Cambridge, St John's College, MS C.9
Psalter ('The Southampton Psalter')
Contents
Language(s): Latin, Middle Irish
Physical Description
19th-/20th-century foliation:
i-ii + iii + 1-98 + iv-v
Numbering in pencil in the top right-hand corner of the recto side of the first leaf of each quire and intermittently elsewhere (written faintly).
Late 14th-century foliation:
4-101 (for ff. 1-98)
Numering in ink in the top right-hand corner of the recto side of each leaf, by John Whitfield (fl. 1389), monk of Dover Priory
Collation
- Quires 1-212 (ff. 1-24)
- Quire 310 (ff. 25-34)
- Quire 414-1 (ff. 35-47: 14th leaf cancelled)
- Quire 512 (ff. 48-59)
- Quire 610 (ff. 60-68: 9th leaf cancelled)
- Quire 712 (ff. 69-80)
- Quire 810 (ff. 81-90)
- Quire 98 (ff. 91-98)
Layout
170-175 × 100-120 mm. Ruling unclear (?hardpoint); no clearly demarcated text space, with lines of variable width. Single column, 30-35 lines to the page.
Hand(s)
Main text finely written in Insular half-uncial.
Glosses written in Insular minuscule by perhaps three or four hands.
Decoration
Three full page miniatures, with figures surrounded by and connected with dots, facing the beginning of Psalms 1, 51 and 101 respectively:
- David having fought a lion; David and his father's flock (f. 1v)
- Crucifixion, with Longinus and Stephaton below, and Mary, God the Father and John above (f. 35v)
- David's victory over Goliath (f. 68v)
Bar borders containing geometric and zoomorphic interlace patterns, surrounding the full-page miniatures and opening text of Psalms 1, 51 and 101 (ff. 1v, 2r, 35v, 36r, 68v and 69r).
Ten- to twelve-line zoomorphic initials in colours, containing interlace patterns, at the beginning of Psalms 1, 51 and 101 (ff. 2r, 36r and 69r).
Four- to seven-line zoomorphic and interlace initials in black/brown, filled with colours, at the beginning of each Psalm.
Plain initials in ink, the interstices filled with single colours, at the beginning of each verse.
Additions
Interlinear and marginal glosses throughout, the former often extending into the margins as well. Most of the glosses are in Latin, some in Middle Irish.
College bookplate on f. iii verso.
Paper classmark labels pasted to the spine.
Binding
Early 19th-century binding of diced Russian leather. An associated endleaf has been dated by its watermark to 1818. Rebacked.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Recorded in the catalogue of Dover Piory compiled in 1389 by one of its monks, John Whitfield (fl. 1389) (see James (1903), p. 523). The Dover pressmark and title appear on f. 3r: 'A : V : .i. Psalerium vetus glosatum ydiomate incognito ... apprehendite disciplina ... 105 ... I', indicating its storage in the first place on the fifth shelves of its class, 'A'. The pressmark and title are repeated on f. iii verso. The presence of twelfth-century corrections in an English hand has led P.P. O'Neill to suggest that the manuscript may have arrived in Dover from Canterbury.
'Jhon ?Hurtwell?Hurtwell, John, fl. 16th century pbr': a partially erased ?ownership inscription by a hand of the 16th century (f. 5r).
'R Benet': ?ownership inscription by a 16th-century hand (f. 1v). Perhaps the same R. BenetBenet, R., fl. 16th century who is recorded in that century as mayor of Romney (like Dover, one of the Cinque Ports) and 'who would have been well-positioned to profit from the break-up of St Martin's [i.e. Dover Priory's] library' (O'Neill (2012), p. xiii). Benet's name is found in five other manuscripts at St John's - MSS C.18, D.2, D.13, D.22 and E.9 - all of which were collected by William Crashaw (see Acquisition).
Given to St John’s College in 1635 by Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton on behalf of William Crashaw and Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton . A bookplate recording the Crashaw-Wriothesley donation is present on the front pastedown.
