Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS Charles Fairfax Murray 7

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 11854

Introduction: This fragment, probably copied in the 15th century, consists of two quires probably taken from the back of a Gospel book. These contain a standard summary listing of the lections to be read in church from the Gospels through the course of the year, following the typical format beginning with the synaxarion (lections of the movable calendar, beginning from Easter), followed by the menologion (lections of the fixed calendar, beginning from 1 September), and then a short selection of lections for miscellaneous occasions. They must have been removed from the manuscript to which they previously belonged in modern times, since they bear modern folio numbers in pencil which begin from the number 261. These quires have previously been described as coming from a lectionary, but this is highly unlikely, since in a lectionary the biblical text itself is divided into the lection passages and arranged in their sequence, rendering a listing such as this superfluous. Such listings are instead found in books where the biblical text is presented in its normal order, to guide the clergy in finding the right passages for the day. They were sometimes included in manuscripts from the outset, but often appear as a later supplement to an existing book. Which was the case here cannot be determined without identifying the manuscript from which these quires were removed. The original content of the fragment is followed by text in a later hand added into what was originally blank space on the final folio, listing a selection of lections and giving musical information for chanting the eothina, the lections of the Resurrection. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. 261r-272r, col. a

Summary lectionary

Rubric: f. 261r Ἀρχοτέλειαι τοῦ ἁγίου εὐαγγελίου

Incipit: f. 261r Ἑβδομὰς, αʹ Τῇ ἁγίᾳ καὶ μεγάλῃ Κυριακῇ τοῦ Πάσχα

Explicit: f. 272r Τέλος Εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς

Final rubric: f. 272r Τέλος σὺν Θεῶ τῶν ἀπορουμένων πύνακος[sic]

1.1. ff. 261r-268r, col. a, line 30

Synaxarion

1.2. f. 268r, col. a, line 31-f. 272r, col. a

Menologion

2. f. 272r, col. b

List of lections from Luke from the Menologion

A selection of lections from September to January

Rubric: f. 272r Χειρὶ οὖν γινώσκι· πῶς ἀναγυνώσκεται· ὁ Λουκᾶς· οὐ κἀτορδεῖνος ἀναγυνώσκεται:· αὔτη ἰερμηνία τῆς μεγάλης ἐκκλησίας

Incipit: f. 272r Μηνῆ Σεπτεύριος: κζʹ: ἄρχεται ὁ Λουκᾶς εὐαγγελιστῆς

Explicit: f. 272r Κυριακῇ πρὸ τῆς Χριστοῦ γεννήσεως λέγεται αὐτῶ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

3. f. 272v

Table of echoi and eothina

Rubric: f. 272v Ἡ ὀκτόηχος ψάλετε, τετράκης· καὶ τα ἐωθυνᾶ τρισὸς· καὶ εὐρίσκονται ἐπίσις ἔχοντα τὴν ἀρχῆν

Incipit: f. 272v Κυρικακῇ αʹ τῶν ἁγίων πάντων: ῆχος πλάγιος δʹ, ἐώθυνὸν: αʹ

Explicit: f. 272v Κυρικακῇ μδʹ: ῆχος: γʹ: εὐαγγέλιον καὶ ἐωθυνὸν: ιαʹ

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: ff. 261-268 Western paper, folded in folio. Watermark: Banner ( 70 × 34 mm. ) in the centre of the folio, similar to Briquet 5986. This example is dated to 1441. ff. 269-272 Western paper, folded in folio. Watermark: Footprint ( 42 × 12 mm. ) in the centre of the folio, similar to Harlfinger Semelle de soulier 12. This example is dated to 1445. f. 273 Western paper, folded in folio. Watermark: Hat ( 54 × 55 mm. ) in the centre of the folio, similar to Briquet 3401; WZIS IT2670-PO-32031, AT3800-PO-32026. These examples are dated to 1465-1512. ff. 274-275 Western paper, folded in folio. Watermark: Circle ( 44 × 44 mm. ) in the centre of the folio.

Extent: Fragment (quires) iii + 12 + 3 + iii leaves. 270 × 198 mm.

Foliation: The manuscript is foliated with the numbers [i-iii] + 261-272 + 273-275 + [iv-vi], in pencil, in Arabic numerals, recto, upper right.

Collation

The manuscript consists of 2 quires, of which one is a binion and the other a quaternion.

Quire 1⁸ ff. 261-268
Quire 2⁴ ff. 269-272

Condition

There is significant pest damage towards the edges of the folios, which have been repaired with paper patches. There is some water staining, black mould staining and areas of dirt. Water damage has caused the ink to fade in places.

Layout

Two columns of 31-32 lines. 198-206 × 140 mm.

Hand(s)

ff. 261r-272r, col. a were copied by Hand A in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown and red ink, with significant variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is subscript or absent. There is decorative use of the double dot, and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters and nomina sacra strokes.

The small, x-shaped kappa is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points and full stop.

f. 272r, col. b-f. 272v were copied by Hand B in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown, with modest variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot, and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters.

The modern eta and small, x-shaped kappa are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower comma and full stop.

Decoration

Sections begin with minor initials in bright red ink.

Transitions between some sections are accompanied by line-fillers in brown and red ink.

Additions

There are brief annotations by a later hand on f. 275v.

Binding

Rebound by Douglas Cockerell and Son (i.e. Sydney Morris ('Sandy') Cockerell (1906-1987)) in July 1980, the process described by the printed note pasted to the right pastedown. Quarter leather binding over millboards. Marbled paper covers with vellum tips, and plain pastedowns. The classmark is tooled in gold on a leather patch on the left board.

280 × 209 × 14 mm.

There is cracking to the leather covering of the spine.

Accompanying Material

There are three early endleaves at the end, perhaps original to the production of the manuscript (ff. 273-275), and three endleaves at the front and three at the back belonging to the current binding (ff. [i-iii], [iv-vi].

A slip with with printed notes regarding the manuscript is housed along with it.

History

Origin: The manuscript was probably produced in the mid-15th century, as suggested by the watermarks. This would be consistent with the style of script.

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by the painter and collector Charles Fairfax Murray (1848-1919) .

Given to the Fitzwilliam Museum by Charles Fairfax Murray in 1905.

Additional Information

Availability

Visitors to the Fitzwilliam Museum who wish to consult Collection material are required to apply to the Museum in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Fitzwilliam Museum: Study Room.

Bibliography

Greek manuscripts in Cambridge: recent acquisitions by college libraries, the Fitzwilliam Museum and private collectors. Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, Easterling, Patricia E. (4, 179-191, 1966)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS Charles Fairfax Murray 7

Contents