Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2709(1)

Baudouin d'Avennes, Chronique (fragments)

Introduction: A note on the display of images: These two fragments were removed from a printed book at Cambridge University Library at an uncertain date, either in or prior to 1912. At an unknown date or dates thereafter, they were flattened, the spine fold of the original manuscript reinstated and the two contiguous strips of parchment joined together with tape (see Custodial History). Current practice would digitise such fragments flat, as objects. However, when they were photographed in 2022, four images were taken, representing the fragments as portions of two leaves in a bifolium. They are therefore labelled as such here: the recto and verso of the first leaf, followed by the recto and verso of the second leaf. Dr James Freeman|Medieval Manuscripts Specialist|Cambridge University Library

Language(s): Old French

Leaf 1-Leaf 2

Chronique Baudouin d'Avennes

Language(s): Old French

The text had previously been identified as a version of Dares Phrygius, De excidio Troie (see Accompanying Material and Source).

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Parchment

Extent: Fragment, comprising two contiguous strips of parchment, once used as endleaf guards in a later volume. 2 items, now joined together with tape. Item 1 is the top item; Item 2 the bottom. The dimensions provided here for the two fragments are for their total width and height as flattened components in a former binding. In addition, for Item 1, the measurement from the spine fold to the edge of the fragment is also given as an indication of the minimum possible width of the leaves of the source manuscript.

Item 1 41-43 × 397-400 mm. 262
Item 2 40-46 × 402 mm.

Foliation:

No numbering.

Condition

The fragments have evidence of their re-use as components of a later volume (see Provenance and Custodial History).

Layout

170 Ruled in leadpoint, frame and line in two columns.

Hand(s)

Written in littera textualis script.

Decoration

Four- or five-line initials, alternating in red or blue, with marginal flourishing and infill executed in contrasting purple or red ink.

Additions

'N.13.7' written on both fragments by a hand of the 19th century (see Provenance).

Accompanying Material

Housed inside a large paper folder, bearing notes by Charles Sayle (not photographed), including the source of the fragments, their date of discovery and a tentative textual identification (see Contents, Provenance and Custodial History). Classmark written onto the folder by a later hand, apparently B.F.C. Atkinson (1895-1971) .

History

Origin: 14th century. ; France.

Perhaps from the same source manuscript as Gent, Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, HS.2582/271 (ex. inf. Godfried Croenen).

Provenance and Acquisition

The fragments were separated from the source manuscript at an unknown date.

The fragments were re-used as components in the binding of Giasone dal Maino, In primam Infortiati partem commentaria (Lugduni: [s.n.], 1581-82) (classmark: Cambridge, University Library, N.3.17), at an unknown date but probably shortly after its printing, as indicated by the style of binding (parchment over pasteboards, with a cartouche blind-tooled in the centre of both covers, and two silk ties (both gone)) and the presence of spine linings made from further fragments from a different source manuscript.

John Moore (1646-1714) , bishop of Ely (see Acquisition).

Presented to the University Library in 1715 by George I (1660-1727) : donation bookplate engraved by John Pine (1690-1756) in 1736 on the inside of the front cover of N.3.17.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on an unpublished descriptions of the manuscript composed by B.F.C. Atkinson (1895-1971) (though surviving in a copy made by A.E.B. Owen (1924-2008) ), now held in the University Archives (UA ULIB 7/3/72).

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Custodial History

The fragments were removed from the binding of N.13.7 at an uncertain date, either in or prior to 1912. According to notes on the paper folder in which they were housed, written Charles Sayle (1864-1924) , they were 'Found 17 Jan 1912'.

The fragments were flattened and adhered to one another, and the original spine fold reinstated, at an unknown date or dates prior to 2023.

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2709(1)

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