Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

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

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.21

Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia regum Britanniae

Contents

Introduction: Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.2.21 (hereafter Trinity MS O.2.21) is a composite manuscript of three parts. The second, and by far the largest part contains a copy of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae (ff. 5r-117v). The other texts in the manuscript are miscellaneous in nature and include medical treatises, extracts from the Secreta secretorum of pseudo-Aristotle, and a didactic poem to teach Anglo-Norman vocabulary. All of the parts seem to have been together by the later middle ages, but the date of their compilation is unknown. Trinity MS O.2.21 is remarkable not only for the breadth of its texts, but also for the illustrious careers and connections of several of its former owners. The first identifiable owner of MS O.2.21 is Sir John More (c. 1453-c. 1530) , lawyer and father of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII. Sir John More added records about his marriage and the births of his six children (including Thomas) to ff. 139v-140r (these notes have been transcribed and translated in the Additions section below). The next identifiable owner is John Dee (1527-1603) , English mathematician and court astronomer of Queen Elizabeth I. Dee's characteristic three 'Jupiter marks' ♃ ♃ ♃ are present on f. 1r and a further two ♃ ♃ are written in the upper margin of f. 2r. After Dee, the next identifiable owner is George Carew (1555-1629) , Baron Clopton and 1st earl of Totnes. Carew signed his name as 'G: Carew' in a blank space in the right-hand column of f. 1v. Carew is principally known for the collection of manuscripts and printed books on Irish history that he amassed as an administrator in Ireland between 1574 and 1592, most of which are now part of collections at Lambeth Palace and the Bodleian Libraries through the efforts of Sir Thomas Stafford (c. 1574-1655) , antiquary (and probably Carew's illegitimate son), and then William Laud (1573-1645) , Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-1645, who dispersed the collection. It is not clear if MS O.2.21 was among the books that passed from George Carew to Thomas Stafford and then William Laud. After Carew, the next identifiable owner is the physician Levin Fludd (?1611-?1709) , who signed the manuscript on f. 1r as 'LE Fludd'. Levin Fludd matriculated as a pensioner at Trinity College in 1629, was a scholar there in 1631, and was awarded a B.A. there c. 1631-2, and then may have undertaken further study in Leiden in 1634. The route for Trinity MS O.2.21 between George Carew and Levin Fludd is uncertain, but it may have been passed from Carew to Sir Thomas Fludd (c. 1530-1607) , M.P. for Maidstone, collector of books and manuscripts and acquaintance of several prominent antiquarians - or to his son, Robert Fludd (1574-1637) , a physician and author with scientific and spiritualist interests. Robert Fludd was the uncle of Levin Fludd and some accounts claim that Levin Fludd inherited part of Robert Fludd's library, although the source for these claims is uncertain. As with numerous other books at Trinity College, the manuscript came into the hands of Thomas Gale (1635/36-1702) , dean of York, antiquary, and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. The manuscript is listed among Gale's manuscripts in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (1697). Thomas Gale's manuscript collection passed to his son Roger Gale (1672-1744) , who donated his father's collection to Trinity College in 1738. Trinity MS O.2.21 has provenance connections to other manuscripts at Trinity College that may help to elucidate some of its journeys between its former owners. There are two other manuscripts that were also signed by Levin Fludd with the same 'LE Fludd' that were also included in the Gale donation: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.56 (front flyleaf 4r), and Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.5.6 (f. 1r). Another manuscript, Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.46, is a semi-autograph copy of Robert Fludd, A philosophicall key, a manuscript partly in Robert Fludd's hand, and which came to Trinity College via the Gale donation (though it was not signed by Levin Fludd). Trinity MS O.2.21 is also one of several manuscripts at Trinity College that once belonged to John Dee . Other Dee manuscripts at Trinity College include (with references in square brackets to J. Roberts and A.G. Watson's studies of Dee's library; see References for full citation): Three of the manuscripts listed above (Trinity MSS O.1.57, O.2.21, and O.7.23) were also owned by George Carew; it is possible that Carew received the books directly from Dee, since Carew was godfather to one of Dee's children, and presumably thus well-acquainted with him (see C. F. Smith (1909), p. 220). Dr Sarah Gilbert| Project Cataloguer|Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries | References
C.F. Smith, John Dee: 1527-1608 (London, 1909)
J. Roberts and A.G. Watson, John Dee's Library Catalogue (1990)
J. Roberts, and A.G. Watson, 'John Dee’s Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009)

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3r: duos colores
Form: codex
Support: All medieval leaves parchment. Three paper flyleaves contemporary with the binding at each end of the volume.
Extent: Codex: iii + 4 | 115 | 21 + iii leaves. 220 × 145 mm.
Foliation:

Foliation in use in this record: ?16th century foliation sequence, with later additions

i-iii + 1-4 | 5-119 | 120-140 + iv-vi

The core leaves are foliated in ink in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto in a ?16th century hand, ff. 1-140. The paper endleaves are unnumbered and so have been assigned the designations ff. i-iii at the beginning of the volume, and ff. iv-vi at the end.