Additional Information
Record Sources
Custodial History
Bibliography
Editions:
Thesaurus palaeohibernicus: a collection of Old-Irish glosses, scholia, prose and verse, (Cambridge, 1, University Press, 1901) Some Remarks on the Edition of the Southampton Psalter Irish Glosses in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus, with Further Addenda and Corrigenda Ériu, Ó Néill, Pádraig P. (44, 99-103, 1993, https://www.jstor.org/stable/30006881) Old English Glossed Psalters Toronto Old English Studies, Pulsiano, Phillip (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2001, https://doi-org.ezp.lib.cam.ac.uk/10.3138/9781442678040) Psalterium Suthantoniense Corpus Christianorum. Continuatio Mediaevalis, (Turnhout, Brepols, 2012)Bibliography
Manuscript descriptions:
The ancient libraries of Canterbury and Dover: the catalogues of the libraries of Christ Church Priory and St. Augustine's Abbey at Canterbury and of St. Martin's Priory at Dover, James, Montague Rhodes (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1903, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511920097) A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of St. John's College, Cambridge, James, M.R. (Cambridge, University Press, 1913) The canticles of the Christian church, eastern and western in early and medieval times, Mearns, James (Cambridge, University Press, 1914) The sources for the early history of Ireland: an introduction and guide Records of civilization: sources and studies, Kenney, James F. (New York, 1: Ecclesiastical, Columbia University Press, 1929) Medieval Libraries of Great Britain: A List of Surviving Books Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, Ker, N.R. (London, Offices of the Royal Historical Society, 1964) Catalogue of Irish manuscripts in Cambridge libraries, De Brún, PádraigHerbert, Máire (Cambridge, University Press, 1986) Sources of Anglo-Saxon literary culture: a trial version Medieval & Renaissance texts & studies, Biggs, Frederick M.Szarmach, Paul E.Hill, Thomas D. (Binghamton, N.Y, Center for Medieval Studies, 1990) Liturgy and the ecclesiastical history of late Anglo-Saxon England: four studies Studies in Anglo-Saxon history, Dumville, David N. (Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 1992) Old English Glossed Psalters Toronto Old English Studies, Pulsiano, Phillip (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2001, https://doi-org.ezp.lib.cam.ac.uk/10.3138/9781442678040) 'The Southampton Psalter': a palaeographical and codicological exploration Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic manuscript-studies, Duncan, Elizabeth (Cambridge, Dept. of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic, University of Cambridge, 2004) The Cambridge Illuminations: Ten Centuries of Book Production in the Medieval West, (London, Harvey Miller, 2005) The corpus of Gaelic manuscripts of the eleventh and twelfth centuries Celtic essays, 2001-2007 Studies in Celtic cultures, Dumville, D.N. (Old Aberdeen, 83-91, Centre for Celtic Studies, University of Aberdeen, 2007) Writing in the Insular world Cambridge history of the book in Britain, Brown, Michelle P. (Cambridge, 1: c. 400-1100, 121-166, Cambridge University Press, 2011, https://doi-org.ezp.lib.cam.ac.uk/10.1017/CHOL9780521583459.005) The material fabric of early British books The Cambridge history of the book in Britain, Gameson, Richard (Cambridge, 1: c. 400-1100, 13-93, Cambridge University Press, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521583459.003) Psalters Cambridge history of the book in Britain, Toswell, M.J. (Cambridge, 1: c. 400-1100, 468-481, Cambridge University Press, 2011) Psalterium Suthantoniense Corpus Christianorum. Continuatio Mediaevalis, (Turnhout, Brepols, 2012)Bibliography
Manuscript decoration:
Illuminated manuscripts The Connoisseur's library, Herbert, J. A. (London, Methuen and co., 1911) Vorkarolingische Miniaturen, Zimmermann, E. Heinrich (Berlin, Im Selbstverlage des Deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft, 1916) The earliest Irish representations of the Crucifixion Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Gougaud, L. (ser. 6, 10, 128-139, 1921) English Illumination. Plates, Saunders, O. E. (Florence and Paris, 2, 1928) English illumination. Text, Saunders, O. E. (Florence and Paris, 1, 1928) Sources of the Irish illuminative art Art Studies: Medieval, Renaissance and Modern, Hovey, W.R. (105-120, 1928) L'enluminure du haut moyen âge et les influences irlandaises, Micheli, Geneviève Louise (Bruxelles, Éditions de la Connaissance, 1939) Essai sur les origines de la miniature dite irlandaise Les Publications de Scriptorium, Masai, François (Bruxelles, Éditions Erasme, 1947) The 'David Cycle' in early Irish art The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Roe, Helen M. (79, 1/2, 39-59, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1949, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25510685) Irische Miniaturen: zwölf farbige Bilder aus Handschriften irischer Mönche Frühmittelalterliche Buchmalerei, Wenger, Paul