Durham University Library Archives & Special Collections Catalogue
A composite volume of six parts: (A) f.2-3; (B) f.5-80; (C) f.81-138; (D) f.139-166; (E) f.167-202; (F) f.203-213 (plus fly- and endleaves (f.1, 4, and 214-217). While their initial independence is demonstrated by their individual sets of quire signatures, (B)-(E) are linked by a common scribe. That (E) was joined to (D) by the early 13th century is demonstrated by the addition of a prefatory text for the former onto the final page of the latter, and it seems probable that (B)-(E) plus the flyleaves f.1 and 4 were all together by mid 13th century when the Durham ex libris was added to 1r. That the endleaves were joined to (F) by mid 13th century is suggested by the addition to them of a tabula complementing that within (F). (B)-(F) plus the flyleaves f.1 and 4 were certainly together by 14th century (shown by list of contents on f.1r). The date at which the fragmentary (A) joined the volume is unclear: while the final leaf of (F) has faint traces of the same stains from a former binding as mark the endleaves (f.214-217), (A) does not share the holes made by former metalwork in the leaves to either side of it (f.1 and 4), suggesting that it has not been in its present position for very long.
Parchment
Modern pencil foliation. Tab, inscribed 8, attached to f.113; stains from lost tab on f.60.
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). Rust stains at fore-edge of the flyleaves (f.1 and 4) from a pair of clasp fixtures on a former binding; several rust-stained holes in the fly- and endleaves (f.1, 4, 214-217) from metal fixtures on a former binding. Traces from former turnovers and lacing channels visible on f.1 and 217.
Inscription: “Liber Sancti Cuthberti de Dunelmo ex dono Magistri Henrici de Melsaneby ad commune armarium. Et nulli homini acommodandus”, mid 13th century, f.1r, top (see also DCL MS A.II.15).
Contents list: “In isto volumine continetur Parabole salomonis. Ecclesiastes. Cantica canticorum. Actus apostolorum. Apocalypsis Iohannis. Epistole canonice. Item quedam concordancie super Bibliam”, 14th century, f.1r, top.
Pressmark: “.M.”, 14th century, f.5r, top right. “M. Parabole Salamonis cum alijs De communi libraria monachorum dunelm”, early 15th century, f.5r, top, to which was added by Thomas Swalwell, a list of contents, identical to that on f.1r except for “Apocalypsis” (rather than Apocalypsis Iohannis) and the description of the final item as “Concordancie minores de quibusdam viciis et virtutibus”.
Recorded in Cloister catalogue.
bifolium
Text-block: 251 x 167 mm, two columns (width, 77 mm), 61 lines.
Written in Textualis libraria
Written in England, later 13th century.
Parchment
I-VI8, VII10, VIII8, IX10
Written area: 195 x 135-142 mm. Mainly three columns of variable width.
Written in textualis by two scribes.
Incipits of the Biblical texts of (a) and (b) are headed by red and blue initials, 7+ lines high, flourished in both colours.
Written in France or England, later 13th century.
Contemporary division of Biblical text into 59 chapters, each headed by a coloured initial, alternately red then blue, and marked by a large red and blue Roman numeral in the margin. Renumbering to the 31 chapters of the Standard Parisian system was added in the upper margin alongside the running heading in the 13th century.
Contemporary division of the Biblical text into 31 short sections, each headed by alternately red then blue capitals and flagged by a large red and blue Roman numeral in the margin. A renumbering to the 11 chapters of the Standard Parisian system was added in the upper margin alongside the running heading in 13th century.
Contemporary division of the Biblical text into 12 chapters, each headed by a coloured capital, alternately red then blue, and flagged by a red and blue Roman numeral in the margin. A renumbering to the 8 chapters of the Standard Parisian system was added in the upper margin alongside the running heading in 13th century.
Parchment
I-VI8, VII10
Written area: 205 x 138 mm. One to three columns of variable width.
The biblical text is written on every other line (sometimes starting above, other times below the top line), up to a maximum of 23 lines per page. The 
gloss 
is written on every line, up to a maximum of 45 per page, generally starting above top line.
Written in Textualis by one scribe.
Incipit of biblical text marked by a blue initial, 8+ lines high, flourished in red.
Written in France or England, later 13th century.
Original division, via red and blue roman numerals placed in the margins, into 64 chapters. The standard Parisian 28 chapter divisions were added to the margins in black Roman numerals, 13th century, the corresponding Arabic numerals inserted beside the running heading 13/14th century.
Parchment
I-II8, III13 (=12 + 1 [fol. 166], a final singleton)
Written area of original text and gloss : 210 x 136 mm. One to three columns of variable width. The biblical text is written on every other line (starting above top line) to a maximum of 23 lines per page. The gloss is written on every line, up to a maximum of 45 per page, generally starting above top line.
Written in Textualis by a single scribe.
Blue initial, 8 lines high, flourished in red heads the incipit to the biblical text.
Written in France or England, later 13th century.
Original division, via red and blue roman numerals placed in the margins, into 38 chapters. The standard Parisian 22 chapter divisions were added to the margins in black Roman numerals, 13th century, the corresponding Arabic numerals inserted beside the running heading 13/14th century.
Parchment
I-III8, IV12
Written area: 210 x 138 mm, one to three columns of variable width. The biblical text is written on every other line (starting above the original top line) to a maximum of 23 lines per page. The initial planned gloss is written on every line, up to a maximum of 45 per page, generally starting above top line.
Written in textualis
The incipits for the preface to, and the text of James (f.167r, f.167v) are headed by red and blue initials, 6+ lines high, flourished in both colours. Each subsequent biblical incipit is headed by a blue or red capital, 4+ lines high, flourished in the other colour.
Written in France or England, later 13th century.
Originally divided via red and blue roman numerals in the margins, into 12 chapters, some subdivided into two parts by red and blue Roman numerals preceded by a paraph. Redivided into the Standard Parisian 5 chapters by Roman numerals in black ink added early 13th century in the margins and alongside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 12 sections. The standard Parisian 5 chapters added in black ink Roman numerals,early 13th century, both in the margins and beside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 8 sections. The 3 Standard Parisian chapters were inserted in black ink Roman numerals, early 13th century, both in the margins and beside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 14 sections. The 5 Standard Parisian chapters were inserted in black ink Roman numerals, early 13th century, both in the margins and beside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 3 sections. The 1 Standard Parisian chapter number was inserted as a black ink Roman numeral, early 13th century, beside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 4 sections. The 1 Standard Parisian chapter number was inserted as a black ink Roman numeral, early 13th century, beside the running heading.
Originally divided by red and blue roman numerals in the margins into 4 sections. The 1 Standard Parisian chapter number was inserted as a black ink Roman numeral, early 13th century, beside the running heading.
Parchment
probably I11 (=12 with leaf 12, a blank, cancelled)
Written area: 245 x 190 mm (main text), extended to 276 x 190 mm by contemporary writing in the lower margin. Six columns (width, 35 mm). 57 lines in main block, plus up to 8 in the lower margin.
Written in textualis libraria
Written in England, later 13th century.
The majority of entries under each heading comprise: biblical book, chapter, place therein (e.g. ‘p’, ‘m’, and/or ‘f’ - for in principio, in medium, in fine), plus a one- to three-word designation; some, however, feature extended quotations.
Presumably a supplement to (n)
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)
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] ,
(Durham: 1939)