thory' (fols. 224r, 261r); 'Roberd Porter', 'Robard Porter' (fols. 252r, 312r); 'John Corby of ... ' (fol. 268r); 'Henry Tyllney ...' (fol. 269r); 'Robarde Tenysone' (fol. 304r); 'Thomas Byrde ys a fole ...' (fol. 436v).

Inscribed, 16th century: 'Inquire to Roger Hewchet of London gionier (?) dwellyng in Sente Catherine parris et ye stathes' (fol. 466r, among pen-trials).

Bookplate of 'THOMAS WILLIAM COKE', and signed 'Thos. Willm. Coke' (fol. 1r), formerly Norfolk, Holkham Hall, MS. 673.

Record Sources

Typescript description by Bodleian Library staff, revised by Peter Kidd, late 1990s

Last Substantive Revision

2017-07-01: First online publication.