Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335
Writings about Islam from the Collectio Toletana-Corpus Cluniacensis; prognostics; formulary
Contents
Physical Description
19th- or 20th-century foliation:
a-b + i | 1-137 | 138-142 | 143-153 + c-d
Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos.
Collation
This catalogue record follows the collation of M.R. James (1919) but suggests that Quires 14 and 16 originally may have been one quire - since their leaf signatures may be part of the same sequence - and that Quire 15 was bound inside this quire between its innermost leaves.
- Quires 1-910 (ff. 1-90)
- Quire 1012 (ff. 91-102)
- Quires 11-1210 (ff. 103-122)
- Quire 136 (ff. 123-128)
- Quire 14three (ff. 129-131)
- Quire 154 (ff. 132-135)
- Quire 162 (ff. 136-138) |
- Quire 176-1 (ff. 138-142: 6th leaf missing) |
- Quire 182 (ff. 143-144)
- Quire 198 (ff. 145-151)
- Quire 20one (f. 153)
1 leaf | 1-910 1012 11-1210 136 14three 154 162 | 176-1 (5th leaf missing) | 182 198 20one
Additions
A list of contents in two hands (one 14th-century, the other later) on f. i verso (for further details, see Part 1) .
Quire signatures ('1-19') in the bottom right-hand corner of the recto side of the first leaf of each quire, written in pencil by a hand of the 20th century.
Binding
Modern 20th-century brown leather binding; a spine with five raised bands and the gold-stamped inscription: ‘C.C.C.C.’ and ‘MS. 335’.
Binding height: 235mm; width: 160mm; depth: 45mm.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Ely Cathedral Priory : a partially erased ownership inscription on f. 152v: ‘Iste liber pertinet ecclesie Elien[sis]’ (see Ker (1941), p. 42); Ker (1964), p. 78). M.R. James (1912) also thought that the cross-like mark that typically denotes books from Ely had been torn out of the fore-edge margin of f. 1r (for a surviving example of this mark, see Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 416 , f. 1r). That evidence of Ely provenance is found in both Parts 2 and 3, and that the tables of contents added to Parts 1 and 3 covers the texts in both Parts 1 and 2, indicates that the whole manuscript (rather than just a part of it) was held at Ely.
Matthew Parker (1504-1575) , archbishop of Canterbury: the manuscript is recorded as ‘De rebus Turcicis / Petrus abbas cluniacensis / Petrus Alphonsus’ among the ‘Libri in minore Bibliotheca’ on f. 60v of his register of books, now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 575 [see M.R. James (1912), I, p. xxxvi].
Bequeathed to Corpus Christi College by Matthew Parker (1504-1575) .
Part 1 [Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335, f. i]
Contents
Language(s): Latin
‘Willelmus de Beluero’ may be William de Belvero [of Belvoir], monk of St Albans, who became prior of Belvoir, Lincolnshire, in 1333 (on him, see 'Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Belvoir', in A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2, ed. William Page (London, 1906) at British History Online [accessed 11 November 2024]); but he may also be the ‘Johannis de Belvero dudum canonici ecclesie Lincolniensis’ who died in 1391 and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral (for his brass inscription, see 'Lincoln Cathedral: A List of the Brasses Existing in 1641 ; from Mr. Peck's Collation of Bp. Sanderson's MS. Notes, Compared with Browne Willis's Copy of the Same', Monumental Brass Society, 3, Part 2: 20 (1898), 67-87 (p. 75)]. The document names ‘Robertus de Swaffham’; ‘Alanus de Hemmyngston’; ‘Willelmus de Dynyeton’ (monk of Ely); ‘Magister Geoffrey de ffreysyngfeld’; ‘Thomas de Helyesdon’; ‘Johannes de Leyham’ (chaplain); ‘Willelmus Alston’; ‘Robertus de Pysale’; ‘Johannes de Melton’; and ‘John de Huntyngdon’. None of the aforementioned persons have been identified but ‘Johannes de Leyham’ may be John of Leyham, Vicar of Hauxton, Cambridgeshire, who is mentioned in a legal document of 1322 (see Cambridge, University Library, University Archives GBR/0012/EDC 1/B12/66).
