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 Ii.4.6

Homilies in Old English

Contents

Introduction: Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.4.6 contains thirty-six homilies, most of which were written by Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 955–c. 1010), one of the most prolific authors of Late Old English. The majority of the homilies originate from Ælfric's two series of Catholic Homilies, the first complete versions of which were composed between c. 989 and 992. Only two homilies (written for Rogationtide) are anonymous, although they incorporate much Ælfrician material as well. The homilies are organised according to the so-called 'Temporale', a cycle of movable feasts in the liturgical calendar that are keyed to the date of Easter, meaning that they occur in the order of the church year. The manuscript was copied in the mid-eleventh century at the royal Benedictine abbey of New Minster, Winchester. Subsequently, it may have been owned by Tavistock Abbey in Devon, since a sixteenth-century inscription on fol. 1r claims that it was found at the latter monastery (dissolved in 1539) by Robert Farrar [Ferrers], agent to Francis Russell (1526/7–1585), 2nd Earl of Bedford, in 1566. The earl presented the manuscript to Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504–1575) in 1567, who, in turn, donated it to the University of Cambridge in 1574. Ælfric's Catholic Homilies are found in a large number of manuscripts originating from a period that spans from the end of the tenth century until c. 1200. According to John C. Pope, CUL Ii.4.6 is related to two other manuscripts, namely, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 302 (c. 1100–1110) and London, British Library, Cotton MS Faustina A.ix (c. 1100–1150). Pope argues that all three manuscripts ultimately derive from a common exemplar. The manuscript is missing several folios at the beginning and currently runs from the second Sunday after Epiphany until the first Sunday after Pentecost, ending with two extra homilies for Rogationtide. Considering that there are manuscripts that not only feature more complete collections of the Catholic Homilies but were also produced close to their original date of composition (such as London, British Library, Royal MS 7 C.xii from 990; and Cambridge, University Library, MS Gg.3.28 from c. 1000), one may wonder what the relevance is of manuscripts such as CUL Ii.4.6. However, their particular importance lies in the fact that medieval texts were not static entities, like published texts are today. Ælfric continually updated his homilies throughout his lifetime, and CUL Ii.4.6 represents a distinct stage in their development. The manuscript, for instance, features a version of the first series' homily for the second Sunday after Easter (Homily 17) that is much longer than other copies, and is thought to contain an authentic addition by Ælfric. Manuscripts such as CUL Ii.4.6 thus can be invaluable for studying how Ælfric developed his work over a long period of time and may feature authorial changes that scholars would miss if they only researched the most complete and earlier manuscripts. Moreover, the study of later Ælfrician manuscripts can tell us something about the reception of his homilies by later audiences. For instance, readers used symbols to highlight passages which they thought were important or added interlinear or marginal material. Indeed, CUL Ii.4.6 contains a number of contemporary glosses and additions, in particular on fols 23v–37r, and also some marginal annotations from c. 1300 on fols 132r, 146r, and 146v. Most notably, the later annotations, according to N. R. Ker, 'refer to the [Old English] text and show understanding of it'. Another type of response is not so easily discernible, namely, the replacement of linguistic features and lexical items during the process of copying the text. In some twelfth-century manuscripts containing the Catholic Homilies, scribes have changed case endings and replaced words, most likely because they considered these to be obsolete. These alterations are incredibly valuable for our knowledge of the development of the English language during the twelfth century, which is traditionally seen as the transitional period between Old and Middle English. Manuscripts such as CUL Ii.4.6 can therefore shed light on the development of Ælfric’s Catholic Homilies, give insight into the homilies’ reception by later audiences, and enable us to learn more about that fascinating period in the history of English when Old English gave way to Middle English. Amos van Baalen| Leiden University Centre for Linguistics

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Codex: ii + 6 + 1, i, 148, ii, 147, ii, 1, i, 1, ii + i + xvi + i + ii leaves.

The manuscript opens with eight endleaves, two added to the volume when it was most recently bound and six added when it was bound in the 16th century (see Binding for further details). From that point onwards, the medieval portion of the manuscript begins, however leaves were added in various places during the 16th century in order to supply space for a table of contents, a printed accompaniment to part of the text, or text missing through the loss of leaves. These different leaves have been enumerated above and distinguished from the medieval leaves by commas. The plus sign separates this medieval section from the various endleaves or added leaves that precede or follow it. (See Part 2's Additions for further details of the contents of some of these).

Two unfoliated paper stubs are present after f. 21, in place of two excised leaves, and were added in order to secure the binding of the two leaves (ff. 16-17) that were originally conjoint with them. Being stubs rather than partial leaves, they are not included in this statement of extent. However, since one of them does contain a 19th/20th-century annotation in pencil, they have been assigned numbers for the purpose of this digital record (see Foliation).

Foliation:

20th-century foliation:

[i-ii] + 1-6 + 7, 8, 9-156 (incl. [21a-21b]), [156a-156b], 157-303 (incl. 241a), 304-305, 306, 307, 308, 309-310 + 311 + 313-328 + 312 + [iii-iv]

Written in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos. Two paper stubs after f. 21 are not foliated, but have been assigned the numbers [21a] and [21b] for the purposes of this record. Two printed pages were added to the manuscript in the 16th century but were not numbered as part of this foliation sequence: they are numbered here as ff. [156a-156b]. One leaf was accidentally omitted from the sequence, after f. 241, and was later marked as f. 241a. The sequence runs slightly out of order at the end of the manuscript, owing to the rearrangement of the leaves when the manuscript was last rebound (see Binding).
Foliation:

16th-century pagination:

1-606 (for ff. 9-310 and not including [156a-156b])

Written in ink in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos only. Linked to the table of contents added to f. 8r. Continued for the rear endleaves, written in pencil by the same or similar hand responsible for the 20th-century foliation.

