Manuscript leaf from a Bible, in Latin, produced in England (Oxford)

MS 5650/74

Manuscript leaf from a Bible, in Latin, produced in England (Oxford)

c.1240

Text: From a Bible, in Latin

Script: Praegothica

The leaf from a Bible showing a part of ‘IIII-Kings’, and the Prologue to I-Paralipomenon (I-Chronicles). It is written in double columns of fifty-four lines in a small early gothic hand in brown ink and ruled with plummet. Rubrics are in red and capitals are touched with red. On the verso is one four-line initial ‘S’ inhabited by a creature with a long tail and extending downward twenty-one lines in the centre margin and in gold, orange, green, blue, pink and white. On the recto are two large versals, ‘I’ in red and ‘F’ in blue, both with elaborate blue and red penwork extending the length of the leaf. Chapter numbers are in blue and red Roman numerals.

The heading on the recto shows ‘GU(M) IIII’. No doubt the versal of the previous leaf would have had ‘RE’ as the first half of the word ‘REGUM’ (i.e. ‘KINGS’). At the time this leaf was written ‘I-Samuel’, ‘II-Samuel’, ‘I-Kings’ and ‘II-Kings’ were known respectively as ‘I-Kings’, ‘II-Kings’, ‘III-Kings’ and ‘IIII-Kings’. Our leaf shows the end of ‘IIII-Kings’. The heading on the verso shows ‘P(ARA)L(IP)O-’, being the first part of the word ‘PARALIPOMENON’.

The leaf is from an English manuscript pocket Bible illuminated by William de Brailes, one of the few thirteenth-century English illuminators known by name. De Brailes maintained an active workshop at Oxford c. 1238-1252. He was the illuminator of the Oxford Bible.

This leaf is from a “portable” Bible which, during the Crusades period, would have been used in the abstract study of theology or preaching of the Gospel around the medieval countryside.

Reference:

The text of the prologue, with a few minor textual variants, is in the Biblia Sacra (220.47), p. xv - xvi.

Recto side (column 1):

1 iux(ta) om(n)ia q(ue) fec(er)ant p(at)res eius . XXIIII [end of 23:37

2 [24:1] I N dieb(us) eius ascend(it) nabuchodonosor [Chapter 24

3 rex babilonis (et) f(a)c(tu)s e(st) ioachim ei s(er)vus

4 trib(us) annis . (et) r(ur)sum rebellavit (contra) eum

5 [24:2] Inmisitq(ue) ei domi(nus) latrunc(u)los chald(e)or(um)

6 (et) latrunc(u)los syrie . (et) latrunc(u)los moab

7 (et) latrunc(ul)os filior(um) am(m)o(n) . (et) i(n)misit i(n) eos

8 i(n) iudam ut disperde(ren)t eum iux(ta) v(er)bu(m) do(mini)

9 q(uo)d locutus erat per servos suos p(ro)ph(et)as .

10 [24:3] f(a)c(tu)m e(st) au(tem) hoc per v(er)bum d(omi)ni (contra) iuda(m) ut

11 auferr(et) eum coram se p(ro)p(ter) p(e)cc(at)a mana(s)

12 se . (et) univ(er)sa q(ue) fec(it) . [24:4] et p(ro)p(ter) sangui(n)em i(n)no-

13 xium q(ue)m effud(it) . et implevit ier(usa)l(e)m cru-

14 ore i(n)nocentiu(m) . et ob hanc rem noluit

15 domin(us) p(ro)pitiari . [24:5] Reliqua a(utem) sermonu(m)

16 ioachim (et) univ(er)sa q(ue) fec(it) . n(onne) h(ec) sc(ri)pta su(n)t

17 i(n) libro sermonu(m) dier(um) regu(m) iuda . (et) dor-

18 mivit ioachim c(um) p(at)rib(us) suis . [24:6] Reg(na)vit-

19 q(ue) ioachim filius eius pro eo . [24:7] et ult(ra)

20 n(on) addid(it) rex egipti ut eg(re)d(er)etur de t(er)ra su-

21 a . Tul(er)at enim rex babilonis a rivo e-

22 gipti us(que) ad flumen eufraten om(n)ia q(ue)

23 fuerant regis egipti . [24:8] (decem) et (octo) a(n)nor(um)

24 erat ioachim c(um) regnare cepiss(et) . (et) trib(us)

25 m(en)sib(us) regnavit i(n) ier(usa)l(e)m . Nomen m(at)ris ei(us)