Collation

A composite manuscript of three Parts (ff. 1-4 | 5-119 | and 120-140). All three Parts were together by the 16th century at the latest as there is a list of the contents of the volume in a 16th century hand on f. 1r that refers to texts in all three Parts. The quires are arranged as follows:

  • Quire 14 (ff. 1-4) |
  • Quires 2-812 (ff. 5-88)
  • Quires 9-1010 (ff. 89-108)
  • Quire 1112-1 (ff. 109-119: 12th leaf cancelled) |
  • Quire 1212 (ff. 120-131)
  • Quire 1312-3 (ff. 132-140: 10th-12th leaves cancelled)

14 | 2-812 9-1010 1112-1 (12th cancelled) | 1212 1312-3 (10th-12th cancelled)

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quires signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Additions

Quire signatures ('1-13') in the bottom right-hand corner of the recto side of the first leaf of each quire, written in pencil by a hand of the 19th/20th century.

Binding

Quarter-bound in ?tawed skin with paper sides over paste- or mill-boards. No raised bands on spine. Spine capped at head and tail by back-material, no headbands visible.

Painted head, fore, and tail edges of the bookblock in red, ochre and black; design seems to have been geometric in nature but has been significantly disrupted due to rubbing and subsequent rebinding of the leaves.

The alpha-numeric elements of the manuscript's current classmark ('O.2.21') are printed separately on three paper labels fixed to the spine with an adhesive.

Paper pastedowns at each end of the volume. The front pastedown contains the present shelfmark 'O.2.21' written in red-brown crayon.

Three paper endleaves, ff. i-iii at the front of the volume and three paper endleaves at the rear of the volume, ff. iv-vi at the rear of the volume; all paper endleaves probably contemporary with the binding.

Folio i recto contains:

  • The present shelfmark of the volume, 'O.2.21' in pencil
  • A note in pencil - 'Two last fol. on More family, notes by Judge Sir John More, father of Sir Thomas More'.

Folio [vi] recto contains the present shelfmark 'O.2.21' written in pencil. All other paper leaves blank.

Dimensions (L x W x D): 230 x 150 x 50 mm

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by Sir John More (c. 1453-1530) , lawyer and father of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII. Notes relating to the birth of John More's children, written presumably by his hand, on ff. 139v-140r. John More's will survives, but does not give specific instructions for the dispersal of his books.

The National Archives, PROB 11/23/381

Owned by John Dee (1527-1608) , English mathematician and court astronomer at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Dee's characteristic three 'Jupiter marks' ♃ ♃ ♃ are present on f. 1r and a further two ♃ ♃ are written in the upper margin of f. 2r. The manuscript is recorded in Roberts and Watson 'Additions and Corrections' (2009) where it has the siglum DM3a. Roberts and Watson include the information that Professor W.H. Sherman identified the title inscription in the upper margin of f. 5r 'Galfredus monumetensis' as being in Dee's hand.

J. Roberts and A.G. Watson, 'John Dee’s Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009), no. DM3a

Owned by George Carew (b. 1555, d. 1629), Baron Clopton and 1st earl of Totnes. Carew signed his name as 'G: Carew' in a blank space in the right-hand column of f. 1v. Carew is principally known for the collection of manuscripts and printed books on Irish history that he amassed as an administrator in Ireland between 1574 and 1592. He bequeathed this collection to Sir Thomas Stafford (b. c. 1574, d. 1655), antiquary (and probably Carew's illegitimate son), who passed it to William Laud (1573-1645) (b. 1573, d. 1645), Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-1645 who dispersed the collection.

