Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 4166.22

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77234

Introduction: This fragment, probably copied in the 15th or 16th century, is a single folio from an Oktoechos, a liturgical book containing hymns for Sunday services, arranged according to the eight echoi (musical modes). Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

Oktoechos

Fragment: Παρακλητικὴ ἤτοι Ὀκτώηχος ἡ μεγάλη, ed. Venice 1879, pp. 130-131; ed. Rome 1885, pp. 265-267

Incipit: || Recto τρυφῆς τὰς ψυχὰς ἀνάπαυσον

Explicit: Verso Μακαρίας σου ζωῆς· αἰωνίων||

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Parchment

Extent: Fragment (scrap) 1 leaves. 272 × 216 mm.

Condition

There is considerable pest damage to the fragment and some water staining and areas of dirt.

Layout

Two columns of 40 lines. 228 × 170 mm. Pricking does not survive. Ruled in hardpoint, type Leroy 21C2a or 22C2 (a lower horizontal line may have been lost to cropping). Text hangs from the lines.

Hand(s)

The main text was copied in a mixed minuscule script, with variable slant, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear only at the end of lines. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent or subscript. There is decorative use of the double dot, and accentuation of all nomina sacra .

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points and full stop.

Decoration

The beginnings of hymns are marked by minor initials in red ink.

History

Origin: The style of script suggests that the fragment was copied in the 15th or 16th century.

Provenance and Acquisition

Part of an album of fragments (MS Add. 4166) owned by the antiquarian Thomas Bateman (1821-1861) .

The album went by descent to Bateman's son, Thomas .

The album was bought at Sotheby's in May 1893 by the bookseller Bernard Quaritch at the auction of the Bateman collection, for £10 (lot 1528).

The album was bought from Quaritch by the collector Samuel Sandars (1837-1894) .

The album was bequeathed to the University Library by Samuel Sandars (1837-1894) in 1894.

Additional Information

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.

Bibliography

The Barrow knight, the Bristol bibliographer, and a lost Old English prayer Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, Rushforth, Rebecca (13, 372-392, 2004)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 4166.22

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