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

MS. Auct. F. 6. 4

Summary Catalogue no.: 2150

Physical Description

Composite: two parts
Extent: iii + 276 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 8.125 × 4.625 in.

History

Origin: The ornamentation of A and B suggests that there was not as much as a century of interval between them, but A cannot well be later than early 13th cent., while Trivet did not die till 1328, and B is certainly not his autograph. The ornamentation of the older part may have been put in later than the writing, while the border on fol. 62r is an imitation of that on fol. 1r.

Provenance and Acquisition

Osney Abbey (?)

Given by Ralph Bloore, former canon of Osney, to Thomas Corser, priest, in 1543: 'Liber Thomæ Corsæri presbiteri ex dono Radulphi Bloore quondam canonici de Osney, 5 die Maij anno Domini 1543º'. cf. fol. 274v.

Thomas Allen (-1632): 'THo Allen. D(ono) D(edit)', in 1601.

MS. Auct. F. 6. 4 – Part A

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fol. 1)
Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae,

'Annicii. Manlii. Seuerini. Boecij. exconsulis. ordinarij. patricij' liber de Consolatione Philosophiae: the work at first had no author's name or title, unless it were on a leaf of which fragments remain, torn off before fol. 1.

There are some glosses and notes, e.g. fol. 42.

On fols. 61av-61bv, all of the 13th cent.:

Various Latin notes

Two mazes leading to the 'domus Dedali'

Verses on the Signs of the zodiac

'Ernaldus x. sol. ...'

Hymn

Incipit: In terram Christus expuit

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Hand(s)

Two hands, changing at fol. 42

Decoration

Illuminated border, capitals, etc.

History

Origin: 13th century, early ; English

MS. Auct. F. 6. 4 – Part B

Contents

Language(s): Latin

(fol. 62)
Nicolas Trivet, Commentary on Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae
Rubric: Prologus Nicholai Triuet in Boecium de Consolacione Philosophie [a later title]
Incipit: (prol.) Consolationes tue letificaverunt

Followed by the whole commentary: ends 'in prospectu iudicis cernentis cuncta, qui est Dominus Deus noster Ihesus Christus cui est honor ...': then 'Et sic terminatur liber quintus ... Et sunt vniuersaliter in libro toto. prose .39. & metra totidem. Sychem [i.e. stilum?] scribentis benedicat lingua legentis'.

A few notes are added on fol. 268, and on fol. 273v a 15th cent. system of shorthand: but a fly-leaf at end has been lost since 1650.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Illuminated border, capitals, etc.

History

Origin: 14th century, early ; English

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (July 2020) from the Summary Catalogue (1922).

Availability

This manuscript is on display in the Ashmolean Museum exhibition Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality (10 Feb. - 30 July 2023). It cannot be ordered between those dates or for a short period before and after.

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2020-07-06: Description revised to incorporate all information in the Summary Catalogue.

See the Availability section of this record for information on viewing the item in a reading room.