The largest single holding of Carew's collection (42 items) now belongs to Lambeth Palace Library, but Carew volumes are also among the Laudian collection at the Bodleian Library, at University College in Oxford, and at the British Library. The fate of the Carew collection was discussed by M. R. James (1927), but James seems to have been unaware of the following medieval manuscripts of English origin and signed by Carew (including this one) now at Trinity College Cambridge, Edinburgh University Library, and the British Library:|

| Four of the above manuscripts contain John Dee's 'Jupiter marks' (British Library, Harley MSS 204, 223, 234, and Trinity College MS O.2.21) and two more were owned by him (Cambridge, Trinity College, MSs O.1.57 and O.7.23) Carew may have received the volumes directly from Dee as the two men seem to have been friends, and according to one biography of Dee, Carew was godfather to one of Dee's children (see C. F. Smith (1909), p. 220). It may be that Trinity MS O.2.21 followed a similar path to other parts of Carew's collection and having initially passed from Dee to Carew, it then passed on to Stafford and then to Laud before appearing among the possessions of the next known owner, Levin Fludd.
J. H. Todd, 'Account of an Ancient Irish Manuscript, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford', Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (1836-1869), Volume 2 (1840-1844), pp. 336-346
C. F. Smith, John Dee: 1527-1608 (London, 1909)
M. R. James, 'The Carew Manuscripts', The English Historical Review, 42 (1927), 261-267
J. Roberts and A.G. Watson, John Dee's Library Catalogue (1990)
U. Lotz-Heumann 'Carew, George, earl of Totnes' ODNB (2004) (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)
J. Roberts, and A. G. Watson, 'John Dee’s Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009), [DM3a]

However, there is other evidence of provenance that might indicate that Trinity MS O.2.21 followed a different route after Carew's possession of the volume. Instead MS O.2.21 may have passed from Carew to Sir Thomas Fludd (c. 1530-1607) , MP for Maidstone, collector of books and manuscripts and acquaintance of several prominent antiquarians - or to his son, Robert Fludd (1574-1637) , a physician and author with scientific and spiritualist interests. Robert Fludd's nephew, Levin Fludd (?1611-?1709) , signed MS O.2.21 on f. 1r as 'LE Fludd': some accounts claim that Levin Fludd inherited part of Robert Fludd's library, although the source for these claims is not easily discovered. Another manuscript, partly in Robert Fludd's hand, also came to Trinity College via the Gale donation (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.46: Robert Fludd, A philosophicall key), though this was not signed by Levin Fludd.

Levin Fludd was probably the son of Robert Fludd's brother Thomas Fludd, and Thomas' wife, Catherine Bufkin (married c. 1600/1601), daughter of Levin Bufkin (c. 1533-1617), MP for Maidstone, Kent. A Levin Fludd matriculated as a pensioner at Trinity College in 1629, was a scholar there in 1631, and was awarded a B.A. there c. 1631/2. Venn suggests that this Levin Fludd may be the same person as the Levinus Fluvius who was a student in Leiden in July 1634. Fludd signed his name as 'LE Fludd' in this manuscript and also in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.56, front flyleaf 4r and Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.5.6, f. 1r , both of which were also part of the Gale donation (see below).

History of Parliament - Sir Thomas Fludd
History of Parliament - Lewen Bufkin MP
Venn:ACAD FLT629L (as Lewin Flud)
W. Berry, County Genealogies: Pedigrees of the Families in the County of Kent (London, 1830), pp. 304, 448, and 470

One of the manuscripts of Thomas Gale (b. 1635/36, d. 1702) dean of York, antiquary, and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. The manuscript is listed in the list of Gale's manuscripts in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (1697).

ODNB: Gale, Thomas (doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10298)

One of the manuscripts of Roger Gale (1672-1744) , antiquary and scholar, son of Thomas Gale. Inherited from his father.

ODNB: Gale, Roger (doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10294)

Donated to Trinity College by Thomas Gale , son of Roger Gale, in 1738. The Gale donation is recorded in .

Part 1: assorted texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.21, ff. 1-4]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 1r
Early modern (?16th century) list of the contents of the volume
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the early modern list of the contents of the volume on f. 1r (all numbering as in the manuscript): |

  • 1 Cur mundus militat sub vana gloria : fol: 1
  • 2 Tractatus phisionomiae fol: 2
  • 3 Galfridus Monumetensis fol: 5
  • 4 French verses fol:120
  • 5 Epistola incerti Authoris ad Alexandrum continens precepta quadam physica fol:134
  • 6 Secreta Hippocratis 138
  • 7 Visio Beati Pauli da peonis inferni fol: 117

2. 1v
Poem: Vanitas vanitatum
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 1v Cur mundus militat sub uana gloria| Cuius prosperitas sit transitoria | Tam cito labitur eius potencia| Quam vasa figuli quae sunt fragilia | Plus crede litteris scriptis in glacie Quam mundi fragilis vane fallaciae |
Explicit: 1v Superna cogita cor sit in ethere| Felix qui poterit mundum contempnere

This poem is attributed to several authors, most commonly: Walter Map (d. 1209/10) , royal clerk, raconteur and satirist; Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306) , an Italian Franciscan monk who composed several songs in praise of God and dramatisations of the gospels; and Bernard of Clairvaux (1090/91-1153) , French monk, abbot and co-founder of the Knights Templar.

