DCL MS. A.I.15Hugh of Saint-Cher, Postillae on the Gospels
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Hugh of Saint-Cher, Postillae on the Gospels, one of the books given to Durham Priory by Bertram of Middleton before 1266.

Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mj9602065b.html

Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: ii+344+i f
Size: 365 mm x 252 mm

Foliation

Modern foliation 2-184, 184*-291, 293-345


Secundo folio: mundo discesserint
Collation

flyleaf, I8, II7 (= 8 lacks leaf 6, after f.14), III-IV8, V-XIX10, XX9 (= 10 lacks leaf 4 after f.185); XXI-XXIII10, XXIV11 (= 12 with leaf 12 [after f.232], blank, cancelled); XXV-XXXV10, 2 endleaves.

Catchwords: Contemporary catchwords on all quires bar XXIV and XXXV; late medieval catchword on f.221v, the singleton that starts quire XXIV.
Signatures: Leaf numbering in quires V, X-XIII, XV-XVI, ?XVIII, XX, XXI, XXIII, XXVI-XXXV (Roman numerals, generally I-V in the first half of the quire, but I-VIII in quire XXI, and I-X in quire XXIV; the leaves of quire XVIII are ordered correctly despite a I on f.169r and a II on f.167r). Three sets of quire numberings: 2-5 on quires II-V, 3-5 on quires XIII-XV, and 2-10 then XI on quires XXVI-XXXV.
Layout

2 columns, 64 lines

Script

Written in textualis libraria, possibly by a single hand. (e) written in Anglicanaand (f) in a hybrid cursive.

Decoration

7-line high initials at head of each section (a)-(d).

Corrections and annotation

13th century marginal commentary added in lead by an annotating hand that also draws little beast-heads and which reappears in DCL MS A.I.13 and DCL MS A.I.16.

Binding

Standard Tuckett binding, mid 19th century full brown calf over thick wooden boards (Charles Tuckett, binder to the British Museum, rebound many Durham manuscripts in the 19th century)

Manuscript history
Creation

Written in France, mid 13th century (before 1266).

Provenance

According to the list of books added to the common library to replace those sent to Oxford (14th century) Postillae hugonis de Vienna super quatuor evangelia ex procuracione Bertrami de Middleton prioris dunelmensis .... Bertram of Middleton, monk of Durham 1210s - May 1266, prior 1244-58, who also gave DCL MSS A.I.12, ?A.I.13, A.I.16 and A.III.21.

Inscription: F Hugo de Vienna cardinalis hostiensis postillator super iiijor Euangelia De communi libraria Monachorum Dunelmie, early 15th century f.2r, top. ‘... Wyllelme Seton ecclesie cathedralis Dunelm'’, mid 15th century, erased inscription f.1v, bottom (William Seton, monk of Durham 1428-1465).

Pressmarks: .F., 14th century; F; 1a Secundi D, 15th century, fol.2r, top right.

Manuscript contents
(a)     f.2r-68v
Original title: In Matthaeum
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Cher, Cardinal, approximately 1200-1263
Incipit: Quatuor sunt minima terre et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus
Explicit: quam exercueunt in te
Language: Latin

Some marginalia copied by the original scribe.

(b)     f.69r-96r
Original title: In Marcum
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Cher, Cardinal, approximately 1200-1263
Incipit: Consummatio abbreviata inundabit iustitiam
Explicit: secundum est conversio peccatorum. Tercium confirmatio iustorum.
Language: Latin
(c)     f.96r-231v
Original title: In Lucam
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Cher, Cardinal, approximately 1200-1263
Incipit: Vidi et ecce quattuor quadrige egredientes
Explicit: in figura animalium sortitus est formam vituli
Language: Latin

Some marginalia copied by the original scribe

(d)     f.232r-342r
Original title: In Iohannem
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Cher, Cardinal, approximately 1200-1263
Incipit: Ego ex ore altissimi prodii
Explicit: verticem capilli perambulancium in delictis suis
Language: Latin

Marginalia by the original scribe

(e)     f.342r-342v
Modern title: Schedule of Gospel Lections
Date: 13th/14th century
Language: Latin

Incomplete, presumably completed on a subsequent page which was removed when (f) was inserted, the present entries being left because they share their leaf with the end of (d).

(f)     f.343r-345r
Modern title: Schedule of Gospel Lections
Date: 14th/15th century
Language: Latin

Microfilm
Microfilmed in 1985/86 by the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, St John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Copies held by them and Durham Cathedral Library.

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. A.I.15 - Hugh of St Cher, Postillae on the Gospels
Digitised July 2017 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mj9602065b.html
Bibliography

Catalogi veteres librorum Ecclesiae cathedralis dunelm. Catalogues of the library of Durham cathedral, at various periods, from the conquest to the dissolution, including catalogues of the library of the abbey of Hulne, and of the mss.   OCLC citation, Surtees Society 7, (London: J.B. Nichols and Son, [1838]).

Index terms