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MS. Lat. misc. d. 66

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

Dictamen and formularies; five booklets A-E, Germany (?area of Erfurt), 14th century

Contents

(fol. i r, medieval endleaf)

14th-century verses and pen-trials in Latin and German include: ‘Pelle et carne vestisti [Job 10:11]’, ‘omnes homines naturaliter’; ‘Actus activorum sunt in paciente disposito’; the opening clause of a charter in German of a Duke Albrecht of Austria, ‘Wir Albr(echt) von gotes gnaden hertzog ze Osterr(eich) & Sty'’; ‘Unseren Willigen dienst wizzt all zeit vor’; couplet ‘Qui non conswescit virtute dum iuvenescit | Viciis nescit distare quando senescit’; hexameters ‘Si paritas uel disparitas constent elementis … Hoc tibi sit signum quod defensor superetur’ (WIC 17832, citing MS. Bodl. 843).

Language(s): Latin and Middle High German

Physical Description

Five booklets together by the late fourteenth century, A, D and E perhaps always together.
Secundo Folio: ad quid per
Form: codex
Extent: I (medieval endleaf) + 87 (40 + 8 + 10 + 10 + 19) leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 220–5 × 150–5 mm.
Foliation: i, 1-87

Collation

1(10)–4(10), 5(8), 6(10)–8(10), 9(10) (10 canc.); section A with catchwords. Quires numbered ‘prim(us)’, ‘2(us)’, etc.

Binding

Medieval limp parchment binding, with a wrap-around flap to cover the fore-edge made from another piece of parchment attached with parchment sewing to the back cover; the spine with two back plates of thick leather, with sewing threads sewn together in two pairs of three (cf. J. A. Szirmai, The archaeology of medieval bookbinding (Aldershot, 1999), ch. 10.4).

The front cover inscribed with the faded trace of a 15th(?)-century title ‘Poetria’(?), and the head of the spine with the Admont Stiftsbibliothek number ‘637’ in black ink.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Perhaps written and bound at Erfurt to judge by the numerous mentions of the city in different sections of the volume (e.g. fols. 41v, 46r, 68r, 69r, 73r).

Inscribed 'Helmhardus' & 'Helemhardus', late 14th or early 15th century (fol. i)

Not identifiable in the medieval catalogues of Admont (Mittelalterliche Bibliothekskataloge Österreichs, III: Steiermark, ed. Gerlinde Möser-Mersky (1961))

No. 637 in the Admont Stiftsbibliothek, with two different heraldic ink stamps of the ‘Bibliotheca Admontensis’ (fols. ir and 87v), their MS. 637 (this number on the spine); described in their 1888 handwritten catalogue (pp. 248–49), annotated ‘verkauft 1936 nach London E Ph Goldschmidt’.

E. P. Goldschmidt, Catalogue 100 (1936), item 11; with his(?) stock no. ‘# 17578’ in pencil (inside back cover)

bought by the Bodleian and inscribed in pencil ‘P[urchased] Goldschmidt Aug. 1936’ (fol. ir).

MS. Lat. misc. d. 66 – Part A (fols. 1–40)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fol.1)
John of Garland, Parisiana poetria
Rubric: Incipit poetria Iohannis Anglici de arte prosayca metrica et rithmica
(fol. 1r)

Verse prologue

Rubric: Incipit poetria Iohannis Anglici. De arte prosayca metrica et rithmica prologus
Incipit: Parisiana iubar diffundit gloria clerus
Explicit: Rithmica tres unus iste libellus habet
WIC 13701
(fol. 1r)

Prose prologue

Incipit: Presentis tractatus septem suberunt particule
Explicit: et diversorum metrorum
(fols. 1r–40v)
Incipit: Qui tradit artem debet diffinire quod dicitur
Explicit: Ut sit tibi vite corona pristita
Final rubric: Explicit Ars prosaica Versificatoria Rithmica Metrica Amen.

The text ends at l. 1375, but the explicit, and the fact that scribe wrote the last four lines in the gutter margin perpendicular to the main text, suggest that he intended to end here and did not want to continue on a new quire.

Used by Giovanni Mari, ‘Poetria Magistri Johannis Anglici de Arte Prosayca Metrica et Rithmica’, Romanische Forschungen, 13.3 (1902), 883–965 with siglum ‘A’ (Admont). Modern editions by T. Lawler, The Parisiana Poetria of John of Garland, Yale Studies in English, 182 (New Haven, 1974), and Parisiana Poetria, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, 65 (Cambridge, MA, 2020). E. Marguin-Hamon, ‘Tradition manuscrite de l’œuvre de Jean de Garlande’, Revue d'histoire des textes, n.s. 1 (2006), 189–257, briefly describes the present MS. at 207–08, as ‘Miscellanea D 66’ [sic], but states that it ‘provient du collège de Würtzburg’ and cites the catalogue of Laud MSS.; she discusses the text at 229–31.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark fish cf. Briquet 12410 (Treviso 1360), WZMA 12114 (1366)

Collation

1–410, with catchwords; quire signatures on first rectos: ‘2(us)’, ‘3(us)’, 4(us).

Layout

Frame-ruled in ink; written typically with about 34–38 lines per page, laid out partly in verse, partly in prose; short sections in two or three columns (fols. 31v–32v). Ruled space 140 × 95 mm.

Hand(s)

Gothic semi-cursive bookhand (cursiva antiquior / ältere gotische Buchkursive), capitals stroked in red

Decoration

A few plain red initials (fols. 38v–39r)

Spaces with guide-letters left blank for coloured initials.

Circular diagrams in the sections ‘Ad difficilem materiam abbreuiandum’ (fol. 8r) and ‘similiter desinens’ (fol. 21v), and with a drawing of a notarial subscription of ‘Honorius papa.’ dated ‘Pontificatus nostri Anno iiii’, towards the end of the ‘De arte prosaici et versificatoria’ (fol. 28v).

History

Origin: 14th century, second half ; Germany

MS. Lat. misc. b. 66 – Part B (fols. 41–48)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 41r-)
Ludolf of Hildesheim, Summa dictaminum (chapeters I-IV only)
Incipit: De arte dictandi breviter et lucide secundum usum modernorum
Explicit: et hec de litteris missilibus dicta sufficiant.
Edited by L. Rockinger, Briefsteller und Formelbücher des eilften bis vierzehnten Jahrhunderts, Quellen zur bayerischen und deutschen Geschichte, 9, I (Munich, 1863), pp. 359–74.

There are numerous differences between the names used in the edition and the MS.: where the edition has ‘V parisiensi episcopo’ (p. 361) the MS. has ‘A. Pataviensi episcopo’ (fol. 42r); where the edition has ‘V Mindensi episcopo’ and ‘C sancte coloniensis ecclesie archiepiscopo A’(p. 363) the MS. has ‘H tali episcopo’ and ‘H coloniensis ecclesie archiepiscopo Io.’ (fol. 43v), etc.; where the edition has ‘fratri magedeburgensi archiepiscopo’ (p. 373) the MS. has ‘… fratri .R. sancte Coloniensis ecclesie archiepiscopo’ (fol. 48v); for 'C scolari parisiensi', 'C scolari Erfordie', etc.

Extensive marginal annotation.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark steer’s head, type Piccard Ochsenkopf I.454 (mid-14th century)

Collation

58

Layout

Frame-ruled in ink; written typically with about 25 lines per page. Ruled space c. 140 × 90 mm.

Hand(s)

Gothic semi-cursive bookhand (cursiva antiquior / ältere gotische Buchkursive)

Decoration

Spaces for coloured initials.

History

Origin: 14th century ; Germany

MS. Lat. misc. d. 66 – Part C (fols. 49–58)

Two treatises on dictamen

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 49r-56v)
Ars dictaminis ‘Cupientes rivulos’
(fol. 49r)

Prologue

Incipit: ⟨C⟩upientes rivulos scaturientis artes[sic] dictatorie puteo manantes haurire gratulanter ad ipsius eloquencie viridarium adituri
Explicit: et primum partem scilicet salutationem
(fols. 49r–56r)
Incipit: Nota primum circa salutacionem amicorum
Explicit: et hec dicta de statu laycali et aliqualiter de clericali statu sufficiant

Other copies in Munich, BSB, Clm 7021, fols. 1r-6v; BAV Vat. lat. 4847, , fols. 211v-218r. (cf. E. Polak, Medieval and Renaissance Letter Treatises ... in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, German and Italy (2015), 455, 823).

(fols. 56v-58v)
Otto of Lüneburg, Compendium novae poetriae (Ars dictandi)
Incipit: Dictandi normas per metrorum cape formas
Explicit: Que(?) non pervertas varia cor vertas / In circum. con. a. pro. di. de. con.

Above the final line is added an expansion of the abbreviations: ‘Interpretatio, circumlocutio, comparatio, apostropha(tio), prosopopeya, digressio, descriptio, contrarietas’

WIC 4441, citing about 15 MSS., not including the present one.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark bell, cf Briquet 3934 (1345)

Collation

610

Layout

Frame-ruled in ink; ruled space 135 × 95 mm. .

