MS. Lyell 61

Bonaventura; Jean Gerson; Adam of Dryburgh, etc.

Language(s): Latin

Works attributed to Bonaventura

a. (p. 1)

Rubric: Prologus Itinerarii mentis in Deum compilati a Bonaventura ordinis fratrum minorum generali ministro

Incipit: In principio primum principium

Explicit: (p. 45) dicat omnis populus, fiat fiat.

Final rubric: Explicit Itinerarius[sic] mentis in Deum Bonaventura doctoris seraphici ordinis fratrum minorum, finivi in die S. Benedicti abbatis Anno domini 1452.

Ed. S. Bonaventurae Opera Omnia v, Quaracchi, 1891, pp. 295–313. Our MS. (as Melk B. 23) was listed in the Prolegomena, p. xxx, no. 64, but not used for the edition.

b. (p. 46)

Ps.-Bonaventure, De septem gradibus contemplationis

Rubric: Compendium doctoris seraphici de vil gradibus contemplationis

Incipit: Contemplativorum aquilinos obtutus acui

The 7th gradus ends

Explicit: (p. 49) irreverberato intuitu contemplari

Then follows

Rubric: Epilogatio premissorum

Incipit: Ordinem dictorum graduum

Explicit: tam delectabilis quam admirabilis.

The original version of this work is now ascribed to Thomas Gallus, sec G. Théry, ‘Thomas Gallus et Egide d’Assise, le traité ‘De septem gradibus contemplationis’ ’, Rev. néo-scolastique 36 (1934), 183–90. Our MS. is a copy of the third version, which may be by a certain Jacobus, see S. Bonav. Op. Omnia cit. viii, 1898, p. cxiv. This version has not been printed. It is also in MS. Laud Misc. 479, 15th cent., from the Carthusians of Mainz, fol. 114.

c. (p. 49)

Bonaventure, De triplici uia

Rubric: Incipit tractatus Bonaventure de triplici actu ierarchico sive de triplici modo se exercendi

Incipit: Ecce descripsi tibi

Explicit: (p. 70) et amplexum. Ad quod nos perducat Ihesus Christus in secula seculorum benedictus. Amen.

Final rubric: Explicit Bonaventura de triplici actu ierarchico.

Ed. S. Bonav. Op. Omnia cit. viii, pp. 3–158. This is the incomplete version found in many MSS., ending at ch. lii § 7.

Jean Gerson, Treatises and extracts

a. (p. 73)

De libris legendis a monacho

Rubric: Tractatulus responsivus ad questionem monachi Carthusiensis querentis an pro exercitio spirituali liceat conventum dimittere et qui libri fructuosius sint legendi, Reverendi magistri Iohannis Gerson Cancellarii Parisiensis. Prologus epistularis

Prologue

Incipit: Grada et pax. Si inimicos iubemur diligere

Explicit: (p. 74) Scriptum Lugduni anno domini 1426 per me Iohannem Cane. Paris.

Rubric: Incipiunt considerationes ad propositum. Consideratio prima

Incipit: Religiosus ille consideret in primis

Explicit: (p. 82) satis cursorie suffidant.

Final rubric: Explicit anno etc. Liiiº in vigilia Andree.

Pr. L.E. du Pin, Gersonii Opera Omnia 1706, ii, col. 704–10; the introductory letter also ed. P. Glorieux, Jean Gerson, œuvres complètes 11, 1961, pp. 275–6, and see p. xxvii: Ep. 57 to Michel Bartine. Glorieux cites our MS., as Melk 58.

b. (p. 83)

Rubric: Item Epistula eiusdem magistri Iohannis Gerson de religionis perfectione ac moderamine missa ad Carthusiam cuidam monacho quem in seculo noverat eo quod medicus domini Saludarum fuerit

Incipit: Gracia vobis et pax in Christo Ihesu. Utique dicetis mihi per similitudinem

Explicit: (p. 101) cum glosa ordinaria que videatur.

Final rubric: Explicit.

Pr. du Pin, 11, col. 682–92; ed. Glorieux, ii, pp. 232–45, and see p. xxv: Ep. 49 to Guillaume Minaudi. Glorieux again cites our MS.

c. (p. 102)

Rubric: Sequitur questio predicti magistri, scilicet Gerson, de peccato detractionis utilis valde

Incipit: Queritur an male loqui de aliis

Explicit: (p. 111) nulli in contemptum.

Final rubric: Explicit.

Pr. du Pin, 11, col. 463–70.

d. (p. 111)

Rubric: Sequitur tractatulus eiusdem, scilicet Gerson, de meditatione cordis, utilis valde, considerationes habet 17

Incipit: Meditatio cordis mei in conspectu tuo

Explicit: (p. 121) semper credens.

