Manuscript leaf from a Bible, in Latin, produced in Northern France (probably Paris)

MS 5650/123

Manuscript leaf from a Bible, in Latin, produced in Northern France (probably Paris)

c.1250-1300

Text: From a Bible, in Latin

Script: Praegothica

The leaf is from a Bible and shows Saint Jerome’s Prologue addressed to Pope Damasus I, with an introduction to the Canon Tables, and part of the Prologue to the Gospels. Pope Damasus had asked Saint Jerome to revise the Latin Bible which then became what is now known as the Latin Vulgate Bible.

The text is in a double column of forty-nine lines, written in a brown ink in a fine, small, early gothic bookhand; capitals are touched in red; rubrics are in red. There is one nine-line initial ‘B’ at the beginning of the first Prologue with a floral leaf pattern painted in blue, red, pale brown, black, white and possibly burnished gold, or a gold substitute. There is also a seven-line initial ‘P’ at the beginning of the Prologue to the Gospels painted in the same colours and showing a beast with a long twisted tail.

In the early part of the thirteenth century mosaic gold, consisting of a sulphide of tin (stannic sulphide - SnS2), was sometimes used as a substitute for real gold. It is thought that mosaic gold may have been used in this leaf.

The leaf comes from a Bible that was once in the library of the Carthusian abbey of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The manuscript was broken up by the Folio Society in 1961. Leaves became dispersed and a large number are recorded in Item 68 in Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections by Manion, Vines and de Hamel. A large number are in the Bodleian Library, Oxford and several are in the University of London Library. Two leaves are recorded by Quaritch, Item 21 in Catalogue 1270 and Item 19 in Catalogue 1147.

References:

1 Introduction to the Canon Tables: Migne J.-P. Patrologia Latina (Patrologiae Cursus Completus), Paris 1844-55, Vol. 29, p. 557-562.

2 Prologue to the Gospels: Migne J.-P. Patrologia Latina (Patrologiae Cursus Completus), Paris 1844-55, Vol. 26, p. 15-22.

3 Manion, Vines and de Hamel, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections, Thames and Hudson, 1989.

Transcription

Recto, column 1:

1 Incipit p(ro)logus s(an)c(t)i ie-

2 ronimi p(res)b(yte)ri in lib-

3 ro evvangeliorum .

4 B eatissimo pape

5 damasce : iheronim(us)

6 salute(m) in (chr)isto .

7 Novu(m) op(us) facere

8 me cogis ex vetere

9 ut post exe(m)plaria

10 scripturar(um) toto orbe disp(er)sa q(ua)si

11 q(ui)dam arbiter sedea(m) : (et) q(uia) int(er) se va-

12 riant . q(ue) sint illa q(ue) cu(m) greca co(n)sen-

13 tiant veritate decernam . Pius

14 labor s(ed) p(er)iculosa p(re)su(m)pt(i)o . iudica-

15 re de ceteris . ip(su)m ab om(n)ib(us) iudi-

16 candu(m) : senis mutare lingua(m) . et

17 canescente(m) ia(m) mundu(m) ad initia

18 retrahere parvulor(um) . Quis eni(m) doct(us)

19 p(ar)it(er) v(e)l indoctus . cu(m) i(n) man(us) volum(en)

20 assu(m)pserit . (et) a saliva q(uam) imbibit

21 viderit i(n)crepare q(uod) lectitat . non

22 stati(m) eru(m)pat in voce(m) . me falsariu(m)

23 me clamans e(ss)e sacrilegu(m) : qui

24 audea(m) aliq(ui)d in vet(er)ib(us) libris addere

25 mutare corrigere ? Adv(er)sus q(uam) i(n)vidi-

26 am duplex causa me consolatur .