26 nahestha filia helnathan de ier(usa)l(e)m . [24:9] Et

27 fecit malu(m) coram d(omi)no iux(ta) om(n)ia q(ue) fec(er)-

28 at p(ate)r eius . [24:10] In t(em)p(o)r(e) illo ascend(er)unt s(er)vi na-

29 buch(odonosor) reg(is) babilonor(um) i(n) ier(usa)l(e)m . (et) c(ir)cum-

30 data e(st) urbs munit(i)onib(us) . [24:11] Venitq(ue) na-

31 buch(odonosor) rex babilonis ad civitate(m) c(um) ser-

32 vis eius ut oppugnarent eam . [24:12] Eg(re)ss(us)

33 q(ue) e(st) ioachim rex iuda ad rege(m) babil(onis)

34 ip(s)e et m(ate)r eius . (et) servi eius . (et) principe(s)

35 eius et eunuchi eius . (et) suscep(it) eu(m) rex ba-

36 bilonis . Anno (octavo) regni sui . [24:13] Et p(ro)tulit

37 in(de) om(ne)s thesauros domus d(omi)ni (et) thesa-

38 uros domus regie . (et) (con)cid(it) univ(er)sa va-

39 sa aurea q(ue) fec(er)at salomo(n) rex isr(ahe)l i(n) tem-

40 plo d(omi)ni iux(ta) v(er)bu(m) d(omi)ni . [24:14] (et) transtulit o(mn)em

41 ier(usa)l(e)m (et) univ(er)sos principes (et) o(mne)s ex(er)citu(s)

42 fortes (decem milia) in captivitate(m) . (et) o(mn)em arti-

43 ficem (et) inclusorem nich(il)q(ue) rel(ic)t(u)m est

44 exceptis paup(er)ib(us) p(o)p(u)lis . [24:15] Transtulit

45 quoq(ue) ioachim in babilone(m) . (et) m(at)rem

46 regis (et) uxorem regis . (et) eunuchos reg(is)

47 (et) iudices t(er)re dux(it) in captivitate(m) de ie-

48 r(usa)l(e)m in babilone(m) . [24:16] (et) o(mne)s viros robustos

49 (septem milia) et artifices et inclusores mil-

50 le om(ne)s viros fortes . (et) bellatores . dux(it)-

51 que eos rex babilonis captivos i(n) babilo-

52 nem . [24:17] (et) (con)stituit mathania(m) p(at)ruu(m) ei(us) pro

53 eo . imposuitq(ue) ei nom(en) sedechia(m) . [24:18] Vice-

54 simu(m) (et) primu(m) annu(m) etatis h(ab)ebat sede-

Recto side (column 2):

1 chias cu(m) regnare cepiss(et) . (et) (undecim) anni(s) reg(na)-

2 vit i(n) ier(usa)l(e)m . Nom(en) m(at)ris eius amithal e-

3 rat amithal filia ie(re)mie de lobna . [24:19] (et) fe-

4 c(it) malu(m) coram domino . iux(ta) o(mn)ia q(ue) fec(er)-

5 at ioachim . [24:20] Irascebatur eni(m) d(omi)n(u)s (contra) ier(usa)l(em)

6 (et) (contra) iudam donec proic(er)et eos a facie su-

7 a . Recessitq(ue) sedechias a rege babiloni(s)

8 [25:1] F (a)c(tu)m e(st) a(utem) anno (nono) regni eius XXV [Chapter 25

9 m(en)se decimo (decima) die m(en)sis . venit na-

10 buch(odonosor) rex babilonis . ip(s)e et om(n)is ex(er)ci-

11 tus eius i(n) ier(usa)l(e)m . (et) c(ir)cumded(er)unt eam .

12 (et) extrux(er)unt i(n) c(ir)cuitu ei(us) munit(i)o(n)es . [25:2] (et)

13 clausa e(st) civitas atq(ue) vallata usq(ue) ad

14 (undecimum) annu(m) reg(is) sedechie [25:3] (nona) die m(en)sis . Pre-

15 valuitq(ue) fames i(n) civitate nec erat

16 panis p(o)p(u)lo t(er)re . [25:4] Et int(er)rupta e(st) civita(s)

17 (et) om(ne)s viri bellatores nocte fug(er)unt

18 p(er) viam porte q(ue) e(st) int(er) dupplice(m) muru(m)