This appears to be one of the oldest surviving copies of this poem, as most other copies date from the 14th-16th centuries.

Edited as 'De mundi vanitate' (not from this MS) in T. Wright (ed.), The Latin Poems Commonly Attributed to Walter Mapes (Camden Society, 1841), pp. 147-148
Walther, Initia, no. 3934
3. 2r-4r
Extract from Book 10 the Secreta Secretorum on physiognomy pseudo-Aristotle
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 2r Et inter ceteras res illa est quam te non oportet ignorare
Explicit: 4r eet aduersa declina semper ad meliorem et probaciorem partem
Final rubric: 4r Completus est tractatus de signis et moribus naturalibus hominem ad regem magnificum alexandrum qui dominatus fuit toti orbi dictus monarcha in septentrione

Folio 4v blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3r: duos colores
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 4 leaves. 210 × 140 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 14 (ff. 1-4)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In fair condition; folios 1r-2r are dark and stained, but text is still legible.

Layout

170 × 120 mm. Folio 1v: aranged in double-column format, no ruling visible due to condition of the leaf. Written 32 lines to the column and below top line. The text on this leaf is a poem; the poem is written line-by-line, but without the first-letter-offset often used for medieval poetry mise-en-page.

165 × 100 mm. Folios 2r: arranged in single-column format, no ruling visible due to condition of the leaves. Written 32-37 lines to the page and below top line.

Hand(s)

Folios 1v-4r written in a northern textualis libraria. Double compartment a, no loops on ascenders of b, d (diagonal ascender), h, k, l. Round s primarily used in primary and terminal positions, long s in medial positions. Small flicked feet on minims.

Decoration

Flourished initial at the beginning of the text on f. 2r - red and blue puzzle initial with red and blue labrynthine flourishing extending into the upper and inner margin.

Plain initials in red in a 'Lombardic' style at the minor divisions of the texts.

Summary rubrics to sections of the text on ff. 2r in red in the outer margins. Paraph marks in red to further divide the text according to syntax. Red and blue 'bracketing' to indicate internal groups of 2 and 4 lines of the poem on f. 1v.

Additions

Several former shelfmarks in ink on f. 1r as follows:

  • O.15.1 (struck through)
  • B.1 (struck through)
  • No. 67.

Partial notes towards a list of the contents of the volume on f. 1r in ink in an early modern hand as follows: 'Secreta Hip : Signa morbis : Physiognomia'.

Binding

Traces of a metal clasp of a former binding visible as damage to the outer margin of f. 1. There are small holes tinged with green at their perimeters at the centre of the outer margin of f. 1, these holes are characteristic of abrasion damage caused by the metal fittings that would have formed part of a fastening across the centre of the fore edge of a former binding. The fastening was probably made of brass, as the green stains around the holes are due to the copper content of the brass fitting.

History

Origin: Probably 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 2: Geoffrey of Monmouth Historia regum Britanniae, and other texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.21, ff. 5-119]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 5r-117v
Historia regum Britanniae Geoffrey of Monmouth
Language(s): Latin
1.1. 5r-5v
Prologue to the Historia regum Britanniae Geoffrey of Monmouth
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 5r Incipit prologus super librum hystoriarum regum Britannie
Incipit: 5r Cum mecum multa et de multis sepius animo reuoluens in historiam regum britanniae inciderem
Explicit: 5v ut sub tegmine tam patule arboris recubans : calamum muse mee coram inuidis atque reprobis tuto modulamine resonare queam
1.2. 5v-117v
Main text of the Historia regum Britanniae Geoffrey of Monmouth
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 5v Brittania insularum optima . in occidentali occeano inter galliam et hyberniam sita
Explicit: 117v Reges autem eorum qui ab illo tempore in Gualliis successerunt . Karadoco Lankarbanensi contemporaneo meo in materia scribendi permitto . Reges uero saxonum Willelmo malmesburiensi et henrico huntendonensi . quos de regibus britonum tacere iubeo cum non habeant librum illum britannici sermonis quem Walterus oxenefordensis archidiaconus ex britannia aduexit . quem de historia eorum ueraciter editum in honore praediccorum principum hoc modo in latinum sermonem transferre curaui
Final rubric: 117v VALETE

Title in the upper margin of f. 5r 'Galfredus monumetensis' in the hand of John Dee : Roberts and Watson, in their survey of Dee's library, include the information that Professor W.H. Sherman identified the title inscription as being in Dee's hand.

