Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 066A: Jacques de Vitry, Historia orientalis. Willelmus de Rubruk OFM, Itinerarium ad partes orientales. pseudo-John of Damascus, Barlaam et Iosaphat

Description

Type of resource
mixed material
Date created
[ca. 1100-1199]
[ca. 1300-1399]
Language
Latin, English, French, Middle (ca. 1400-1600)
Material
Vellum
Layout
in double columns of 39 lines
Height (mm)
300
Width (mm)
208
Collation
8(4) 9(12)-15(12) (+1*) 16(12)-28(12) (wants 10-12).
Writing
by the original hand
Foliation
f. a + pp. 115-122 + ff. 1-221 + 221a + 221b + 222-238 + f. b
Provenance
p. 115 blank, on p. 116 list of contents (xvi) and also a piece of parchment pasted on inscribed (xiv-xv): J. 90. Liber de communitate monachorum Sancti Edmundi in quo subscripta continentur. List of contents (9-24). The MS. Ff. I. 27 in the University Library, given by Archbishop Parker, contains (Art. 19-29) the latter part of this volume. James provides a full listing of the contents for two manuscripts, one from Sawley and one from Bury St. Edmunds, each of which had been split in half and rebound - the first half of the Sawley with the first half of the Bury, second half of Sawley with second half of Bury - into MS 66 and Cambridge University Library Ff. 1. 27 respectively. James' MS 66 has since been separated again (rebound in 1954 by John Gray) so that James' Volume I (the Sawley portion) is now MS 66 and James' Volume II (the Bury portion) is now MS 66A. James lists the following contents for the complete Bury MS., which is currently divided between MS 66A and CUL Ff. 1. 27: CCC 66 (now CCCC MS 66A): Jacobus de VitriacoWillelmus RubrucJourney of MacariusImago mundi Liber IPrester JohnJohannes de Sacro bosco de spheraBarlaam and JosaphatImago mundi Liber IIStory of the CrossFrench poem thereonInfancy of Christ. French verseTracts on the Holy LandStories of Pilate and JudasMiraclespseudo-MethodiusULC Ff. I 27:Giraldus Cambrensis Descriptio HiberniaeGiraldus Cambrensis Vaticinalis historiaLife of PatrickGiraldus Cambrensis Descriptio Cambriae (xvi)PropheciesGiraldus Cambrensis Itinerarium CambriaePatrick's PurgatoryExtract from Chronicle of SigebertProphecy of MerlinLife of St DavidGaufredus de Fontibus (xv) de infantia Sancti Edmundi For the complete list of contents given by James for both manuscripts, please see the following figure:

Abstract/Contents

Summary
MS 66, as described by M. R. James, included half of a manuscript belonging to the Cistercian abbey of Sawley (Yorks.) and half of a manuscript belonging to the Benedictine abbey of Bury St Edmunds. The other two halves of the Bury and Sawley manuscripts are bound together as Cambridge, UL MS Ff. 1. 27. However, MS 66 has since been separated into MS 66 (Sawley MS) and MS 66A (Bury MS). MS 66A contains copies of Jacques de Vitry's Historia orientalis; Willelmus de Rubruk's Itinerarium ad partes orientales; Itinerarium usque ad paradisum terrestrem; Imago mundi; the letter of Prester John; Johannes de Sacro Bosco, Tractatus de sphaera; Barlaam et Iosaphat by pseudo-John of Damascus; the Legend of the Cross Before Christ; Seth or The Holy Rood in Verse; the Childhood of Jesus; excerpts from Bede's Historia ecclesiastica and the Legenda Aurea; Visio Rodulfi; De Stephano monacho cartusiensi and pseudo-Methodius's Revelations. There are illuminated historiated initials at the beginning of most of these texts.
Contents
Historia orientalis -- Itinerarium ad partes orientales -- Epistola Manueli Comneno imperatori Graecorum -- Tractatus de sphaera -- Barlaam et Iosaphat -- Legend of the Cross Before Christ -- Seth or The Holy Rood in Verse -- Childhood of Jesus -- Historia orientalis (excerpt) -- Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (excerpt from book 5) -- Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (excerpt from book 5) -- The Birth and Life of Pilate (extract from Legenda Aurea) -- The Birth and Life of Judas (extract from Legenda Aurea) -- Visio Rodulfi -- De Stephano monacho cartusiensi -- Revelations

