Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 138: Chronicles, Various
Description
Abstract/Contents
- Summary
- CCCC MS 138 is a portmanteau manuscript, dating to the last quarter of the fourteenth century. It contains a wide variety of broadly historical material including extracts from Bede, the chronicles of Matthew Paris OSB (c. 1200-59) and William of Jumièges OSB (d. 1087?), papal letters, a genealogy of the kings of France and a list of the archbishops of York. Perhaps originally from Norwich Cathedral Priory, MS 138 may have been one of several manuscripts now in the Parker collection that was once in the possession of William Carye of Cheapside (d. 1573) and it certainly passed through the hands of Robert Recorde (d. 1588), the mathematician and fellow of All Souls, Oxford, who copied extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle into the margins of the early part of this manuscript.
- Contents
- Epitome of the history of Britain from the birth of Christ to the year 1255 -- Chronica (excerpts 1066-1201) -- Letters between masters of the University of Paris and Popes John XXII and Benedict XII concerning the status of the soul after death, A. D. 1333 -- Charter of Richard I concerning the renunciation of the homage of the King of Scotland -- Chronological and historical notes on the period 1329 to 1347 -- Genealogical diagram indicating Edward III's claim to the French throne -- Gesta Normannorum ducum (excerpts) -- Liber Vasilographus (excerpts); Prophecies -- Prophecies -- Vita Sanctae Elizabethae de Spalbec -- History of the bishops of Lindisfarne and Durham from Aidan to Richard de Bury -- Chronica pontificum ecclesiae Eboracensis -- Bull of Pope Clement V, 'Regnans in caelis', 12 August 1308 -- History of England from the coming of the Saxons to the reign of Henry II -- Letters between Pope Innocent VI and Edward, prince of Wales concerning peace, A.D. 1355
Bibliographic information
- M.R. James Date
- xiv
- Downloadable James Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:xs202fy7372/MS_138.pdf
- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:wx228by9368/138.pdf
- Contains
-
- Epitome of the history of Britain from the birth of Christ to the year 1255. 1r-63v
- Nasmith
- Alexandri Essebiensis epitome historiae Britanniae a Christo nato ad annum 1255. 1r-63v
- Note
-
Ad initium hujus historiae desunt fol. 10
Ten leaves are missing. Parker's paging begins with 21
Text begins - Rubric
- (1r) Anno gracie 75
- Incipit
- (1r) Rex pictorum rodricus de sithia ueniens in aquilonalem britannie partem
- Note
- Ends in 1257
- Explicit
- (63v) Ricardus frater regis henrici ... solenniter aquis grani coronatur
- Note
- Apparently an abridgment of Matt. Paris ... There does not seem to be anything in the piece that gives authority for assigning it to Alexander of Esseby.Hardy III 145
- Roger of Howden, Chronica (excerpts 1066-1201). 64r-70r
- Nasmith
- Excerptiones de chronicis Rogeri Hoveden ab anno 1066 ab annum 1201. 64r-70r
- Author
- Roger of Howden
- Note
- Begins
- Rubric
- (64r) 1077. haraldus
- Incipit
- (64r) Rex norwegie haraldus cum plus quam 500 nauibus
- Note
- Ends with a letter of Christ recited by Abbot Eustace (of Fleix) in 1201
- Explicit
- (70r) ut fere deuorabunt. Et cetera nonnulla de eodem scripto retulit palam Abbas ille
- Rubric
- (70r) Explicit excerpciones de cronicis Rogeri de houedene
- Note
- Mentioned by Stubbs, Hoveden I lxxxiv, Hardy III 15
- Letters between masters of the University of Paris and Popes John XXII and Benedict XII concerning the status of the soul after death, A. D. 1333. 70r-71v
- Nasmith
- Epistolae inter Parisienses doctores ad mandatum Philippi regis Francorum, et Ioannem XXII, et Benedictum XII. papas de statu animarum post mortem A. D. 1333. 70r-71v
- Note
-
Added later by the original scribe
a.
(70r) Johanni ... Petrus patriarcha Ierosol. etc.
b.
(70v) Johannes. Ne super hiis que de animabus
c.