Full transcription of contents list: |
- Epistola cuiusdam saraceni ad (?)quemdam christianum
- Rescriptum christiani ad saracenum
- Epistola domini petri clamacis de secta Machometi
- Item vita machometi
- Item cronica mendosa saracenorum
- Item Generacio Machometi
- Item de generacione et nutritura eius
- Item doctrina Machometi
- Item liber contra legem sarracenorum
- Item de conuersione petri alfunsi
- Item tractatus de dungionibus diaboli
- Item sermo de bene uiuendi
- Item quedam sermones
- Item tractatus de volucribus et aliis
- Item de 7 signis in christi nativitate
- Item tractatis de nominibus lapidum
- Item Regula fratrum Minorum
- Item tractatus de rebus in animatis
- Item de mensibus anni
- [Item] prothocol instrumentorum
- [Item ...] de secretis philosophorum
- Item Qualiter componuntur Instrumenta et littera cum haukeston
The rubric and entries to 'Item sermo de bene uiuendi' written by a 14th-century hand (see Script for further discussion); the rest written by a later, probably 15th-century hand.
Physical Description
Layout
170 No ruling. Single column. Because the page has been turned vertically and then cropped to match the (rough) dimensions of this manuscript, the original height of the text space and the number of lines on the page cannot be determined.
Hand(s)
The legal document has been copied by a single hand, writing in a cursive script with anglicana features.
The table of contents has been copied by a single hand, writing in a neat textualis script; perhaps the same hand that was responsible for ff. 1r-122v, 123r (verse couplet only), 123v-131v, and 136r-137v (see Part 2).
Decoration
Folio i verso contains a large notarial mark in brown ink.
History
Part 2 [Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335, ff. 1r-137v]
Contents
Language(s): Latin
Purported letter of 'Abdullah al-Hashimi, a Muslim, to Abd al-Masih ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, an Arab Christian, inviting the latter to convert to Islam. Both men were in the service of caliph Al-Ma'mun (r. 813-833). Translated from Arabic into Latin by Peter of Toledo and Peter Poitiers under the title ‘Epistola saraceni ad christinum’.
On f. 1r is the sub-heading: ‘Carta sarraceni ad Christianum’.
Purported letter of Abd al-Masih ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, an Arab Christian, to 'Abdullah al-Hashim, a Muslim, inviting the latter to convert to Christianity. Both men were in the service of caliph Al-Ma'mun (r. 813-833). Translated from Arabic into Latin by Peter of Toledo and Peter Poitiers under the title ‘Rescriptum Christiani’.
On f. 61r is the sub-heading: ‘De nativitate Mahumet prophete domini’.
This work is part of the so-called ‘Corpus Cluniacense’, a collection of Latin translations of Arabic works for Christian scholars, commisioned by Peter the Venerable, abbot of Cluny.
Extracts from Book 25, Chapters 118-145.
Full transcription.
The text quotes from the Policraticus of John of Salisbury and of Aristotle.
Begins imperfectly.
The outer margin of f. 133r features the following title: ‘Proprietates istorum xij lapidum scribuntur in lapidario’.
Physical Description
Collation
- Quires 1-910 (ff. 1-90)
- Quire 1012 (ff. 91-102)
- Quires 11-1210 (ff. 103-122)
- Quire 136 (ff. 123-128)
- Quire 14three (ff. 129-131)
- Quire 154 (ff. 132-135)
- Quire 162 (ff. 136-138)
Leaf signatures consisting of combinations of letters and Arabic numerals in Quires 1-12 (‘a’-‘m’); numbers ‘1’->‘3’, written vertically in Quire 13; the number ‘3 / 4’ on the third leaf of Quire 14; a combination of the letter ‘a’ with Roman numerals in Quire 15; and the number ‘4 / 4’ on the first leaf of Quire 16.
Catchwords in the lower inner margins of the last versos of quires.Layout
175-180 × 115 mm. Mixed ruling: frames in ink, with occasional line ruling in leadpoint. Single columns. 34-40 lines to the page, written below top line.
Hand(s)
Folios 1r-122v, 123r (verse couplet only), 123v-131v, and 136r-137v have been copied by (?) one scribe, writing a neat textualis script; perhaps the same hand that was responsible for the first part of the table of contents on f. i verso (see Part 1).
The main texts on folio 123r have been copied by (?) two scribes, writing in a cursive script with anglicana features.
The main texts on folio 132r-135v have been copied by one scribe, writing in a cursive script with anglicana features.
Decoration
One large (6 lines) puzzle initial in blue and red with floral motifs outlinsed in red ink inside the letter on f. 1r.
Large (2-6 lines) plain initials in blue and red ink.
Headings, sub-headings, and final rubrics written in red ink.
Paraphs in blue or red ink.
