MS 85: De Doctrina Cordis, religious treatise addressed to nuns, late 14th century
Contents
This manuscript contains the text De Doctrina Cordis, also known as De Dispositione Cordis, De Praeparatione Cordis, and Cordis Instructio. It is a religious treatise addressed to nuns. The book is divided in seven parts, each corresponding to one of the actions required to attune the heart for unity with God. It was originally written in the 13th century, but the question about its authorship is still unclear. It has been attributed to several people, but the latest studies point to Gerardus Leodiensis.
Contents
Tabula: on a fly-leaf before f. 1.
Prologue: starts on f. 1r with the following words: Praeparate corda vestra Domino. And ends on f. 1r with the following words: et attende doctrinam cordis tui praepositam.
Part 1. De Preparatione cordis: starts on f. 2r with the following words: Praeparate corda vestra. And ends on f. 71v with the following words: de ornatu anime sufficiant.
Part 2. De custodia cordis: starts on f. 71v with the following words: Post tractatum de praeparatione cordis. And ends on f. 87r with the following words: de custodia cordis et lingue sufficiant.
Part 3. De apercione cordis: starts on f. 87r with the following words: Expedito tractatu de custodia cordis. And ends on f. 96v with the following words: medicamentum vite.
Part 4. De stabilitate cordis: starts on f. 96v with the following words: Post tractatum de apercione cordis. And ends on f. 111r with the following words: de cordis stabilitate sufriciant.
Part 5. De dacione Cordis: starts on f. 111r with the following words: Expedito tractatu de cordis stabilitate. And ends on f. 116r with the following words: de cordis dacione sufriciant.
Part 6. De elevacione cordis: starts on f. 116r with the following words: Dicto de cordis dacione. And ends on f. 126r with the following words: de cordis elevacione sufficiant.
Part 7. De scissione cordis: starts on f. 126r with the following words: Dicto de cordis elevacione. And ends on f. 135r with the following words: eterne possessionis que in eo et per eum habebunt. Explicit liber de doctrina cordis.
Good average hand, uniform throughout, with filigree capitals, rubrics, foliation, and one complete border of penwork at the beginning.
Dates
- Creation: late 14th century
Creator
- Gerardus, Leodiensis, fl ?13th century (Attributed name, Person)
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 hand and ornament are English. The only mark of ownership is an erased inscription on a fly-leaf at the end, Iste liber consta Roberti [. . .]. The book belonged to Lord Alva, and occurs in his Press Catalogue.
Previous reference
D. b. IV. 15.
Bibliography
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum.
Binding: Bound circa 1825-7 by Laing. The title 'LIBER SUPER DISPOSITIONE CORDIS M.S.S. 14th CENTURY' is stamped on the outer cover spine upright.
Collation: a8—r8= 136.
Dimensions
19.69 cm x 12.70 cm
General
Secundo folio: quod non tenet
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 136, 27 lines to a page.
Creator
- Gerardus, Leodiensis, fl ?13th century (Attributed name, Person)
Source
- Erskine, James, 1722-1796 (Lord Barjarg and Alva | Scottish lawyer) (Former owner, 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