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

MS. Laud Misc. 203

Summary Catalogue no.: 823

Theological composite manuscript. A) (fols vi–70) Germany (?), s. xiiiex/xivin; B) (fols 71–82) Avignon, 1343; C) (fols 83–97) Germany, s. xiiiex/xivin; D) (fols 98–109) Avignon (?), c.1343; E) (fols 110–121) Southern France, s. xivin; F) (fols 122–135) Mainz Charterhouse, s. xvin; G) (fols 136–168) Mainz Charterhouse, s. xvin

Physical Description

This description is abbreviated from Daniela Mairhofer, Medieval Manuscripts from the Mainz Charterhouse in the Bodleian Library, Oxford: A Descriptive Catalogue (Oxford, 2018), pp. 664–686. For purposes of scholarly citation, reference to the printed catalogue is requested.
Composite: A) (fols vi–70) || B) (fols 71–82) || C) (fols 83–97) || D) (fols 98–109) || E) (fols 110–121) || F) (fols 122–135) || G) (fols 136–168)
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: v (i-ii, modern; iii-v, 17th-cent.) + 169 + iii (17th-cent.) leaves
Foliation: i–vi, 1–171; (fols 1–70) in modern (19th-cent.) pencil; (fols 71–171) in a different (20th-cent.) hand

Collation

A) i 1+10 | ii 10 | iii–v 12-2 | vi and vii 10; B) viii 12; C) ix 6 | x 12-3; D) xi 12; E) xii 12; F) xiii 10 | xiv 4; G) xv 1+8 | xvi–xviii 8

Binding

Brown tanned calf over laminated pulpboard for Abp. Laud, 1637–1639.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

William Laud, 1573–1645: The present book consists of seven fascicles, which were likely put together only in the course of the Laudian binding. Ex-libris inscription, dated 1638, at the lower margin of fol. 1r.

Given to the Bodleian as part of his third donation, dispatched on 28 June 1639.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part A (fols vi–70)

Contents

1. (fol. vi recto–verso, front flyleaf)
Theological treatise

Fragment of a work of scholastic theology, for full description see printed catalogue. First line affected by trimming.

Language(s): Latin
2. (fols 1r–70v)
Quaedam notabilia magistri Hugonis (de S. Victore?)

Unidentified theological treatise.

Rubric: Incipiunt quedam notabilia magistri ugonis quot bona facit tribulatio
Incipit: Sancti martires multa passi sunt tormenta ut ad ipsorum exemplum
Explicit: inferius quod dedit caleph ase. filie. | Siccine. sic etiam numquid sic. Spiritus dei malus arripiebat saul ... dicta ab hamo.
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: peccatore laqueos (fol. 2r)
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Dimensions (leaf): c.200–09 × 135–43 mm.

Collation

i 1+10 | vi and vii 10

Layout

Ruling (fols 1r ff.) in hard point, one column of 22 or 23 lines. Ruled space c.145–50 × 92–97 mm.

Hand(s)

Textualis (German?), s. xiiiex/xivin, by a single hand. Fragment (item 1) written on both sides in German textualis, s. xiii, by a single hand. Annotations in hands from the Mainz Charterhouse, s. xiv or xv.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: Late 13th/ early 14th century ; Germany (?)

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: Annotations in Carthusian hands from Mainz (s. xiv or xv).

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part B (fols 71–82)

Contents

3. (fols 71r–76v)
Hugh of St.-Cher, Expositio missae siue Speculum ecclesiae

With appendices (ed.: G. Sölch, in Opuscula et textus ... illustrantia. Series liturgica 9 (Münster, 1940), incl. the 1st appendix; – Franz, Messe, 474f.; Little 72; Glorieux, Rép., 2aw; Schneyer, Wegweiser, 342; Hauréau, Initia, 2. 41rb–va; Kaeppeli 1990, this copy (incorrect folio nos); Bloomfield 1589, and suppl.).

Language(s): Latin
4. (fols 77r–82r)
Ps.-Thomas Aquinas, De officio sacerdotis et de sacramentis ecclesiasticis

Abridged text (ed.: Hauréau, Notices et extraits, 1. 209, this copy; Little 194, this copy; Glorieux, Rép., 14ec; Grabmann, Geistesleben, 3. 335; Hauréau, Initia, 5. 89ra, this copy; Bloomfield 4719, and suppl.).

(fol. 82r) Colophon by Carthusian Iohannes Arfelt, dated 30 September 1343: 'completus per Iohannem Archfelt de Esche dyaconum. Avinonensem. in die beati Ieronimi. Sub Anno domini. mo ccco xliijo.’
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Dominus qui (fol. 72r)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; (fol. 71) remnants of a bookmark, now broken off.
Dimensions (leaf): c.205–08 × 145–48 mm.

Collation

viii 12. At the end of quire viii, at the bottom centre of fol. 82v: ‘12’, in lead point.

Layout

Ruling in lead point, one column of c.38–47 lines. Ruled space c.173–86 × 112–14 mm.

Hand(s)

German textualis cursiva with features of bastarda, by a single hand: Iohannes Arfelt, who completed the text on 30 September 1343 in Avignon, see the colophon on fol. 82r (item 4).

Decoration

Coloured initials in red.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: 1343 ; France, Avignon : written by Iohannes Arfelt and completed on 30 September 1343 (see the colophon on fol. 82r). The fascicle appears to have originally been larger, see Collation.

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: Parts B and D written by Johannes Arfelt de Eschwege, who is also responsible for other manuscripts associated with the Mainz Charterhouse.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part C (fols 83–97)

Contents

5. (fols 83ra–87ra)
Hugh of St.-Cher, Expositio missae siue Speculum ecclesiae

With appendices, see item 3. Text shorter and varies from ed.

Language(s): Latin
6. (fols 87ra–93vb)
Adam of Aldersbach, Summula Raymundi

Redaction B, excerpts (without prologue) (pr.: GW 212–217, here compared with GW 213; – Walther, IC, 9117, citing the present MS., incorrect folio nos; Schulte, GQ, 2. 427f.; Franz, Messe, 482–86; Kaeppeli 3; Bloomfield 2668, and suppl.).

Language(s): Latin
7. (fols 94ra–97v)
Ps.-Bernard, Planctus Mariae (pr.: GW 4055–60; 3906; ed.: R. A. Q. Skerrett, ‘Two Irish translations of the Liber de passione Christi’, Celtica 6 (1963) 82–117, citing the present MS. at p. 82 (incorrect folio no.); ed. at pp. 85–114; F. J. Tanquerey, Plaintes de la Vierge en Anglo-Français (XIIIe et XIVe siècles) (Paris, 1921) 6, this copy (incorrect folio no.); RAM 28 (1952) 243–66, this copy at p. 261, n. 58 (incorrect folio no.); Mohan 352*).
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Math. x. et (fol. 84ra)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; remnants of medieval repair (stitching holes). (fol. 95) The lower outer corner restored with a parchment patch, before the text was inserted.
Dimensions (leaf): c.186–96 × 135–42 mm.

Collation

ix 6 | x 12-3.

Layout

Ruling in ink and lead point, two columns (fol. 96: one column) of c.44–47 lines. Ruled space c.157–70 × 110–17 mm.

Hand(s)

German textualis, s. xiiiex/xivin, by several hands. Annotating hand (fol. 83r) also wrote in MSS Laud Misc. 478 (C) and Laud Misc. 192.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: Late 13th/ early 14th century ; Germany .

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: the hand annotating on fol. 83r is also seen in other Laudian manuscripts associated with the Charterhouse.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part D (fols 98–109)

Contents

8. (fols 98ra–105rb)
Ps.-Bernard, Floretus

With prologue and epilogue (pr.: GW 3996–4002, 3951; with commentary GW 4004–4013, with commentary by Jean Gerson GW 4014–4019; ed.: Hauréau, Bernard, 43–45; Walther, IC, 11943; Hauréau, Initia, 4. 145vb–146rb, this copy at fol. 145vb; Bloomfield suppl., 3236a; Rudolf, Ars moriendi, 59f.; cf. Stegmüller, RB, 9085).

Language(s): Latin
9. (fol. 105v)
Elegy 'Vado Mori' (cf. Hauréau, Initia, 6. 318vb, citing the present MS. only; Bloomfield 6312, this copy; Rudolf, Ars moriendi, 49–51).
Language(s): Latin
10. (fol. 105va–vb)
Verses,

9 moral verses by Henry of Langenstein, PS.-Bernard of Clairvaux and others unidentified. Verses itemised in printed catalogue.

Language(s): Latin
11. (fol. 107r)
Lapidarius: Virtutes lapidum (Thorndike and Kibre 955, citing the present MS.).
Language(s): Latin
12. (fol. 107r–v)
Lapidarius (Thorndike and Kibre 475, citing the present MS.).
Language(s): Latin
13. (fol. 105va–vb)
Verses

Moral verses by Serlo of Wilton and others unidentified.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Prepropere laute (fol. 99ra)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; (fol. 109) bookmark, glued to the outer centre, now lost.
Dimensions (leaf): c.206–08 × 145–47 mm.

Collation

xi 12

Layout

Ruling in lead point, two columns of c.37–55 unruled lines. Ruled space c.177–86 × 125–33 mm.

Hand(s)

German textualis cursiva with features of bastarda, by a single hand: Iohannes Arfelt, see part B.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: 1343 ; France, Avignon. Written in the hand of part B: Iohannes Arfelt, c.1343.

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: Parts B and D written by Johannes Arfelt de Eschwege, who is also responsible for other manuscripts associated with the Mainz Charterhouse.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part E (fols 110–121)

Contents

14. (fols 110ra–117rb)
Hugh of St.-Cher, Expositio missae siue Speculum ecclesiae

See item 3, text varies from ed.

Language(s): Latin
15. (fols 117rb–120vb)
Description of Rome,

[Mirabilia Romae] (pr.: Hain 11174–88, etc.; ed. H. Jordan, Topographie der Stadt Rom im Alterthum, vol. 2 (Berlin, 1871) 605–43).

(fol. 120vb) De Urbe Roma; mainly elegiac couplets, lamenting the decay of Rome.
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: in presenti detur (fol. 111ra)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; (fol. 110r–v) a rust stain at the lower outer margin, possibly from former binding furniture.
Dimensions (leaf): c.191–95 × 140–45 mm.

Collation

xii 12

Layout

Ruling in lead point, two columns of 36 or 37 lines. Ruled space c.140–44 × 95–100 mm.

Hand(s)

Southern French textualis, s. xivin, by a single hand. Annotating hands of s. xv, possibly from the Mainz Charterhouse.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red and blue with pen flourishings.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: Early 13th century ; Southern France .

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: the main hand resembles the hands seen in other French manuscripts from the Charterhouse, such as MSS Laud Misc. 221 and 738, for example. The hands which annotated the fascicle may well originate from the Charterhouse.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part F (fols 122–135)

Contents

16. (fols 122r–127r)
Henricus de Frimaria, Exposition of the Lord's Prayer

With preface and prologue (Stegmüller, RB, 3166; Zumkeller 321, citing the present MS., incorrect folio nos; Bloomfield 9071, this MS., incorrect folio nos).

Language(s): Latin
17. (fols 127r–130v)
Commentary on Ave Maria

This exposition is attributed to Henricus de Frimaria (Stegmüller, RB, 3169 and suppl., this copy; and 9987; Stroick, Friemar, 75; Zumkeller 291, citing the present MS., incorrect folio nos).

Language(s): Latin
18. (fols 130v–134r)
Articles of the Faith (pr. Cologne 1474 (GW 12340), etc.; – Kaeppeli 2387). (fol. 135v) Several notes, in different hands, s. xv.
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: -ta in se (fol. 123r)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; (fol. 133) remnants of medieval repair (stitching holes).
Dimensions (leaf): c.185–200 × 90–146 mm.

