Durham University Library Archives & Special Collections Catalogue
Florus of Lyons, Collectaneum in epistolas Pauli (Corinthians-Hebrews) written in England in the later 12th century.
Parchment: stout, even toned. Arranged: HF, FH. A rare hole was expertly patched prior to use (f.57). The lower margins of many leaves bear faint stains of writing in a style akin to that of the main text: whether these sheets are palimpsests, or the stains are offsets as a result of damp has not been established. A parchment tab was formerly attached to f.89.
Modern pencil foliation of the main medieval book.
Medieval flyleaf (f.1) singleton, glued at the gutter to f.2, I-XI8, XII7 (= 8 with leaf 8 lost or cancelled), [Lost quire, signed ‘.I.’.], XIII-XXV8, XXVI5 (=?6 with leaf 6, blank, lost or cancelled; the leaves of this quire have been sewn together at the gutter, presumably by Tucketts).
Written area: 325-330 x 212-217 mm. Two columns (width, 97 mm);
50 lines (space, 7 mm; height of minims, 3.5 mm)
Pricking: awl, applied to all four margins (only the prickings in the inner and lower margins survive).
Ruling: lead. Single verticals at the outer edge of both columns, double at the inner edge (three in total in the intercolumnar space). In general, the first, third, last and antepenultimate horizontals were most extended. All horizontals were continued across the intercolumnar space. An additional horizontal was supplied in the upper margin for the running heading.
Written in Textualis semi-quadrata. The number of scribes is uncertain, most probably two. There are three distinguishable manners of writing:
(1) Textualis semiquadrata, slightly more curvilinear and residual Caroline elements than (2), which is more angular, slightly more compact and wholly Textualis; plus (3) which displays features of both - starting much closer to 2 but soon evolving to be akin to 1. It is probable but not certain that this third manner is in fact the first scribe, initially acculturating his hand to match that of the second, but then reverting to his own manner. Correspondingly, while the first change of hands (f.96v bottom/97r top ) is not in doubt, the precise point of the second change is far more difficult to perceive.
The red rubrics that precede each extract, giving its source, are written by the main text scribe in the same script. Scriptural citations are flagged by diples in the margins. Corrections were noted in the margins, then inserted into the text in rasura by the original scribe; the marginal notes were sometimes then erased (e.g. f.51v, f.52r), sometimes not (e.g. f.140r, f.151r).
Decorated initial “P”s in the Channel style head I and II Corinthians, 34 and 50 lines high respectively. The first was completed, the second was inked in black/brown and red but not coloured; in neither case was the accompanying display script supplied. The first has a bowl filled with curling stems, two foliate blossoms and two white dogs, while its stem incorporates a bird in a roundel and terminates in a dragon; the letter-shape itself is golden, set against a dusky pink panel, internal details of the design being coloured in red, blue and white. The second has a busier design, its stem a pair of uprights around which entwine symmetrical foliage, its bowl an attenuated dragon filled with foliate curls and blossoms; the lead sketches remain readily visible under the ink lines. The incipit to Galatians is lost. The other books are headed with Arabesque/Flourished initials, up to 30 lines high. In most cases the letter shape is in rendered in two colours (red and blue, or red and green), with elaborate, carefully controlled flourishing in three or more of red, blue, green and yellow; however, the “P” for I Thessalonians (f.150r) is done in a deep purple and flourished in purple, red and green; while the “M” for Hebrews (f.185r) is red and green set against a solid blue panel. The initials for Ephesians, I-II Thessalonians and I-II Timothy (f.107v, f.150r, f.155r, f.158r and f.174v) are accompanied by a line of coloured display script, up to 3 lines high; the other five are merely followed by 1-line-high black capitals. Each chapter/extract is headed by a coloured initial, 2+ lines high. On f.2r these are red, blue or green, their bowls filled with patterning in red, green and blue. From f.2v-96v the great majority are red, green or blue alone (occasional isolated examples have modest flourishing in another colour: examples on f.2v, f.48v, f.54v-56v; on f.12v a red “V” having been supplied instead of an “N”, it was turned into the latter via additions in brown/black; on f.29v a red “D” having been supplied instead of an “R”[eddit], it was left to stand but a large “R” was written within it in brown/black). On f.97r the initials are red, green or blue, flourished in one or more other colour(s). On f.97v-204v they are red then blue in alternation, flourished in up to three other colours (red, green, blue, yellow). Disparities in the mode of decoration correspond to the two parts in which the volume was made (see Collation), the first with decorated book initials and predominantly single coloured chapter capitals, the second with arabesque book initials and flourished chapter capitals.
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). Strips from medieval manuscripts that had been reused in an earlier binding were extracted, presumably by Tucketts, and have been attached at the gutter to f.1 or f.205.
Written in England, last third of 12th century.
Inscription: “Iste liber fuit \quondam/ pro lectura in refectorio et iacuit in armariolo iuxta introitum infirmarie”, earlier 14th century, f.1r, bottom; the “quondam” is a subsequent 14th century insertion, evidently reflecting a change in use and location. The book does not appear on the one late 14th century list of such items: Catalogi Veteres p. 80 (cf. DCL MS B.II.7).