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date
xii (xiii?) and xiv
Downloadable James Catalogue Record
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:rx731ys0316/MS_66A.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:cz900pv5802/66A.pdf
Contains
  • Jacques de Vitry, Historia orientalis. 117-67r
    Nasmith
    Historia Ierosolimitana abbreviata. 117-67r
    James
    (Iacobi de Vitriaco), Historia Jerosolimitana abbreviata Liber I. 117-67r
    Author
    Jacques de Vitry
    Note
    (117) in red with blue initials. Capitula of item no. 9 (now item no. 1) in red followed by three blank pages. New foliation then begins
    (1r) Capitulum I
    Incipit
    (1r) Terra sancta promissionis deo amabilis
    Note
    (1r) Initial with gold ground. Monk with pastoral staff offers book to Bishop with cross
    Explicit
    (67r) de die in diem expectantes
    Rubric
    (67r) Explicit
    Note
    Bongars Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 1047
  • Willelmus de Rubruk OFM, Itinerarium ad partes orientales. 67r-110r
    Nasmith
    Itinerarium terrae Tartarorum per W. de Rubruc. 67r-110r
    Author
    Willelmus de Rubruk OFM
    Incipit
    (67r) Excellentissimo domino et christianissimo Lodovico dei gracia Regi francorum illustri Frater W. de Rubruc
    Note
    (67r) Initial: above two friars offer a book to king on R. (half-length below), two friars with staves walk to R.
    Explicit
    (110r) plures interpretes et copiosas expensas etc.
    Note
    Also in MS 181. 9, MS 407. 2. Ed. by D'Avezac 1839 etc.
  • Iohannes presbyter ('Prester John'), Epistola Manueli Comneno imperatori Graecorum. 127r-130r
    Nasmith
    Epistola presbiteri Ioannis de descriptione Indiae. 127r-130r
    Author
    Iohannes presbyter ('Prester John')
    Incipit
    (127r) Presbiter iohannes potencia et uirtute
    Note
    (127r) Initial. Seated king with sceptre
    Explicit
    (130r) genere ciborum essemus impleti
    Note
    Collated by H. Bradshaw for Dr Zarncke
  • Iohannes de Sacro Bosco, Tractatus de sphaera. 130v-138v
    Nasmith
    Roberti [Grosteste] Lincolniensis tractatus de sphera. 130v-138v
    Author
    Iohannes de Sacro Bosco
    Rubric
    (130v) Incipit tractatus de spera
    Note
    (By Johannes de Sacro Bosco)
    Incipit
    (130v) Tractatum de spera in quatuor capitula
    Note
    (130v) Initial. Man in blue holding armillary sphere
    Explicit
    (138v) machina dissoluetur
    Rubric
    (138v) Hic explicit tractatus spere scriptus anno domini mo. cco. lxxx. tercio
  • pseudo-John of Damascus, Barlaam et Iosaphat. 139r-208r
    Nasmith
    Liber gestorum Barlaam et Josaphat servorum Dei editus Graeco sermone a Ioanne Damasceno viro sancto et erudito. 139r-208r
    Author
    pseudo-John of Damascus
    Incipit
    (139r) Cum igitur cepissent monasteria construi
    Note
    (139r) Initial. Man in blue offers apple to youth seated on R. with sceptre
    Explicit
    (208r) perducere dignare per Jhesum Christum filium tuum Amen
    Rubric
    (208r) Explicit liber de gestis barlaam et iosaphat Regis seruorum dei
  • Legend of the Cross Before Christ. 221v-224r
    Nasmith
    De arbore vitae in paradiso, historia fabulosa. 221v-224r
    James
    Story of the Cross. 221v-224r
    Note
    (W. Meyer, Abh. bayer. Akad. XVI, ii, 131)
    Incipit
    (221v) Post peccatum ade expulso eo de paradyso
    Note
    (221v) Initial gold ground. Christ beardless stands on L., on R. sits Adam with hand to head (sleeping): Eve emerges from his side
    Ends
    Explicit
    (224r) In ea quidem crucifixerunt domini nostri Ihesum Christum in salutem omnium sane credencium qui factus est obediens patri usque ad mortem, cui est laus et honor et imperium per omnia secula seculorum. Amen
  • Seth or The Holy Rood in Verse. 224v-227r
    Nasmith
    Versus Gallici de eadem re. 224v-227r
    Note
    (224v) French poem on the same, one of many versions
    Incipit
    (224v) Apres ke Adam fu getezDe paradys pur ses pechez
    Explicit
    (227r) E deus pur sa passiunDe nos pechez nus doint remissiunE al drein si repentirKe la ioie puisum servirPar la sue seinte ayeNi eit nul ke amen ne die
  • Childhood of Jesus. 227r-228r
    Nasmith
    Versus Gallici de eadem re. 227r-228r
    James
    Infancy of Christ; an extract. 227r-228r
    Note
    (227r) full text in MS. Selden supra 38: see Romania XV 334 (P. Meyer)
    Incipit
    (227r) En cel tens ke herodes saueitKe ihesu crist neez estoitGrant enuie de co aueitKe nul sur ly ne regnereit
    Note