Small (1 line) regular initials highlighted in red ink.
Underlining in red ink.
History
Part 3 [Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335, ff. 138-142]
Contents
Language(s): Latin and Anglo-Norman
Above the recipes is written ‘Gilbertus de Haneworth iuxta disce mark[is]’, perhaps referring to the market town Diss in Norfolk.
Physical Description
Collation
- Quire 176-1 (ff. 138-142: 6th leaf missing)
Layout
205 × 145 mm. No ruling. Single columns. c. 44 lines to the page.
Hand(s)
Copied by several hands in a cursive anglicana script.
Decoration
This part of the manuscript does not contain any significant forms of decoration.
History
Part 4 [Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335, ff. 143-153]
Contents
Language(s): Latin
Copies of documents, referring to Roger Raude de Kenynghale, 1386; Robert Longham, vicar of St John's, Maddermarket, at Trinity Hall, 1387; and Steucheworth (Stetchworth), 1387.
The example letters contain reference to the Ely and the Diocese of Norwich.
The indenture refers to John Lopham who is identified as a priest of Norwich.
Full transcription of contents list: |
- Epistola saraseni ad sectam suam christianum inuitantem
- Epistola domini petri alumacis abbatis ad Bernardum abbatum claravallensis de ipsa secta et vita pseudo prophete Macometi et opinionines et ritibus sarasenorum in alchorano eorum
- Item de dungionibus id est domibus diaboli
- Item Sermo Bonauenture de modo bene viuendi
- Item Sermo in parliamento regis pro defensione scottorum et aliis
- Item proprietatibus diuersorum piscium . volucrum . et lapidum et cetera
- Item Regula et vita fratrum Minorum et eorum obseruanciis et cetera
- Item tractatus de rebus inanimatis et subtilitatibus secretorum et cetera
- Item Qualiter componuntur Instrumenta et littera cum Haukeston
Physical Description
Collation
- Quire 182 (ff. 143-144)
- Quire 198 (ff. 145-151)
- Quire 20one (ff. 153)
Leaf signatures consisting of Roman numbers ‘i’-‘iiij’ in Quire 19.
Layout
185-190 × 110-120 mm. Ruled in leadpoint, frame only, with occasional line ruling. Single columns. c 38-48 lines to the page, written below top line.
Hand(s)
Copied one or more hands, writing in a cursive script with anglicana features.
Decoration
This part of the manuscript does not contain any significant forms of decoration.
History
References to Ely and the Diocese of Norwich in the formulary, and to places in Suffolk and Norfolk in copies of documents.
Additional Information
Record Sources
Availability
Visitors to Corpus Christi College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Parker Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Parker Library: Information for Readers.
Custodial History
Bibliography
For a bibliography for this item maintained by Corpus Christi College Cambridge see: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 335: Zotero Bibliography
Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis, tributa in libros duos; quorum prior continet catalogum confusum librorum manuscriptorum in illustrissimis bibliothecis, duarum florentissimarum Academiarum, Oxoniae et Cantabrigiae. Posterior, catalogum eorundem distinctum et dispositum secundum quatuor facultates, obseruato tam in nominibus, quam in operibus ipsis, alphabetico literarum ordine, James, Thomas (London, George Bishop & John Norton, 1600) Catalogus librorum manuscriptorum in bibliotheca Collegii Corporis Christi in Cantabrigia: quos legavit Matthæus Parkerus Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis Catalogus librorum manuscriptorum in bibliotheca Collegii Corporis Christi in Cantabrigia, Stanley, W. (London, 1722) Catalogus librorum manuscriptorum quos Collegio Corporis Christi et B. Mariæ Virginis in Academia Cantabrigiensi legavit reverendissimus Matthæus Parker, archiepiscopus Cantuariensis, (Cambridge, Typis Academicis, 1777) The Sources of Archbishop Parker's Collection of MSS at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, with a Reprint of the Catalogue of Thomas Markaunt’s Library, James, Montague Rhodes (Cambridge, Cambridge Antiquarian Society, 1899) A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, vol. I, James, M. R. (Montague Rhodes) (Cambridge, 1, Cambridge University Press, 1912) A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, vol. II, James, M. R. (Cambridge, 2, Cambridge University Library, 1912) Anglo-Norman Language and Literature, Vising, Johan (London, Oxford University Press, 1923) Thomas Sampson and the 