19 ad ortum regis . Porro chaldei obside-

20 bant i(n) c(ir)cuitu civitate(m) . Fugit au(tem) se

21 dethias itaq(ue) per via(m) q(ue) duc(it) ad cam-

22 pestria solitudinis . [25:5] Et p(er)secutus est ex(er)-

23 citus chaldeor(um) regem . (con)prehenditq(ue)

24 eum in planitie iericho . (et) om(ne)s bel-

25 latores qui erant c(um) eo dispersi sunt

26 (et) reliquerunt eu(m) . [25:6] App(re)hensu(m) (er)g(o) rege(m)

27 ad dux(er)unt ad rege(m) babilonis i(n) rebla-

28 tha . Q(ui) locutus est c(um) eo iudiciu(m) . [25:7] filios

29 au(tem) sedechie occid(it) coram eo . (et) oculos

30 eius effodit . vinx(it)q(ue) eu(m) cathenis . (et) ad-

31 duxit in babilonem . [25:8] Mense (quinto) (septima)

32 die m(en)sis ip(s)e e(st) annus (nonusdecimus) reg(is) babi-

33 lonis venit nabuzardan princeps

34 ex(er)citus servus regis babilonis in

35 ier(usa)l(e)m . [25:9] et succendit dom(um) d(omi)ni . (et) dom(um)

36 regis (et) domos ier(usa)l(e)m o(mn)emq(ue) dom(um) (con)-

37 bussit igni . [25:10] (et) muros ier(usa)l(e)m i(n) c(ir)cuitu

38 destrux(it) . om(n)is ex(er)citus chald(e)or(um) . q(ui) erat

39 c(um) principe militu(m) . [25:11] Reliq(uam) au(tem) p(ar)tem p(o)p(uli)

40 qui remanserat i(n) civitate . (et) profugas

41 qui transfug(er)ant ad rege(m) babilonis .

42 (et) reliquu(m) vulgus transtulit nabu-

43 zardan princeps militie . [25:12] (et) de paup(er)ib(us)

44 t(er)re reliquid vinitores (et) agricolas .

45 [25:13] Columpnas a(utem) ereas q(ue) era(n)t i(n) te(m)plo do(mini)

46 (et) bases et mare ereum q(uo)d erat i(n) do-

47 mo d(omi)ni (con)freg(er)unt chaldei . (et) t(ra)nstule-

48 runt chaldei es om(ne)s i(n) babilonem .

49 [25:14] Ollas quo(que) eneas (et) trullas (et) t(ri)de(n)te(s)

50 et sciphos et mortariola (et) om(ni)a vasa

51 erea i(n) quib(us) mi(ni)strabant tuler(un)t [25:15] n(ec)n(on)

52 et thuribula (et) phialas . Q(ue) aurea au-

53 rea (et) q(ue) argentea argentea . tulit p(ri)n-

54 ceps militie . [25:16] (id est) columpnas duas ma-

Verso side (column 1):

1 re unu(m) . (et) bases q(ua)s fec(er)at rex sal(om)on i(n) te(m)-

2 plo domini . nec erat pond(us) eris om(n)i(um)

3 vasor(um) . [25:17] (decem et octo) cubitos altitudinis h(ab)e-

4 bat collumpna una et capitellu(m) e-

5 reum s(upe)r se altitudinis t(ri)um cubitor(um)

6 (et) retiac(u)l(u)m et malog(ra)nata s(upe)r capitel-

7 lum collumpne om(n)nia erea . Simile(m)

8 (et) collumpna s(e)c(un)da h(ab)ebat ornatu(m) . [25:18] Tu-

9 lit quo(que) princeps militie saraia(n)

10 sacerdotem p(ri)mu(m) . (et) sophonia(m) sac(er)-

11 dotem s(e)c(un)d(u)m . et tres ianitores . [25:19] (et) de

12 civitate eunuchu(m) unu(m) qui erat p(re)-

13 f(e)c(tu)s sup(er) bellatores viros et (quinque) viros

14 de hiis qui stet(er)ant coram rege quos

15 repp(er)it i(n) civitate . (et) sopher principe(m)

16 ex(er)citus qui probabat tyrones de p(o)p(ulo)

17 t(er)re . et (sex) viros e vulgo qui i(n)venti [line filler?]

