Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 370: Historia Alexandri Magni (Gesta Alexandri magni). Epistolae Alexandri. Gesta Edwardi III
Description
Abstract/Contents
- Summary
- CCCC MS 370 is another of those manuscripts that may have been intended as light reading matter for a monastic community, containing as it does the perennial favourites of material concerning Alexander the Great in both the version of Julius Valerius (3rd/4th century) and the Historia de Preliis, alongside the fictional exchange of letters between Alexander and various figures in the ancient world. In addition, this codex contains an account of the Black Prince's campaign during the siege of Rouen that has been much used by historians of the Hundred Years' War. The presence of Bishop William Bateman's (d. 1355) Injunctions that resulted from his visitation to the Benedictine Cathedral Priory of Holy Trinity, Norwich in 1347 has led some to conclude that this manuscript was once in the library of that institution, though it lacks a press mark or any other evidence to that effect.
- Contents
- Historia Alexandri Magni (Gesta Alexandri magni) -- Epistola Alexandri ad Aristotelem de situ Indiae (Gesta Alexandri magni) -- Epistolae inter Alexandrum magnum et Dindium regum -- Gesta Alexandri magni (Historia de Preliis) -- Injunctiones -- Chronica maiora (extracts: De calumnia et injuriis ... in monasterio sancti Edmundi) -- Itinerarium cuiusdam anglici terram sanctam, 1344 -- Gesta Edwardi III
Bibliographic information
- M.R. James Date
- xiv
- Downloadable James Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:xy147tn8536/MS_370.pdf
- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:sv628rr6605/370.pdf
- Contains
-
- Historia Alexandri Magni (Gesta Alexandri magni). 1r-25v
- Nasmith
- Historia Alexandri magni regis Macedonum, ortus vita et obitus. 1r-25v
- James
- Gesta Alexandri. 1r-25v
- Rubric
- (1r) Incipit historia Alexandri magni regis Macedonum. ortus uita et obitus
- Incipit
- (1r) Egyptii sapientes fati genere diuino primi feruntur
- Explicit
- (25v) ueneno superatus atque extinctus occubuit
- Rubric
- (25v) Explicit ortus uita et obitus Alexandri regis magni macedonum
- Note
- Abridgement of Julius Valerius (ed. Zacher, Iulii Valerii Epitome, 1867): see H.L.D. Ward, British Museum Catalogue of Romances I 106
- Epistola Alexandri ad Aristotelem de situ Indiae (Gesta Alexandri magni). 25v-38v
- Nasmith
- Epistola Alexandri regis magni Macedonum, quam ab India magistro suo Aristoteli misit. 25v-38v
- Author
- Alexandri
- Rubric
- (25v) Incipit epistola Alexandri regis magni macedonum quam ab india magistro suo aristotili misit
- Incipit
- (25v) Semper memor tui
- Explicit
- (38v) optime aristotelis ponderaris
- Rubric
- (38v) Finit epistola Alexandri regis magis macedonum missa ab india ad arist. preceptorum suum
- Note
- Ed. Andr. Paulini, Giessen, 1706. Cockayne (Narratiunculae, 1861); A. Hilka, Breslau-program 1909, etc. Catalogue of Romances I 108
- Epistolae inter Alexandrum magnum et Dindium regum. 38v-47v
- Nasmith
- Epistolae inter Alexandrum magnum et Dindimum regem. 38v-47v
- Note
- (Alexander Dindimo)
- Incipit
- (38v) Sepius ad aures
- Note
- The following letters are
- Incipit
-
(39r) Desiderantem te alexander
(44v) Si hec ita sunt
(45r) Nos inquit dindimus
(45v) Tunc ideo beatum te - Explicit
- (47v) inuidie quodam meliora prestantur
- Note
- Ed. Bysshe, Palladius de Gentibus Indiae et Bragmanibus, 1668. Cat. of Romances I 108
- Gesta Alexandri magni (Historia de Preliis). 48r-80r
- Nasmith
- Gesta Alexandri magni imperatoris et regis Macedoniae. 48r-80r
- Rubric
- (48r) Hic incipit gesta Alexandri magni Imperatoris et Regis Macedonie
- Incipit
- (48r) Sapientissimi egipcii scientes mensuram terre
- Note
- Ending
- Explicit
- (80r) Mense marcio fabricauit xii ciuitates que adhuc inhabitantur
- Rubric
- (80r) Expliciunt gesta Alexandri magni quondam regis Macedonie qui totam mundi machinam suo imperio subiugauit
- Note
-
This is the Historia de Preliis. Cf. Cat. of Romances I 120
