Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

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

Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.1.28

Richard of Cirencester, Speculum historiale de gestis regum Anglie

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript contains the only known copy of the Speculum historiale de gestis regum Anglie of Richard of Cirencester (b. before 1340, d. 1400), monk of Westminster Abbey. A few records of Richard's life survive. He was first recorded as a novice in 1354-55; said his first Mass in 1361-62; and spent a brief period in 1364-1365 at Gloucester College, the Benedictine house in Oxford, before returning to his native abbey and likely beginning the compilation of this chronicle shortly thereafter. He held a couple of offices at intervals during his life: precentor, and later warden of the lady chapel between 1382 and 1383. In 1391, he was granted a license to go to Rome, but it is not known whether or not he made the journey. His presence in the abbey infirmary was recorded in 1400, the year in which he is thought to have died. The Speculum historiale is divided into four books, covering the period 447 to 1066, with much of its contents derived from other, mainly chronicle, sources. At the end of this manuscript, a rubric records the author's intention to compose a second part, commencing with the birth of William the Conqueror, but no such continuation has been identified and it is unlikely that it was ever written (see Additions). Set within the context of this broader narrative are substantial sections devoted to the history of Westminster Abbey. Its foundation is described at length (ff. 29v-31v); a tract by William of Sudbury, another monk of Westminster, was inserted in its entirety (ff. 140v-145v) and most of the fourth book is dedicated to the life and miracles of Edward the Confessor, the abbey's patron saint (f. 208v onwards). Claims relating to the manuscript's medieval provenance rest on an observation by J.E.B. Mayor, who edited the text as part of the Rolls Series: 'As the initials of the chapters relating to Westminster Abbey are specially elaborate, we may infer that this was the Abbey copy of the book' (Mayor, vol. 2, p. clxv). The first such initial occurs at the start of the chapter concerning the dedication of Westminster and the appointment of two bishops, Mellitus and Justus, by Augustine (d. 604), missionary and first archbishop of Canterbury (f. 29v). Similar such initials are found at the beginning of a dozen other chapters, however the connection between their subject-matter and Westminster is less clear. The manuscript was not included among those listed as belonging to Westminster in Neil Ker, Medieval Libraries of Great Britain, 2nd ed. (1964), p. 196 (nor is it in its digital successor, MLGB3 ). The approximate date of the manuscript's production, based on palaeographical evidence, suggests that it was copied within Richard's own lifetime, however. Given that no other copies are recorded in any surviving medieval book-list or inventory, its circulation appears to have been strictly limited - but whether this is the only copy that was ever made, and might be therefore the author's own copy, cannot presently be determined. Certainly, it cannot wholly be his autograph, since three hands were involved in its production, but it is possible that this represents a clean copy produced by amanuenses working for or in collaboration with Richard himself. Dr James Freeman |Medieval Manuscripts Specialist |Cambridge University Library

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment.
Extent: Codex: ii + 3 + 258 + 4 + ii leaves. 295 × 190 mm.
Foliation:

20th-century foliation:

[a-b] + i, 1-2 + 3-260 + 261, ii-iv + [c-d]

Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos, by an unidentified hand.
Foliation:

Mid-16th-century pagination:

1-517 (for ff. 3r-261r)

Numbering in red/orange crayon in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos (thus, odd numbers only), by Matthew Parker or one of his secretaries (see Additions and Provenance for further details).

Collation

1-178; 18-298; 30-328, 332

Additions

'Parkerian' annotations, bracketing, underlining, and manicules in red-orange crayon (ff. 81r, 134r-136v, 143v, 146v, 169r, 170v-171v, 183r, 200v, 201v, 203r), by Matthew Parker (1504-1575) , archbishop of Canterbury, or one of his circle.

Note on the author of the text, its scope, incipit, title and structure, and the title, scope and incipit of the second part of the text on f. 2v, by Stephen Batman (c. 1542-1584) . The incipit quoted for the second part of the text is the opening of the 'short' recension of the Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden (d. 1364) . Both this and a note appended to the colophon to the text (f. 260v) refer to the (mistaken) identification of the second part of the text in John Bale, Scriptorum illustrium maioris Brytannie (2nd ed., 1557-59), p. 430. Further notes by Batman on f. 3r, recording Parker's name, the date '1574' and the number of pages in the volume ('516'), added presumably just prior to the manuscript's donation to the University Library in that year.

Notes towards an alphabetical index, in ink (ff. 1r-2r and 261r-261v) and marginal annotations and underlining in pencil (ff. 76r-84v and scattered underlining thereafter, 113v-115v, 138v, 202v-203r, 226r-227r, 235r-236r) by the hand of Abraham Wheelocke (c. 1593-1653) , University Librarian 1629-53.