Collation

xiii 10 | xiv 4.

Layout

Ruling in lead point; one column of 27–41 unruled lines (fols 122r–134r). Ruled space c.147–58 × 102–106 mm.

Hand(s)

Bastarda, s. xvin, in a single hand from the Mainz Charterhouse.

Decoration

Coloured initials in red and blue.

Rubrication.

History

Origin: Early 15th century ; Germany, Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael.

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: the text hand is from the Charterhouse; see also G) Provenance below.

MS. Laud Misc. 203 – Part G (fols 136–168)

Contents

19. (fols 137r–159v)
Hugh of St.-Victor, De institutione nouiciorum

With prologue (ed.: PL 176. 925A–52B; ed. Goy, Überlieferung, 340–67, this copy at p. 356, no. 103 (incorrect folio nos); Bloomfield 4685, and suppl.; Glorieux, Migne, 68).

(fol. 136v) list of contents, on paper glued to the parchment leaf, written in a hand of s. xv from the Mainz Charterhouse. (fol. 159v) Note in a hand of s. xv from the Mainz Charterhouse at the upper margin.
Language(s): Latin
20. (fols 159v–160v)
Theological treatise

De modo loquendi.

Language(s): Latin
21. (fols 160v–164r)
De Confessione (Bloomfield 292 and 293, and suppl.; Kaeppeli 2782).
Language(s): Latin
22. (fols 164v–168r)
Ps.-Augustine, De uisitatione infirmorum

Excerpts (ed.: PL 40. (in the range of) 1147–58; Rudolf, Ars moriendi, 60f.; Römer ii/1. 199 (no. 34); ii/2. 275).

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: per disciplinam (fol. 138r)
Form: codex
Support: parchment; remnants of former binding furniture (rust stains).
Dimensions (leaf): c.191–98 × 135–45 mm.

Collation

xv 1+8 | xvi–xviii 8.

Layout

Ruling in ink, one column of (fols 137r–164r) 25–29 and (fols 164v–168r) 33 or 34 unruled lines. Ruled space c.145–50 × 101–105 mm.

Hand(s)

German textualis, s. xvin, two hands: G1) (fols 137r–164r); G2) (fols 164v–168r) from the Mainz Charterhouse. The table of contents (fol. 136v) added in a different Carthusian hand from Mainz, s. xv. In the area of hand G1 sporadic annotations in a hand of s. xv from the Charterhouse, in small script (= hand G2?).

Decoration

Coloured initials in red.

Rubrication.

(fol. 164v) blank space for an initial and guides to paraphs.

History

Origin: Early 15th century ; Germany, Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael, as evidenced by script.

Provenance

Mainz, Carthusian abbey of St Michael: the 15th-cent. ex-libris inscription at the upper margin of fol. 137r: ‘Iste liber est Carthusiensium prope magunciam’. The list of contents on fol. 136v was inserted by a Carthusian hand of s. xv, from Mainz; for full listing, see printed catalogue. The works listed do not form part of MS. Laud Misc. 203, except for items 21 and 22 of part G, and, probably, items 16–18 of part F. The list suggests that fascicle G was originally much larger. Hand G2 is Carthusian, from Mainz, possibly also hand G1.

Additional Information

Record Sources

See above. Previously described in the Quarto Catalogue (H. O. Coxe, Laudian Manuscripts, Quarto Catalogues II, repr. with corrections, 1969, from the original ed. of 1858–1885).

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)

Bibliography

    Published descriptions:

    Daniela Mairhofer, Medieval Manuscripts from the Mainz Charterhouse in the Bodleian Library, Oxford: A Descriptive Catalogue, 2 vols. (Oxford, 2018), pp. 664–686

Last Substantive Revision

2023-07-29: Description revised for Mainz digitization project to include additional information from Mairhofer catalogue.