A riddle - Incipit
-
(80r) Fili si uixisses quantum uixisti et iterum tantum et dimidium tanti dimidij centum compleuisses annos
(80r) Vixisset iuuenis annis bis terque uigenis - Explicit
- (80r) A summa luna primi coibente profundo
- William Bateman, Injunctiones. 80v-85r
- Nasmith
- Injunctiones datae priori et capitulo ecclesiae Norwicensis per Willelmum [Bateman] episcopum Norwicensem in visitatione sua. 80v-85r
- Author
- William Bateman
- Incipit
- (80v) Willelmus permissione diuina Norwic. ep. ... Priori et capitulo ecclesie nostre Norwic. ... Ex debito pastoralis officii
- Explicit
-
(85r) modo simili custodiri. dat. in palacio nostro Norwicensi die v mensis maij. anno domini mill. cccmo quadragesimo septimo. Et consecracionis nostre iiij In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum duximus apponendum
(85r) Hee sunt iniuncciones d. Will. de Norwico. Norwic. Ep. - Note
-
The end is on f. 83r
Immediately before this are inserted two leaves of paper containing
Hic interseruntur duo folia chartacea seculo xvi scripta quibus continetur
- Thomas Walsingham OSB, Chronica maiora (extracts: De calumnia et injuriis ... in monasterio sancti Edmundi). 83r-84v
- Nasmith
- De calumnia et injuriis per eundem episcopum in monasterio S. Edmundi illatis, et per merita S. Edmundi finitis, una cum gravaminibus ejusdem monasterii, ex historia aurea. 83r-84v
- Author
- Thomas Walsingham OSB
- Rubric
- (83r) De calumnia et iniuriis per Willelmus Bateman ... in monasterio S. Edmundi illatus et per merita S. Edmundi finitis
- Incipit
- (83r) Ex libro 22 histor. auree Johannis anglici cap. 49
- Rubric
-
(84r) Grauamina monasterij
(84v) Ex Thomas Walsingham in maiori hist.
- Itinerarium cuiusdam anglici terram sanctam, 1344. 85v-97v
- Nasmith
- Itinerarium cujusdam Anglici terram sanctam et alia loca sancta visitantis, anno 1344. 85v-97v
- Note
- In the former hand: no title
- Incipit
- (85v) Arripiens quondam iter et pergere sum profectus ad sanctum sepulcrum. quia quanto hominis ingenium curiosius tanto uult perspicacius rimari que super terram et mare perspexi precordialiter impressi
- Note
-
The lower part of f. 94r is cut off
Ends - Explicit
- (95v) Et sic reposita est nobis corona iusticie quam reddet nobis in illa die iustus iudex
- Rubric
- (95v) Explicit Itinerarium cuiusdam anglici terram sanctam et alia loca sancta uisitantis
- Note
-
ff. 95r - 96v blank
The travellers (three Englishmen) left Avignon on 3 October 1344 and reached home late in 1345
The description of Cyprus is interesting. I do not find that the narrative has been printed.
- Gesta Edwardi III. 98r-105v
- Nasmith
- Acta bellicosa Edwardi III. regis Angliae et Edwardi principis Walliae ejus filii in mari et regno Franciae. 98r-105v
- Rubric
- (98r) Hec sunt acta bellicosa illustrissimorum principum dominorum Edwardi d. g. regis ... et Edwardi eiusdem regis primogeniti ... a penultimo die mensis Junij anno domini mill. cccmo quadragesimo sexto ... et deinceps
- Incipit
- (98r) Felix anglie regis Edwardi progressus ad littora procerum armatorum et plebis exercitum
- Note
-
After f. 100 is a lacuna of 4 leaves (probably) where the events of July 29 - Aug. 10 (part), 1346, were narrated.
Ends f. 103v (20 Aug. 1346) - Explicit
- (104v) Sagittariorum domesticorum et familiaris comitiua. quidam premissa faciebat licet sibi caucius alii ipmus
- Note
-
f. 104r is blank
On f. 104v is the same text as on f. 102v beginning - Incipit
- (105v) Rex anglorum illo die
- Note
- and ending at a rather earlier point than f. 102v
- Explicit
- (105v) poiastes ensi auoir
- Note
- It was used by Joshua Barnes in his Life of Edward III, 1688, Bk II, chap. 2, and was printed in full by J. Moisant, S. J., Le Prince Noir en Aquitaine, etc., 1894, p. 157; also by Prof. Prentout of Caen.
- Historia Alexandri Magni (Gesta Alexandri magni). 1r-25v
- TJames
- 322
- Stanley
- 9. 6
- Location
- https://purl.stanford.edu/zx084gk1026
- MS 370
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
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