Wilhelm (Hamburg, Friedrich Wittig Verlag, 1957) Remarks on the Decoration of Three Irish Psalters Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Henry, Françoise (61, 23-40, Royal Irish Academy, 1960, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25505093) A Century of Irish Illumination (1070-1170) Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Henry, FrançoiseMarsh-Micheli, G. L. (62, 101-166, Royal Irish Academy, 1961, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25505105) Irish art in the early Christian period, to 800 A.D., Henry, Françoise (London, Methuen, 1965) Die karolingischen Miniaturen Denkmäler deutscher Kunst, (Berlin, 7, B. Cassirer, 1971) Insular manuscripts: 6th to the 9th century A survey of manuscripts illuminated in the British Isles, Alexander, J.J.G. (London, Miller, 1978) Insular and Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscripts: an iconographic catalogue, c. A.D. 625 to 1100 Garland reference library of the humanities, Ohlgren, Thomas H. (New York, Garland, 1986) The symbolic illustration of the Psalter: an Insular tradition Arte medievale, Openshaw, Kathleen M. (2nd ser, 6, 1, 41-59, 1992) Weapons in the daily battle: images of the conquest of evil in the early medieval Psalter The Art Bulletin, Openshaw, Kathleen M. (75, 1, 17-38, 1993, https://www.jstor.org/stable/3045930) Medieval Welsh manuscripts, Huws, Daniel (Cardiff, University of Wales Press and The National Library of Wales, 2000) Deciphering the art of interlace From Ireland coming: Irish art from the early Christian to the late Gothic period and its European context Index of Christian Art occasional papers, Budny, Mildred (Princeton, N.J, Index of Christian Art, Department of Art & Archæology, Princeton University, 2001) The language of forms: lectures on Insular manuscript art, Schapiro, Meyer (New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, 2005) An Irish stroke of European genius: Irish high crosses and the Emperor Charles the Bald Insular & Anglo-Saxon art and thought in the early medieval period The index of Christian art : occasional papers, Harbison, P. (Princeton, N.J, 133-148, Index of Christian Art, Dept. of Art & Archaeology, Princeton University, 2011) Audience, visuality and naturalism: depicting the crucifixion in tenth-century Irish art The mystery of Christ in the fathers of the Church: essays in honour of D. Vincent Twomey SVD, Ní Ghrádaigh, Jennifer (Dublin, Four Courts Press, 2012)Bibliography
Secondary studies:
Exhibition of illuminated manuscripts, , (1908) Irish Psalters The Journal of Theological Studies, Bannister, H. M. (12, 46, 280-284, Oxford University Press, 1911, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23948901) Theodore of Mopsuestia and St Columban on the Psalms Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, Ramsay, Robert L. (8, 1, 421-451, 1912, https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/zcph.1912.8.1.421/html?lang=en) Monastic revival The History of the English Speaking Peoples, Barlow, F. (1, 261-266, 1969) Psalter Text and Psalter Study in the Early Irish Church (A.D. 600-1200) Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, McNamara, MartinSheehy, Maurice (73, 201-298, Royal Irish Academy, 1973, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25506278) Antiphonarium Nidrosiensis ecclesiae Libri liturgici Provinciae Nidrosiensis Medii Aevi, Gjerløw, Lilli (Osloiae, Norsk historisk kjeldeskrift-institutt, Den Rettshistoriske kommisjon, 1979) A bibliography of Celtic-Latin literature, 400-1200 Royal Irish Academy dictionary of medieval Latin from Celtic sources. Ancillary publications, Lapidge, MichaelSharpe, Richard (Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 1985) The letters of Humfrey Wanley: palaeographer, Anglo-Saxonist, librarian, 1672-1726: with an appendix of documents, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1989) The Battle between Christ and Satan in the Tiberius Psalter Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Openshaw, K. M. (52, 14-33, Warburg Institute, 1989, https://www.jstor.org/stable/751536) The prefatory matter of London, British Library, Cotton Vitellius E. xviii Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and their heritage, Pulsiano, Philip (Aldershot, 85-116, Ashgate, 1998) Contextualising the Rouen Psalter: palaeography, codicology and form The Journal of Celtic Studies, Duncan, Elizabeth (5, 17-60, 2005) Anglo-Saxon manuscripts: a bibliographical handlist of manuscripts and manuscript fragments written or owned in England up to 1100 Anglo-Saxon manuscripts Toronto Anglo-Saxon series, Gneuss, HelmutLapidge, Michael (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2014) Meditation, translation, the liturgy, and the medieval illustrated psalter in the west A book of Psalms from eleventh-century Byzantium: the complex of texts and images in Vat. Gr. 752 Studi e testi, Reilly, D.J. (Città del Vaticano, 569-608, Biblioteca apostolica vaticana, 2016)Digital Images
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
