DCL MS. B.III.30De monachis; Vitas patrum
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Manuscript codex made up of two parts. (A) written in the early 15th century is a compilation of texts on the history of Durham Priory and Benedictine monks in Britain, attributed to John Wessington, prior of Durham. (B), written in the mid 13th century, is a compilation of lives of the Fathers.

Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2m9w032323k.html

Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: 269 f
Size: 530 mm x 215 mm

Foliation
Secundo folio: & idem in epla
Binding

17th century binding with blind-tooled covers repaired with the addition of a new spine by Tucketts, 14 July 1845. Medieval [?] clasp similar to those on A.I.3, etc.

Manuscript history
Provenance

On verso of last leaf of (A): "volumine per Iohannem Wessyngton pro parte laborato infrascripta sunt contenta".

SECTION: (A)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: 56 f
Layout

233 x 150 mm. 33 long lines.

Decoration

Blue capitals flourished in red.

History of section of manuscript
Creation

Written in England, Durham, early 15th century.


Manuscript contents
(a)     f.1-54
Original title: Collectanea historica monastica Johannis Wessington prioris Dunelmensis
Author: Wessington, John, -1451
Language: Latin
(b)     f.55r-61v
Original title: De oratione et eius virtute “Inter omnia vite humane”
Language: Latin
SECTION: (B)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: 213 f
Layout

240 x 165 mm. 2 columns.

Decoration

Red and blue flourished capitals with some red text.

History of section of manuscript
Creation

Written in mid 13th century.


Manuscript contents
(c)     f.63-266
Original title: Vitas patrum
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 B.III.30 - De monachis; Vitas patrum
Digitised November 2020 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project. Due to the binding, there are some images throughout the volume with marginalia and text not visible in the image because they are too far into the gutter. There is a parchment stub between folios 29 and 30. It has been lifted to the extent possible, the partially visible text in the gutter is the only text underneath it. There are four additional images of 2 loose pieces of parchment from old repairs (?) found in the volume: fragment 1 recto (?), fragment 1 verso (?) (Fragment 1 is currently between f.66 and f.67. It does not belong to either, it may belong to f.223), fragment 2 recto (?), fragment 2 verso (?) (Fragment 2 is currently between f.248 and f.249. It may belong to f.248).
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2m9w032323k.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