DCL MS. B.II.22Augustine, De ciuitate Dei
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Augustine, De ciuitate Dei, written in England late 11th century. One of the books given to Durham Priory by William of St Calais before his death in 1096.

Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mbr86b359x.html

Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: ii+230+i f
Size: 315 mm x 225 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation. The original books comprised f.27-231, to which f.2-26, f.5-19 and probably f.2-4 were subsequently prefixed. Stains throughout f.5-19 that do not continue in the rest of the book and, above all on f.5r and f.19v that are not echoed on f.4v or f.20r, indicate that this section had an independent existence before it was joined to the rest of the volume.


Secundo folio: Original secundo folio (f.28)sic ab alienigenis
Collation

. Preliminary leaves (f.2-4), a bifolium followed by a singleton. (b), f.5-19, a quire of 15 leaves (seven bifolia, plus a final singleton [f.19]). (c), f.20-26, original structure uncertain (all current joints repaired) but probably 8 with leaf 8 cancelled. Main book (f.27-231): I10 II8, III-XIX10, XX8, XXI9 (probably 10 with leaf 10 cancelled or lost).

Signatures: Contemporary signatures (Roman numeral flanked by dots) on final verso of quire.
Script

The original book (f.27-231) written in late Caroline minuscule by Symeon of Durham.

Decoration

Main book headed by 14 line decorated initial containing a depiction of St Augustine.

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). Rust marks on f.2-3 possibly indicate earlier binding.

Manuscript history
Creation

Written in England, before 1096.

Provenance

Sixth item in the list of books given to Durham Priory by William of St Calais and recorded in later library catalogues.

Inscriptions: “Liber Sancti Cuthbertj” with “de dunelmo” added 13/14th century, f.27r; “D Augustinus de Ciu... communi libraria monachorum Dunelm”, almost entirely cropped off f.27r

Pressmarks: “D” and “1.3.A.”.

Manuscript contents
(medieval flyleaves)     f.2-3
Language: Latin

Blank, with four notes added 13/14/15th century

(a)     f.4
Modern title: Index to tabula (b)
Date: 14/15th century
Language: Latin
(b)     f.5-19
Modern title: Tabula for (e)
Date: 13/14th century
Language: Latin

f.19v blank

(c)     f.20-26
Modern title: Chapter list for (e)
Date: end 13th century
Rubric: Capitula primi libri Augustini de ciuitate dei.
Language: Latin
(d)     f.27r
Original title: Retractiones II.43
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Rubric: Sententia de libro retractationum beati Augustini
Language: Latin

Extract

(e)     f.27v-231r
Original title: De civitate Dei
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Gloriosissimam ciuitatem deo sive in hoc temporum cursu
Explicit: Gloria et honor patri et filio et spiritu sancto, omnipotenti deo in excelsis in secula seculorum. Amen
Rubric: Aurelii augustini Doctoris Hypponiensis Episcopi De Civitate Dei Liber Primus Incipit Contra Paganos
Language: Latin
(f)     f.231v
Modern title: Notes on De civitate Dei
Author: Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1005?-1089
Incipit: Sententiam quam beatus AUGUSTINUS de tymeo platonics sumit
Language: Latin
Edited: Gibson 1971

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. B.II.22 - Augustine, De civitate Dei
Digitised February 2015 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mbr86b359x.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]).

Gibson, Margaret, "Lanfranc's notes on patristic texts"The Journal of Theological Studies, XXII, October 1971, 435–450

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