Durham University Library Archives & Special Collections Catalogue
Manuscript codex, a composite volume of two matching parts written in France in the early 13th century containing three books of the old Testament, glossed. (A), Isaiah, f.3-86; (B), Jeremiah and Lamentations, f.87-199 – plus flyleaves (f.1-2). The quire signatures indicate that (A) and (B) were made separately, but had clearly been brought together by the mid 14th century (indicated by the note of contents on f.2v), very probably by mid 13th century when Durham acquired the volume from Master William (note on f.1r).
Modern pencil foliation runs 1-176, 176*-200.
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). Stains on the flyleaf from one or more former bindings: general impression of the turnovers; two pairs of rust stains at the fore-edge from the metal for a pair of clasps in much the same positions as the present ones; a pair of green stains towards the fore-edge midpoint from another clasp or chain fixture; rust stained hole at the bottom of the leaf, centre, possibly from a chain fixture.
Written in France, early 13th century.
Inscription: “liber sancti Cuthberti. Iste liber emptus est ab executoribus magistri Willelmi a Conuentu ad commune armariolum ut ibidem semper ponatur”, mid 13th century, in the same hand as the inscription recording the gift of Master William of Durham in DCL MS A.II.7, f.1r. Master William of Durham, D.Th. of Paris, which he left in 1229, returning to England and possibly Oxford; admitted rector of Wearmouth (Durham) c.1232; papal chaplain by 1248; died at Rouen 1249 (BRUO, I, 612-3).
Inscription: “Liber Sancti Cuthberti de Dunelmo”, 13th/14th century, f.2v, top.
“[.b. - erased] Ysaias et Ieremias \Item lamentaciones ieremie/ glosati”, mid 14th century augmented end of 14th century, f.2v, top
Pressmark “.A.”, 14th century, f.3r, top right.
Spendement 94, lettered A; 2475.40, lettered B, although neither 2475 {40} nor {49}, lettered L, mention Lamentations.
Parchment: smooth and even with minimal H/F contrast; occasional flaws and edgecuts. Generally arranged FH, HF, the occasional exceptions probably resulting from the lack of distinction between the two sides.
flyleaves (f.1-2), bifolium. I-VIII10, IX4 ( First leaves: 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83.)
Written area: 222 x 132 mm. Up to three columns of variable width.
The biblical text is written on every other line or every third line up to a maximum of 26 lines per page (height of minims, 4+ mm). The gloss is written on every line, up to a maximum of 52 per page, starting above top line (space, 2 mm; height of minims, 2 mm).
Pricking: awl. That for the horizontals done in both side margins. Prickings survive in all four margins.
Ruling: ink and lead. Planned for third phase /complex glossed book design – i.e. a solid text-block composed of the scriptural text written every other (or every third) line in a column that varies in width from page to page, the gloss, written on every line, being integrated within and around as well as beside it. Four sets of double verticals define the three main columns (gloss-text-gloss) which may vary independently of them; a further vertical in the inner margin and one or a pair of verticals in the outer margin define zones for additional glosses. The top one or two horizontals are often extended; a further pair of horizontals was often supplied in the upper margin for the running heading. Extra horizontals were supplied on an ad hoc basis in all margins for additional glosses.
Textualis semi-quadrata for biblical text and planned gloss. Number of scribes uncertain, possibly one. The additional marginal and interlinear glossing done to a smaller scale (height of minims, 1 mm) is in a less formal version of the script; apparently contemporary with the main text it, too, might be by the same hand(s).
The start of the Preface and of the Biblical text are marked by red and blue initials, 8 lines high, flourished in both colours. Sentence capitals within the biblical text are alternately red then blue, sometimes stroked in the other colour. Running heading (Ysaias) and chapter numeration in red and blue. Each main block of marginal gloss is headed by a paraph, alternately red then blue.
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)
f.86v, blank.
Preface, with marginal glosses.
Divided into the ‘standard Parisian’ 66 chapters by red and blue Roman numerals placed in the margins. Arabic numerals giving the relevant chapter number were added to the top right-hand corner of the rectos at an uncertain date in the middle ages. With marginal glosses. Further marginal and interlinear glossing throughout, written to a smaller gauge, sometimes keyed into place via sigla.
I-IX10, X-XI12. (First leaves: 87, 97, 107, 117, 127, 137, 147, 157, 167, 176*, 188).
Materials and preparation as in Part (A), except that the additional vertical ruling in the outer margin is invariably a single one, and on pages with a predominance of biblical text (e.g. 143v, 144r) only three pairs of verticals were supplied (though there was the normal pricking for four).
Textualis semi-quadrata for biblical text and planned gloss; closely similar in aspect to that of Part (A). The number of scribes is uncertain, possibly one. The additional marginal and interlinear glossing, apparently contemporary with the main text, was done to a smaller scale (height of minims, 1 mm) in less formal versions of the script. Its aspect on the first pages resembles that of the corresponding hand(s) in Part (A); however, it soon becomes more fluid and less carefully controlled.
The start of the Preface to (b), of the Biblical text of (b), and of both Chapter I and II of the biblical text of (c) (87r, 87v, 171r, 177r) are marked by red and blue initials, 6+ lines high, flourished in both colours. The Prefatory texts to (c) are headed by red then blue capitals, the former plain, the latter flourished in red. Sentence capitals within the biblical texts are alternately red then blue, sometimes stroked in the other colour; guide letters remain visible underneath. Running headings (‘IERE’ , ‘TRENI’) and chapter numeration are done in red and blue. Each main block of marginal gloss is headed by a paraph, alternately red then blue. A trial for a decorative scrolling form, 13th century?, was faintly sketched in the lower margin of 103r.
The bottom two-thirds of 170r left blank. Additional glossing in the outer margin throughout. Later ‘Nota’ added to 158r.
Divided into the standard 52 chapters by contemporary Roman numerals in the margins; the corresponding Arabic numerals were added to every recto, upper margin, top right. Running heading IE-RE on versos and rectos respectively, except 102v+103r which mistakenly have TRE-NI instead.]
The standard 5 chapters marked in Roman numerals in the margins; the corresponding Arabic numerals added to every recto, top right. The explicit (Explicit lamentations ieremie prophete) follows the final glosses and is written to the same (smaller) gauge as them. Additional glossing in the outer margin throughout.
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]).
de Hamel, Christopher, Glossed books of the Bible and the origins of the Paris book
trade , (Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Boydell Press,
1984)
Stegmüller, Friedrich, Repertorium biblicum medii aevi , (Madrid: 1950-1980)