DCL MS. A.III.11Theological textsHeld by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts
Physical description of manuscript
Extent: ii+239+i f.
Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
Foliation
Ink foliation 1-134, 134*-210, continued in modern pencil 211-238
Secundo folio: Current: quod ieronimus in sua translatione
Secundo folio: Medieval foliation: de corpore eius habetur
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
A composite volume of ten parts: (A) f.1-38; (B) f.39-70; (C) f.71-99; (D) f.100-170; (E) f.171-182; (F) f.183-194; (G) f.195-202; (H) f.203-209; (I) f.210-230; (J) f.231-8. The matching format of (D) and (E) and the fact that only the first recto of the former and last verso of the latter display additional weathering suggest that these two were associated at a very early date; that (A) was in Durham by the start of the 16th century is shown by the note on f.1r; the 15th century catchword added to (I) to link it to (J) shows that these were together by that date; the continuous late medieval foliation (probably by Thomas Swalwell, monk of Durham approximately 1483-1539) that runs through (B) to (H) indicates that all these parts were in their present order by the end of the 15th century (and implies that (A) , (I) and (J) were not yet joined to them); the content list on f.99v shows that all the parts were together by turn of the 17th century.
SECTION: (flyleaf)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Cut down parchment, damaged (with repaired tears and holes; recto glued-stained from use as a pastedown.
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
Layout
Text-block: 295 x 198.
Lines: 5 sets of three unseparated 5-line brown ink staves on the recto; 4 sets of three 5-line staves on the verso.
ScriptRecto: Franconian notation. Verso. Textualis quadrata, neat, regular (minims 3 mm high). Ars nova notation.
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England, Durham,
late 14th/early 15th century.
Manuscript contentsf.1
Modern title: Mass-book fragment with polyphonic notation
Date: 14th/15th century
Language: Latin
f.1r. Notation (textless) of melodies for the Kyrie Lux et origo, then a Sanctus and an Agnus Dei.
f.1v. Noted Kyrie trope in honour of St Cuthbert: Kyrie Cuthberti prece culpe ceno plebicete. Eleyson | Ad fulgorem quem a fece sacra subleuasti nece Eleison | ... |Neupma sacrum sa[luamentis] turbe sceleri gementis. Eleyson. | Gregis presulis prese[ntis] [o]uis ouibus intentis. Eleyson. 8 verses: two lines of text below each group of three 5-line staves.
Battiscombe,
p.194-200, with full transcriptions (the notation on the recto is viewed as half a century earlier than that on the verso)
Crosby,
p.1-2 (dating all the music approximately 1400).
SECTION: (A)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI
12, II
14, III
12Signatures: Signatures added (?14th century) to the final versos (lower margin right).
Layout
Two columns, 72 lines.
ScriptTextualis libraria, compressed, angular
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England or France,
early 13th century.
Manuscript contents(a)
f.1-38
Original title: Summa super Psalterium
Date: early 13th century
Incipit: Egredimini filie syon
Explicit: titulus qui dicitur limes, quia per titulum introitus
Language: Latin
Text breaks off at the start of the commentary on Ps. 80, owing to the loss of the following quire(s).
Corbett
SECTION: (B)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
Layout
Two columns, 60 lines
ScriptTextualis semi-quadrata
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England or France,
early 13th century.
Manuscript contents(b)
f.39-70
Original title: In Iohannem
Date: early 13th century
Incipit: Omnia poma noua et uetera seruaui tibi dilecte mi
Language: Latin
Breaks off in commentary on John 17.1
SECTION: (C)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Parchment
Catchwords: Contemporary catchwords, boxed in red
Signatures: Contemporary leaf numbering in red in the first half of quires I-II; contemporary leaf lettering in red in the first half of quire III.
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI-II12, III6
Layout
Two columns, 69 lines
ScriptTextualis semi-quadrata
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
early 14th century.
Manuscript contents(c)
f.71-99
Original title: Dialogi
Date: early 14th century
Incipit: De honorato abbate monasterii fundensis
Explicit: si ante mortem deo hostia ipsi fuerimus
Rubric: Dialogorum gregorii pape urbis rome libri numero quatuor
Language: Latin
SECTION: (D)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Parchment
Catchwords: Contemporary catchwords (boxed) on quires I-V
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI-VI12
Layout
Two columns, 58 lines
ScriptTextualis libraria, semi-cursive, by a single scribe.
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
late 13th century.
Manuscript contents(d)
f.100-148
Original title: Sermones
Date: late 13th century
Incipit: Beatus pontifex Petrus Ravennatis ecclesie prefulgidum decus et catholice veritatis precipuus doctor
Rubric: Incipit prefatio felicis pape in omelias uel sermones beati Petri Ravennatis
Language: Latin
(e)
f.149-170
Original title: Opus imperfectum in Mattheum
Author: Ps.-John Chrysostom
Language: Latin
SECTION: (E)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Parchment
Catchwords: Catchword added linking (E) and (F)
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI12
Layout
Two columns, 58 lines
ScriptTextualis libraria, semi-cursive, by one scribe.
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
late 13th century.
Manuscript contents(f)
f.171-182
Original title: Enchiridion ad Laurentium de fide et spe et caritate
Date: late 13th century
Rubric: Incipit liber Enchirideon, Augustini. Laurenio scribens eius eruditione delectatur cupiens illum esse sapientem secundum scripturas sanctas
Language: Latin
In 135 sections numbered in Arabic numerals in the side margins. Textually distinct from the version in DCL MS B.II.29.
SECTION: (F)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI12
Layout
Two columns, 44-6 lines
ScriptAnglicana formata, by one scribe, closely similar, and probably identical to that which wrote most of DCL MS B.II.29
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
start of 14th century.
