Parker Library On the Web

Alternative title

Bedae Historia Saxonice

Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 244 + 2

Date created

[ca. 1000-1099]

Language

English, Old (ca. 450-1100), Latin

Material

Vellum

Layout

25 lines to a page (27 in quires K-N)

Height (mm)

340

Width (mm)

205

Collation

1 modern flyleaf, 1(8) 2(6) 3(8)-12(8) 13(10) (4 canc.) 14(8)-30(8) 31(6) (wants 6), 1 flyleaf modern. The first quire with an old mark is F (6); this marking goes to M or perhaps N (13): 14 is marked A; this marking runs to R(30): 31 has no mark.

Writing

in two principal hands of which one is remarkably large. Both are clear and black

Foliation

ff. a-b + i + pp. 1-490 + ff. c-d

Provenance

The volume was one of those given by Leofric to Exeter. On 244v is his inscription in good round minuscules, in Latin and Anglo-Saxon (Cameron B16.10.5): Hunc librum dat leofricus episcopus ecclesie sancti petri apostoli in exonia ubi sedes episcopalis est ad utilitatem successorum suorum. Si quis illum abstulerit inde, subiaceat maledictioni. FIAT. FIAT. FIAT. Ðas boc gef Leofric. b. into sce petres mynstre on exancestre þaer se bisceopstol is for (his) saƿle alisednysse 7 gif hig hƿa ut æt brede god hine fordo on þære e ... It is not entered in the list of Leofric's gifts contained in the Bodleian MS. Auct. D. 2. 16 and printed by Dugdale, Wanley, Warren (Leofric Missal) etc.

Research

This MS. was used by Abraham Whelock for his edition of 1644. Various notes on flyleaves and margins are in his hand. The last editions are that by Dr T. Miller, 1891 etc. (E. E. T. S.) (who gives an account of it in his introduction (§I p. xvii and §II), and a full collation of its text), and that by J. Schipper (Bibliotek der Angelsächsischen Prosa IV 1899). The date assigned by Schipper is the middle of cent. xi, and that assigned by Dr G. F. Warner is 1030-1040.

It seems to me very likely that the volume was written in two main portions (quires 1-13 and 14-31) which were begun simultaneously. This view is suggested by the lettering of the quires, and I think the indications afforded by the initials and hands do not disagree with it. Dr Miller distinguishes four sections and a plurality of scribes. Schipper once held a similar view, but withdrew it in deference to the scribe's own assertion (in the verses on pp. 483, 484) that he wrote the book with his two hands.

Additions

The ornamentation of this book is interesting. It consists chiefly of decorative initials which are irregularly inserted. They are in outline: a faint wash of red has been applied in some cases. In many instances the pencil sketch (afterwards executed in ink) is visible.

The margins have been utilized for the transcription of a good many interesting texts. Some of these (especially the Salomon and Saturn) are well known. I do not think that a complete list has been given, and I attempt one here. Wanley (Cat. p. 114) takes account of the Anglo-Saxon passages only.

Summary

MS 41 contains the Old English translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History. This text is one of those made as part of Alfred the Great's campaign to translate into English "those books most necessary for men to know". MS 41 was written in the first half of the eleventh century probably somewhere in the south of England. It has a colophon asking for readers' blessings on the unnamed scribe. The manuscript is large in format, written in grand round script, and was obviously intended to be a high-grade book. Already in the eleventh century advantage was taken of its wide margins to add a variety of marginalia, ranging from the Old English poem Solomon and Saturn to liturgical texts and Old English charms. Probably at least some of these additions were made at Exeter: MS 41 was one of the manuscripts given to Exeter Cathedral by Bishop Leofric (1050-72), and still contains the bilingual donation inscription cursing anyone who removed it thence. The decoration of the book consists of numerous ornated initials in brown outline and a drawing of Christ crucified.