27 q(uod) (et) tu q(ui) sum(mus) sacerdos es fieri iu-

28 bes . (et) veru(m) n(on) e(ss)e q(uid) variat . etia(m) ma-

29 ledicor(um) testimonio (com)p(ro)bat(ur) . Si eni(m)

30 latinis exe(m)plarib(us) fides est adhibe(n)-

31 da : respondeant q(ui)b(us) pene tot su(n)t

32 exemplaria quot codices . Sin au(tem)

33 v(er)itas est q(ue)renda de plurib(us) . cur

34 n(on) ad grecam originem rev(er)tente(s)

35 ea q(ue) v(e)l a vitiosis int(er)p(re)tib(us) male

36 edita . v(e)l a p(re)su(m)ptorib(us) i(m)p(er)itis em(en)-

37 data p(er)v(er)sius . v(e)l a librariis dormi-

38 tantib(us) aut addita sunt . aut mu-

39 tata corrigim(us) ? Neq(ue) v(ero) ego de ve-

40 teri n(un)c disputo testam(en)to : q(uod) a . lxx . [septuaginta

41 seniorib(us) i(n) greca(m) lingua(m) v(er)su(m) t(er)tio

42 gradu ad nos usq(ue) p(er)venit . No(n) q(ue)ro

43 q(uid) aq(ui)la . q(uid) symac(hus) sapiant . q(ua)re theo-

44 dotion i(n)ter novos (et) veteres mediu(s)

45 i(n)cedat : sit illa vera int(er)p(re)tat(i)o qua(m)

46 ap(osto)li p(ro)baver(un)t . De novo n(un)c locquor

47 testam(en)to q(uod) grecu(m) e(ss)e n(on) dubiu(m) est .

48 excepto ap(osto)lo matheo q(ui) p(ri)m(us) i(n) iudea

49 evv(an)g(e)liu(m) (christ)i hebraicis litt(er)is edidit .

Recto, column 2:

1 Hoc certe cu(m) i(n) n(ost)ro sermone discor-

2 dat . (et) ad div(er)sos rivulor(um) trahentes

3 ducit : uno de fonte q(ue)rend(um) . Pret(er)mit-

4 to eos codices . q(uo)s a luciano (et) esicio .

5 n(un)cupatos paucor(um) hominu(m) asserit

6 p(er)v(er)sa (con)tentio q(ui)b(us) utiq(ue) n(ec) in vet(er)i

7 instrum(en)to p(ost) . lxx . int(er)p(re)tes em(en)dare [septuaginta

8 q(ui)d licuit . n(ec) in novo p(ro)fuit em(en)das-

9 se : cu(m) multar(um) gentium ling(ui)s sc(ri)p-

10 tura an(te) translata . doceat falsa e(ss)e

11 q(ue) addita sunt . Igit(ur) h(ec) p(re)sens p(re)fati-

12 uncula pollicetur . iiii . t(antu)m ev(an)g(e)lia [quatuor

13 quor(um) ordo iste e(st) . math(eu)s . marcus .

14 lucas . ioh(ann)es . codicu(m) grecor(um) em(en)data

15 collat(i)o(n)e s(ed) veteru(m) . Q(ue) ne multum

16 a lect(i)onis latine (con)suetudine dis-

17 creparent : ita calamu(m) te(m)p(er)avimus

18 ut his ta(ntum) q(ue) sensu(m) videbant(ur) muta-

19 re correctis . reliq(ua) manere pat(er)em(ur)

20 ut fuerant . Canones q(uoque) q(uo)s euse-

21 bi(us) cesariensis ep(iscopu)s alexandri(n)u(m) sec(u)t(us)

22 am(m)oniu(m) . in dece(m) numeros ordi(n)a-

23 vit . sic(ut) in greco h(abe)nt(ur) exp(re)ssim(us) q(uod)

24 si q(ui)s de curiosis voluerit nosse q(ue)

25 in ev(an)geliis v(e)l eade(m) v(e)l vicina v(e)l sola

26 sint . eor(um) distinctione cognoscat .