Pressmark and title: “B”, 14th century, f.2r, top right. “B Flores Bede super epistolas Pauli de communi libraria monachorum dunelm'”, early 15th century, f.2r, top (cropped).
Inscription and pressmark: “Flores bede extracti de diuersis libris augustini super epistolas pauli, scilicet ad romanos ... 2a3iN”, 15th/16th century, in hand of Thomas Swalwell.
Recorded in 1395 Cloister Catalogue.
The companion volume, with the commentary on Romans, is now Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College MS Δ2.10 (James 32)
The first five words (evidently to be written in display script) were not supplied. The scribe struggled to fit in the end of the text on f.74r, succeeding by means of compression and by using the lower margin for the final line. Numerous marginal Nota marks and “hucusque”s were copied as part of the original transcription. Section numbering was added throughout in Arabic numerals, in the 14th century, longer sections being themselves subdivided by added letters.
The first five words (evidently to be written in display script) were not supplied. Some marginal Nota marks and “hucusque”s were copied as part of the original transcription. Section numbering was added throughout in Arabic numerals, in the 14th century, longer sections being themselves subdivided by added letters.
Begins acephalous (owing to the loss of a quire) at 368C in the extract from Augustine, De Trinitate, Book IV, ch. 19. A few contemporary Nota marks. Section numbering added in Arabic numerals.
A few contemporary Nota marks. Three “Nota”s and one “Nota bene” were added to f.123v-124r, 14th century (the one point common to the passages in question is that they mention the Devil). Added section numbering.
Section 22 (f.135r) was initially omitted and had to be supplied in the lower margin, keyed into place by sigla. A few contemporary Nota marks. Added numbering.
No contemporary Nota marks. Added numbering
One original Nota mark. Added numbering.
No Nota marks. Added numbering
Three original Nota marks; a few added ones. Added numbering
S 2287; synopsised as PL 119.405-410. No Nota marks. Added numbering.
No Nota marks. Added numbering
No Nota marks. Added numbering.
Sections of text at the top of each page from f.195v-205r are illegible or lost owing to damage. The text ends on f.205r, column 1, line 14; the rest of the page and all of 205v are blank. No Nota marks. Added numbering and lettering.
Parchment: low quality with pronounced follicle marks, H and F sides both yellow/brown. All more or less damaged. Size of original book at least 250 x 180 mm. Two mounted one on top of the other at the front of the book; three mounted one above the next at the back of the book.
Original text-block: 183 x 114 mm. Two columns (width, 55 mm). 40 lines (space, 4.5 mm; height of minims, 2 mm).
Pricking: none survives. Ruling: ink. Single vertical bounding lines to either side of both columns (two in total in the intercolumnar space). First two and last two horizontals extended.
Written in Textualis libraria, functional. One hand represented
None. spaces reserved for initials, 2 lines high, at the start of sections, remain blank.
Written in France, late 13th or early 14th century.
Legal clauses concerning marriage, treating impediments thereto and conditions for divorce.
Second strip recto: ...Si propter frigiditatem -?- separantur, datur mulieri licentiam nubendi et non [-] ut extra iii q i ....
Fourth strip recto, ... nisi in quibusdam casibus. primus est si obiciatur mulieri fornicatio publica et manifesta ...
Fifth strip verso, extra .i. qui matrimonium accusare possunt, peruenit, prohibentur omnes christiani quo usque aliqui in consanguinitate coniuncti qui uelint et possint matrimonium accusare. Et est illud speciale quod consanguinei ad accusationem matrimonii admittantur sicut pater mater frater soror patruus ... The fifth strip corresponds to part of Tancred, Summa de matrimonio.
Parchment: seemingly of a reasonable quality, five mounted one above the next at the front of the book, five mounted similarly at the back of the book.
Original page size and written area unclear (no strip includes more than four incomplete lines of text). Number of lines and columns unclear. Space between lines, 7 mm; height of minims, 4.5 mm). Ruled in lead; pattern unclear.
Written in Textualis semi-quadrata, stately but not calligraphic. One hand represented.
No evidence present.
Written in England, 13th century.
Ecclesiastical Rulings.
Third strip recto, Item quod nullus intra etc. [--] debent defendi ab eade[m] [--] iste intelliguntur de ecclesiis confe[--] auctoritate episcoporum fuit edi//
Fifth strip recto, ... Item quod non possit uendi [--] credo de cimiterio .m. Item//
Eighth strip recto ... de causa sanguinis. Item [--] habet cymetrium ...
Ninth strip recto, ... de pecunia ecclesie nomine vel [--] si emptor illam pecuniam ...
Tenth strip recto, layci scilicet quorum fides et bonitas ...
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]).
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)
Stegmüller, Friedrich, Repertorium biblicum medii aevi , (Madrid: 1950-1980)