'Orthographia Gallica' Medium Aevum, Arnold, I. (6, 193–209, 1937) MS Sloane 3548, Folio 158 Modern Language Notes, Bressie, Ramona (54, 246–56, 1939) Business Training in Medieval Oxford The American Historical Review, Richardson, H. G. (46, 2, 259-280, 1941) Deux traductions latines du Coran au Moyen Age Archives d'histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Age, d'Alvern, Marie-Thérèse (16, 69-131, 1947) La Apologia del Christianismo de al-Kindi Miscelánea Comillas, Sendino, Muñoz (11-12, 339-460, 1949) From Latin to Modern French with Especial Consideration of Anglo-Norman Phonology and Morphology Publications of the University of Manchester, Pope, M.K. (Manchester, 1952) Ricoldiana: Notes sur les oeuvres de Ricoldo da Montecroce Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum, Dondaine, Antoine (37, 119-179, 1967) The Letters of Peter the Venerable, II Harvard Historical Studies, Constable, Giles (Cambridge, MA, 2, Harvard University Press, 1967) Der Dialog Des Petrus Alfonsi. Seine Überlieferung Im Druck Und in Den Hanschriften, Meith, K.P. (Berlin, 1982) Petrus Venerabilis Schriften Zum Islam, Glei, R. (Altenberge, 1985) Die frühmittelalterlichen lateinischen Monatskalendarien: Text – Übersetzung – Kommentar, Groenke, Frank-Dieter (Berlin, 1986) L'ouvrage d'un frère precheur florentin en Orient à la fin du XIIIe siècle. 'Le Contra legem Sarracenorum' de Riccoldo da Monte di Croce Fede e Controversia nel '300 e '500 Memorie Domenicane, Nuova Serie, Mérigoux, Jean-Marie (Pistoia, 1-144, Memorie domenicane, 1986) Orthographia Gallica Plain Texts Series (Anglo-Norman Text Society), Johnston, R. C. (London, Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1987) L'enseignement du français en Angleterre (XIIIe-XVe siècles): les sources manuscrites Romania, Kristol, Andres Max (111, 3/4, 298–330, 1990) Catalogue des manuscrits français de la Bibliothèque Parker (Parker Library), Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Wilkins, Nigel E (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 1993) Extant Manuscripts of the Writings of Jacques de Vitry Scriptorium, Hinnebusch, J.F. (51, 156-164, 1997) Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts Anglo-Norman Text Society Occasional Publications Series, Dean, Ruth J.Boulton, Maureen Barry McCann (London, Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1999) Exposición y refutación del Islam: la versión latina de las epístolas de al-Hāŝimī y al-Kindī Monografías (Universidade da Coruña), González Muñoz, Fernando (A Coruña, University of A Coruña, Servicio de Publicacións, 2005) La versión latina de la Apología de al-Kindi y su tradición textual Musulmanes y cristianos en Hispania durante las conquistas de los siglos XII y XIII, González Muñoz, Fernando (Barcelona, Universtat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2005) Cambridge I: Christ's College, Clare College, Corpus Christi College, Emmanuel College, Gonville and Caius College and The Fitzwilliam Museum An Index of Images in English Manuscripts from the Time of Chaucer to Henry VIII c. 1380-c. 1509, Nichols, Ann Eljenholm (London, 1, Harvey Miller, 2008) Markus Mueller Beherrschte Zeit: Lebensorientierung und Zukunftsgestaltung durch Kalenderprognostik zwischen Antike und Neuzeit Mit einer Edition des Passauer Kalendars (UB/LMB 2° Ms. astron. 1) Schriftenreihe der Universitätsbibliothek Kassel – Landesbibliothek und Murhardsche Bibliothek der Stadt Kassel, Mueller, Markus (Kassel, Kassel: Kassel University Press, 2009) Peter of Toledo. Epistula Saraceni [et] Rescriptum Christiani Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliograpgical History. Volume 3 (1050-1200), González Muñoz, Fernando (Leiden, 478-482, Brill, 2011) Europe, Islam, and the Role of the Church in the Afterlife of a Medieval Polemic, 1301-1543, Waggoner Karchner, Katharine G. (Michigan, 2019) Latin Texts on Islam in a Manuscript at Yale University Propaganda and (Un)covered Identities in Treatises and Sermons: Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Premodern Mediterranean, González Muñoz, Fernando (Barcelona, 23-40, Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2020) New Latin Contexts for Old English Homilies Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Pelle, Stephen (Toronto, 2023)Funding of Cataloguing
Wellcome (cataloguing).
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (digital images).
Digital Images
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
