Durham University Library Archives & Special Collections Catalogue
Fragment (strip from one page) of the Alphabet of Ben Sira, written in England in 13th century
Parchment
No pricking or ruling visible. 17/18 lines (122 mm vertically) with a justified right margin of 12 mm, lower margin 25 mm
Written in square Hebrew script with small glossing Latin script.
With a b&w photograph of the fragment whilst still in the binding, a diagram illustrating how it had been used in the binding, correspondence relating to identification of the text and a catalogue entry for the piece.
Written in England, 13th century.
Reused as a binding reinforcement strip in Ieremias ex utero matris sanctificatus propheta, Iudaeorum & gentium doctor, disertus & clarus, CLXX concionibus expositus autore Heinrycho Bullingero (Geneva: excudebat Froschouerus, 1561) bound in limp vellum 16th/17th century Shelfmark of source: SB 0194 Portfolio II/4 (see Catalogue of fragments, manuscript and printed, amongst Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections).
Vertical strip from the right edge of a leaf, with interlinear Latin glosses. In the margin of recto line 4 the letter כ marks the start of a section dealing with a betrothed woman and man, while the verso deals with secret justice or almsgiving. The fragmentary text does not match any of the later Latin translations. In the margin of the verso in the same hand is “Nota quasi tamen operibus non possit esse iustus”.