DCL MS. A.III.5Chronicles, Esdras, Nehemiah, glossed
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

A volume of glossed books of the Old Testament produced in Northern France at the end of the 12th century, one of a group of books owned by Master Robert of Haddington and subsequently given to Durham Priory. It was written in two matching sections, made separately (indicated by the two sets of quire signatures and the irregularities of quire structures at the end of both parts) but to the same specifications and written by the same scribe. (A) f.2-68 and (B) f.69-109, plus a flyleaf (f.1) which was prefixed to the volume by the early 13th century (when the list of contents was added). Originally this list indicated Daniel between Paralipomenon and Esdras. Since Esdras starts on the first recto of a new quire, it is possible that a section then present was subsequently removed or lost; this entry was deleted when the list was reworked in the 14th century.


Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mm900nt42p.html


Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: i+109+i f
Size: 334 mm x 220 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation


Secundo folio: Adam Seth
Layout

Written in 1-4 columns, up to 57 lines

Script

Written in a singletransitional Caroline Minuscule - Protogothic hand

Decoration

Items (a), (b), (d) and (e) are headed by a blue and red 15-line initial; the start of the main text of (a) with a blue and red 22-line initial.

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

Written in Northern France, end of 12th century.

Provenance

Inscription: “liber Sancti Cuthberti de dono Magistri Roberti de Adingtona” “Paralipomenon glosatus. [ Daniel-] et esdras glosati”, early 13th century, f.1v, top. Late 14th century alterations: “Daniel” crossed through, “oracio manasse regis iude” inserted before, “et Neemias” inserted after “esdras”. Pressmark “.A.” added above, 14th/15th century. The original hand is the same as for the parallel entries inother books owned by Robert of Haddington DCL MS A.III.16 f.2r and DCL MS A.III.17 f.2r. Pressmark: “.A.” later 14th century, f.3r, top right; “.A.” twice, 14th/15th century f.4r, top left and top right. “Paralipominon De communi dunelm′ in le Spendement”, early 15th century; under which was later added “Oratio manasse regis iude. Esdras et neemias glosati”. Listed in Spendement catalogues of 1392 and 1416.


SECTION: (A)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Collation

flyleaf, I2, II-IX8, X1.

Signatures: Original signatures (Roman numerals .I.-.VIII., final verso, lower margin, centre)

Manuscript contents
(a)     f.3r-32v
Modern title: I Paralipomenon with gloss
Language: Latin

The 39 standard Parisian chapter divisions were inserted in the 13th century, as Roman numerals added to the margins, first in lead then in ink.

(b)     f.32v-67r
Modern title: II Paralipomenon with gloss
Language: Latin

The 36 standard Parisian chapter divisions were inserted in the 13th century, as Roman numerals added to the margins, first in lead then in ink.

(c)     f.67r-68r
Modern title: Prayer of Manasse, with gloss
Language: Latin

f.68v blank


SECTION: (B)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Collation

I-III8, IV9 (=10, final leaf lost or cancelled).

Signatures: One original signature (.I. on first quire)

Manuscript contents
(d)     f.69r-88r
Modern title: I Esdras, glossed
Language: Latin

The 10 standard Parisian chapter divisions were inserted in the 13th century, as Roman numerals added to the margins, first in lead then in ink.

(e)     f.88v-109v
Modern title: II Esdras (Nehemiah), glossed
Language: Latin

Some standard Parisian chapter divisions were inserted in the 13th century, as Roman numerals added to the margins in lead.


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 University Library.

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. A.III.5 - Chronicles, Esdras, Nehemiah, glossed
Digitised September 2017 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mm900nt42p.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]).

de Hamel, Christopher, Glossed books of the Bible and the origins of the Paris book trade   OCLC citation, (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]   OCLC citation, (Durham: 1939)

Index terms