Final rubric: Explicit de meditacione cordis etc.

Pr. du Pin, m, coL 449–56. As in the edition by Richer, Paris, 1606, iii, 364–70, the last paragraph but one (beg.: ‘Advertendum quid’, ends: ‘monitione sapientis’) has been omitted; see Glorieux, ed. cit. 1, p. 57.

e. (p. 122)

Rubric: Sequitur tractatus eiusdem de simplificatione cordis continens considerationes 23

Incipit: In simplicitate cordis querite ilium

Explicit: (p. 141A) in directione cordis. Amen.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus Gerson de simplificatione cordis vel eciam stabilitacione ac mundificacione.

Pr. du Pin, in, col. 457–67.

Followed by a note in red: ‘Hic sequi deberet tractatus de directione cordis in quo quia multa que in tractatu de oratione qui hic sequitur ponuntur, ideo obmisus est hic scribi etc.’ P. 141B is blank.

f. (p. 142)

Rubric: Magistri Iohannis Gerson. / Tractatus cuius supra editus in Concilio Constantiensi de oratione et valore eius sub pluribus considerationibus. Prima pars est manuductiva in ipsius considerationes, ostendens proprie pertinere ad monachi vocationem et professionem orationi insistere, in qua qualis esse debeat ipsum instruit

Incipit: Oportet semper orare et nunquam deficere

Explicit: (p. 177) de moribus iudicat. Amen.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus magistri Iohannis Gerson de oratione et eius valore.

Pr. du Pin, in, col. 247–62.

g. (p. 177)

Rubric: Sequitur Tractatus eiusdem de preparatione misse. Qui alias intytulatur de pollucionibus nocturnis

Incipit: (p. 178) Dubitatum est aput me frequenter

Explicit: (p. 202) Hoc est omnis homo.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de pollucionibus nocturnis.

Pr. du Pin, in, col. 323–34.

h. (p. 203)

Rubric: Incipit tractatus eiusdem Reverendi magistri Iohannis cancellarii de cognitione castitatis seu de pollutionibus diurnis seu in vigilia

Incipit: Scripsi pridem aliqua super preparatione ad missam

Explicit: (p. 222) utilis multum.

Final rubric: Explicit de pollutionibus diurnis.

Pr. du Pin, in, col. 335–45.

i. (p. 222)

Rubric: Responsio eiusdem magistri scilicet Gerson de modo confessionis et absolutionis sacramentalis super questione sibi facta de statuto ordinis Carthusiensium quo dicitur. Nullus absolvat a mortali certo, sed confitentem remittat ad priorem suum

Incipit: Confessio sacramentalis fundatur

Explicit: (p. 225) expresse sunt confessa.

Pr. du Pin, 11, col. 460–1: this is the first part only of the printed text.

k. (p. 225)

Rubric: Magistralis et brevis distinctio predicti magistri de modis excommunicationum et irregularitatum et absolutionis ab eisdem

Incipit: Excommunicationum tot sunt genera

Explicit: (p. 229) nichil facit ad rem

Rubric: De iniunctione penitentie

Incipit: Sed et de iniunctione penitentie

Explicit: (p. 230) edam fiat penitentie iniunctio etc.

Final rubric: Explicit.

Pr. du Pin, 11, col. 403–5.

l. (p. 230)

Rubric: Sequitur tractatus eiusdem de sollicitudine ecclesiasticorum ad fratres Celestinos scriptus, primo tamen premittuntur dubia sibi de eadem materia proposita

Incipit: Queritur responsio super dubiis sequentibus

Explicit: (p. 270) intelligencias vestras in Christo Ihesu domino nostro. Amen.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de sollicitudine ecclesiasticorum.

Pr. du Pin, 11, col. 597–617.

m. (p. 270)

Rubric: Ex tractatu eiusdem egregii doctoris de contractibus notabilis sententia ponitur hic, et est pro consolatione religiosorum

Incipit: Argumentum sumptum ex consilio solo

Explicit: (p. 272) discutiendis occupent se. Amen. Et tantum ex uno tractatu, scilicet de contractibus.

This is most of Propositio 13 of the De contractibus, pr. du Pin, iii, col. 180D–181C6.

n. (p. 273)

Rubric: Incipit tractatus predicti doctoris eggregii et cancellarii Parisiensis de theologia mistica, qui alias intitulatur de contemplacione speculative et practice tradita. Et est tractatus multum egregius. Prologus

Incipit: Astrinxit me promissio novissima

Explicit: (p. 352) in sequentibus prosequamur.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatus de mistica theologia reverendi magistri Iohannis Gerson cancellarii Parisiensis, viri illuminatissimi.

