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- Western Manuscripts
» Western Manuscripts
Western Manuscripts
As part of the Library’s mission to make its riches as widely available as possible to a scholarly and broader public, this page provides access to a wealth of information about Christ Church’s medieval and sixteenth-century manuscripts.
It has been a cherished project of the Library to provide a modern catalogue of its manuscripts to replace the brief descriptions produced by Kitchin in the mid-nineteenth century. The new catalogue of the medieval manuscripts was first entrusted to Dr Jeremy Griffiths before his sad and untimely death in 1997. Christ Church was fortunate to secure the services of Prof. Ralph Hanna to complete the work and he submitted drafts in 2007, which were mounted on-line the following year. In moving the catalogue closer to final hard-copy publication, Christ Church decided not only to have the descriptions updated but also to expand the catalogue. The expansion involved providing more detailed information about some of the medieval manuscripts, specifically the Bibles and the cartularies held by Christ Church, and also extending its remit by including manuscripts up to c. 1600. For this last stage of work, Christ Church has been assisted by Dr David Rundle.
What is now being provided on-line is a set of files for each of the relevant manuscripts. These include a set of images, Prof. Hanna’s original draft description (where appropriate), and the updated description as submitted by Dr Rundle. The copyright of all these files resides with Christ Church. Requests to reproduce, as well as any queries, should be directed to Dr Cristina Neagu (cristina.neagu@chch.ox.ac.uk).
Walter de Milemete, De notabilitatibus, sapientiis et prudentiis regum.
MS Number:
MS 92
London, 1326 x 1327.
Vellum (HSOS and FSOS). Fols i + 81 (numbered fols 1-80, but an unnumbered leaf after fol. 79) + i (numbered fol. 81). Overall 246 mm x 160 mm (writing area 135 mm x 73-75 mm). In long lines, 20 lines to the page. Full prickings often visible at the outer edge of the written area (i.e. inside the space marked for the borderwork); bounded and ruled in reddish crayon. Written in gothic textura quadrata, the contents quire by a different scribe from the remainder, and with some corrections, probably reflecting in-production changes of plan or situation. Punctuation by mid point.
For detailed descriptions, see attachments.
Updated: Thursday 9th May 2013 10:30
Hours of the Virgin, Use of Rome.
MS Number:
MS 94
France, s. xv2.
Vellum (usually HSOS). Fols ii + 153 (numbered fols 1-152, but an unnumbered leaf follows fol. 52) + i (also numbered fol. 152). Fols 38, 42, 46, and 55 are modern replacements for illuminated leaves excised at the openings of Terce, Sext, None, and Compline, respectively, the text supplied in a French hand, s. xvii. Overall 182 mm x 130 mm (writing area 110 mm x 75 mm). In long lines, 16 lines to the page. Occasional signs of prick-holes at very top of folios, in line with vertical borders; bounded and ruled in red and reddish brown ink. Written in gothic textura quadrata (perhaps not French but Flemish?). Punctuation by occasional point.
For detailed descriptions, see attachments.
Updated: Thursday 9th May 2013 10:19
Nicholas Cantilupe, Historiola, and associated documents concerning the University of Cambridge
MS Number:
MS 138
England, s. xv3/4.
Vellum (HSOS). Fols iii + 8 + xii; fols 2-8v are numbered pp. 635-48 in an early modern hand. Overall 290 mm x 195 mm. In double columns, each column 183 mm x 62-63 mm, with 10 mm between columns, in 38 lines to the column. Prickings; bounded and ruled in brown ink. Written in secretary. Punctuation by point only.
For detailed descriptions, see attachments.
Updated: Thursday 9th May 2013 10:45
Ordinances of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception.
MS Number:
MS 179
London by a French scribe, 1503 and 1503 x 1517.
Vellum (HSOS). Fols 7. Overall 331 mm x 245 mm (writing area 211 mm x 153 mm). In long lines, 33 lines to the page (excepting fol. 2r which has 32). Prickings; bounded and ruled in red ink. Written in French bastard secretary (lettre bâtarde), probably one scribe for item 1 and a second for the remainder (item 3 perhaps a third hand) [see Update]. Punctuation by point, punctus elevatus, and virgula, occasional double point on fol. 2r-v, point only thereafter. The MS appears as Watson, DMO, no. 764 (1:126), on the basis that the first six leaves must date from the foundation of the fraternity in 1503; the final one, however, may have been added as late as 1517.
For detailed descriptions, see attachments.
Updated: Thursday 9th May 2013 16:03