Contents

Old English Bede with marginal additions

M.R. James Date

xi

Downloadable James Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:fy665bm8363/MS_41.pdf

Superseded Interim Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:jg025pv1722/41.pdf

Contains

• Old English Bede with marginal additions. 1-488

  James

  The History of Bede in the Anglo-Saxon version. 1-488

  Author

  Bede

  Note

  Cameron B9.6
  (1) Begins with Capitula

  Rubric

  (1) ÐIS / IS / SEO / GESETTNES ÐlSSE / BRYTENE OÐ HIBERNIA / etc.

  Note

  in capitals which gradually diminish in size
  (1) There is a large initial: no more occur till p. 62
  (2) Marginalia:bletsung to candelun. Domine Iesu Christe creator celi, etc. Text in Latin, ending p. 7, with Collect: Deus omnipotens tua nos protectione custodi, etc. his peractis cantetur Ant. Haue gratia plena. Sancti Simeonis collecta. Erudi quesumus domine
  Old English liturgical rubrics intermittent in Latin text: Cameron B12.5.2
  (8) Marginalia: Masses for Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, continued on following pages (p. 13 Feria iii infra quinquag., p. 14 Sabbatum)
  (16) Marginalia: Dom. in(i)tium xl (1st Sun. in Lent). Masses, continued up to Good Friday (p. 36 and 38-39)
  (18) Preface of Bede. Initial and first words not inserted
  (22) Text begins. Initial and first words not inserted
  (45) Marginalia: Mass for St Benedict
  (46) Marginalia: Office for Easter Eve
  (60) Marginalia: SS. Philip and James. Invention of the Cross
  (61) Marginalia:61 sqq. Antiphons, etc. for Advent
  (66) Liber II. Initial not inserted
  (75) Marginalia: For the Christmas season
  There is no more marginal writing until p. 122
  (122) Marginalia:On þone forman deeig on geare þæt is on þone ærestan geohel dæig. (Of Christmas Day and the marvels accompanying the Nativity)
  (124) Liber III. Initial not inserted
  (124) A bit of ornament in the margin. Nothing more till p. 161 where is an initial in fine outline with a human figure hanging by the neck. The next is at p. 175
  (124) Marginalia:On þone ilcan dæig cristes acennednesse godes circean arƿorðiað sanctam anastasiam
  (125) Marginalia:(O)n ðone forman dæig bið sancta eufemian tid
  (128) Marginalia: Similar notice of St Stephen
  (130) Marginalia: (l. 4). St John Evangelist
  (131) Marginalia: The Innocents
  (132) Marginalia:St Silvester. A blank follows
  For the above matter (from p. 122) see Old English Martyrology (E. E. T. S.) ed. Herzfeld
  (134) Marginalia: pp. 134-139. Latin text. Offices for Advent
  (158) Marginalia: Mis(sa) quam sacerdos pro se debet
  (182) Marginalia: Latin prayer: Pietatem tuam quesumus domine nostrorum absolue uincula delictorum
  (182) Marginalia: Anglo-Saxon follows: ƿið ymbe nim eorþan ofer ƿeorp mid þinre sƿiþran handa under þinum sƿiþran fet 7 cƿet fo ic under fot funde ic hit hƿæt eorðe mæg, etc. (Cockayne, Saxon Leechdoms, Rolls Series I 384)
  Cameron A43.8
  (192) Marginalia: pp. 192-194. Offices for the Eve and Feast of All Saints
  (196) Marginalia: pp. 196-198. Fragment of Salomon and Saturn, used by Kemble and other editors. It supplements the only other known MS. (MS 422 in this collection)
  Cameron A13

  Incipit

  (196) Saturnus cƿæð hƿæt ic iglanda

  Explicit

  (198) ofer mægene 7 hine eac ofslehð. T. (l. 189 Kemble)