Edited and translated (not from this MS) in M. Reeve and N. Wright, Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain: An Edition and Translation of De gestis Britonum [Historia Regum Britanniae] (Woodbridge, 2007)
J. Roberts, and A. G. Watson, 'John Dee's Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009), [DM3a]
2. 117v-119r
Visio Pauli
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 117v Visio beati pauli : De penis inferni
Incipit: 117v Dies dominicus est electus in quo gaudebunt angeli et archangeli . maior est diebus ceteris
Explicit: 119r Sunt pene .cm.xl.iiiior.milia. Nos .uero. fratres Karissimi audientes ista mala conuertatur[sic] ad deum ut regnemus cum ipso . et uiuamus in secula seculorum . Amen .
Edited (not from this MS) in T. Silverstein, Visio S. Pauli, Studies and Documents IV (1935)
3. 119r
Text on the journey of the soul after death
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the text on the soul on f. 119r reproduced with minor corrections from M.R. James, Catalogue:| Cum anima exierit de corpore : in primis uadit in orientem De oriente in iordanem . De iordane in ierusalem . De ierusalem : ad templum salomonil[sic] . De templo salomonis ; Ad domum quam edificauit adam . Deinde ; ad montem oliueti . Deinde : ascendit in aera . Deinde adinuenit .iiiior. milia angelorum lucis . et .iiiior. milia angelorum tartaris preliantes prelium magnum pro animabus hominum . sicut in psalterio inquit . Dominus fortis et potens in prelio . Deinde uadit ad portam celestis Ierusalem . ubi colloquntur se inuicem diabolus et anima . sicut dixit propheta in libro psalmorum . Dum loquetur(?) inimicis suis in porta . Confessionem et decorem induisti amictus lumine sicut uestimento etc.

Folio 119v blank.

M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College Cambridge - A Descriptive Catalogue: Volume III: Containing An Account of the Manuscripts Standing in Class O (Cambridge, 1902), pp. 113-115, no. 1125

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 6r: congruit indeficienti fertilitate ministrat
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 115 leaves. 220 × 145 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 2-812 (ff. 5-88)
  • Quires 9-1010 (ff. 89-108)
  • Quire 1112-1 (ff. 109-119: 12th leaf cancelled)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords in the lower margin of the last verso of each quire.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

155-160 × 95-110 mm. Ruled in ink, crayon, and leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 30-31 lines to the page and written below top line. Ruling not visible on every leaf, but see e.g., f. 59v for an example of visible ruling.

Hand(s)

Main texts on ff. 5r-139r written in a northern textualis libraria by a single scribe. Double-compartment a, no loops on ascenders of b, d, h, k, l. Hairline stroke for the tittle of i. The letter x has an elongated lower-left stroke. Small flicked feet on minims.

Decoration

Flourished initials at the major and minor divisions of the texts. Large decorative puzzle initial 'C' on f. 5r; letterform in red and blue, counterspace filled with lilac (?folium) ground and white foliate interlace. Lilac decorative flourishes extending into the inner margin.

Section titles in red, often written entirely in the outer margin next to the main text, see e.g., f. 7r.

Large plain initials in 'Lombardic' style in red, green, or blue at the minor divisions of the texts, e.g., 'A' on f. 14v. Minor divisions within text (approximately corresponding to sentence) in text-ink touched with red.

Additions

Annotation in ink to upper margin of f. 5r in an early modern hand: 'Hollin: 394. in K. Stephen'.

History

Origin: 14th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical and decorative features.

Part 3: miscellaneous texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.21, ff. 120-140]

Contents

Language(s): Anglo-Norman with Middle English and Latin

1. 120r-133v
Tretiz de langage Walter de Bibbesworth
Language(s): Anglo-Norman with Middle English glosses
Rubric: 120r Chere soer pur ceo ke uus me priastes ke ieo meyse en escrit pur vos enfanuz[sic] acune aprise en franuceis[sic] en breue paroles ; ieo lay fet souloum ce ke ieo ay apris e so lum ceo ke les paroles me venent en me morie . ke les enfanuz[sic] pusent sauer les propretes de choses ke veent e kant deyuent dire moun . e ma soun e sa . la e le . e mey e ge .
Incipit: 120r Femme ke aproche soun tens| De enfaunter ; moustre sens| Kaunt se purueit de vne ventrere| Ke seit auysee counsillere| Kaunt ly enfes serra nez| Cel enfanut[sic] dounk maylolez
Explicit: 133v De maces e kubibes e clous doree| Vin blaunke e vermayl a grant plentee| E pus aueyent fesaunz e ascyez e perdriz| Griues e alouhes e plouers ben rostiz| E braun e crespes . e friture| Ho zukre roset poudre la temprure| Apres manger aueyent a graunt plentee| Blaunche poudre ho la grose dragee|

Dean and Boulton describe this version of the poem as 'the shorter recension, with letter'.