Collation

The manuscript comprises mostly quires of 8 leaves, except for a group of four quires of ten leaves near the beginning (Quires 3-6). In many of the quires, a bifolium has been formed from two singletons: in Quire 3, the 4th and 7th leaves; and in Quires 15-16, 19-20, 23, 25, 27-33 and 37, the 3rd and 6th leaves.

  • Quire 18+1 (ff. 7-15: 1st leaf reversed; 16th-century leaf, f. 8, added after 1st leaf)
  • Quire 28-2 (ff. 16-21: 7th-8th leaves excised, after f. 21; probably blank)
  • Quires 3-610 (ff. 22-61)
  • Quires 7-368 (ff. 62-300)
  • Quire 378-3+3 (ff. 301-308: 4th, 5th and 7th leaves missing, replaced by 16th-century leaves, ff. 304, 305 and 307
  • Two 16th-century leaves (ff. 309-310: added to supply missing text)

18+1 (2nd leaf added) 28-2 (7th-8th leaves excised, probably blank) 3-610 7-368 378-3+3 (4th, 5th and 7th leaves missing, later replaced)

No leaf signatures.

No quire signatures.

 No catchwords.

Additions

'Index sermonum' added to f. 8r in the 16th-century. Further hands have annotated this, including that of Abraham Wheelock (see below) and another that may be John Mitchell Kemble , who added interlinear notes comparing the manuscript's contents to that of Cambridge, University Library, MS Gg.3.28 (for an example of Kemble's hand, see Cambridge, University Library, MS Gg.5.35 .

Notes towards an alphabetical index, on 17th-century paper endleaves (ff. 313-328) and a 16th-century parchment endleaf (f. 312r) at the back of the manuscript, probably added and begun by Abraham Wheelocke (c. 1593-1653), University Librarian 1629-53, but containing additions by numerous other hands of the 17th and possibly 18th centuries.

Annotations in pencil, again by Abraham Wheelocke , throughout the manuscript. See, for example, ff. 8r, 16v-20v, 23r-30v (the last in the top margin and heavily rubbed), etc.

Binding

Bound in wooden boards, quarter red leather with blind-tooled interlace pattern on the front and rear covers and blind-tooled zig-zag patterning on the top and bottom edges. Stamped 'D.C. & Son 1928': i.e. Douglas Cockerell and Son .

Between 1926 and 1930, M.R. James prepared a description of the manuscript (now UA ULIB 7/3/74/45), at which point it was disbound.

Contents inked onto the fore-edge by Abraham Wheelocke : 'Homiliae 34 Saxon. vide pag. 297'

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 f. 6r) 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

Presented to the University Library in 1574 by Matthew Parker (1504-1575), archbishop of Canterbury . No. 9 in the list of 25 'Libri Scripti in pergameno' published to commemorate Parker's gift (see Early catalogues of manuscripts, up to c. 1600. Donation inscription on f. 9v: 'Matthaeus Cantuar: dedit 1574'.

Part 1: 16th-century endleaves [Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.4.6, ff. 1-3, 6, 311 and 312]

Contents

1. 1-3, 6, 311 and 312
Legal dispute (fragment)
Language(s): Latin

According to Ker (1957): 'ff. 1-3, 6, 311-12 [are] portions of a sixteenth-century document, apparently a dispute about the will of William Wiker of Chale (Isle of Wight), of which Richard, abbot of Quarr (Richard Tottenham, abbot 1508-21), was an executor. Other fragments of the same document are in Corpus Christi College, SP.438. Folio 7 was formerly pasted to f. 6 and f. 9 was pasted to f. 8.'

Ker (1957)

Physical Description

Form: sheet
Support: Parchment
Extent: Fragment, comprising six leaves recycled from an early 16th-century legal document: 6 leaves. 255 × 145 mm.

Condition

The leaves bear rust-stains in various places, indictaing the presence of furniture on a former binding (see Binding in the main description for further details). There is a large amount of off-set where the leaves were once pasted together with adjoining leaves but are now separated.

Hand(s)

Written in secretary script.

History

Origin: Early 16th century ; England

Part 2: Ælfric's Homilies [Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.4.6, ff. 7-310]

Contents

Language(s): Old English, with rubrics and biblical quotations in Latin

2. 7r-308v
Homilies, in Old English,

'Homilies for Sundays and festivals, other than Saints' days, from Septuagesima to the first Sunday after Pentecost. Miscellaneous and now imperfect additions in the second of the two main hands occur at either end (arts. 1-3, 36, 37 [i.e. ff. 7r-21v, 290r-308v]). Arts 4-26, 31-34 [i.e. 22r-215v, 246r-282v] are a collection similar to [London, British Library, Cotton MS] Faustina A IX, arts. 7-19, 21, 22, 25-33. Arts 1-6, 8-10, 12-14, 16-24, 29-31, 33, 36-37 [i.e. ff. 7r-47r, 55v-75v, 83r-109r, 117v-202r, 238r-257v, 264v-276r, 290r-308v] are from the two series of Ælfric's Sermones catholici, ed. Thorpe (1844-46)': Ker (1957).

Titles taken from Thorpe (1844, 1846) in the entries that follow.

2.1. 7v-7r, 9r-9v
Ælfric, Dominica II post Epiphania Domini
Incipit: || 7v siððan in onƿam heofonlican
Explicit: 9r mid fader amd halgum gaste á on ec- ||

Second Sunday after Epiphany.

Begins imperfectly on f. 7v, this leaf having been bound in reverse after it was re-used as an endleaf and pasted onto another in the 16th century.

Ends imperfectly: last lines on f. 9v erased and overwritten by a rubric for the following homily, added by a later hand (16th-century?) writing in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon script.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 70-73
Ker (1957), art. 1
Godden (1979), pp. 39-40 (MS 'M')
2.2. 9v-18v
Ælfric, Dominica tertia post Epiphania Domini
Rubric: 9v Dominica tertia post Theophaniam
Incipit: 9v Cum descendisset ihesus de monte secute sunt eum turbae multe: et reliqua...
Incipit: 9v Matheus se eadiga gospellere
Explicit: 18v æfre ƿunigende butan anginne and ende. Amen

Third Sunday after Epiphany.