(71r) Benedictus. Benedictus deus in donis suis
- Charter of Richard I concerning the renunciation of the homage of the King of Scotland. 71v-71v
- Nasmith
- Carta Ricardi I. de renuntiatione homagii regis Scotiae. 71v-71v
- Note
-
Added later by the original scribe
Mutilated by loss of leaf
- Chronological and historical notes on the period 1329 to 1347. 72r-72r
- Nasmith
- Breves notae chronologicae et historicae ab anno 1329 ad annum 1347. 72r-72r
- Note
- In another hand, begins imperfectly
- Incipit
- (72r) aduentus domini. edwardus secundus apud glouerniam sepelitur
- Note
- Ends 1347
- Explicit
- (72r) Thomas dagword circa nativitatem Johanni baptiste carolum de bloys in bello cepit
- Genealogical diagram indicating Edward III's claim to the French throne. 72v-72v
- Nasmith
- Stemma genealogicum Sancti Ludovici regis Franciae ad ostendendum jus Edwardi III. in regnum Franciae. 72v-72v
- Note
-
In the original hand
73r-74v blank
- William of Jumièges OSB, Gesta Normannorum ducum (excerpts). 75r-80r
- Nasmith
- Excerptiones de historia Wilhelmi Gemiticensis de gestis ducum Normannorum. 75r-80r
- Author
- William of Jumièges OSB
- Incipit
- (75r) lapheth enim noe filius genuit filium quem magog nominauit
- Note
- Ends
- Explicit
- (80r) hos per normannica compita dispergeret uiolancia dire captiuitatis
- Note
- Follows in a little later hand
- Incipit
- (80r) Fuit enim apud damascum metropolim sirie quedam matrona (S. Mary of Sardenay)
- Note
-
Unfinished, 80v blank
Mentioned by Hardy II 18
- Liber Vasilographus (excerpts); Prophecies. 81r-84v
- Nasmith
- Liber extractus de libro qui dicitur Vanlographo i. e. imperialis scriptura, quam Sibilla Erithea Babilonica condidit ad petitionem Graecorum, ipsa Priami regis Trojae filia; quem Vedoxa peritissimus pater in Graecum transtulit de Caldeo; tandem de errario Emanuelis imperatoris Graecorum editum Eugenius regni Siciliae admiratus de Graeco transtulit. 81r-84v
- Note
- a.
- Incipit
- (81r) Exquiritis me o illustrissima turba danaum
- Note
-
(Alexandre, Oracula Sibyllina II 291)
With some interlinear glosses - Explicit
- (82v) hos autem in sorte demonum uoret auernus
- Rubric
- (82v) Explicit liber sibille erithee babilonice
- Note
-
Another copy with the same title in University Library Mm.1.16
Vanlographus is Vasilographus. Vedoxa peritissimus pater is corrupt for Doxapater: on Nilus Doxapatrius see Rendel Harris, The Ferrar Group
b.
Another prophecy - Incipit
- (82v) Deinde leopardus ex illis procreabitur qui regnum bestie inuadendo
- Explicit
- (83r) ante sepulcrum domini gladium uibrabit
- Note
-
c.
In a larger hand - Incipit
-
(83r) Prophetia cuiusdam spiritus phitonici in Cambria
(83r) Catulus leenicus in lupum rapidum conuertetur - Explicit
- (83r) promerebitur fauorem altissimi et ad superos conuolabit
- Note
- (Note in lower margin. A.d. 1365 redibit tota grecia ad obedienciam romanorum et tunc audietur noua de predicacione antichristi. hoc reperitur secundum loachim in maiori (?) libro de concordanciis)
- Rubric
- (83r) Versus normanniae uaticinales
- Note
- (13)
- Incipit
- (83r) Anglia transmittet leopardum. lilia galli
- Explicit
- (83r) Imperium mundi sibi quo dabit huic heremita
- Note
-
Versus Alani uiri sancti et religiosi de eodem 6o
Illius imperium gens barbara senciet. illumRoma uolet tanto principe digna regiConferet hic rome plus laudis quam sibi romaPlus dabit hic orbi quam dabit orbis ei
Versus Gilde de sexto hibernie
Ter tria lustra tenet cum semi tempore sextiEns uagus in primo perdet. sed fine resumetMulta rapit medio. uolitans sub fine secundiOrbem submittet. reli(quo)s clerumque reducetAd statum primum. tunc renouat loca sanctaHuic terrena spuens sanctus sub ethere scandet.
(83r) Prediction of planetary conjunctions and their consequences for October 1365, June 1357
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM (attrib.), Prophecies. 84r-84r
- Nasmith
- Nonnulla alia ejusdem farinae ex Ioanne de Rupescissa. 84r-84r
- Author
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM (attrib.)