    Narrates Flight into Egypt, meeting with beasts, tree bowing, child fallen from house-top raised up (124 lines)
    Explicit
    (228r) E deus nus doint issi loerE son nun magnifierKe nus puissum auer pardunE de nos pecchez remissiunAmen. Pater noster Aue dium
  • Jacques de Vitry, Historia orientalis (excerpt). 228r-230r
    Nasmith
    Descriptio terrae sanctae. 228r-230r
    Author
    Jacques de Vitry
    Incipit
    (228r) Honorius papa uolens scire terram agarenorum contra quos exercitus christianorum preparabatur
    Note
    (228r) Decorative initial
    Explicit
    (230r) ibi locus est ubi abraham immolare filium uoluit
  • Bede the Venerable, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (excerpt from book 5). 230r-230v
    Nasmith
    De situ terrae Ierosolimitanae secundum Bedam. 230r-230v
    Author
    Bede the Venerable
    Incipit
    (230r) Bethleem ciuitas dauid in dorso sita est
    Explicit
    (230v) albo et rubicundo permixtus uidetur
    Note
    (Bede, Historia ecclesiastica V 16)
  • Bede the Venerable, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (excerpt from book 5). 230v-231r
    Nasmith
    De loco Dominicae ascensionis. 230v-231r
    Author
    Bede the Venerable
    Incipit
    (230v) Mons oliuarum altitudine monti syon par est
    (230v) In die ascensionis dominice per annos singulos
    Explicit
    (230v) terre prosternere
    Incipit
    (230v) Hebron quondam ciuitas et metropolis
    (231r) Hec de opusculis excerpta arculphi
    Explicit
    (231r) hystoriis indere placuit
    Note
    (Bede, Historia ecclesiastica V 17)
  • The Birth and Life of Pilate (extract from Legenda Aurea). 231r-232v
    Nasmith
    De ortu Pilati et ejus vita. 231r-232v
    Incipit
    (231r) Cum rex tyrus nacione maguntinus
    Explicit
    (232v) sunt plurime machinaciones dyabolice
    Note
    Legenda Aurea, cap. 53 ed. Graesse p. 231
  • The Birth and Life of Judas (extract from Legenda Aurea). 232v-232v
    Nasmith
    De ortu Judae et ejus vita. 232v-232v
    Incipit
    (232v) Fuit in diebus herodis regis poncio pilato preside uir in iudea nomine ruben
    Explicit
    (232v) Ideo penitencia ductus ad suasionem cimbree. Jhesu Christi fit discipulus
    Note
    (232v) Initial. Judas hanging
    Legenda Aurea, cap. 45, ed. Graesse p. 184
  • Visio Rodulfi. 233r-234v
    Nasmith
    Visio revelata anno 1209 Rodulpho sacristae monasterii Cesarea sive Keisam nuncupati in territorio Augustensis ecclesiae. 233r-234v
    Rubric
    (233r) Hec uisio reuelata est anno uerbi incarnati mo. cco. ixo. sec
    Incipit
    (233r) In regno Allemann' in Sweuie prouincia in territorio augustensis ecclesie situm est monasterium quoddam ordonis cisterciensis cesarea nuncupatum ... Keisam uero uulgari sermone
    Note
    (The Host seen in human form)
    Explicit
    (234v) rex seculorum uisibiliter humilitate pertractandum. qui est super omnia benedictis in secula. Amen
    Note
    Extracts in Neues Archiv, XXII 668 (Hampe)
    (234r) A sentence in English occurs
  • De Stephano monacho cartusiensi. 234v-235v
    Nasmith
    De Stephano monacho cartusiensi, qualiter eum beata virgo primo eripuit de naufragio corporis, et postea de temptationibus cordis; qualiter eum formam orandi docuit, quia ei devotus in seculo extiterat. 234v-235v
    Rubric
    (234v) De Stephano monacho etc.
    Note
    as Nasmith
    Incipit
    (234v) Quidam clericus nomine Stephanus secundum seculi dignitatem preclarus
    Explicit
    (235v) sperantes in te letificas. Qui cum unigenito tuo regnas et gloriaris in secula seculorum. Amen
  • pseudo-Methodius, Revelations. 235v-238v
    Nasmith
    Liber Methodii episcopi Paterensis et martyris Christi quem ex Hebraeo et Graeco in Latinum transferre curavit, id est de principio seculi et inter regna gentium et fine seculorum, quem illustris vir beatus Jeronimus in suis opusculis collaudavit. 235v-238v
    Author
    pseudo-Methodius
    Rubric
    (235v) In Christi nomine incipit liber etc.
    Note
    as Nasmith
    Incipit
    (235v) Sciendum namque est nobis fratres karissimi quomodo in principio
    Note
    (236r) The hand seems to change
    Ends
    Explicit
    (238r) eripere dignetur qui cum patre et spiritu sancto uiuit et regnat deus per infinita secula seculorum. Amen
    Note
    Printed in Orthodoxographa; last by E. Sackur, Sibyllinische Texte, 1898
    (238v) blank covered with paper (This paper has been removed since James's time.)
TJames
367
Stanley
Under D. 12
Repository
UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Location
MS 066A

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