The first text written with about 25–30 lines per page

The second text added on pages left blank, with about 17–22 lines per page

Hand(s)

Gothic semi-cursive hands; the second in blacker ink

Decoration

None

History

Origin: 14th century ; Germany

MS. Lat. misc. d. 66 – Part D (fols. 59–68)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 59r-68v)
Treatise on dictamen
(fols. 59r-60v)
Ars dictaminis ‘Circa modum dictandi modernorum’
Incipit: Circa modum dictandi modernorum qui ab antiquis multum dispendiose prolixe et modo obtuso in diversis antiquis libris ponitur qui iam a modernis modicum reputatur
Explicit: non curant moderni

Quoting several Leonine verses on dictamen, including 'Qui dictare putat in prima parte salutat'. Another copy (?) in BAV Vat. lat. 3998, fol. 42r-v (Polak, Treatises, 822).

(fols. 60v-68v)
Model letters
Incipit: ⟨S⟩alutacione filiali cum constancia totali obediend [sic for obedienter] premissis. Vester paternalis amor intelligat in hiis scriptis me sanum et incolumem Erfordie existentem pecuniis vestitu ac aliis necessariis omnimode carentem
Explicit: cum ipso agendo ut regula iuris fatur

Erfurt is mentioned e.g. in the last two examples on fol. 68r.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark fish (as part A)

Collation

710

Layout

Frame-ruled, written with about 36 lines per page. Ruled space c. 140 × 95 mm.

Hand(s)

Gothic with cursive features (cursiva antiquior / ältere gotische Buchkursive)

Decoration

Spaces left for coloured initials.

History

Origin: 14th century, second half ; Germany

MS. Lat. misc. d. 66 – Part E (fols. 69–87)

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fols. 69r-70v)
Formulary of letters in German
Incipit: ⟨M⟩yne süinliche grůis mit ganzer stedicheit vür gesant, dine veyderliche leyfde dyᵉ verste, in deser schrift dat ich gesůnt ben zü Erfůrde
Explicit: edelcheyt dyᵉ begere ze wissen.

The first items seem to be German versions of the letters on fol. 60v. The final item (fols. 70r-v) consists only of formulae of salutation.

Language(s): Middle High German
(fols. 71r-72r)
Formulary of letters in Latin
Incipit: ⟨C⟩onsingulari [i.e. Cum singulari] obsequio cum tota promocione preconcepta nobilitati vestre voce querelosa significamus
Explicit: et certa re perpetue volimus promerere

Fol. 72v is blank.

Language(s): Latin
(fols. 73r-80r)
Formulary of documents, in Latin and German
Incipit: Nos H. talis miles notum facimus universis ad quos ad quos[sic] venerit presens scriptum … In festo sancti Michaelis nunc proxime venturo in civitate Erfordensi
Incipit: Weyr heyrre her Johan ey ricter also geheyssen bekennen un(de) bezůgen offenbeirlich in deysme bryeue dat wir schuldich sint van rechter schůlt Johan Eyme burger zů Erfůrde …

Several refer to Erfurt, others to Mainz (‘ecclesie sancte[/beate] Marie Moguntinensii’, fols. 74v, 75r), and elsewhere; currency of Mainz and Cologne; one is dated 1359 (fol. 73v).

Fol. 80v is blank.

Language(s): Latin and Middle High German
(fols. 81r-83r)
Jupiter Monoculus, Summa Iovis (treatise on dictamen in Leonine verse, with glosses)
Incipit: ⟨S⟩i dictare velis et iungere scema loquelis | Sunt duo pretacta quare fit epistula facta
Explicit: In precedenti penultima longa probatur | Deo gratis Christo perfecte iupiter isto
Colophon: Qui scripsit scripta sua dextra sit benedicta.
WIC 17707

Fol. 83v is blank.

Language(s): Latin
(fols. 84r-87r)
Formulary of letters ('mandata' and 'responsiones')
Incipit: Cum karitate totali salutacione filiali obedienter premissa vestra dilectio paternalis clarius se intelligere inclinat quod cum pecunia quam mihi nuper
Explicit: pro meo stipendio ipsum ammovendo ac mei periculi restauratione pro omni temporis intervallo, causa vos insimili cupio promerere.
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark fish, as part A

Collation

810, 910–1 (last blank cancelled)

Layout

Frame-ruled, ruled space c. 140 × 95 mm.

Written with about 30–34 lines per page.

Fols. 81–83 written with about 21–23 lines per page, widely spaced presumably to allow for the interlinear glosses that appear on the first two pages.

Hand(s)

Gothic with cursive features (cursiva antiquior / ältere gotische Buchkursive)

Decoration

Spaces left for coloured initials.

History

Origin: 14th century, second half ; Germany

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (April 2021) by Peter Kidd, edited by Matthew Holford; with thanks to Nigel Palmer for advice on the dialect of the German texts.

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)

Bibliography

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2021-04-15: Description fully revised for Polonsky German digitization project.