27 Magnus siq(ui)dem h(ic) in n(ost)ris codici-

28 b(us) error inolevit . du(m) q(uod) in eade(m)

29 re alius ev(an)g(e)lista pl(us) dixit . i(n) alio

30 q(uia) min(us) putav(er)int et addiderint-

31 v(e)l du(m) eundem sensu(m) alius aliter

32 exp(re)ssit . ille q(ui) unu(m) e q(ua)tuor p(ri)mu(m)

33 legerat ad exe(m)plu(m) ei(us) ceteros q(uoque) ex-

34 stimavit em(en)dandos . Un(de) accedit

35 ut ap(ud) nos mixta sint o(mn)ia : (et) in

36 marco plura . luce atq(ue) mathei .

37 rursu(m) in matheo . ioh(ann)is . (et) marci . (et)

38 i(n) cet(er)is reli(n)quor(um) q(ue) in aliis p(ro)p(ri)a sunt

39 inveniant(ur) . Cu(m) itaq(ue) canones le-

40 geris q(ui) s(u)biecti sunt : (con)fusionis er-

41 rore sublato . (et) similia o(mn)iu(m) scies .

42 (et) singulis sua q(ue)q(ue) restitues . In ca-

43 none p(ri)mo (con)cordant . iiii . math(eu)s [quatuor

44 marc(us) . lucas . ioh(ann)es . In s(e)c(un)do tres :

45 math(eu)s . marcus . lucas . In . t(er)tio . tre(s) .

46 math(eu)s . lucas . ioh(ann)es . In q(ua)rto tres :

47 math(eu)s . marc(us) ioh(ann)es . In . v . duo : ma- [quinto

48 th(eu)s . lucas . In . vi . duo : math(eu)s . marc(us) . [sexto

49 In . vii . duo : math(eu)s . ioh(ann)es . In . viii . [septimo octavo

Verso, column 1:

1 duo : lucas marc(us) . In nono : duo :

2 lucas ioh(ann)es . In decimo . p(ro)p(ri)a unusq(ui)s-

3 q(ue) q(ue) n(on) h(abe)nt(ur) in aliis ediderunt . Sin-

4 gulis v(ero) ev(an)g(e)liis ab uno incipiens

5 usq(ue) ad fine(m) libror(um) dispar nu-

6 mer(us) increscit . Hic nigro colore

7 p(re)scriptus sub se habet aliu(m) ex mi-

8 nio numeru(m) discolore(m) . q(ui) ad dece(m)

9 usq(ue) p(ro)cedens . indicat p(ri)or nume-

10 rus in quo sit canone require(n)d(us) .

11 Cu(m) (i)g(itur) ap(er)to codice . v(er)bi gr(ati)a illud

12 sive illud capitulu(m) scire volue-

13 ris cui(us) canonis sit : stati(m) ex subiec-

14 to numero doceberis . E( ) recurre(n)s [it should be ‘Et’

15 ad pri(n)cipia i(n) q(ui)b(us) e(st) canonu(m) disti(n)c-

16 ta (con)geries . eode(m)q(ue) stati(m) canone

17 ex titulo frontis invento : illum

18 que(m) q(ue)rebas numeru(m) ei(us)dem ev(a)n-

19 g(e)liste q(ui) (et) ip(s)e ex insc(ri)pt(i)o(n)e signat(ur)

20 invenies . Atq(ue) e vicino ceteror(um)

21 tramitib(us) inspectis . quos nume-

22 ros e regione habea(n)t annotabi(s)

23 Et cu(m) scieris recurres ad volumi- [not ‘a duo lumina’

24 na singulor(um) (et) sine mora rep(er)ti(s)

25 numeris quos an(te) signaveras

26 rep(er)ies (et) loca . i(n) q(ui)b(us) v(e)l eade(m) v(e)l vi-

27 cina dixer(un)t . Sciendu(m) (etiam) ne quem

28 ignaru(m) ex similitudine nume-

29 ror(um) error i(n)volvat : q(uod) sicubi in

30 subnotat(i)o(n)e canonum distinctor(um)

31 i(n) canone quolib(et) tres evvang(e)liste

32 bis v(e)l ter . v(e)l q(uar)ter aut (etiam) a(m)plius

33 eundem numeru(m) habuerint

34 p(er) ordine(m) annotatu(m) . (et) q(ua)rt(us) con-

35 trario discrepantes : q(uod) id q(uod) tres

36 illi in eo loco semel dixerint .