18 fu(er)ant i(n) civitate . [25:20] Quos tollens na-

19 buzardin princeps militie dux(it) ad

20 regem babilonis in reblatha . [25:21] p(er)cus-

21 sitq(ue) eos rex babilonis i(n) reblatha . p(er)-

22 cussitq(ue) eos rex babilonis . et int(er)fec(it)

23 eos in reblatha i(n) t(er)ra emath . Et t(ra)ns-

24 latus e(st) iuda de t(er)ra sua . [25:22] p(o)p(u)lo au(tem) qui

25 rel(i)c(tu)s erat in t(er)ra iuda q(ue)m dimiserat

26 nabuch(odonosor) rex babilonis p(re)fec(it) godolia(m)

27 filiu(m) aicham filii saphan . [25:23] Q(uod) c(um) au-

28 dissent om(ne)s duces militu(m) ip(s)i (et) viri

29 qui erant cu(m) eis . videl(icet) q(uo)d (con)stituiss(et)

30 rex babil(onis) godoliam i(n) maspha vene-

31 runt ad godoliam . hysmael fi(lius) natha-

32 nae . (et) iohanna filius charee . (et) saraia

33 fili(us) themaneth necophatites . (et) iecho-

34 nias filius machati ip(s)i et socii eor(um) .

35 [25:24] Iuravitq(ue) eis godolias (et) sociis eor(um) di-

36 cens . Nolite tim(er)e servire chaldeis .

37 manete in t(er)ra . et servite regi babil(onis)

38 (et) b(e)n(e) er(it) vobis . [25:25] F(a)c(tu)m e(st) au(tem) i(n) m(en)se (septimo) ve-

39 nit hysmael filius nathanae filii e-

40 lisama de semine regio . (et) (decem) viri c(um) eo .

41 p(er)cusseruntq(ue) godoliam qui mortu(us) e(st) .

42 S(ed) et iudeos (et) chaldeos qui era(n)t c(um) eo

43 i(n) maspha . [25:26] Consurgensq(ue) om(n)is p(o)p(ulus)

44 a parvo us(que) ad magnu(m) (et) princeps mi-

45 litu(m) ven(er)unt i(n) egiptu(m) tim(en)tes chaldeos .

46 [25:27] f(a)c(tu)m e(st) v(er)o (tricesimo) (septimo) anno t(ra)nsmig(ra)t(i)o(n)is

47 regis iude ioachim m(en)se (duodecimo) (vicesima) (septima)

48 die m(en)sis sublevavit evilmeradach

49 rex babilonis anno quo reg(na)re cep(er)at

50 cap(ut) ioachim reg(is) iuda de carc(er)e . [25:28] (et) locu-

51 tus e(st) ei benigne . Et posuit t(h)ronu(m) ei(us)

52 s(upe)r thronu(m) regu(m) . qui erant c(um) eo i(n) ba-

53 bilone . [25:29] Et mutavit vestes eius q(ua)s

54 habuerat in carc(er)e . (et) (co)medebat pane(m)

Verso side (column 2):

1 semp(er) i(n) (con)spectu eiu(s) cuncti(s) dieb(us) vite

2 eius . sue . [25:30] Annona(m) quo(que) (con)stituit ei s(i)n(e) i(n)t(er)-

3 missio(n)e q(ue) et dabatur ei a rege p(er) sing(u)los

4 dies om(n)ib(us) dieb(us) vite sue . Incip(it) p(ro)l(ogus) i(n)

5 S i . (septuaginta) . int(er)pretu(m) pura primo [Prologue

6 et ab eis in g(re)cu(m) v(er)sa e(st) . li(bro) p(ar)al(ipomenon) .

7 e(d)itio perman(er)et sup(er)flue

8 me mi chromati ep(iscop)or(um) s(an)c(t)issi-

9 me atq(ue) doctissime i(m)pelleres . ut t(ibi) hebre-

10 a volu(min)a latino s(er)mo(n)e transf(err)em . Q(uod) enim

11 semel aures hominum occupav(er)at . (et) nasce(n)tis

12 ecc(lesi)e roborav(er)at fidem . iusto erat (etiam) n(os)tro

13 silentio (com)probari . Nunc (i)g(itur) c(um) pro varietate [vero

14 regionu(m) div(er)sa ferantur exemplaria .

15 (et) germana illa antiquaq(ue) translat(i)o

16 corrupta sit . atq(ue) violata n(ost)ri arbitrii

17 puritas aut e pl(ur)ib(us) iudicare q(ui)d v(eru)m e(sse) .