Marginal annotation by Thomas Baker (1656-1740) , antiquary (f. 149r).

Table of contents added by an unidentified 18th-century hand (f. i verso).

Binding

Quarter goatskin with marbled paper sides and vellum tips (J.P. Gray and Son, Cambridge, 1955).

Author and title inked onto the fore-edge by Abraham Wheelocke (c. 1593-1653) : '[...] Chichestrensi spec. hist. De gestis Regum Agnlie ab Hengisto ad Edou 3. 22 a 449 anno chr:'. Static parchment page markers attached to the fore-edge of leaves, marking the beginning of the text and of each book in the Speculum historiale.

Evidence preserved within the manuscript (endleaves bearing four friction-holes and rust stains, suggesting the presence formerly of four corner-bosses and a chain staple, and a title label preserved on the front pastedown) indicates that the manuscript was previously bound in similar style to that of the binding on other manuscripts donated to the University Library by Matthew Parker (for an example, see: MS Ii.2.4).

History

Provenance and Acquisition

John Stow (?1525-1605) , historian: memorandum on f. i recto recording Stow's exchange of this manuscript and another on parchment for a printed book with Matthew Parker , who presumably wrote the note: 'Memorandum that John Stowe coming to Lambith the [...] daye of Maie Anno 1572 was contented that this his booke with one all of parchment which I had of [him] should be left with me as my owne requiring to h[ave] Matthue Paris istorie printed which I delivered him [...] in exchange. And so he departed.' (The note is now much faded and the present transcription, checked against what remains, is taken from an unpublished description of the manuscript by H.L. Pink: see Data Source(s)).

Matthew Parker (1504-1575) , archbishop of Canterbury: partial pagination and other additions in characteristic red/orange crayon.

Presented to the University Library in 1574 by Matthew Parker (1504-1575) . No. 18 in the list of 25 'Libri Scripti in pergameno' published to commemorate Parker's gift (see Early catalogues of manuscripts, up to c. 1600).

Part 1: Speculum historiale [Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.1.28, ff. 3r-260v]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

3r-260v
Speculum historiale de gestis regum Anglie Richard of Cirencester
1.1. 3r-3v
Prologue
Rubric: 3r: Incipit prohemium in speculum historiale de gestis Regum Anglie
Incipit: 3r: Prudencie veterum mos inoleuit laudabilis res memorie dignas suis
Explicit: 3v: dignissima laude memoranda diligenter ea intuenti luce clarius elucescant
1.2.1. 3v-4v
List of chapters in Book One
1.2.2. 5r-15r
Book One
Rubric: 5r: Incipit liber qui vocatur speculum historiale de gestis Regum Anglie De causa vocacionis Anglorum et de adventu ipsorum in Britanniam
Incipit: 5r: Post primum insule Britannie Regem nomine Brutum a quo dicta insula que prius Albion vocabatur
Explicit: 15r: Icircco historie nostre prelibate libro primo metam figentes ad secundum librum operis presentis stilum nostrum duximus conuertendum
1.3.1.
Prologue to Book Two
Rubric: 15r: Incipit Prologus in librum secundum speculi historialis de gestis Regum Anglorum
Incipit: 15r: Prosequentes igitur materiam inchoatam de gestis et successione Regum Anglorum
Explicit: 15r: totaliter extitit deuoluta in presenti libro operis nostri duximus consequenter inserere
1.3.2. 15r-16v
List of chapters in Book Two
1.3.3. 16v-132r
Book Two
Incipit: 16v: Anno gracie . D . XC . vito qui est annu centesimus qu[a]dragesimus octauus Adventus Anglorum in Britanniam
Explicit: 132r: Aluredo qui regni Anglie Monarcharum extiterat primus opitulante domino recto ordine nichoantes
1.4.1. 132r-132v
List of chapters in Book Three
1.4.2. 132v-207v
Book Three
Incipit: 132v: Anno dominice Incarnacionis . DCCC . lxxiido Anglorum decus Regum gemma virtutum exemplar Alfredus siue Aluredus Regis Aethelwlphi filius Iunior
Explicit: 207v: tirannice in Anglorum regimine se habebat Qua de re tam Nobiles quam plebei eius mortem minime lugebant
1.5.1. 207v-208v
List of chapters in Book Four
1.5.2. 208v
Prologue to Book Four
Incipit: 208v: A primo Monarcha Imperii Anglicam videlicet ad inuictissimo
Explicit: 208v: virtutum gratum conferet incentium prout sequencia luculencius declarabunt
1.5.3. 208v-260v
Book Four
Incipit: 208v: Gesta gloriosissimi Regis et confessoris Edwardi ad legencium vtilitatem describere proponentes
Explicit: 260v: Sed et iam Willelmi primi tempora peruenientes placet libero quarto speculi historialis de gestis Regum anglie finem imponere et a predicto Willelmo Anglorum Rege librum quintum presentes operis inchoare
Final rubric: 260v: Explicit liber quartus speculi historialis de gestis Regum Anglie
1.6. 260v
Colophon on the text
Incipit: 260v: Hic finitur prima pars historie presented de gestis regalibus ab aduentu anglorum siue saxonum in britanniam ex cronicis diuersis collecta in quatuor libros prescriptos digesta per Fratrum Ricardum de Cirencestria Monachum Ecclesie beati Petri Westmonasterii prope Londonias
Explicit: 260v: Preterea secunda pars historie prelibate de gestis regalibus a quinto libto sumet inicium quam a natiuitate primi Willelmi anglorum Regis prefatis Frater Ricardus inchoare decreuit
Final rubric: 260vExplicit prima pars de laudabilibus gestis Regum Anglorum