Rubric written by a later hand (16th-century?) writing in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon script, over an erasure of the last lines of the preceding homily.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 120-135
Ker (1957), art. 2
Clemoes (1997), pp. 241-248
2.3. 18v-21v
Ælfric, Alia narratio de evangelii textu
Incipit: 18v Mine gebroðra ƿe ƿyllað eoƿ gereccean sume cristes ƿundra
Explicit: 21v and ƿurð mynt á to ƿorulde

Third Sunday after Pentecost.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 378-381
Ker (1957), art. 3
Godden (1979), pp. 217-220 (MS 'M')
2.4. 22r-32r
Ælfric, Dominica Septuagesima
Rubric: 22r Dominica in Septuagesima
Incipit: 22r Drihten sæde þis bigspell
Explicit: 32r alleluia buton ælcon gesƿince. Amen

Septuagesima Sunday.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 72-89
Ker (1957), art. 4
Godden (1979), pp. 41-51 (MS 'M')
2.5. 32r-39r
Ælfric, Dominica in Sexagesima
Rubric: 32r Dominica in Sexagesima
Incipit: 32r Cum turba plurima conueniret ad ihesum...et reliqua
Incipit: 32r On sumere tíde ðaða micel meniu
Explicit: 39r on ealra ƿorulda ƿoruld. Amen

Sexagesima Sunday.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 88-99
Ker (1957), art. 5
Godden (1979), pp. 52-59 (MS 'M')
2.6. 39r-47r
Ælfric, Dominica in Quinquagesima
Rubric: 39r Dominica in Quinquagesima
Incipit: 39r Assumpsit ihesus duodecim discipulos suos: et reliqua
Incipit: 39r Hér is gerædd on þisum godspelle
Explicit: 47r seðe leofað and rixað á butan énde. Amen

Shrove Sunday.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 152-165
Ker (1957), art. 6
Clemoes (1997), pp. 258-265 (MS 'M')
2.7. 47r-55v
In Caput Ieiunii
Rubric: 47r Feria IIII in capite ieiunii
Incipit: 47r On þissere ƿucan on ƿodnes
Explicit: 55v oððe huru on þære oðre

Ash Wednesday.

Skeat (1881), pp. 260-282 (MS 'W')
Ker (1957), art. 7
2.8. 55v-64v
Ælfric, Dominica prima in Quadragesima
Rubric: 55v Dominica I in Quadragessima
Incipit: 55v Ductus est ihesus in desertum a spiritu: et reliqua
Incipit: 55v Ic ƿolde eoƿ trahtnian þis godspell
Explicit: 64v on écnysse ƿe cƿeðað. Amen

First Sunday in Lent.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 166-181
Ker (1957), art. 8
Clemoes (1997), pp. 266-274 (MS 'M')
2.9. 64v-71r
Ælfric, Dominica prima in Quadragesima
Rubric: 64v Alia parabola in eadem die
Incipit: 65r Men ƿa leofostan eoƿ eallum
Explicit: 71r on ealra ƿorulae ƿoruld. Amen

First Sunday in Lent.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 98-109
Ker (1957), art. 9
Godden (1979), pp. 60-66 (MS 'M')
2.10. 71r-75v
Ælfric, Dominica secunda in Quadragesima
Rubric: 71r Dominica II in Quadragessima
Incipit: 71r Egressus inde ihesus secessit in partes tyri et sidonis: et reliqua
Incipit: 71r Drihten hælend þreade mid ƿordum
Explicit: 75v and ƿorð mynt á on ecnysse. Amen

Second Sunday in Lent.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 110-117
Ker (1957), art. 10
Godden (1979), pp. 67-71 (MS 'M')
2.11. 75v-83r
Rubric: 75v Dominica III in Quadragessima
Incipit: 75v Erat ihesus eiciens demonium
Incipit: 75v On þære mæran tíde
Explicit: 83r á rixað on ecnysse. Amen

Third Sunday in Lent.

Müller (1835), pp. 19-27
Ker (1957), art. 11
Pope (1967), pp. 264-280 (MS 'M')
2.12. 83r-89r
Ælfric, Dominica quarta in Quadragesima
Rubric: 83r Dominica IIII in Quadragessima
Incipit: 83v Abiit ihesus trans mare galileae: et reliqua
Incipit: 83v Se hæland férde ofer ða galileiscan sǽ
Explicit: 89r á butan énde on écnysse

Midlent Sunday.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 180-193
Ker (1957), art. 12
Clemoes (1997), pp. 275-280 (MS 'M')
2.13. 89r-102r
Ælfric, Dominica in Media Quadragesime
Incipit: 89r Men þa leofostan ƿe rædað nu
Explicit: 102r And lóf á to ƿorulde. Amen

Midlent Sunday.

Ends Thorpe, p. 212, continuing with further passage of text: 'Oten eác ealle gemænelice urne leofan drihten biddan þæt he ure mod onlíhte. And ús him glæde gedo. And us his mildheortnysse geunne. And ure synna forgyfnysse. And þæs ecan lífes myrhðe. þam si wuldor. And lóf á to ƿorulde. Amen

Thorpe (1846), pp. 188-213
Ker (1957), art. 13
Godden (1979), pp. 110-126 (MS 'M')
2.14. 102r-109r
Ælfric, Secunda sententia de hoc ipso
Rubric: 102r Secundus sermo de iosue et de pugnis
Incipit: 102r Moyses and ááron and ƿa yldestan ealdras
Explicit: 109r And lóf á to ƿorulde. Amen

Midlent Sunday.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 212-225
Ker (1957), art. 14
Godden (1979), pp. 121-126 (MS 'M')
2.15. 109r-117v
Rubric: 109r De oratione Moysi. In medio Quadragesime
Incipit: 109r After þam þe moyses semæra heretoga of egipta lánde
Explicit: 117v þe on ecnysse rixað. Amen

The Prayer of Moses. Mid-Lent.