Manuscript contents(g)
f.183
r-
v
Original title: Sermo 252
Incipit: Resurrectio et clarificatio domini nostri iesu christi Fratres karissimi ostendit nobis vitam
Explicit: hic vitam vite meritis comparemus
Rubric: Augustinus De laude dei et penis pergatorii
Language: Latin
(h)
f.183
v-185
v
Original title: De visitatione infirmorum
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Visitacionis gratia nepoti meo karissimo morienti extremum valedicturus hesterna die processi
Explicit: qui in trinitate perfecta vivis et regnas deus per omnia secula seculorum. amen
Rubric: Incipit Augustinus de visitacione infirmiorum
Language: Latin
(i)
f.185
v-192
r
Original title: De virtutibus et viciis
Incipit: Primo omnium querendum est homini quid sit vera scientia veraque sapientia
Explicit: nobis prestare dignetur deus qui est benedictus per omnia secula seculorum Amen.
Rubric: Incipit liber beati augustini de modo vivendi. Capitulum primum de Fide
Language: Latin
(j)
f.192
r-194
v
Original title: De visitatione infirmorum
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Superioris tractatus cursum me clausisse putaveram
Explicit: ab ipso qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum, amen
Rubric: Incipit alius tractatus beati augustini de visitation infirmorum
Language: Latin
SECTION: (G)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Parchment
Signatures: Early leaf numbering in the first half of the quire, in the same style as (G).
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI8 (= 12 with leaves 9-12 [blank] cancelled)
Layout
Two columns, 69 lines
ScriptAnglicana formata, by one scribe
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
start of 14th century.
Manuscript contents(k)
f.195-202
Original title: De vera innocentia ex operibus S. Augustini
Incipit: Innocencia uera est que nec sibi nec alteri nocet quoniam qui diligit iniquitatem odit anima suam
Explicit: neque extollaris aliquando memor autem eris si te ipsum respexeris
Language: Latin
SECTION: (H)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Support
Parchment
Signatures: Early leaf numbering in the first half of the quire, in the same style as (F).
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI7 (= 8 with leaf 8 [blank] cancelled)
Layout
Two columns, 45 lines
ScriptAnglicana formata, two scribes
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
early 14th century.
Manuscript contents(l)
f.203
r-205
r
Original title: De assumptione beatae Mariae
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Ad interrogata de virginis et matris domini resollutione temporali
Explicit: Qui cum patre et filio et spiritu sancto viuis et regnas deus per omnia seula seculorum
Rubric: Liber augustini de assumptione beate marie
Language: Latin
(m)
f.205
r-207
r
Original title: De ascensione domini
Incipit: Hodierna die dilectissimi Fratres, deo sumus mira reconciliatione sociati
Explicit: domini nostri iesu christi qui viuit et regnat in secula seculorum amen
Rubric: Sermo Johannis Crisostomi de ascensione domini
Language: Latin
(n)
f.207
v-209
r
Original title: De igne purgatorio
Incipit: In lectione apostolica que nobis paulo antea recitata est fratres karissimi audiuimus apostolum dicentem fundamentum aliud nemo potest ponere preter
Explicit: elemosinarum largitate possimus redimere prestante domino nostro iesu christo qui cum patro etc.
Rubric: Incipit Omelium Augustini de igne purgatorio
Language: Latin
(o)
f.209
Original title: Sermo de caritate
Date: added start of 14th century
Incipit: Divinarum scripturarum multiplicem latissimamque doctrinam sine ullo errore comprehendit et sine ullo labore custodit
Explicit: Oportet enim ut senilis sermo non solum sit gravis sed etiam breuis
Rubric: Augustinus de laude Caritatis
Language: Latin
SECTION: (I)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI13 (probably 12 preceded by a singleton), II8
Layout
Two columns, 54-5 lines
ScriptCursive with Secretary and Anglicana features
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
early 15th century.
Manuscript contents(p)
f.210-229
Original title: Tabula for Augustine, De Genesi ad litteram
Date: early 15th century
Language: Latin
SECTION: (J)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Extent: Size: 345 mm x 230 mm
CollationI8
Layout
Two columns, 53 lines
ScriptCursive with Secretary and Anglicana features
History of section of manuscript
Creation
Written in England,
early 15th century.
Manuscript contents(q)
f.231-238
Original title: Tabula for Tractatus de professione monachorum
Date: early 15th century
Language: Latin
MicrofilmMicrofilmed 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.III.11 - Theological textsDigitised in June 2017 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project.
Pages with marginalia not visible in the image because they are too far into the gutter: Recto: 7, 9 – 12, 15, 25, 67, 69, 72 – 99, 123, 176 – 182, 185 – 186, 190 – 191, 193 – 196, 201 – 204, 206 – 207, 210 -212, 214 – 219, 221, 224 – 229, 231. Verso: 46, 50, 54, 62, 70 – 100, 152, 176 – 178, most of 180 – 237.
There are two f.72 and f.134
There is an approx. 1cm wide strip of parchment bound in between f.202 and f.203. When photographing f.203r, the strip was lying over some of the text and needed to be pinned back. A strip from an acid-free bookmark was placed around the parchment strip and the next few pages and then a brass paperclip was placed over the acid-free bookmark (so that it did not make contact with the parchment). This is visible in the final image.
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2m4j03cz65j.html
Bibliography
Battiscombe, C. F., ed., The relics of Saint Cuthbert 
(Oxford: Printed for the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral at the University Press, 1956)
Crosby, Brian, A catalogue of Durham Cathedral music manuscripts (Oxford: Printed for the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral at the University Press, 1986)
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.
,
Surtees Society 7, (London: J.B. Nichols and Son, [1838]).
Corbett, J.A., ed., Praepositini Cremonensis Tractatus de officiis (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1969)
Index terms 