18 sit . au(t) novu(m) opus in vet(er)i op(er)e . (cu)d(er)e illu-

19 dentib(us) quos iudeis cornicu(m) ut d(icitu)r oc(u)los

20 (con)fig(er)e . Alexandria et egiptus i(n) . (septuaginta) . sui(s) e-

21 siciu(m) laudat auctore(m) . Constantinopol(is)

22 us(que) antiochiam luciani martiris exe(m)-

23 plaria p(ro)bat Medie int(er) has p(ro)vi(n)cie pa-

24 lestinos codices legu(n)t . quos ab origene

25 elaboratos . eusebius et pamphilius vul-

26 gav(er)unt . totusq(ue) orbis hanc int(er) se vari-

27 etate tripharia (com)pugnat . Et certe ori-

28 genes n(on) solum exempla (com)posuit . (quatuor)

29 edit(i)onu(m) e regione sing(u)la verba des(cri)-

30 bens . Ut unus dissentiens statim cet(er)is

31 int(er) se (con)sentientib(us) arguatur . s(ed) q(uod) ma-

32 ioris audacie e(st) in edit(i)o(n)e . (septuaginta) . theodocio-

33 nis edit(i)o(n)em miscuit ast(er)iscis vedel( ) de-

?

34 signatis q(ue) minus an(te) fu(er)ant . et virgul(is)

35 que ex superfluo videbantur apposita .

36 Si (i)g(itur) aliis licuit n(on) ten(er)e q(uo)d semel sus-

37 ceperant . (et) p(ost) . (septuaginta) . cellulas q(ue) vulgo s(i)n(e)

38 auctore iactantur . singulas cell(ul)as ap(er)-

?

39 uere h(oc) quos in ecc(les)iis leg(itu)r q(uo)d . (septuaginta) . nes-

40 cierunt . cur me n(on) suscipiant latini m(e)i

41 qui i(n)violata edit(i)o(n)e vet(er)i ita nova (con)di-

42 di . ut labore(m) meum ebreis . (et) q(uo)d hiis mai(us)

43 ap(osto)lis auctorib(us) probem . Sc(ri)psi nuper li-

44 brum de optimo g(e)n(er)e int(er)preta(n)di oste(n)-

45 dens illa de ev(a)ngelio . ex egipto voca-

46 vi filiu(m) meu(m) . et q(uonia)m nazareus vocab(itu)r

47 (et) videbunt i(n) q(ue)m (com)punx(er)unt . (et) i(llud) ap(osto)li

48 Q(ue) ocul(u)s n(on) vid(it) nec auris audivit . nec i(n)

49 cor hominis ascend(erunt) . q(ue) p(re)paravit d(eu)s di-

50 ligentib(us) se . cet(er)aq(ue) hiis similia in hebre-

51 o(rum) libris inveniri . Certe app(osto)li et ev(a)n-

52 g(e)liste . (septuaginta) . int(er)pretes nov(er)ant . et unde

53 eis hoc d(ice)re q(uod) in . (septuaginta) . n(on) h(abe)ntur . (christ)e deus

54 n(oste)r utriusq(ue) testam(en)ti (con)ditor in ev(a)nge-

Notes:

A Letters: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u/v,x,y,z.

A,C,E,F,I,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U/V,X

Versals: F,I,S,V,X.

B It is not certain what ‘. 999 .’ and ‘. 996 .’ on the recto heading

imply, but they seem to be a later addition - also ‘. 99Λ .’ and

‘. 998 .’ at the top of the verso side.

C The writing at the bottom of the recto side is probably a later

addition.

D There are numerous abbreviations.

E Lower case roman numerals are shown in full.

F Chapter and verse numbering are shown in square brackets.

G It is suspected that there are a few uncorrected scribal errors.

H There are alternative forms of ‘r’ and ‘s’.

I There is frequent use of the crossed Tironian ‘et’.

J The letter ‘a’ is frequently tall and exceeds the ‘x’ height,

e.g. in ‘coram’ (recto 1, line 11).

K There is some confusion between ‘c’ and ‘t’.

L The writing is not particularly neat (c.f. MS60).

M It appears that ‘a’ is being inserted to the left of the line

(recto 1, line 10).

N To the left of line 8 in the left column of the verso side is the

letter ‘t’. Its significance is not understood.

O After the word ‘regu(m)’ (verso 1, line 52) the scribe has made

a small deletion and the vellum has been slightly thinned.

P There are several instances on the recto side of three dots above

a vertical line (sometimes crossed with parallel horizontal lines)

highlighting some textural passage.

MS 74

Latin

1 leaf

Material: Vellum leaf