Skeat (1881), pp. 282-306 (MS 'W')
Ker (1957), art. 15
2.16. 117v-127v
Ælfric, Dominica quinta Quadragesime
Rubric: 117v Dominica quinta
Incipit: 117v Ðeos tíd fram ðisum andƿeardum dægum
Explicit: 127v on eallra ƿorulda ƿoruld. Amen

Fifth Sunday in Lent.

After the word 'ealdorbisceopum' (f. 118r) is the title 'Euangelium'.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 224-241
Ker (1957), art. 16
Godden (1979), pp. 127-136 (MS 'M')
2.17. 127v-139v
Ælfric, Dominica Palmarum. De Passione Domini
Rubric: 127v Dominica de Passione Domini
Incipit: 127v Drihtnes þroƿunge ƿe ƿyllað
Explicit: 139v godcundnysse onecere ƿorulde. Amen

Palm Sunday. On the Lord's Passion.

The homily is followed by the words 'Ne mót nán mann secgan spell on þam þrim sƿigdagum'.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 240-263
Ker (1957), art. 17
Godden (1979), pp. 137-149 (MS 'M')
2.18. 139v-148r
Ælfric, In Dominica palmarum
Rubric: 139v Euangelium in die ramis palmarum
Incipit: 139v Cum adpropinquasset ihesis ierosolimis...et reliqua
Incipit: 139v Cristes þróƿung ƿæs gerædd
Explicit: 147v-148r Seðe leofað and rixað á butan enda on écnysse. Amen

Palm Sunday.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 206-219
Ker (1957), art. 18
Clemoes (1997), pp. 290-298 (MS 'M')
2.19. 148r-156v
Ælfric, Dominica Sanctae Paschae
Rubric: 148r Die dominicae paschae
Incipit: 148r Oft ge gehydron embe ðæs Hælendes ærist
Explicit: 156v nú and on ecnysse

Easter Sunday.

At f. 148v, after 'and besǽton þa byrgene' is the title 'Euuangelium'.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 220-229
Ker (1957), art. 19
Clemoes (1997), pp. 299-306 (MS 'M')
2.20. 156v-170v
Ælfric, Sermo de sacrificio in die Paschae
Rubric: 156v Sermo de sacrificio in die Paschae
Incipit: 156v Men þa leofostan gelome eoƿ is gerǽd
Explicit: 170v on ealra ƿorulda ƿoruld. Amen

A sermon on the sacrifica on Easter-day.

The number 'XI' is written in an early hand in the margin of f. 156v.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 262-283
Ker (1957), art. 20
Godden (1979), pp. 150-160 (MS 'M')
2.21. 171r-175r
Ælfric, Alius sermo de die Paschae
Rubric: 171r Alius sermo die pasce
Incipit: 171r Hit is swiðe gedafenlic
Explicit: 175r and ƿuldor á þamƿel ƿillendum hælende. Amen

Another sermon on Easter-day.

Rubric added by a later hand (16th-century?) writing in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon script.

The number 'XII' is written in an early hand in the margin of f. 171r.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 282-287
Ker (1957), art. 21
Godden (1979), pp. 161-168 (MS 'M')
2.22. 175r-180v
Ælfric, Feria quarta in Hebdomade Paschae
Rubric: 175r Feria 4a in hebdomada pasce
Incipit: 175r Gelóme ateoƿde ure drihten hine sylfne
Explicit: 180r-180v and gódum geearnungum to þam écan lífe becuman moton. Amen

Wednesday in Easter Week.

Rubric added by a later hand (16th-century?) writing in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon script.

The number 'XIII' is written in an early hand in the margin of f. 175r.

Thorpe (1846), pp. 288-295
Ker (1957), art. 22
Godden (1979), pp. 150-168 (MS 'M')
2.23. 180v-187r
Ælfric, Dominica prima post Paschae
Rubric: 180v Dominica 1a post pasca
Incipit: 180v Cum essat sero die illo una sabbatorum: et reliqua
Incipit: 180v Æfter þæs hælendes ǽriste
Explicit: 186v-187r mid gode á on écnysse. Amen

First Sunday after Easter.

Rubric added by a later hand (16th-century?) writing in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon script.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 230-239
Ker (1957), art. 23
Clemoes (1997), pp. 307-312 (MS 'M')
2.24. 187r-202r
Ælfric, Dominica secunda post Paschae
Rubric: 187r Dominica II post octavo Paschae
Incipit: 187r Ego sum pastor bonus...et reliqua
Incipit: 187r Ðis godspell þe nú geræd ƿæs
Explicit: 202r ƿorulda ƿƿoruld a butan ende. Amen

Second Sunday after Easter.

The passages in Thorpe 'Be ðisum...' bysnað', p. 242 ll. 7-24 and p. 244 ll. 7-9 are omitted. From 'Ge magon gehyran on þære halgan láre' (f. 190 l. 10) to the end occurs in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 188 , Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 302 , Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.15.34 and London, British Library, Cotton MS Faustina A.ix , but is not in Thorpe.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 238-245
Ker (1957), art. 24
Clemoes (1997), pp. 313-316 (MS 'M')
2.25. 202r-207v
Dominica quarta post octavo Paschae
Rubric: 202r Dominica IIIIa post octavo paschae
Incipit: 202r Uado ad eum qui me misit.
Incipit: 202r Manega godspel syndon gesette gesette
Explicit: 207v mægenþrymnysse . á to ƿorulde. Amen

Fourth Sunday after Easter.