  Note

  (206) initial in pencil
  On p. 207 sqq., initials in plain black
  (206) Marginalia: pp. 206, 207, 208. Charms partly printed by Cockayne, Leechdoms I 394, 398
  Cameron A43.9, A43.10, B23.1.1
  (206) Marginalia:Ne forstolen ne forholen etc. Gif feoh sy undernumen etc. ... Petur pol patric pilip marie brigit felic in nomine dei 7 chiric Cyriacus is coupled with Patrick in the hymn Rogo patrem in Harl. 7653 and the Leabhar Brecc qui queri(t) inuenit
  What follows has not been printed
  (207) Marginalia:Christus illum siue (= sibi) elegit in terris ficarium qui de gemino captiuos liberet seruitio plerosque / de seruitute quos redemet hominum innumeros de sabuli obsoluit dominio ymnos / cum apocalipsi salmosque cantat dei cousque et edificandum dei tractat pupulum quem legem / in trinitate sacre credent nominis tribusque personis unam · Sona domine (zona domini) precintus diebus ac noc / tibus (sine) intermissione deum oret dominum cuius ingentes laboris pcepturis pcepturis (sic) premium / cum apostoli(s) regnauit scs super israel. Audite omnes amantes deum sancta merita uiri in Christo / beati patricii episcopi · quomodo bonum ab actum simulatur angelis perfectum - que est propter uitam / equatur apostolis patricii laudes semper dicamus ut nos cum illo defendat deus. / Crux Christi reducat Crux Christi perriit et inuenta est habraeham tibi uias montes / p. 208 / silua(s) semitas fluminas andronas cludat Isaac tibi tenebras inducat Crux iacob te / ad iudicium ligatum perducat iudei christum crucifixerunt persimum (!) sibimet ipsum perpetrauerunt / opus celauerunt quod non potuerunt celare sic nec hoc furtum celatur nec celare (-ri) possit / per dominum nostrum. Space follows. Cf. Cockayne loc. cit. 60, 286
  (208) Marginalia: Receipt: ƿið eah ƿærce, etc. Cockayne I 382
  Cameron B21.5.1
  The lines from Christus illum to defendat deus are the last stanzas, very corruptly written, of the Hymn of SS. Sechnall or Secundinus on St Patrick, of which only four complete copies are known. This fragment has not been noticed. Special efficacy was attached to the stanzas here quoted. See Bernard and Atkinson (The Irish Liber Hymnorum)
  (224) Liber IV. Initial
  (224) (Liber IV) initial in outline, the first of a numerous and very pretty series
  (224) Marginalia: pp. 224-225. Office for the Invention of the Cross
  (254) Marginalia: pp. 254-280. Homily. Men þa leofestan ic eoƿ bidde 7 eaðmodlice lære, Archiv, XCI 379 (latter part). Copied for Professor Napier: also in Vercelli MS.
  Cameron B3.4.9
  (272) Marginalia: Interrupted at p. 272 by a prayer in Latin: ƿið ealra feoda grimnessum. Dextera domini fecit uirtutem, dextera domini exaltauit me (Cockayne I 386)
  Cameron B23.1.2
  (280) Marginalia: pp. 280-287. Homily. Her sagað ymbe þa halgan marian usser dryh(t)nes modor (on the Assumption). Copied for Professor Napier: apparently only in this MS.
  Cameron B3.3.21
  (287) Marginalia: pp. 287-295. Homily (on Last Judgment, Heaven, Hell, etc.). Repleatur os meum laude ut possim cantare. Men þa leofestan tƿa ceastra ƿæron from fruman ƿorode. Copied for Professor Napier: apparently only here
  (295) Marginalia: pp. 295-301. Homily (on Ascension Day, Last Judgment, etc.). Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus et letemur in ea. Men þa leofestan Her sagað an þissum bocum ym ða miclan geƿird. Copied for Professor Napier: also in MS 303, p. 72
  Cameron B3.2.29 and B8.5.3
  (322) Caedmon's hymn, West Saxon version, Cameron A32.2
