Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 18

Gilbert of Poitiers, Media Glossatura on the Psalms, vol. 1

Introduction: Although recognised in recent times principally as a scholastic logician, the considerable renown enjoyed by Gilbert of Poitiers in the Middle Ages as a biblical scholar is reflected in the survival of no less than fifty-one twelfth-century copies of his Psalm commentaries. Completed around 1117, the discrete format in which the commentaries were presented came to reflect the process by which biblical study had moved from the monastery to the lecture room. The Queens’ copy is particularly fine on account of its artwork and original binding, and as an example of how scholastic exegesis of scripture was conducted in the earlier twelfth century. We can see this, for instance, in the text and commentary of Psalm 116, ‘Laudate dominum omnes gentes’ (Queens' College MS 18*, f. 84v). As one might expect, the finely illuminated letters signal the beginning of each psalm commentary (the elaborate figures are not, however, in any way representative of the psalms’ meaning). Words in red are psalm text, whilst those in black are Gilbert’s commentary (for a different approach see the Glossa ordinaria (Queens’ College MS 26), a Bible commentary conceived at around the same time). Unique, however, to this work is the system of red marginal symbols (derived from Greek letters), appropriated and adapted by Gilbert to indicate thematic content of certain psalms (for example, the symbol between the two columns on the left indicates ‘The First Coming’). Other marginal signs act as references to the patristic sources upon which Gilbert based his commentary (rather like footnotes). Queens’ MS 18 is particularly notable for the fact that it still retains its twelfth-century binding, the covering of which is probably made of sealskin. Although undoubtedly of monastic origin, the earliest indications of provenance have been scratched out and cannot be read. Later inscriptions indicate that these volumes are two of eight given to Queens’ in the early 1630s by Francis Tyndall, seven of which date from the twelfth century. He matriculated as a Queens’ Fellow-Commoner in 1631, and is thought to have been related to Humphrey Tyndall, President of Queens’ 1578–1614.

1. 1r-2v

Prologue to Gloss on the Psalms (Media glosatura) Gilbert de la Porrée

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 1r: Rex Dauid cum propere

Explicit: 2v: uniuscuiusque psalmi intellectus

2. 3r-169v

Gloss on the Psalms (Media glosatura) 1-79 Gilbert de la Porrée

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 3r: Beatus vir

Explicit: 169v: quod expedit implorat

Stegmüller 2511

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r: et desudet

Form: codex

Support: Parchment (HFHF)

Extent: 2 + 169 + 2 leaves. 340 × 240 mm.

Foliation:

Late 19th/early 20th-century foliation:

1-169

Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the first leaf of each quire, possibly by M.R. James. Full foliation added after digitisation.

Collation

The manuscript comprises twenty-three quires, mostly of eight leaves.

Quire a² (ff. i-ii )
Quires 1-20⁸ (ff. 1-160)
Quire 21¹⁰ (ff. 161-169 (last leaf, after f. 169, missing)
Quire b² (ff. 170-171)

a² (1 used as pastedown) 1-20⁸ 21¹⁰ (10 missing) b² (2 used as pastedown)

Each quire is signed in pencil at the lower right-hand corner of the first leaf recto.

Catchwords, mostly trimmed.

Layout

250 × 160 mm. Two columns, 34 lines, ruled in leadpoint, pricked in the outer margin, written above top line.

The text is laid out as a continuous commentary in two columns, incorporating the biblical text written in red with minimal abbreviation.

Hand(s)

Gothic bookhand (textualis)

Decoration

Historiated initial formed of dragon and anthropomorphic hybrid locked in combat, Psalmist pleading to the Lord (A, 6 ll., f. 49v, Ps 27).

