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 20

Haymo super Pentateuchum

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Codex: 3 + 162 + 4 leaves.
Foliation:

Late 19th/early 20th-century foliation:

1-163

Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the first leaf recto of each quire (except for quire 1), possibly by M.R. James. Full foliation added after digitisation.

Collation

The manuscript comprises twenty-three quires composed mostly of eight leaves. Quire 14 is made of 6 leaves, initial and final quires of four leaves. The last leaf of the final quire is used as a pastedown.

  • Quire a4 (ff. i-iii: first leaf missing)
  • Quire 1-138 (ff. 1-104)
  • Quire 146 (ff. 105-110)
  • Quire 15-208 (ff. 111-158)
  • Quire 218 (ff. 159-162: 4 leaves missing after f. 162)
  • Quire b4 (ff. 163-165: last leaf used as pastedown)

a4 (1 missing) | 1-138 146 15-208 218 (5-8 missing) | b4

First six quires are signed on recto of first leaf and verso of the last leaf in a contemporary hand. Remaining quires are signed in a modern hand in pencil on recto of first leaf.

 Catchword on f. 96v.

Binding

Original alum-tawed skin over wooden boards sewn on four bands slightly raised on the flat spine. Mark of a strap on original front cover and clasp on original back cover.

History

Origin: Mid 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 on f. ii recto: 'Donum Francisci Tindall armigeri'.

Part 1 [Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 20, ff. i-iii, 163-165]

Contents

ii-iii
Bernard of Clairvaux, De consideratione
Language(s): Latin
1.1. ii recto-iii verso
Portion 1
Incipit: || ii recto: [L]ubet animam quod te beatissime papa eugeni
Explicit: iii verso: Nam si coacta seruitus miserabilior
1.2. 163r-165v
Portion 2
Incipit: 163r: sed affecta inferior est
Explicit: 165v: Et quidem iudicia domini uera. Quis nesciat?

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: iii recto: Quid ergo
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 7 leaves. 250 × 177 mm.

Collation

  • Quire A4 (ff. i-iii: first leaf missing)
  • Quire B4 (ff. 163-165: last leaf used as pastedown)

Layout

188 × 143 mm. Two columns, 37 lines, frame and lines ruled in brown leadpoint. Pricked in the outer margins. Written above top line.

Hand(s)

Protogothic bookhand

Decoration

Plain initial (N, 2. ll.) in red (ii verso); green initial (Q, 4 ll.) with red flourishing (iii recto). Most of the spaces left for initials are blank.

History

Origin: Late 12th century ; England

Part 2 [Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 20, ff. 1-162]

Contents

1r-162v
ps. Haimo of Halberstadt, Commentarium in Pentateuchum
Language(s): Latin
1.1. 1r-1v
Prologus
Rubric: 1r: Incipit expositio sup Genesim. Prologus
Incipit: 1r: operis subditi materia lex est
Explicit: 2v: subtilius potuerit perscrutari
1.2. 2v-73r
Genesis
Rubric: 2v: Incipit liber genesis. In principio creauit deus celum et terram.
Incipit: 2v: Primus nobis occurrit liber geneseos
Explicit: 73r: in contemplacionis sinibus occultatur. Explicit Genesis.
1.3. 73r-110r
Exodus
Rubric: 73r: Incipit liber expositio sup exodum.
Incipit: 73r: Secundus hic liber hebraice hellesmoth
Explicit: 110r: pieque uiuendo incedit. Explicit exodus.
1.4. 110v-133r
Leviticus
Rubric: 110v: Incipit expositio sup Leuiticum
Incipit: 111r: Tercius hic liber hebraice vagecra
Explicit: 133r: uidebunt et laudebunt te. Explicit Leuiticus
1.5. 133r-150r
Numeri
Rubric: 133r: Incipit expositio super librum Numeri
Incipit: 133r: Quartus hic liber hebraice vagedaber
Explicit: 150r: e regione Jericho. Explicit
1.6. 151r-162v
Deuteronomium
Rubric: 151r: Deuteronomium
Incipit: 151r: dicitur secunda lex
Explicit: 162v: quam christo exhibent saluatori cui sit honor||

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r: Hec sunt igitur
Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: 162 leaves. 257 × 184 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 1-138 (ff. 1-104)
  • Quire 146 (ff. 105-110)
  • Quires 15-208 (ff. 111-158)
  • Quire 218 (ff. 159-162: 4 leaves missing after f. 162)

Condition

Layout

× mm. Two columns, 35 lines, frame and lines ruled in brown leadpoint. Pricked in the outer margins. Written above top line.

Hand(s)

Protogothic bookhand by several scribes.

Decoration

Large and small plain initials in red.

Drawing in ink of a head in profile in the lower margin of 40v.

Additions

List of chapters on f. i recto in a 13/14th-century hand: 'Capitulatio siue series liber Genesios'. Occasional marginal notes and nota marks in ink an early hand; occasional manicules and marginalia in a later hand in pencil.

History

Origin: Late 12th century ; England

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry 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' 1960)

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

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