Ed. A. Combes, Io. Carl. de Gerson, De Mystica Theologia, Lugano, 1958, pp. 1–123. He uses our MS. (y). Also ed. Glorieux, ed. cit. iii, 1962, pp. 250–92 (no. 100). He cites our MS. on p. xiii.

o. (p. 352)

De Mystica Theologia, Tractatus practicus

Rubric: Sequitur tractatus eiusdem doctoris de duodecim industriis in misticam theologiam (p. 353) De xii industriis

Incipit: Tractantes in lectionibus nostris

Explicit: (p. 403) et ego illi.

Final rubric: Explicit de xii industriis ad contemplationem recensitus ab actore anno domini 1422 in novemb. in Lugduno.

Ed. Combes, op. cit., pp. 125–216. He uses our MS.

p. (p. 404)

Rubric: Incipit opusculum ad elucidationem scolasticam théologie mistice sub duodecim considerationibus a predicto doctore, scilicet Gerson, compilatum

Incipit: Vobis datum est nosse misterium

Explicit: (p. 417) dona hominibus. In cuius commemoratione sollempnitatis hec scripta sunt Lugduni ad elucidacionem scolasticam théologie mistice consistentis in amore per reverendum magistrum Iohannem Gerson cancellarium Parisiensem anno millesimo quadringentesimo vicesimo nono, prima iunii etc.

Ed. Combes, op. cit., pp. 221–34. He uses our MS.

q. (p. 417)

Rubric: Sequitur doctrina eiusdem per modum tractatuli utilis valde pro devotis simplicibus qualiter se in suis exerciciis discrete et caute habeant originaliter per ipsum edita in vulgari gallico, in latinum per alium translata ut apparet (p. 418) ex stilo. De discretione in genere

Incipit: Deus vult ut sit racionabile obsequium nostrum

Explicit: (p. 445) divinam caritatem. Sibi laus gloria et gratiarum actio semper. Amen.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatulus iste perutilis valde reverendi atque excellentissimi magistri Iohannis Gerson.

Pr. du Pin, iii, col. 605–18. An amplification, not by Gerson, of his French treatise against having a too scrupulous conscience. See Glorieux, ed. cit. 1, p. 58.

r. (p. 445)

Rubric: Ex eiusdem egregii doctoris tractatu qui intitulatur tractatus conclusionum sequenda sunt exerpta

Incipit: Ea que tibi precepit Deus

Explicit: (p. 453A) non implenda precipitare in infernum.

Final rubric: Explicit hoc.

Extracts from Gerson’s De regulis mandatorum, i (parts only), iii, iv, v (part only), vii (part only), viii, xvii (part only), xxi (part only), xxix (part of end only), xxxii (parts only), xxxin (part only), xxxvii (end), l (end), lxxxii (part only), xc (part), xciii, xcvi (part), xcviii, c (part), li, lii, c (part), cii (end), cxv, cxvi (part), cxvii, cxxii (part), cxxxii-cxxxiv, cxxxviii (parts). Pr. du Pin, iii, col. 77A-B6, C8-D4; 78B5–79 1. 3; 79A15-B2, B13-C8; 80B13-C4; 81B19-C8; 83B7–10; 84A5–8, A15-B5, B14-C10; 85B8–13; 87B15-C5; 92D2–5; 93D4–94 1. 7; 94B8–14, Cio-Di, D8–10; 95C15-D4; 87C7–88 1. 2; 95D5–12; 96A17–B2; 99C14–100A4; 100A10–14, C13–17; 102B11-C12, C18-D10; 103C13–18, C10–13. Pp. 453 B-c are blank.

3. (p. 454)

Devotional treatise

Rubric: De devotione et diversis generibus devotorum excerpta ex dictis cuiusdam doctoris théologie Karthusiensis ordinis

Incipit: Nota quod devotio est voluntas quedam prompte tradens se ad ea que pertinent ad Dei famulatum

Explicit: (p. 475) quia iste doctor valde extense loquitur de eis, scilicet begardiis.

4. (p. 476)

Adam of Dryburgh, Soliloquium de instructione animae

Rubric: Incipit Soliloquium fratris Adam

Incipit: Dominis suis venerandis et amicis in Christi visceribus

Explicit: (p. 525 1. 9) impensam tumide respuamus.

Final rubric: Explicit tractatulus iste. Anno etc. liiiº.

Ed. B. Pez, Thés. Anecd. Nov. I, pt. 11, 1721, col. 337–72 and see 1, 1, p. lxxi-lxxii; he used our MS., then MS. Melk lit. B. 23, as well as one from Gaming. Reprinted from Pez in PL 198 col. 843–72. For the attribution to Adam, also known as Adam Scot, and a list of further MSS., see A. Wilmart, ‘Magister Adam Cartusiensis’, Mélanges Mandonnet 11 (1930), 153 n. I, 155. There was a copy of the work in the Charterhouse of Aggsbach, near Melk, in the 15th cent.; see Gottlieb, Mittelalt. Bibl.kat. Österreichs I (1915), 599 1. 16 (MS. H. 4).