37 quartus totiens in corpore volu-

38 minis sui ponat : quotiens div(er)-

39 si numeri in eius canone positi

40 sunt contra p(re)dictor(um) numeror(um)

41 (con)tinuatas similitudines . Ite(m)

42 si in uno quolib(et) eor(um) aut etia(m)

43 duob(us) idem in canone numer(us)

44 bis ter q(uar)ter at eo ampli(us) rep(er)iat(ur)

45 i(n) ordine collocat(us) . (et) dispares inve-

46 niantur i(n) cet(er)is : dubiu(m) n(on) erit qu(in)

47 id q(uod) illi(us) illor(um)ve canones nume-

48 rus bis terq(ue) repetunt ab his i(n)

49 volumine semel dictu(m) sit . alt(er)i

Verso, column 2:

1 u( ) eor(um) totiens uno atq(ue) eode(m) sensu [ ?

2 loq(ua)nt(ur) . Quotiens p(re)tulerint i(n) nu-

3 meror(um) annotatione distantia(m) .

4 Hoc (et) in o(m)ni(um) novan canonon [should be ‘novem canonum’

5 collatione servabit(ur) . Ceterum

6 i(n) decimo q(uonia)m p(ro)p(ri)a sing(u)lor(um) t(antu)mm(odo)

7 (con)tinent(ur) : n(on) potest (contra) id (com)paratio

8 esse q(uod) solu(m) est . Opto ut in (christ)o

9 valeas . (et) memineris mei papa

10 beatissime . Explicit p(ro)logus p(ri)m(us)

11 P lures fuisse Incipit s(ecundu)s

12 q(ui) ev(an)g(e)lia sc(ri)pser(un)t ei(us)de(m) .

13 et lucas ev(an)g(e)lista tes-

14 tat(ur) dicens : q(uonia)m q(ui)dem

15 multi conati sunt or-

16 dinare narrat(i)o(n)em re-

17 ru(m) q(ue) in nob(is) (com)plete s(un)t .

18 sicut tradider(un)t nob(is) . q(ui) ab initio

19 ip(s)i vider(un)t . (et) ministraverunt

20 sermone(m) ei(us) . (et) p(er)severantia usq(ue)

21 ad p(re)sens t(em)p(u)s monim(en)ta decla-

22 rant : q(ue) a d(i)v(er)sis auctorib(us) edita

23 div(er)sar(um) heresu(m) fuere pri(n)cipia :

24 ut est illud iuxta egyptios (et)

25 thoma(m) . (et) mathia(m) . (et) bartolo-

26 meu(m) . xii . quoq(ue) ap(osto)lor(um) (et) basi- [duodecim

27 lidis . atq(ue) appellis (et) reliquor(um) q(uo)s

28 enumerare longissimu(m) est : cu(m)

29 hoc t(antu)m i(n) p(re)sentiar(um) necesse sit di-

30 cere . extitisse quosda(m) q(ui) sine sp(irit)u

31 (et) gra(tia) dei conati sunt . magis ordi-

32 nare narratione(m) q(uam) hystorie te-

33 xere v(er)itate(m) . Quib(us) iure potest

34 p(ro)pheticu(m) illud coaptari . Ve q(ui)

35 p(ro)phetant de corde suo . q(ui) a(m)bula(n)t

36 p(ost) sp(iritu)m suu(m) . q(ui) dicunt dicit do(minus)

37 (et) d(omi)n(u)s n(on) misit eos . De quib(us) et

38 salvator n(oste)r i(n) ev(an)g(e)lio ioh(ann)is loquitur

39 Om(n)es qui an(te) me vener(un)t fures

40 fuerunt (et) latrones . Qui vener(un)t

41 n(on) qui missi sunt . Ip(s)e eni(m) ait . Ve-

42 niebant . (et) ego n(on) mitteba(nt) eos .