Edited as MS 'T' in W. Rothwell (ed.), Walter de Bibbesworth: Le Tretiz - from MS. G (Cambridge University Library Gg.1.1 and MS. T (Trinity College, Cambridge 0.2.21) Together with Two Anglo-French Poems in Praise of Women (British Library, MS. Additional 46919), The Anglo-Norman Online Hub (Aberystwyth, 2009)
IMEP 11, pp. 164-165, Trinity College MS O.2.21, [B3]
R.J. Dean, and M.B.M. Boulton, Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts, Anglo-Norman Text Society Occasional Publications Series, 3 (London: Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1999), no. 285.
2. 134r-138r
Extract from the Secreta Secretorum Book 2 pseudo-Aristotle
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 134r Nunc uero prius tradere uolo doctrinam medicinalem et quedam secreta que tibi sufficiunt in conseruacione sanitatis
Explicit: 138r a cuius medio usque ad medium marcii hyemps fundatur
Final rubric: 138r Explicit epistola aristotilis ad alexandrum

Note in ink in the upper margin of f. 134r in an early modern hand, 'Alterius pars est'.

eTK 0966K (t0185670000)
3. 138v-139r
Capsula eburnea (tr. Gerard of Cremona) pseudo-Hippocrates
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 138v Peruenit ad nos quod cum ypocras morti appropinquasset : precepit ut uirtutes sub scripte in capsa eburnea cum eo in sepulcro ponerentur
Explicit: 139r in xi die sue egritudinis . Signum est que desiderauit dulcia in principio egritudinis
Final rubric: 139r Expliciunt Secreta Ypocratis

This text is sometimes known as the 'Secreta Hippocratis' or the 'Secreta Ypocratis'.

P. Kibre, 'Hippocrates Latinus: Repertorium of Hippocratic Writings in the Latin Middle Ages (IV)', Traditio: Studies in Ancient and Medieval History, Thought, and Religion, 34 (1978), 193–226, esp. p. 201
4. 139r
Medical recipe for 'agu'
Language(s): Middle English with title in Latin, medieval French and Middle English
Rubric: 139r Bona medicina pro le agu

Full transcription: Take j handfull and di⟨midium⟩ of sorell j handfull and di⟨midium⟩ vyolet levys and j handfull and di⟨midium⟩ of letewys and handfull and di⟨midium⟩ spynage and ane handfull levys of marygold and ane handefull of hertstonges and sethe them in a pottell of condyte water to iij pyntes and streyn them and tak the water and put theryn suger and drynk sum of that water with whyte wyne etc.

IMEP 11, p. 96, Trinity College MS O.2.21, *[1]
5. 139r
Medical recipe
Language(s): Latin
6. 139v-140r
Birth records of the More family Sir John More
Language(s): Latin

See Additions for further discussion.

7. 140v
Unidentified recipe

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 121r: Le nees deit auer par resoun
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 21 leaves. 220 × 140 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 1212 (ff. 120-131)
  • Quire 1312-3 (ff. 132r-140v: 10th-12th leaves cancelled)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

160 × 95-100 mm. Folios 120r-133v ruled in ink, frame and lines, see e.g., f. 122v. Ruled in single-column format across the width of the leaf, but lines of poetry are shorter than width of ruled space; 'empty' space on the right hand side of each leaf used for glosses in Middle English in red ink in a contemporary hand, possibly that of the main scribe of the poem. Typically 30 lines to the page and written below top line.

160-170 × 100 mm. Folios 134r-138r ruled in ink, frame and lines; ruling not visible on every leaf but see e.g., f. 134v. Ruled in single-column format typically 36 lines to the page and written below top line.

180 × 110 mm. Folios 138v-139r ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format typically 43 lines to the page and written below top line. Folio 139r ruled coompletely, but main text finishes half way down the leaf.

Folios 139v-140v are informally written.