Ker (1957), art. 25
Pope (1967), pp. 340-350 (MS 'M')
2.26. 207v-215v
Dominica quinta post octavo Paschae
Rubric: 207v Dominica Va octábo paschae
Incipit: 207v Sume menn nyton geƿiss for heora
Explicit: 215v an ƿuldor and án ƿurðmynt. Amen

Fifth Sunday after Easter.

At f. 208r, after 'þus tó' (Belfour, p. 12 l. 22) is the title 'Euuangelium'.

Belfour (1909), pp. 12-22
Ker (1957), art. 26
Pope (1967), pp. 357-368 (MS 'M')
2.27. 215v-228r
Feria secunda. Letania maiore
Rubric: 215v Sermo in Letania maiore. Feria IIa
Incipit: 215v Læƿede men behófiaþ . þat him láreoƿas secgon
Explicit: 228r fullice leofað and rixað á butan ende. Amen

Monday. On the Greater Litany.

To 'ealle béc', as Thorpe (1846), p. 314 ll. 3-8. The text continues 'Uton ealle gemænelice and geornlice gecyrran to urum drihtene...'. From 'Ælc mann þe godes fréond is...' (f. 217v l. 8) to 'engla ƿeredum' (f. 227v l. 11) forms part of the homily 'In octavis pentecosten' in Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Hatton 113 , f. 102v, and other manuscripts.

Thorpe (1846), p. 314
Ker (1957), art. 25
Bazire and Cross (1989), pp. 83-89 (MS 'M')
2.28. 228r-238r
Feria tertia. Letania maiore
Rubric: 228r Feria IIIa in Letania maiore
Incipit: 228r Se eádiga apostol iacobus ús mánode
Explicit: 238r on ealra ƿorulda ƿoruld a butan ende. Amen

Tuesday. On the Greater Litany.

Folios 229r l. 1-231r l. 18 as Napier (1883), pp. 149 ll. 14-31, 150 ll. 9-12, 150 l.21-152 l. 6 (part of no. 30).

'Eft he cƿð . gyf geforgyfað' (f. 233v l. 1) to 'unrightƿisnysse' (f. 236r l. 16) as Thorpe (1844), pp. 52 l. 27-56 l. 22 (part of the homily on St Stephen).

Folios 236r l. 16-236v l. 15 as Skeat (1881), p. 272 (no. 12 (Quinquagesima Sunday), ll. 145-148, 152, 153).

Thorpe (1844), pp. 52-56
Napier (1883), pp. 149-150
Skeat (1881), p. 272
Ker (1957), art. 28
Bazire and Cross (1989), pp. 95-100 (MS 'M')
2.29. 238r-238v
Ælfric, In Letania maiore
Rubric: 238r Feria quarta
Incipit: 238r Þas dagas synd gehatene laetaniae
Explicit: 238v on geleaffulre gelaþunge

On the Greater Litany.

See f. 290.

Thorpe (1844), p. 244 ll. 11-22
Ker (1957), art. 29
Clemoes (1997), pp. 317-324 (MS 'M')
2.30. 238v-246r
Ælfric, In Letania maiore. Feria IIII
Rubric: 238v Euuangelium in uigilia ascensionis domini
Incipit: 238v Iohannes se godspellere aƿrát on þisum dæg ðerlicum godspelle
Explicit: 246r and þam halgan gáste á on écnysse. Amen

Wednesday. On the Greater .

Thorpe (1846), pp. 360-371
Ker (1957), art. 30
Godden (1979), pp. 206-212 (MS 'M')
2.31. 246r-257v
Ælfric, Sermo in Ascensione Domini
Rubric: 246r In ascensione domini
Incipit: 246r Primum quidem sermonuem feci. Et reliqua
Incipit: 246r Lucas se godspellere ús manode onþisse pistol
Explicit: 257v and þam halgan gáste á on écnysse. Amen

Sermon on the Lord's Ascension.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 294-311
Ker (1957), art. 31
Clemoes (1997), pp. 345-353 (MS 'M')
2.32. 257v-264r
Rubric: 257v Dominica post ascensione domini
Incipit: 257v Cum autem uenerit paraclitus. Et reliqua
Incipit: 257v Se hæland hér on life mid his halgum apostolum
Explicit: 264r Se ðe á rixað on écnysse. Amen

Sunday after Ascension.

Ker (1957), art. 32
Pope (1967), pp. 378-389 (MS 'M')
2.33. 264v-276r
Ælfric, In dio Sancto Pentecosten
Rubric: 264v In die sancto pentecosten
Incipit: 264v Fram þam halgan easterlicandæge synd getealde fiftig daga
Explicit: 276r Seþe leofað and rixað á butan ende. Amen

For the Holy Day of Pentecost.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 310-329
Ker (1957), art. 33
Clemoes (1997), pp. 354-364 (MS 'M')
2.34. 276r-282v
Dominica Pentecosten
Rubric: 276r Dominica pentecosten
Incipit: 276rSi quis diligit me. et reliqua
Incipit: 276r Iohannes se godspellere. þe ðis godspell aƿrát sǽde
Explicit: 282v mid þam halgan gáste on ecnysse. Amen

Pentecost Sunday.

Ker (1957), art. 34
Pope (1967), pp. 396-405 (MS 'M')
2.35. 282v-289v
Dominica prima post Pentecosten
Rubric: 282v Dominica Ia post pentecosten
Incipit: 282v Erat homo ex phariseis. Et reliqua
Incipit: 282v Sum phariseisc mann ƿæs geháten nichodémus
Explicit: 289v and þam halgan gáste on ánre godcundnysse. ƿe cƿeðað. Amen

First Sunday after Pentecost.

Belfour (1909), pp. 2-12
Ker (1957), art. 35
Pope (1967), pp. 479-489 (MS 'M')
2.36. 290r-299r
Ælfric, In Letania maiore
Rubric: 290r Ðis godspell gebyrað on þære gangƿuccan. Feria IIa et IIIa
Incipit: 290r God spræc to anum ƿiteganseƿæs ionas geháten
Explicit: 299r and mid halgum gáste . á buton ende. Amen

On the Greater Litany. Second and Third Sunday after Pentecost (?).

As Thorpe (1844), p. 244 l. 25-246 l. 26 and 246 l. 29 sqq. For the beginning of the homily, here omitted, see f. 238r.

At f. 291r after 'gerædd ƿæs' (Thorpe (1844), p. 246 l. 30) is the title 'Euuangelium'.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 244-259
Ker (1957), art. 36
Clemoes (1997), pp. 317 l. 14-318 l. 39, 318 l. 42-324 (MS 'M')
2.37. 299r-308v
Ælfric, Feria III. De Dominica oratione
Rubric: 299r De dominica oratione
Incipit: 299r Se hælend crist syþþan he to þisum lífe cóm
Explicit: 308v eallum cristenum manuum gelíce||

Tuesday. On the Lord's Prayer.

As Thorpe (1844), p. 258.

Folio 303 ends 'Syle ús nu to dæg úrne' (Thorpe (1844), p. 264 l. 31), after which two leaves are missing.

Folio 306 contains 'on þære fándunge...swiðe rihtlice' (Thorpe (1844), pp. 268 l. 11-270 l. 1), after which one leaf is missing.

Folio 308 contains 'to þisum lífe...mannum gelíce' (Thorpe (1844), pp. 270 l. 27-272 l. 18).

The missing portions of the homily were supplied in the 16th century on ff. 304-305, 307 and 309-310.

Thorpe (1844), pp. 258-272
Ker (1957), art. 37
Clemoes (1997), pp. 325-334 l. 215 (MS 'M')

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 1, i, 148, ii, 147, ii 1, i, 1, ii leaves. 260 × 150 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 18+1 (ff. 7-15: 1st leaf reversed; 16th-century leaf, f. 8, added after 1st leaf)
  • Quire 28-2 (ff. 16-21: 7th-8th leaves excised, after f. 21; probably blank)
  • Quires 3-610 (ff. 22-61)
  • Quires 7-368 (ff. 62-300)
  • Quire 378-3+3 (ff. 301-308: 4th, 5th and 7th leaves missing, replaced by 16th-century leaves, ff. 304, 305 and 307
  • Two 16th-century leaves (ff. 309-310: added to supply missing text)

No leaf signatures.

No quire signatures.

 No catchwords

Condition

Off-set from recycled endleaves obscuring text on f. 7r and staining of f. 9r where it had previously been pasted to f. 8v

Occasional (and original) small faults in the parchment (for example, ff. 9, 14, 15, 99, 122, 124 (x2), 135 (x4), 136, etc. Larger faults show evidence of having been stitched closed, sewing now gone (for example, ff. 144, 202, 290)

Two paper stubs between ff. 21 and 22, added when the manuscript was rebound in order to secure the remaining counterpart leaves.

Old parchment repair to irregular bottom edge of f. 124. Irregular bottom edge on ff. 151, 159, 219.

Fore-edge margin and outer edge of the text block lost from f. 268. Also lost from f. 306, replaced by old (16th-century?) parchment repair and missing text written in. Fore-edge margin lost from f. 308, text not affected; old parchment repair to the page (again, perhaps 16th-century).

Staining on ff. 269-272.

Layout

200 × 95 mm. Ruled in hardpoint, frame and line. Single columns, 20 lines to the page, written above top line.

Hand(s)

Written by two hands in Insular minuscule.

According to Ker (1957): 'In two upright black rather ugly hands, the second and larger beginning at f. 148r and continuing to the end and writing also ff. 7, 9-21 (Quires 1-2): ð prominent: in the second hand e is sometimes high in the combination æ, the head of long s is sometimes prolonged upwards and looped and the ends of descenders are seriffed: hyphens are written by the first hand only and are placed a little way out in the margins at the beginning as well as at the end of lines.'

Ker (1957), p. 35
Scragg (2012), nos 265-266

Titles in red rustic capitals.

Decoration

Plain initials in green, red or blue.

From f. 148r (where the second scribal hand begins), the first line of a homily is often written in handsome majuscule letters, alternately red and green or red and black.

Additions

Subdivisions of the text are sometimes marked by 'K' in the margin by a near-/contemporary hand (e.g. f. 100).

Alternate wording provided by a near-/contemporary hand in interlinear glosses on ff. 23v ('uel gerƿicð' - above 'neablinð', which appears to be a correction written by a different hand over an erasure), 24v ('uel geornfulre'), 26r ('uel geornfullnysse'), 26v ('heofonan rices myrliðe' and 'uel crist'), 27r ('uel heofonan rices'), 28v ('uel deofla'), etc.

Interlinear corrections on ff. 46r, 217. Correction over erasure on f. 75v.

Marginal annotations referring to the text and demonstrating an understanding of it, written by a 13th/14th-century hand: see ff. 132r, 146r, 146v.

Several rubrics added to the manuscript by a later, perhaps 16th-century hand, writing in imitation of the insular minuscule used in the text (for example, ff. 9v, 175r, 180v). The same hand also made a correction to f. 37r.

Fabric static page-marker added to f. 156, probably while the manuscript was in Matthew Parker's hands: similar markers were added to other books in his possession (see, for example, Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.1.23 ).

Two leaves (four printed pages; the reverse is blank) from Matthew Parker's Testimonie of antiquitie (1566?) have been added between ff. 156 and 157, together with marginal annotations referring to them on f. 156v.

Opening of homilies accompanied by numbers written in pencil in the margins - e.g. §1 (f. 9v), §2 (f. 18v), etc - corresponding with the itemisation of the manuscript's contents in the Catalogue of manuscripts preserved the Library of the University of Cambridge, vol. 3 (1858).

Quire numbers added in pencil by a modern hand to the recto of the first leaf of each quire.

