Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 19

Adalbert of Metz, Speculum Gregorii (Mirror of St Gregory)

Contents

1. 3r-133v
Adalbert of Metz, Speculum Gregorii
Language(s): Latin
1.1. 3r-3v
Preface
Rubric: 3r: Iste alcuinus leuita fuit eboracensis ecclesiae doctissimus postea magister karoli regis. Vocatus est etiam albinus. Incipit prefatio
Incipit: 3r: Reverentissimo in Christo patri hilduino presbitero
Explicit: 3v: feliciter per saecula infinita
Final rubric: 3v: Explicit prefacio
1.2. 3v-7v
Tables of contents
Rubric: 3v: Incipiunt capitula libri huius
Incipit: 3r: .I. De uera simplicitate
Explicit: 7v: debeat aliquando [...]
Final rubric: 7v: Explicit capitula
Rubric: 7v: Incipit liber qui dicitur speculum. De uera simplicitate
Incipit: 7v: Nonnulli namque ita sunt simplices
Explicit: 133v: nec terrore pene sed amore iusticie
2. 133v-142v
Gregory the Great, Liber exceptionum sentenciarum
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 133v: Incipit liber exceptionum sentenciarum beati Gregorii papae super canticum canticorum
Incipit: 133v: In expositione cantici canticorum quam libris quinque explicauimus
Explicit: 142r: et in te ipso nobis incomprehensibilis permane
3. 142v
A charm
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 142v: Contra febres
Incipit: 142v: In nomine patris et filiis et spiritus sancti amen
Explicit: 142v: et continuo se senciat esse saluatum per dominum

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 4r (preface): iii quid sit
Secundo Folio: 8r: assurgunt quia
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: 144 leaves. 276 × 197 mm.
Foliation:

Late 19th/early 20th-century foliation:

1-144 (flyleaves included in foliation)

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 eighteen quires composed of eight leaves. Ff. 1-2 (the first a former pastedown) and 143-144 (the last a former pastedown) are flyleaves.

  • Quire 18 (ff. 1-8)
  • Quire 28 (ff. 9-16)
  • Quire 38 (ff. 17-24)
  • Quire 48 (ff. 25-32)
  • Quire 58 (ff. 33-40)
  • Quire 68 (ff. 41-48)
  • Quire 78 (ff. 49-56)
  • Quire 88 (ff. 57-64)
  • Quire 98 (ff. 65-72)
  • Quire 108 (ff. 73-80)
  • Quire 118 (ff. 81-88)
  • Quire 128 (ff. 89-96)
  • Quire 138 (ff. 97-104)
  • Quire 148 (ff. 105-112)
  • Quire 158 (ff. 113-120)
  • Quire 168 (ff. 121-128)
  • Quire 178 (ff. 129-136)
  • Quire 188 (ff. 137-144)

1-188

Catchwords, mostly trimmed.

Layout

191 × 130 mm. Two columns, 27 lines, frame and lines ruled in brown leadpoint. Pricked in the outer margins. Written above top line.

Hand(s)

Gothic bookhand (textualis)

Decoration

Green and plain parchment initials (2-5 ll.), some incorporating geometric elements, others terminating in stylized leaf forms (e.g. f. 9v), alternating with red and plain parchment abstract initials (2-5 ll.) of the same style [e.g. f. 7v], for the opening to the preface and the main text of the Speculum, as well as at other principal openings within the first text.

Plain green and red initials (1 l.) for some of the paragraph openings in the second text.

Additions

Later addition at the end of the text (f. 142v): 'Istud carmen debet dici in primo die nouies, in secundo viiies...'.

'Deo gracias' inscribed in ink on f. 1v and erased note at foot of same leaf. Erased provenance inscription on f. 2r: 'Liber...' and old list of contents on f. 2v: ‘ In hoc volumine continentur |Alwynus qui uocatur albinus (de Gregorii moralibus) |Item Excepciones (beati Gregorii pape) super cantica canticorum) ’

Followed by another list of contents in a 17th-century hand: |1. Albini speculum ex Gregorij moralibus. |2. Albini Exceptiones sententiarum Gregorij super Canticum Salomonis. |Hi duc non habentur inter opera impressa.

And the last content item in an earlier hand: |Exorcismus ad Febres expellendas.

15th-century note on f. 143v: 'byggbe hyegates vj miliaria ab vrbe london heneselde / domine dominus noster quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra' followed by a transcription of the alphabet.

Occasional marginal notes, probably 14th century, in a hand similar to some marginalia found in Queens' College MS 16.

Binding

Early 20-century, undyed goatskin? over original wooden boards on two sewing stations.

History

Origin: Late 12th century ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Given to Queens' College Library in the early 1630s by Francis Tyndall with a 17th-century inscription recording the gift at head of f. 3r): 'Donum Francisci Tindall 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 description in M.R. James, A descriptive catalogue of the western manuscripts in the library of Queens’ College, Cambridge (Cambridge, 1905).

Availability

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

Bibliography

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

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.

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge