DCL MS. B.III.32Hymnarium; Aelfric.
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Manuscript codex made up of two parts, a hymnal and Aelfric's Grammar, both written in England in the first half of the 11th century.

Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: i,127,i f
Size: 235 mm x 156 mm

Foliation
Secundo folio: Lux Beata
Layout

Written space: 165 x 110 mm. 2 columns.

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 England in the earlier 11th century.

Provenance

Given to Durham Cathedral 27 February 1775 by Dr Thomas Wharton of Old Park, as recorded in the donations book (DCL MS A.IV.32, f.85v).

SECTION: (I)
Manuscript contents
(a)     f.1r-43r
Modern title: Hymnal, with continuous Old English gloss
Language: Latin
Language: Old English
Edited: Stevenson
(b)     f.43v-45v
Modern title: Proverbs
Date: [Added mid 11th century]
Language: Latin
Language: Old English
(c)     f.46r-55v
Modern title: Canticles
Language: Latin
Language: Old English

27 canticles, 24 of which have a continuous Old English gloss. f.56r is blank and f.56v is a full page picture.

SECTION: (II)
Manuscript contents
(d)     f.56r-121v; 122r-127r
Modern title: Grammar
Author: Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Language: Old English
(e)     f.121v-122r
Original title: Dialogus de grammatica
Incipit: Prima declinatio quot litteras terminales habet
Language: Latin

As BL MSS Cotton Faustina A.x f.101rv and Harley 107 f.71v-72v. f.127 blank


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.
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]).

Stevenson, J., The Latin hymns of the Anglo-Saxon church, with an interlinear Anglo-Saxon gloss; derived chiefly from a manuscript of the eleventh century preserved in the library of the dean and chapter of Durham   OCLC citation, Surtees Society 23, (Durham: George Andrews, 1851).

Mynors, R.A.B., Durham Cathedral manuscripts to the end of the twelfth century. Ten plates in colour and forty-seven in monochrome. With an introduction [including a list of all known Durham manuscripts before 1200]   OCLC citation, (Durham: 1939)

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