  (326) Marginalia: Charm. ƿið sarum eagum. Domine sancte pater omnipotens aeterne deus sana occulos hominis istius N etc. (Cockayne I 387)
  Cameron B23.1.3
  (326) Marginalia:ƿið sarum earum (Cockayne I 387)
  (326) Marginalia:Rex glorie Christe [raphaelem angelum] exclude fandoro[a]hel auribus famulo dei illi mox recede ab aurium torquenti sed in raphaelo angelo sanitatem auditui componas. Per. ƿið magan segcnesse. (Cockayne I 387)
  (326) Marginalia:Adiuua nos deus salutaris noster exclude angelum sanielem angelum malum qui stomachum dolorem stomachi facit sed in dormielo sancto angelo tuo sanitatem serui tui in tuo sancto nomine sanatione(m) ad ad tribuere. per
  (327) a black initial, and then some omitted
  (329) Marginalia:Creator et sanctificator pater et filius et spiritus sanctus ut sit benedictio tua super omnia dona ista. per. + · sator · arepo · tenet · opera · rotas. Deus qui ab initio fecisti hominem et dedisti ei in adiutorium similem sibi ut crescere [vel nt] et multiplicare [vel nt] da super terram huic famulam tuam N ut prospere et sine dolore parturit
  (350) Marginalia: pp. 350-353. Charm. (Wanley, p. 115: Cockayne I 388) Ic me on þisse gyrde beluce
  Cameron A43.11
  (352) initial
  (365) initial
  (368) Liber V. No initial
  (370) Marginalia: pp. 370-373. Masses for Common of Saints and Pro rege. Rubrics in red capitals
  (394) initial (very rough)
  (400) initial
  (402) Marginalia: pp. 402-417. Homily on St Michael. Men ða leofestan us is to ƿorðianne 7 to mærsianne seo gemind þaes halgan heah engles sancte Michaeles (hand changes on p. 408). Copied for Professor Napier: apparently only here
  Cameron B3.3.24
  (410) a very pretty initial, with a small figure of Christ, beardless, on the Cross, the Divine Hand above (within the Cross)
  (433) a sketch of a man with two rings confining his legs
  On f. 436 and 448 are scribbles in runes Cameron B25.4.1
  (436)
  (448)
  (474) a bit of ornament in pencil
  (475) Marginalia: pp. 475-477. Responses from Job, and de Tobi, de Iudith, Dom. I mensis October usque in Dom. i mensis November, de minoribus prophetis (written pphens) a[d] dom. I mens. nou. usque medium aduentu domini.
  (478) Marginalia: Responses etc. for S. Martin
  (482) Marginalia: Responses etc. for John Baptist and Peter and Paul
  (483) Marginalia:For þone cyng 7 for þone bysceop 7 for eall cris(tene...edge of leaf gone)
  Marginalia: A Mass (a paganorum nos defende periculis)
  (484) Old English Bede ends

  Explicit

  (484) oð his daga ende drihten herigan. Amen

  Note

  (484) [Added: geƿeorþe þaet] This is the end of the scribe's prayer which is given in full by Wanley, by Miller and by Schipper
  (484) surrounded and partly written over by later text, is part of a fine figure of Christ crucified: it lacks the left arm. The head is bearded, the Cross not drawn
  (484) Marginalia: pp. 484-488. Following the end of the text. Homily giving the story of the Passion. Men ðe gehirað nu hu (space) drihten ƿæs sprecende on þas tid to his geferum. Copied for Professor Napier: apparently only here
  Cameron B3.2.19
  (485) On the next page is a small nude figure (also written over) standing on rocky ground and holding up his hands, spread out on a level with his shoulders
  (488) Marginalia: Unimportant scribbles. Above the Leofric-inscription is: Atte le

TJames

278

Stanley

S. 2

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 041

Use and reproduction:

Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License