Introduction:
The majority of this manuscript is the text of Imago Mundi, a
medieval compendium of classical and ecclesiastical knowledge. The main text (fol.1r-158r) has been attributed to Vincent of Beauvais (c.1184/1194 –
c.1264) who was a Dominican friar at the Cistercian monastery of Royaumont Abbey,
France.
There are over thirty additions made in the late 15th century, to the manuscript and
its
former pastedown. These are a compilation of medieval texts on a variety of subjects
including
philosophy, the history of Flanders, and poetry. The majority of these texts originate
in Flanders or
Burgundy.
The front former pastedown of the manuscript lists the Nine Worthies - nine heroic
individuals from history and legend. This is a motif common to late medieval literature.
It also lists
the Nine Unworthies: Cain, Nero, Pilate, Jeroboam I, Ahab, Judas Iscariot, J[eh]oram
(a name given to
two 9th century kings of Israel and Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord);
Julian the Apostate,
and Bernabò Visconti (1323-85), Lord of Milan. This manuscript is possibly the only
place that they
are known to be recorded
There are also memorial verses on the nine worthies and four distichs on the Fathers
of the
Church.
This manuscript was given to Trinity Hall by Robert Hare (d. 1611).
1. Unfoliated former pastedown
List of the Nine Worthies and Nine Unworthies, with verses on Worthies and Doctors
of the
Church
Novem probi
Language(s): Latin
2. Ar
Verses Pitagorica precepta, Enigmata Aristotelei, Septem miracula mundi
Language(s): Latin
3. Av
Verses Nomina septem sapientum grecie, De Philosophorum quorundam dictis elegantibus
Language(s): Latin
4. Br
Artium primi cultores
Language(s): Latin
A 2-column list of characters of classial mythology
5. Bv-Cr
De Marco Tullio Cicerone
Language(s): Latin
Twelve verses on the wisdom of Cicero
6. Cv-Dr
Oracio de Philippi Burgundie ducis post subjugationem Luxemburgi facta legatis Guillermi
ducis
Saxonie
Language(s): French
Incipit:
1v Vous avez oy ce que mon chancelier a dit du bon droit de ma
tante
Explicit:
Dr le me signifiez et faites savoir. Per eundem domininum ducem
prolata Luxemburgi
Speech concerning rights of Elizabeth of Görlitz (1390–1451), dated 1443
7. Dr
Letter of Pope Sixtus IV (d. 1485) to the Rectors and students at Louvain, Liège and
Ypres,
1473
Language(s): Latin
Rubric:
Dr Dilectis filii Rectore et universitate studii generalis Lovanensis
Leodiensis Dypresis
Incipit:
Dr Dilecti filii salutem et apostolicam benedictionem
Explicit:
DrPontificatus mei anno secundo. Sic signatum L. Grefus
Dated 1443
8. Dv
Lestat du roy
Language(s): French
Incipit:
Dv Ensuit le nombre des villes
Explicit:
Dv Et tant demourait au Roy sans son demaine
Account of the incomes and expenditure of the French crown
9. Er
Vaticinium Hermerici
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
Er Lilium regnam in nobiliori parte mundi
Explicit:
Er quia prima causa sibi promissa remanebit
Version of the 'Prophecy of the Lily, the Lion and the Son of Man'
10. Ev
Dates of Creation, Flood, Abraham, birth of Christ, in verse
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
Ev Ante Jhesum duo Ct minus anno Milia quinque
Explicit:
EvNascenti casto tot Beda dat a prothoplausto
11. Ev
Est mala mors capta
Language(s): Latin
Charm against poison
12. 1r-158r
Imago mundi (to 1270)
Speculum gestorum mundi
Speculum vel imago mundi
Vincent of Beauvais (c.1184/1194 – c.
1264)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric:
1v Ymago mundi per vincentium ordinis predicatorum
Incipit:
1v Deus ante omnem diem duo creauit scilicet naturum angelicum et
informem mundi materiam
Explicit:
158ra primo scilicet Julio usque ad
13. 158v
Verse Epitaph of Philip of Burgundy
Language(s): French
Incipit:
158v Jan fu ne de Philippe, qui de Jan Rey fu filz
Explicit:
158v Priez luy qui liziez, qu'il me donst Paradiz,
Amen
14. 159v
Verse Idem pro gallicam ignorantibus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
159r Johannes Philippo, Philippus a Rege
Explicit:
159r Ora mihi legens ut det paradisum
Date 1467 at foot of page
15. 159v-161v
De Bragmannis
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
159v Bragmanni quasi philosophi, unde Grece de eis scribunt quod
longeui sunt
Explicit:
161v Super moribus istorum bragmannorum ponit etium Brito in
prologo Biblie super epistolam Beati Jeronimii
From Speculum historiale
16. 162r
Manlio Torquato, Flaccus De vita humane brevitate per comparationem temporis hec
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
162rDiffugere niues, redeunt jam gramina campis
Explicit:
162rabrumpere caro vincula Pyrithoo
A copy of Horace, Odes 4.7
17. 162v
Ad beatissimam Virginem Mariam
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
162v O quam pulcra polo residere maria probaris
Explicit:
162v Luminis etherei stella, memento mei, Amen
Devotional Marian verse
18. 163r
Arnulphus de Palude, Super consolatione vii aut viii annorum, and verse, Epytaphium
Leonardi Aretini
ab Enea Silvio
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
163r Prelia maganatum video cum sanguinis undis
Explicit:
163r Leuam dextra timet, Septentrio preualet Austro
Lines from Simon of Couvin, De iudicio Solis in convivio Saturni
19. 163r
Epytaphium Leonardi Aretini, ab Enea Siluio Poeta Laureato
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
163r Hic Leonarde jaces Aretine gloria gentis
Explicit:
163r Gratior est obitis quam tibi vita fuit
Epitaph for Leonardi Bruni (d. 1444) by Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (Pope Pius II)
20. 163v
Grandeuus ac octogenarius astronomus de Alcaria Judeus natus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
163v De pape. Anno futuro, videlicet lxxxio
Explicit:
163v vitam finiens in Jherosolumitano templi
sepelietur
Prophesies about rulers of European countries. Dated 1480
21. 164r
Epitaphium Turci
Language(s): Latin
Incipit:
164r Qui vici innumeros populos, tot regna, tot vrbes
Explicit:
164r quidquid et orbis habet
Epitaph for Mehmet the Conqueror. Dated 1482
Origin:
15th c., ca. 1460 – 1480
; Flanders, probably Bruges
James suggests main text written in Bruges. Elizabeth New agreed it was Flanders based
on the contents
and script of fols. a – e, 163)
Provenance and Acquisition
1r:
Belonged to
Robert Hare (d. 1611)
whose name is written at the top of fol. 1r; his bequest