Hand(s)

Folios 120r-133v written in a northern texualis libraria. Double-compartment a, no loops on ascenders of b, d, h, k, l. Hairline stroke for the tittle of i. Dotted y. Crossed z. Distinctive k glyph resembling a Þ with an extremely truncated lower 'leg' resembling a dot on the lower outer corner of the loop of the bowl-stroke (see e.g., f. 121v line 2 'karkenole'). Small flicked feet on minims. Folios 134r-139r possibly in the same hand, but the change from Anglo-Norman to Latin, and the more compressed ruling of ff. 134r-138r make the identification a little uncertain.

Folios 138v-139r written in a northern texualis libraria. The hand on ff. 138v-139r is smaller and narrower than the scribal stint(s) on ff. 120r-133v and 134r-138r. Double-compartment a, no loops on ascenders of b, d, h, k, l. Hairline stroke for the tittle of i. The letter s in terminal position varies between tall-s, round-s, and an elongated-curve-s that drops below the baseline of the text.

Uppermost medical recipe on folio 139r written in anglicana with some secretary features..

Family records on ff. 139v-140r written in anglicana with some secretary features by Sir John More (c. 1453-1530) (see also Provenance). Fragment of poetry in upper portion of f. 140r probably not in More's hand (compare the as in 'alba' and More's a as well as other more subtle differences in the hands).

Lowermost medical recipe on f. 139r written in anglicana with some secretary features.

Lowermost medical recipe on f. 140v written in anglicana with some secretary features.

Decoration

Plain initials in the 'Lombardic' style at the major and minor divisions of the texts on ff. 120r-139r. Initials in red, green, and blue on ff. 120r-133v, and solely red ff. 134r-139r. Initials at the start of each line of the poem on ff. 120r-133v touched with red. Minor initials in the texts on ff. 134r-139r touched with red.

Middle English line-by-line subject-glosses to the Anglo-Norman poem on ff. 120r-133v written in red. Red paraph marks throughout 120r-139r.

Additions

Family records of the More family, perhaps in the hand of Sir John More (c. 1453-1530) (see also Provenance). Birth records translated and printed below as normalised and modernised text [editorial interventions with normalised dates enclosed in square brackets] with transcription and comments following in parentheses:|

  • Folio 139v:| Memorandum that this day Sunday, the vigil of Saint Mark the Evangelist in the 14th year of the reign of King Edward IV after the conquest of England John More gentleman was married to Agnes daughter of Thomas Graunger in the parish of Saint Giles extra Cripplegate [24 April 1474] - (Memorandum quod die dominica in vigilia sancti Marce Evangeliste Anno Regni Regis Edwardi quarti post conquestum Anglie quartodecimo Johannes More Gent maritatus fuit Agneti filie Thome Graunger in parochia santi Egidij extra Crepylgate london)
  • Folio 139v:| Memorandum that this day Saturday, the vigil of Pope Saint Gregory between the first hour and the second hour after noon the same day was born Johanna More daughter of John More gentleman in the 15th year of the reign of King Edward IV after the conquest of England [11 March 1475] - (Memorandum quod die sabbati in vigilia sancti gregorij pape anno inter horam primam & horam secundam post Meridiem eiusdem diei Anno Regni Regis Edwardi quarti post conquestum Angliae xvo nata fuit Johanna More filia Johannis More Gent)
  • Folio 139v:| Memorandum that the Friday next after the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (that is to say, the seventh day of February) between the second and third hour in the morning was born Thomas More son of John More gentleman, in the seventeenth year of of the reign of King Edward IV after the conquest of England [7 February 1478] - (Memorandum quod die veneris proximo post ffestum purificacionis beate Marie virginis videlicet septimo die ffebruarij inter horam secundam et horam terciam in Mane Natus fuit Thomas More filius Johannis More Gent Anno Regni Regis Edwardi quarti post conquestum Anglie decimo septimo)
  • Folio 139v:| Memorandum that this day Sunday, that is to say, the last day of January, between the seventh hour and the eighth hour before noon in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Edward IV was born Agatha daughter of John More gentleman [31 January 1479] (Memorandum quod die dominica videlicet vltimo die Januarij inter horam septimam et horam octauam ante Meridiem Anno regni Regis Edwardi quarti decimo octauo nata fuit Agatha filia Johannis More Gentilman)
  • Folio 139v: Memorandum that this day Tuesday, that is to say the 6th day of June, between the tenth hour and the eleventh hour before noon in the twentieth year of the reign of King Edward IV was born John More son of John More Gentleman [6 June 1480] - (Memorandum quod die Martis videlicet vjto die Junij inter horam decimam & horam vndecimam Ante meridiem natus fuit Johannes More filius Johannis More Gent Anno regni Regis Edwardi quarti vicesimo)
  • Folio 140r: | Memorandum that this day Monday, that is to say the third day of September between the second hour and the third hour in the morning in the twenty-first year of the reign of King Edward IV after the conquest of England was born Edward Moore son of John Moore gentleman [3 September 1481] - (Memorandum quod die lune videlicet tercio die Septembris inter horam secundam & horam terciam in Mane natus fuit Edwardus Moore filius Johannis More Gent Anno regni regis Edwardi iiijti post conquestum xxjo)
  • Folio 140r: | Memorandum that this day Sunday in the morning that is to say the 22nd day of September between the fourth hour and the fifth hour in the morning in the twenty-second year of the reign of King Edward IV was born Elizabeth More daughter of John More gentleman [22 September 1482] - (Memorandum quod die dominica in mane videlicet xxijo die Septembris anno regni regis Edwardi iiijti xxijo inter horam quartam & quintam in Mane Nata fuit Elizabeth More filia Johannis More Gent)