The word 'beginning' written by a 19th/20th-century hand onto f. [21b] verso, the second of two paper stubs added in the place of two excised leaves after f. 21, in order to secure the binding of ff. 16-17, the two remaining conjoint leaves.

History

Origin: Mid-11th century ; Winchester

Written at New Minster, Winchester .

Provenance

Found at Tavistock Abbey in 1566 (and presumably owned by the abbey prior to that). See inscription on f. 1r: 'Hunc codicem cum altero consimili: reperit R. Ferror seruus comitis Bedfordie in Domo quondam cenobio de Tavestocke in Devinshire, Ao 1566' (repeated on f. 311v with minor differences).

Owned by Robert Farrar/Ferrers (d. 1572/76?) , member of parliament for Tavistock (see History of Parliament online): mentioned in above inscription.

Owned by Francis Russell (b. 1526/27, d. 1585), 2nd earl of Bedford : see inscriptions on f. 7v ('F. Bedford') and f. 308v ('Franciscus Comes Bedfordius 1566').

Given by Russell to Matthew Parker (1504-1575), archbishop of Canterbury on 29th December 1567: see inscription on f. 308v ('Dedit Matthæo Cantuar 29o Decembris Ano 1567o in camera stellata' - i.e. in Star Chamber).

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on an unpublished description of the manuscript composed between 1926 and 1930 by M.R. James , now held in the University Archives (UA ULIB 7/3/74) and the description of the manuscript published by N.R. Ker, Catalogue of manuscripts containing Anglo-Saxon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1957).

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

Recorded in the inventory of the University Library's manuscripts compiled in 1583 by John Frickley. No. 434 in the edition of that inventory produced by E.S. Leedham-Green and David McKitterick, 'A Catalogue of Cambridge University Library, 1583', in Books and Collectors, 1200-1700: Essays Presented to Andrew Watson, ed. by James P. Carley and Colin G. C. Tite, The British Library Studies in the History of the Book (London: British Library, 1997), pp. 153–245.
Recorded as no. 242 in T. James, Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis (1600): see ff. 5v, 6r and 9r.
D.ε.1 in the 'Greek letter' classmark system in use at Cambridge University Library prior to the introduction of the 'Two letter' classmark system. This classmark is recorded on f. 5v.

Bibliography

    Editions:

    Collectanea Anglo-Saxonica: maximam partem nunc primum, edita et vocabulario illustrata Collectanea Anglo-Saxonica, Müller, Ludwig (Havniæ, Impensis librariæ Wahlianæ, Typis Brünnichianis, 1835) The homilies of the Anglo-Saxon church: the first part, containing the Sermones catholici, or Homilies of Aelfric, (London, 2, Aelfric Society, 1846) Wulfstan: Sammlung der ihm zugeschriebenen homilien nebst Untersuchungen über ihre Echtheit / hrsg. von Arthur Napier. Wulfstan Sammlung englisher Denkmäler in kritischen Ausgaben, (Berlin, Weidmann, 1883) Twelfth century homilies in MS. Bodley 343. Part 1, Text and translation Early English Text Society, (London, K. Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1909) Aelfric's Lives of saints: being a set of sermons on Saints' Days formerly observed by the English Church Early English Text Society. Original series, (London, 1, Oxford University Press for The Early English Text Society, 1966) Homilies of Aelfric: a supplementary collection Homilies of Aelfric Early English Text Society. Original series, (London, 1, Oxford University Press for the Early English Text Society, 1967) An edition of previously unpublished Anglo-Saxon homilies in MSS CCC 302 and Cotton Faustian A.ix, Callison, T.C. (1973, unpublished PhD dissertation) Aelfric's Catholic Homilies: The Second Series. Text Early English Text Society. Supplementary series, (London, Oxford University Press for The Early English Text Society, 1979) Eleven Old English Rogationtide homilies King's College London medieval studies, Bazire, JoyceCross, James E. (London, King's College London Medieval Studies, 1989) The dissemination of Ælfric's Lives of Saints: a preliminary survey Holy men and holy women: Old English prose saints' lives and their contexts SUNY series in medieval studies, Hill, J. (Albany, NY, 235-259, State University of New York Press, 1996) Aelfric's Catholic homilies: the first series. Text Early English Text Society. Supplementary series, (Oxford, Published for the Early English Text Society by the Oxford University Press, 1997) 'frater non redimit, redimet homo...': a homiletic motif and its variants in Old English Early medieval English texts and interpretations: studies presented to Donald G. Scragg Medieval and Renaissance texts and studies, Lendinara, Patrizia (Tempe, Ariz., 67-80, Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2002)

Bibliography

    Manuscript descriptions:

    A catalogue of the manuscripts preserved in the library of the University of Cambridge, (Cambridge, 3: Gg-Kk, Cambridge University Press, 1858) Catalogue of manuscripts containing Anglo-Saxon, Ker, N.R. (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1957) Medieval libraries of Great Britain: a list of surviving books Royal Historical Society guides and handbooks, Ker, N.R. (London, Offices of the Royal Historical Society, 1964) Homilies of Aelfric: a supplementary collection Early English Text Society. Original series, (London, 1, Oxford University Press for the Early English Text Society, 1967) English Caroline minuscule Oxford palaeographical handbooks, Bishop, T.A.M. (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1971) An edition of previously unpublished Anglo-Saxon homilies in MSS CCC 302 and Cotton Faustian A.ix, Callison, T.C. (1973, unpublished PhD dissertation) Middle English in Old English manuscripts Chaucer and Middle English studies in honour of Rossell Hope Robbins, Cameron, A.F. (London, 218-229, Allen & Unwin, 1974) The common origin of Ælfric fragments at New Haven, Oxford, Cambridge and Bloomington Old English studies in honour of John C. Pope, Collins, R.L.Clemoes, Peter (Toronto, 285-326, University of Toronto Press, 1974) Aelfric's Catholic Homilies: The Second Series. Text Early English Text Society. Supplementary series, (London, Oxford University Press for The Early English Text Society, 1979) Selected Rogationtide Homilies, Hanley, T. (1979, unpublished PhD dissertation) Manuscripts from Anglo-Saxon England: an exhibition in the University Library Cambridge to mark the conference of the International Society of Anglo-Saxonists, August 1985, (Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, 1985) Anglo-Saxon Exeter: a tenth-century cultural history Studies in Anglo-Saxon history, Conner, Patrick W. (Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 1993) Aelfric's Catholic homilies: the first series. Text Early English Text Society. Supplementary series, (Oxford, Published for the Early English Text Society by the Oxford University Press, 1997) Ælfric's or not? The making of a <hi rend="italics">temporale</hi> collection in late Anglo-Saxon England The Old English Homily: Precedent, Practice, and Appropriation Studies in the Early Middle Ages, Teresi, Loredana (Turnhout, 285-310, Brepols, 2007) Anglo-Saxon homiliaries in Tudor and Stuart England The Old English homily: precedent, practice, and appropriation Studies in the early Middle Ages, Kleist, Aaron J. (Turnhout, 445-492, Brepols, 2007) The material fabric of early British books The Cambridge history of the book in Britain, Gameson, Richard (Cambridge, 1: c. 400-1100, 13-93, Cambridge University Press, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521583459.003) A conspectus of scribal hands writing English, 960-1100 Publications of the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon studies, Scragg, D.G. (Cambridge, D.S. Brewer, 2012)

Bibliography

    Secondary studies:

    The dispersal of the monastic libraries and the beginning of Anglo-Saxon studies: Matthew Parker and his circle. A preliminary Study Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, Wright, C.E. (1, 3, 208-237, 1951) The chronology of Ælfric's works The Anglo-Saxons: studies in some aspects of their history and culture presented to Bruce Dickins, Clemoes, Peter (London, 212-247, Bowes & Bowes, 1959) MS Boulogne-Sur-Mer 63 and Ælfric's First Series of Catholic Homilies The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Gatch, Milton McC. (65, 3, 482-490, 1966, 2015-06-08T10:39:43Z, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27714893) Middle English in Old English manuscripts Chaucer and Middle English studies in honour of Rossell Hope Robbins, Cameron, A.F. (London, 218-229, Allen & Unwin, 1974) The common origin of Ælfric fragments at New Haven, Oxford, Cambridge and Bloomington Old English studies in honour of John C. Pope, Collins, R.L.Clemoes, Peter (Toronto, 285-326, University of Toronto Press, 1974) Old-English composite homilies from Winchester Anglo-Saxon England, Godden, Malcolm R. (4, 57-65, 1975) Aelfric's Catholic Homilies: The Second Series. Text Early English Text Society. Supplementary series, (London, Oxford University Press for The Early English Text Society, 1979) The Greek <hi rend="italics">nomen sacrum</hi> XP in some Latin and Old English manuscripts Scriptorium: Revue internationale des études relatives aux manuscrits / International Review of Manuscript Studies, Horsley, G.H.R.Waterhouse, E.R. (38, 2, 211-230, 1984) The letters of Humfrey Wanley: palaeographer, Anglo-Saxonist, librarian, 1672-1726: with an appendix of documents The letters of Humpfrey Wanley, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1989) The tremulous hand of Worcester: a study of Old English in the thirteenth century, Franzen, Christine (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1991) Matthew Parker and his books: Sandars lectures in bibliography delivered on 14, 16, and 18 May 1990 at the University of Cambridge Matthew Parker and his books Sandars lectures, Page, R.I. (Kalamazoo, Mich.; Cambridge, Medieval Institute Publications; Research Group on Manuscript Evidence, Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, 1993) The liturgical books of Anglo-Saxon England Old English newsletter. Subsidia, Pfaff, Richard W. (Kalamazoo, Mich, Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 1995) A testimonye of verye ancient tyme? Some manuscript models for the Parkerian Anglo-Saxon type-designs Of the Making of Books: Medieval Manuscripts, their Scribes and Readers. Essays presented to M.B. Parkes, Lucas, Peter J. (Aldershot, 147-88, Scolar Press, 1997) The Date and Origins of Three Twelfth-Century Old English Manuscripts Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts and Their Heritage, Treharne, Elaine M. (Aldershot, 227-53, Ashgate, 1998) Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 162 Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and their heritage, Scragg, D.G. (Aldershot, 71-83, Ashgate, 1998) The Date and Origins of Three Twelfth-Century Old English Manuscripts Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts and Their Heritage, Treharne, Elaine M. (Aldershot, 227-53, Ashgate, 1998) The compilation and use of manuscripts containing Old English in the twelfth century Rewriting Old English in the Twelfth Century Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England, Irvine, Susan (Cambridge, 41-61, Cambridge University Press, 2000) Old English prose saints' lives in the twelfth century: the evidence of the extant manuscripts Old English prose saints' lives in the twelfth century Rewriting Old English in the Twelfth Century Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England, Proud, Joana (Cambridge, 117-131, Cambridge University Press, 2000) The production and script of manuscripts containing English religious texts in the first half of the twelfth century Rewriting Old English in the twelfth century Cambridge studies in Anglo-Saxon England, Treharne, Elaine M. (Cambridge, 11-40, Cambridge University Press, 2000) Abraham Wheelock and the Presentation of Anglo-Saxon: From Manuscript to Print Beatus vir: studies in early English and Norse manuscripts : in memory of Phillip Pulsiano Medieval and Renaissance texts and studies, Lucas, P.J. (Tempe, 383-439, ACMRS (Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies), 2006) L'histoire littéraire dans les prologues de <hi rend="italics">Renart</hi> et de <hi rend="italics">Sacristine</hi> Romania: Revue trimestrielle consacrée à l'étude des langues et des littératures romanes, Zufferey, François (127, 303-327, 2009)

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