Eighty zoomorphic, figural, foliate or panelled initials (5-24 ll.) in gold, blue, green, orange-red and pink for Prologue and remaining Psalms, larger initials (9-18 ll.) for the Psalms of the three- and eight-fold divisions (1, 26, 38, 51, 52, 68, 80, 97, 101, 109), smaller initials (5-8 ll., except I and L initials) for the remaining Psalms, some initials formed of gold or multi-coloured panels with interlaced knotwork terminating in beasts’ heads or acanthus and filled with coiled foliage and animal, human or hybrid figures entangled within it (e.g. ff. 3r, 57r, 62v, 99r), others shaped by dragons, fish, birds, human or hybrid figures (e.g. ff. 20v, 46r, 79r, 94r, 122v, 130v, 137r); opening verse of each Psalm written in red display capitals, except incipit texts of Psalms 1 and 68 which are in gold display capitals (ff. 3r, 130v) and of Psalms 26, 38, 51 and 52 for which blank spaces have been left.

Additions

Erased inscription on f. ii verso.

?17th-century contents note on front pastedown: 'Comment. in psalm. usque ad ps. 80'.

Red silk curtains protecting illuminated initials (James 1905, 4) have been removed, leaving stitching holes and traces of red thread.

Binding

Contemporary alum-tawed skin over wooden boards, with flaps extending at head and tail lined with silk; sewn on three double supports; seal fur chemise with flaps extending at head and foot, strip of brown leather stitched around flaps at head and on fore-edge of rear cover, remains of leather thongs in both lower flaps, thread stitched into lower flap on rear cover; ten brass protective plates along the edges of each cover comprising four rectangular corner-pieces and six tongued pieces incised with circular motifs, traces of five round metal bosses on each cover with some of the nails still in place; two slits for leather straps on the fore-edge of the chemise on upper cover, remains of one fastening pin and a hole from a second on lower cover; straw bookmark between ff. 68 and 69.

History

Origin: Second quarter of the 12th century ; England, possibly Lincoln

Provenance and Acquisition

According to James, this manuscript is from the same monastic library as Queens’ College MS 14.

Given to Queens' College Library in the early 1630s by Francis Tyndall with a 17th-century inscription recording the gift on f. i recto: 'Donum Francisci Tyndall armigeri'.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry derives predominantly from data assembled for the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Cambridge Illuminations project (publication forthcoming) and draws on the descriptions in M.R. James, A descriptive catalogue of the western manuscripts in the library of Queens’ College, Cambridge (Cambridge, 1905), and R.M. Thomson's catalogue of the medieval manuscripts of Queens' College (forthcoming).

Availability

For further information on the availability of the manuscript, please contact Queens' Old Library and Special Collections.

Bibliography

A descriptive catalogue of the western manuscripts in the library of Queens' College, Cambridge, James, M.R. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1905)

A catalogue of the library of the college of St. Margaret and St. Bernard, commonly called Queen's College in the University of Cambridge, Horne, Thomas Hartwell (London, Society of Queen's College, 1827)

Einfürung in die Geschichte der theologischen Litteratur der Frühscholastik, Landgraf, Artur Michael (Regensburg, Gregorius-Verlag, 1948)

Handschriftliches zu den Werken Gilberts, Bischof von Poitiers (1142-1154) Revue d'Histoire des Textes, Häring, Nikolaus (8, 1978, 133-194, 1979)

The Psalms commentary of Gilbert of Poitiers: from lectio divina to the lecture room The Psalms commentary of Gilbert of Poitiers Brill's studies in intellectual history, Gross-Diaz, Theresa (Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1996)

Où sont été fabriqués les livres de la glose ordinaire dans la première moitié du XII siècle? Le XIIe siècle Le XIIe siècle: mutations et renouveau en France dans la première moitié du XIIe siècle Cahiers du Léopard d'or, Stirnemann, Patricia (Paris, 257-301, Le Léopard d'or, 1994)

Gilbert de la Porrée et les livres glosé à Laon, à Chartres et à Paris Monde médiéval et société chartraine: actes du colloque international organisé par la ville et le diocèse de Chartres à l'occasion du 8e centenaire de la Cathédrale de Chartres, 8-10 septembre 1994, Stirnemann, Patricia (Paris, 83-96, Picard, 1997)

Funding of Cataloguing

Dr Virge James in memory of the late Dr Nigel James (Queens' mat. 1960)

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 18

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