F. Mitjans, 'Reviewing and Correcting the Article on the Date of Birth of Thomas More', Moreana, 49.189–190 (2012), 251–262

Folio 140r: Short excerpt from a longer poem on the perilous days in a 15th century hand, the lines copied here are for January (full transcription): 'Pallida luna pluit rubicunda fiat alba'

Folio 140v: annotation describing and comparing the weights of various objects including basins ('basyns'), ewers ('ewers'), and gold chains ('cheyns of gold') written in a ?late 15th century hand.

History

Origin: 14th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College Cambridge - A Descriptive Catalogue: Volume III: Containing An Account of the Manuscripts Standing in Class O (Cambridge, 1902), pp. 113-115, no. 1125

Availability

Visitors to Trinity College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Trinity College: Information for Readers.

Bibliography

    Date of Sir Thomas More's Birth Notes & Queries, H, A (4th series, II.44, 423, 1868) Date of Sir Thomas More's Birth Notes & Queries, Seebohm, Frederic (4th series, II.44, 422-423, 1868) Date of Sir Thomas More's Birth Notes & Queries, Foss, Edward (4th series, II.44, 423, 1868) More Family Notes & Queries, Wright, William Aldis (4th series, II.42, 365-366, 1868) The Carew Manuscripts The English Historical Review, James, M.R. (42, 166, 261-267, 1927) Les manuscrits didactiques antérieurs au XIVe siècle. Essai d'inventaire Bulletin d'information de l'Institut de Recherche et d'Histoire des Textes, Bouly de Lesdain, Anne-Marie (13, 57-79, 1964, https://www.persee.fr/doc/rht_0073-8204_1966_num_13_1964_1023) Hippocrates Latinus: repertorium of Hippocratic writings in the Latin Middle Ages (IV) Traditio: Studies in Ancient and Medieval History, Thought, and Religion, Kibre, Pearl (34, 193-226, 1978) Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge Index of Middle English prose, Mooney, Linne R. (Woodbridge, D.S. Brewer, 1995) Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts Anglo-Norman Text Society Occasional Publications Series, Dean, Ruth J.Boulton, Maureen Barry McCann (London, Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1999) Pseudepigrapha Notes II: 3. The Contribution of the Manuscript Catalogues of M.R. James Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, Ditommaso, Lorenzo (18, 2, 83-160, 2008) Walter de Bibbesworth: Le Tretiz - from MS. G (Cambridge University Library Gg.1.1 and MS. T (Trinity College, Cambridge 0.2.21) together with two Anglo-French poems in praise of women (British Library, MS. Additional 46919) The Anglo-Norman Online Hub, (Aberystwyth, 2009) John Dee’s Library Catalogue: Additions and corrections The Bibliographical Society (special publication), Roberts, JulianWatson, Andrew G. (2009) The Date of Birth of Thomas More Moreana, Mitjans, Frank (47, 181-182, 109-128, 2010) Pseudepigrapha Notes III: 4. Old Testament Pseudepigrapha in the Yale University Manuscript Collection Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, Ditommaso, Lorenzo (20, 1, 3-80, 2010) Reviewing and Correcting the Article on the Date of Birth of Thomas More Moreana, Mitjans, Frank (49, 189-190, 251-262, 2012) A companion to Geoffrey of Monmounth Brill's Companions to European History, (Leiden, Brill, 2020)

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