In the blank space on p. 525 the scribe wrote a detailed list of contents.

Incipit: In presenti libello continentur infra notata. / Primo Itinerarius[sic] mentis in Deum doctoris seraphici / …

Final rubric: Explicit tabula.

Inside the front binding another hand has written:

"Contenta huius libelli quere in fine."

On pp. 71–2, which were originally blank, the scribe added some excerpts:

a. (p. 71)

Rubric: Quedam notabilia et valde edificatoria

Short extracts on repentance attributed to Chrysostomus (partly from the Opus Imperfectum), the Vitae patrum, Seneca and Gregory.

b. (p. 72)

Rubric: Materia optima contra superbos

Incipit: Nota. Super evangelio, Attendite a falsis prophetis etc. Yppocrite, non missi, sed sua presumptione et superbia alios docent

Explicit: Honores monstrant mores. Hec in illa postilla. Y.(?) P(er).

A written leaf has been cut out after p. 72.

The parchment flyleaves (pp. i–ii, 526–7) are two cut-down leaves, possibly consecutive, from a late 13th cent.(?) collection of sermons or notes for sermons. Incipits included are:

a. (p. i)

Incipit: Positus est hic in signum, etc. Luc. Solus Christus positus est in ruinam malorum

Incipit: Beatus Iohannes evangelista qui in spiritu Domini vidit secreta celestia

c. (p. ii)

Incipit: Post triduum invenerunt eum parentes eius in templo. Luc. Consuetudo fuit apud iudeos

d. (p. 526)

Incipit: Nuptie facte sunt in Chana Galee. Debemus scire quod matrimonium tripliciter institutum est

b. (p. 527)

Incipit: Et factum est post triduum. Luc. In hoc evangelio tria docemur. Primo quod dolere debemus de Dei amissione.

Some of the strips of parchment used to strengthen the sewing are taken from the same MS.

The front pastedown is a leaf from a 15th-cent. paper MS. It contains notes on the chapter divisions of Maccabees II, on the position of ‘the 8 non-canonical books’ of the O.T., and on the number of chapters in various books of the O.T.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: paper, watermarks, scales in circle, or in cartouche, close to Briquet 2467 and 2469

Extent: ii+530 pages (p. 141 is double, 453 is treble, pp. i–ii, 526–7 are flyleaves),

Dimensions (leaf): 145 × 108 mm.

Collation

1¹²–3¹², 4¹² (1 canc.), 5¹²–22¹², 1 leaf, catchwords;

Secundo Folio: dicat quod

Layout

105 × 73–5 mm. ): frame ruling in ink, c. 27–30 long lines

Hand(s)

Written, probably in Austria, in 1452–3 (see pp. 45, 82, 525) in a current fere-hybrida

Decoration

Plain red initials.

Binding

Contemporary binding of wooden boards covered with white leather, with one metal clasp (similar to one of those on MS. Lyell 60) on leather strap, fastening to edge of upper cover; sewing strengthened in the middle of the quires with strips of parchment taken from manuscripts; two 15th–16th-cent. parchment labels, with list of contents and shelfmark.

History

Origin: 1452–1453 ; Austrian (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Belonged to the Abbey of Melk in Austria and was probably copied there. On p. 1031s the 15th-cent. note: Tiber iste est monasterii Mellicensis’ and the MS. was no. C. 97 in the 1483 Melk catalogue (Gottlieb, op. cit., p. 187). The parchment label on the front cover with the shelfmark ‘D. 31’ possibly derives from Stephan Burchard’s catalogue made between 1507 and 1517, see Gottlieb, p. 139. On p. 1 are the 17th-cent.(?) notes: ‘Monasterii Mellicensis’, and ‘lit. D. 31’: the second is in the same hand as the similar note in MS. Lyell 60 (fol. 1r). The MS. had the shelfmark B. 23 (probably given it by B. Pez, see Gottlieb, p. 141) by 1721 (see item 4 above). No. 58 (B. 23) in Cat. Codd. MSS’ MeUic. 1, 1889, pp. 109–13.

Bought by Lyell in December 1937 from E. P. Goldschmidt and Co.; see his Cat. 100, no. 1.

James P. R. Lyell, 1871–1948

Chosen as one of the hundred manuscripts bequeathed to the Bodleian by Lyell in 1948.

Record Sources

Summary description abbreviated from A. de la Mare, Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts Bequeathed to the Bodleian Library Oxford by James P. R. Lyell (1971)