- Rubric
- (84r) Verba fratri Johannis de Rupe(s)cissa ord. min. de futuris euentibus etc. abreuiata de libro qui intitulatur ostensor futurorum
- Note
- Referring to the years 1350 and following
- Philip of Clairvaux OCist, Vita Sanctae Elizabethae de Spalbec. 85r-88v
- Nasmith
- Narratio quaedam de virgine in territorio Leodiensi, quae miracula multa fecit, scripta per Philippum de Claraeval. 85r-88v
- Author
- Philip of Clairvaux OCist
- Rubric
- (85r) De Sancta Elisabetha virgine
- Note
- (85r) A xvith century note: angelus malus transfigurat se in angelum lucis
- Incipit
- (85r) Quoniam ut legitur in ecclesiastico 43. gloria domini plenum est opus eius
- Note
- (By Philip of Clairvaux. BHL. 2484)
- Explicit
- (85r) non possumus non loqui
- Incipit
- (85r) Porro in territorio leodicensi
- Note
- (Abbey of Herkenrode)
- Explicit
- (88v) occupacionum necessitas necessario claudit stilum
- Note
- (88v) Another copy of no. 6: but rougher
- History of the bishops of Lindisfarne and Durham from Aidan to Richard de Bury. 89r-97cr
- Nasmith
- Brevis historia episcoporum Lindisfarnensium et Dunelmensium ab Aidano ad Ricardum de Bury. 89r-97cr
- Incipit
- (89r) Anno dominice incarnatione 635 aduentus anglorum in britanniam
- Note
-
From Aidan to the election of Robert de Graystanes, 1333
Ends - Explicit
- (97v) unde omnes Ricardo de Bury obedienciam iurauerunt
- Note
- Four small leaves of paper are here inserted (ff. 97ar-97dv), of cent. xvi, containing an account of Richard de Bury
- Incipit
- (97ar) Richardus de Bury fuit sufficienter literatus in regendo familiam distinctus
- Explicit
- (97ar) ad australem angulum dunelm ecclesie tumulatus
- Incipit
- (97ar) Hec in tabula. Que iam sequuntur narrauit Willelmus de Chambr. Richardus de Bury natus fuit in quadam villula
- Explicit
- (97cr) monachos dunelmensis ecclesie semper habuit in maximo honore
- Note
- ff. 97cv-97dv blank
- Thomas Stubbs OP (attrib.), Chronica pontificum ecclesiae Eboracensis. 98r-99v
- Nasmith
- Successio episcoporum Eboracensium. 98r-99v
- Author
- Thomas Stubbs OP (attrib.)
- Incipit
- (98r) Tempore quo gens northanhimbrorum cum suo rege edwino
- Note
- Goes down to Thurstinus 1140
- Explicit
- (99v) in fine uite sue decreuit
- Note
- A fuller text in Raine, Historians of the Church of York (Rolls) II 513
- Bull of Pope Clement V, 'Regnans in caelis', 12 August 1308. 99v-100ar
- Nasmith
- Processus contra templarios. 99v-100ar
- Author
- Pope Clement V
- Incipit
- (99v) Clemens episcopus etc. Regnans in celis
- Note
- It is a copy of the Bull, ending (lower margin cut)
- Explicit
- (100v) gemendi materia fletum non (?)
- Note
-
Here is inserted a small leaf of vellum with entries in three hands of cent. xiii
(a) - Incipit
- (100ar) Concessimus Domino Priori et Conuentui Cantuarie plenariam societatem ecclesie nostre etc.
- Explicit
- (100ar) Et sciendum quod occasione huius societatis et concessionis archiepiscopi cantuariensis in ecclesia norwici uel episcopi norwicensis in ecclesia cantuarie iurisdictionem nullam uel potestatem sibi poterunt uendicare plusquam prius habuisse dinoscuntur
- Note
- (b)
- Incipit
- (100ar) Concessimus singulis monachis S. Benedicti de Hulmo iii missas etc.
- Note
- (c)
- Incipit
- (100ar) Concessimus abbati et conuentui de Bello plenariam societatem domus nostre etc.
- Note
- The end of (a) points to Norwich as the source of this leaf, and I have no reason for thinking that the leaf has not been in the volume for a long period. The verso is blank
- History of England from the coming of the Saxons to the reign of Henry II. 101r-105r
- Nasmith
- Brevis historia Angliae ab adventu Saxonum ad Henricum II. 101r-105r
- Note
-
(a)
(101r) Descent from Adam to Woden: and descents of the kings of the Heptarchy from Woden
(b) - Incipit
- (101r) Britannia insula a quodam romano nomine bruto dicta
- Note
- Ends
- Explicit
- (105r) Cui successit henricus filius galfridi comitis andegauensis et matilde imperatricis filie regis henrici. qui duxit in uxorem alienoram reginam francie filiam ducis aquitanie
- Note
- A column and a bit blank
- Letters between Pope Innocent VI and Edward, prince of Wales concerning peace, A.D. 1355. 105v-106v
- Nasmith
- Epistolae inter Innocentium papam VI. et Edwardum principem Walliae de pace A. D. 1355. 105v-106v
- Author
- Pope Innocent VI
- Edward, prince of Wales
- Note
-
In a larger hand
(a)
(105v) Innocencius ... edwardo ... principi Wallie
Avignon5 Nonas Octobris 3rd year of pontificate
(b)
To the same. Avignon 14 kalendas Novembris 4th year
(c)
Edward to Innocent - Incipit
- (106r) Humili recommendacione prehabita seipsum paratissimum cum omni reuerencia filiali
- Explicit
- (106v) per tempora longiora. Dat. etc. Deuotissimus filius uester Edwardus princeps Wallie
- Epitome of the history of Britain from the birth of Christ to the year 1255. 1r-63v
- TJames
- 53
- Stanley
- E. 11
- Location
- https://purl.stanford.edu/xv091kh2355
- MS 138
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
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