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF).
Extent: Codex: 258 leaves. 295 × 190 mm.

Collation

The manuscript comprises 33 quires, perhaps formed of three codicological units (on the basis of changes in scribal hand at ff. 139r and 235r).

  • Quires 1-328 (ff. 3-258)
  • Quire 332 (ff. 259-260)

Leaf signatures.

 Catchwords.

Layout

220-235 × 110-120 mm. Single columns, 36-42 lines to the page, written below top line. No pricking marks visible. Ruled in leadpoint. Frame and line ruling throughout, but with slight variations in ruling pattern.

Hand(s)

Copied by perhaps three hands, each writing in Anglicana formata, with changes in hand coinciding with quire divisions.

Hand 1: ff. 3r-138v (Quires 1-17).

Hand 2: ff. 139r-234v (Quires 18-29).

Hand 3: ff. 235r-260v (Quires 30-33).

Decoration

Seven- to fourteen-line geometric/puzzle initials in blue and dark red, with infill and marginal pen flourishing in red and blue ink, at the beginning of the prologue (f. 3r) and at the beginning of each of the four books (ff. 5r, 16v, 132v, 208v).

Three-line (and occasionally two-, four- or five-line) plain initials, alternating in red or blue. In the part of the manuscript copied by Hand 3 (ff. 235r-260v), the same style of initial is used, but are of four or five lines in height.

Additions

Text marked by vertical lines decorated with circles and faces in profile, in red (ff. 37r-39r) or black (ff. 242v-244v).

History

Origin: Late 14th century. ; England, perhaps Westminster Abbey.

Part 2: Binding materials [Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.1.28, ff. iii-iv]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

iii recto-iv verso
?Legal document

Two portions of a ?legal document.

Physical Description

Form: unknown
Support: Parchment.
Extent: Fragments: 2 pieces. 285 × 20-75 mm.

Layout

220 Single columns, no ruling.

Hand(s)

Written in secretary script.

History

Origin: Second half of the 15th century or early 16th century. ; England.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on the description provided by Paul Binski and Patrick Zutshi, with the collaboration of Stella Panayotova, Western Illuminated Manuscripts: A Catalogue of the Collection in Cambridge University Library (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011) (used here by kind permission of Cambridge University Press) and an unpublished description of the manuscript composed between 1947 and 1970 by H.L. Pink, now held in the University Archives (ULIB 7/3/75).

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

    <hi rend="italics">Speculum historiale de gestis regum Angliæ<hi rend="italics">. From the copy in the Public Library, Cambridge Rolls Series, (London, Longman, 1869, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139206884, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139206891) The manuscripts of Westminster Abbey Notes and documents relating to Westminster Abbey, James, M.R.Robinson, J. Armitage (Cambridge, At the University Press, 1909) The Westminster chronicle, 1381-1394 Oxford medieval texts, (Oxford, Clarendon, 1982) Cambridge University Library: a history Cambridge University Library, Oates, J.C.T. (Cambridge, 1: From the beginnings to the Copyright Act of Queen Anne, Cambridge University Press, 1986) English historical literature in the fourteenth century, Taylor, John (Oxford, Clarendon, 1987) Encyclopaedia of the medieval chronicle, (Leiden, 2, Brill, 2010) Western illuminated manuscripts: a catalogue of the collection in Cambridge University Library, Binski, PaulZutshi, Patrick (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2011)

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