43 In venientib(us) p(re)su(m)ptio temeri-

44 tatis . i(n) missis obsequiu(m) servitu-

45 tis e(st) . Ecc(le)sia au(tem) q(ue) sup(ra) petra(m) d(omi)ni voce

46 fundata e(st) . q(uam) introduxit rex in

47 cubiculu(m) suu(m) . (et) ad quam p(er) for a-

48 men descensionis occulte misit

49 manu(m) sua(m) similis damule hinulo

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.

Capitals: A,C,D,E,H,I,M,N,O,P,Q,S,U/V.

B Initials: B,P.

C Alternative forms of letters ‘d’(2), ‘i’(2), ‘m’(2), ‘r’(2) and ‘s’(3).

Note the use of a trailing ‘s’ in ‘fides’ (recto 1, line 30).

D Fusion between letters ‘de’, ‘do’, ‘he’, ‘ho’, ‘oc’, ‘og’, ‘po’ and ‘pp’,

and possibly others.

E Elision between letters ‘ci’, ‘cu’, ‘fa’, ‘fu’, ‘gi’, ‘gu’, ‘ta’, ‘ti’ and ‘tu’,

and possibly others.

F Frequent use of an uncrossed Tironian ‘et’ (e.g. recto 2, line 2).

G Ligature between letters ‘st’, e.g. in ‘est’ (recto 1, line 30).

H Ligature between letters ‘ct’, e.g. in ‘indoctus’ (recto 1, line 19).

Note ligature of ‘ct’ in ‘subiecto’ is spread over two lines

(verso 1, lines 13/14)

I Abbreviation of ‘sancti’ (recto 1, line 1).

J Abbreviation of ‘presbyteri’ (recto 1, line 2).

K Abbreviation of ‘quia’ (recto 1, line 11).

L Abbreviation of ‘sed’ (recto 1, line 14).

M Abbreviation of ‘vel’ (recto 1, line 19).

N Abbreviation of ‘quam’ (recto 1, line 20).

O Abbreviation of ‘quod’ (recto 1, line 21).

P Abbreviation of ‘esse’ (recto 1, line 23).

Q Abbreviation of ‘vero’ (recto 1, line 39).

R Abbreviation of ‘nunc’ (recto 1, line 46).

S Abbreviation of ‘apostlo’ (recto 1, line 48).

T Abbreviation of ‘primus’ (recto 1, line 48).

U Abbreviation of ‘christi’ (recto 1, line 49).

V Abbreviation of ‘nostro’ (recto 2, line 1).

W Abbreviation of ‘contentio’ (recto 2, line 6).

X Abbreviation of ‘ante’ (recto 2, line 10).

Y Abbreviation of ‘tantum’ (recto 2, line 12).

Z Abbreviation of ‘evangelia’ (recto 2, line 12).

AA Abbreviation of ‘episcopus’ (recto 2, line 21).

AB Abbreviation of ‘eius’ (recto 2, line 33).

AC Abbreviation of ‘igitur’ (verso 1, line 11).

AD Abbreviation of ‘gratia’ (verso 1, line 11).

AE Abbreviation of ‘quibus’ (verso 1, line 26).

AF Abbreviation of ‘etiam’ formed by the abbreviation for ‘et’ with a line

above it (verso 1, line 27).

AG Abbreviation of ‘eorum’ (verso 1, line 42).

AH Abbreviation of ‘quoniam’ (verso 2, line 6).

AI Abbreviation of ‘contra’ formed by the abbreviation for ‘con’ with a line

above it (verso 2, line 7).

AJ Abbreviation of ‘spiritu’ (verso 2, line 30).

AK Abbreviation of ‘dominus’ (verso 2, line 36).

AL Punctuation sign for a question mark in recto column 1, line 25.

MS 123

Latin

1 leaf

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Material: Vellum leaf