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

MS. Selden Supra 36

Summary Catalogue no.: 3424

Physical Description

Composite: fols 1–32 || fols 33–72
Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: 74 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 208 × 139 mm.
Dimensions (leaf): 207 × 132 mm.
Musical Notation:

Notation (see van Dijk 1957)

Binding

Early resewing. Contemporary white leather on boards; title lettered on the spine; clasp lost; worn; 13th century English work

History

Provenance and Acquisition

John Selden, 1584–1654

Acquired by the Bodleian in 1659

MS. Selden Supra 36 – Part 1

Contents

(fols 1r-32v)
Anselm, Cur Deus homo
Rubric: Incipit prefatio in librum cur deus homo.
Incipit: Opus subditum propter quosdam qui antequam perfectum & exquisitum esset
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Condition

Fols 31v-32v are blank, aside from the notes on fol. 31v and 32v mentioned below

Decoration

Initials

Additions: 5 lines of notes in a much later hand on fol. 31v and one line on fol. 32v

History

Origin: 12th century, end ; England

MS. Selden Supra 36 – Part 2

Contents

(fols 33r–72v)
Richard of Waltham , De laude sanctae Crucis
Rubric: Incipit liber R. abbatis de Waled...
Incipit: Pauca loqui de laude Crucis presumptio dulcis
Language(s): Latin

Some 16th cent. English verses are on fol. 72v ('Apes will be apes ...', Folger First Line Index, 'Acquiant thee with honesty ...', Folger First Line Index) .

Language(s): English

A French note on fol. 72v.

Language(s): French

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 406

Fleuronnée borders

History

Origin: 13th century, first half ; England

MS. Selden Supra 36, flyleaves

Contents

(fols 73r-74v)
Antiphoner

A very tiny potion of text, comprising a few letter-forms, is on fol. 74r. See MS. Selden Supra 36*

A note at the beginning of the manuscript records that another fragment of the text was originally kept in this volume but was removed at the request of EWB Nicholson on July 16 1909 and rebound as MS. Selden Supra 36*. The wooden board and the turn-ins of the cover of MS. Selden Supra 36 contain an imprint (in reverse) that may be from the fragment that was removed

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment

History

Origin: 11th century, late (?). Dunning et al. suggest a date of s. xi1 (s. xiex?) for the fragment of this text in Royal MS. 12 F. XIV ('Reconstructing Burnt Anglo-Saxon Fragments', Fragmentology, 1, [2018], p. 35). ; England, Winchester (?)

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (November 2023) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973). Additional details and page measurements by SJB.

Bibliography

    Online resources:

    Printed descriptions:

    S. J. P. van Dijk, Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, vol. 6: Fragments - Office Books, Rituals, Directories (typescript, 1957), p. 51-2

Last Substantive Revision

2023-11-29: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1922)