Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Pembroke College, MS LC II.232

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77214

Introduction: This manuscript, which may be dated to the late 16th or early 17th century, contains the treatise by Gregory of Nyssa, Contra fatum (Κατὰ εἰμαρμένης), written between 381 and 383 CE. In this short work, Gregory defends the liberty of the will against the theory of astrological fatalism. The manuscript contains in its margins a good number of variant readings, in all likelihood taken from other manuscripts or proposed by the scribe and preceded by fortasse or f. The manuscript was donated to Pembroke College Library in January 1617 by Matthew Wren (1585-1667, president of Pembroke College from 1616 and prime figure in the history of the College in 17th century): he noted the gift in the Benefactors' Book (Pembroke College MS LC II.77, f. 42r), which he compiled himself. The date also appears on f. [i] recto. The manuscript was thought lost for a long time. It did not appear in the revised copy of the Wren's register drawn up by Clement Chevallier in 1799, nor in M.R. James' catalogue of 1905. However, it probably never left Pembroke College: it was apparently transferred to a different section of the library from where the rest of the manuscripts were kept and was forgotten about, until it was found once more in 2019 by the College Librarian, Genny Grim, during a survey of the Library's rare book holdings. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek

ff. 1r-8r

Gregory, of Nyssa, Saint, approximately 335-approximately 394, Contra fatum

Rubric: f. 1r Γρεγορίου ἐπισκόπου Νύσης κατὰ εἰμαρμένης

Incipit: f. 1r ⟨Μέμνησαι πά⟩ντως ὅ τί μοι γέγονεν, ὅτε πρώτον διὰ πολλοῦ παρ’ ὑμᾶς τὸ μέγα ⟨τῆς ἀ⟩πιστίας ὄρος

Explicit: f. 8r ἐν τούτοις τὴν δύναμιν εἶναι νομίζοντας, πρὸς δὲ τὴν παντοδύναμον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐξουσίαν μὴ ἀποβλέποντας

Final rubric: f. 8r Τέλος

CPG 3152

PG 45, 145-173

TLG 2017.089

f. 8v is blank.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: ff. 1r-8v Western paper, folded in folio. Watermark: Jug, with decorated lid, one handle, quatrefoil and letters "P" and "D B" ( 58 × 25 mm. ) middle of the folio comparable to Headwood 3576 (dated 1607), but letters in a different order.

Extent: Codex: i + 8 + i leaves., 300 × 190-200 mm.

Foliation: [i] + 1-8 + [ii]. Modern foliation in pencil in Arabic numerals, recto, upper right-hand.

Collation

The manuscript consists of four bifolia, plus another used to serve as endleaves. All the bifolia are now housed flat.

Catchwords are written horizontally in the right-hand lower margin of each folio.

Condition

The edges of the bifolia are worn and rounded, the upper edges of bifolia are damaged along the gutter, with the loss of some words from the first lines of text. Humidity and water stains are repeatedly found throughout the bifolia. The bifolium that formed the endleaves is particularly damaged. All bifolia are enclosed in Melinex and housed flat in a phase box.

Layout

ff. 1r-8r: written space 250 × 145 mm.

Hand(s)

The text was copied in a minuscule script of a western European type. It is of small format, in brown ink, slanting to the right, without variation in letter size. Ligatures are in use but not extensively. The script is characterized by an inclined enlarged minuscule gamma, used in ligature with the following letter from below. If isolated, gamma is majuscule and tall.

The sigma telikon is present and so is mute iota. Breathings are curved; accents do not usually join to letters or breathings.

Additions

On f. [i] recto appears, along with the title: ‘Aula Pe(?)mbr. Moriendo Vivant(?) 1617(?) ’. The printed bookplate of Pembroke College, dated 1879, is pasted on f. [i] verso.

Binding

Unbound. Bifolia are enclosed in Melinex and housed flat.

315 × 405 × 3 mm.

Accompanying Material

Detached fragments and remnants of sewing housed separately in a smaller Melinex pocket; a photocopy of the previous spine.

History

Origin: The style of script and watermarks suggest that the manuscript was written around the late 16th or early 17th century, in all likelihood by a Western hand, probably by Matthew Wren (1585-1667) .

Provenance and Acquisition

Donated to the Pembroke College Library in January 1617 by Matthew Wren (1585-1667) , as noted in Wren's Benefactors' Book, Pembroke College MS LC II.77, f. 42r and stated on previous spine binding.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Availability

Visitors to Pembroke College who wish to consult Archives and Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Pembroke College Archives and Special Collections.

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, Pembroke College, MS LC II.232

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