Epistles of Saint Paul (glossed) [Bible. Epistles of Paul. Latin.], late 12th century
Content
It contains the text of the letters of Saint Paul. There is no prologue and the text immediately begins with the first letter. The text is accompanied by a set of glosses [i.e. annotations and comments] to the whole text. These include both marginal and interlinear glosses. Marginal glosses can be found also on the superior and inferior margins.
The majority of the letters are preceded by an argumentum, a short text which records Paul's reason for writing the letter, the place and circumstances in which he wrote, and the people he entrusted the letter to.
Letter to the Romans: starts on f. 1r; it has not argumentum.
Glosses: start on the right margin of the same folio with the words Pro altercatione Romanis (first paragraph) and Paulus hebraice (second paragraph).
First Letter to the Corinthians: starts on f. 27r. The argumentum begins with the words Corinthii sunt Achaici.
Second Letter to the Corinthians: starts on f. 50r. The argumentum begins with the words Post peractam penitentiam.
Letter to the Galatians: the argumentum starts on f. 65r with Galathe sunt greci; the letter starts at the beginning of f. 65v.
Letter to the Ephesians: starts on f. 73r. The argumentum begins with the words Ephesii sunt Asiani.
Letter to the Philippians: the argumentum starts on f. 81r with the words Philippenses sunt Macedones; the letter starts on f. 81v.
Letter to the Colossians: starts on f. 88v. The argumentum begins with the words Collosenses et hii sicut laodicenses sunt asiani.
First Letter to the Thessalionians: starts on f. 95r. The argumentum begins with the words Thessalonicenses sunt Macedones.
Second Letter to the Thessalonians: starts on f. 101r. The argumentum begins with the words Argumentum ad Thessalonicenses.
First Letter to Timothy: starts on f. 104r. The argumentum begins with the words Timotheum instruit et docet.
Second Letter to Timothy: starts on f. 111r. The argumentum begins with the words Timotheo scribit de exhortatione.
Letter to Titus: starts on f. 116r. The argumentum begins with the words Titum commone facit.
Letter to Philemon: starts on f. 119r. The argumentum begins with the words Philemeni familiares litteras facit.
Letter to the Hebrews: starts on f. 120; it has no The argumentum.
The script is good, uniform, and well spaced.
The first words of each epistle are in Roman capitals touched with yellow. Verse initials are black or red, touched with yellow; chapter initials red and yellow; prologue initials red, blue, green, yellow.
Epistle initials are decorative, with foliage and grotesque dragons on coloured ground, the colours being blue, red, yellow, and brown.
Dates
- Creation: late 12th century
Language of Materials
Latin.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
The first folio bears the warning Liber Sancti Ruphi. Si quis ei abstulerit anathema sit ('Book of Saint Rufus. If anybody takes it away from him, let him be excommunicated'). This contemporary inscription is followed by the press-mark C. C. G. and it shows that it must have belonged to the monastery of Saint Ruf at Valence. This abbey was founded near Avignon in 1039 and transferred to Valence in 1158. It is an Augustinian foundation.
This manuscript was lot number 370 in the William Bragge sale in 1876. There are no further indications of ownership save the signature of David Laing and the information that it was bought in London, August 1877. On the inner cover at the end is a label with the number 51.
Previous reference
Laing 7
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum.
Binding: Modern bronze morocco, gold tooling. Title written in ink on the fore edge of the volume with an horizontal orientation.
Collation: a9, b8-q8, r10 = 139.
Dimensions
25.21 cm x 19.05 cm
General
Secundo folio: grecis ac barbaris.
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 139, 19-21 lines to a page, gloss (interlinear and in double columns) c. 50 lines to a page.
Source
- Saint-Ruf Abbey (1158) (Valence, France) (Former owner, Organization)
- Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library) (Donor, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk