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MS 11: New Testament and Wisdom Books [Bible. New Testament. Latin. Vulgate], 14th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 11

Scope and Contents

The manuscript contains the text of the New Testament according to the Vulgate. The four canonical Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and the Book of Revelation are preceded by prologues. The prologues of the Gospels belong to the monarchian tradition, so called because it relates to the monarchian doctrine, which saw God as one person. They accompany several extant copies of the Vulgate, although their text is not derived from Jerome.

The text of the New Testament is followed by the Books of Wisdom or Sapiential Books. The term refers to a specific group of books from the Old Testament: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Salomon, Song of Salomon and Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach).

Out of this group, this manuscript only contains Proverbs 6:2-30, Ecclesiastes 3:7-8:14, Wisdom (without the section 1:1-11), Ecclesiasticus (the text from 38:32 has been supplemented by a later hand on added pages and it is followed by a prologue and by a list of capitula [i.e. headings]), Job (without the last six verses).

The foliation has been added by the same hand which has supplemented the text of Ecclesiasticus; however, it is wrong from f. 90r onwards (the annotator has jumped from f. 79r to f. 90r).

Gospel of Saint Matthew: starts on f.1r without title.

Gospel of Saint Mark:: starts on f. 14r and it is preceded by a prologue.

Gospel of Saint Luke:: starts on f. 22v. Its prologue is on f. 22r.

Gospel of Saint John: starts on f. 37r.

Acts of the Apostles: start on f. 49r.

Catholic Epistles: starts on f. 65r.

Book of Revelation: starts on f. 70v. It is preceded by an argumentum [i.e. summary] on f. 70r.

Paulin Epistles: start on f. 75v with the argumentum [i.e. summary]) to the Letter to the Romans.

Wisdom Books: start on f. 99r. They are composed of: Proverbs (from 6:2 to 30:5, starts on f. 99r) Ecclesiastes (from 3:7 to 8:14, starts on f. 104r), Wisdom (starts on f. 115r, the section 1:1-11 is missing), Ecclesiasticus (from 38:32, starts on f. 109v; new smaller pages have been added to the manuscript and a later hand has supplemented the rest of the book, incuding the prologue and a list of headings), Job (starts on f. 127r, the last six verses are missing).

Writing

The original hand is good, but degenerates in the Catholic Epistles. The inserted gathering at the end of Ecclesiasticus is very carelessly written, and the same hand has inserted some marginal divisions and the foliation, which is incorrect. Another hand has inserted a few titles in red and some missing prologues.

Writing

There are some good red and blue penwork initials.

Illumination

Each book has an ornamental initial containing either a figure or a head, executed in dull greyish white on burnished gold, and a partial border of conventional branching foliage with gold balls. The Gospel of Saint Matthew (chap. 26) has a border and an initial with a head of Christ framed in a gold cross-nimbus, and Book of Job has a half-length figure of Job lying on his back, a black demon tormenting him.

Dates

  • Creation: 14th 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 style of writing and illumination is Italian, and there is a late inscription over the name of David Laing, probably written by him, which reads Bibliothecae FF. Ordinis B. MARIE Virginis de Monte Carmelo Placentiae: this indicates that the book belonged the the library of the Carmelites in Piacenza, North Italy. There are no earlier marks of ownership.

Previous reference

Laing 4

Physical Facet

Material: Vellum

Binding: Paper Boards

Collation: a10, b10, c12-e12, f10-i10, k2, l8 (wants 1, 6, 7, 8), m12, n8 (inserted), o7 (imperfect) = 133.

Dimensions

19.69 cm x 14.29 cm

General

Secundo folio: [rur]sum. Scriptum est

Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 133, double columns, 42-52 lines to a page.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379