Partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito, between 1267 and 1399
Contents
MS 201 is a partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito. On f. 1r, the manuscript begins with A. littera secundum Ysidorum in omnibus hujus est prior. The text is incomplete, and ends (on f. 128v) with Virago dicitur quod a viro acta et est sumptum non a viri nomine.
A fair Gothic hand with elongated letters, some ornamented with elaborate penwork plain blue; and red capitals and elaborate blue and red filigree initials throughout. One or two leaves are badly damaged, a few are missing, and the margins closely cropped.
There is one illuminated initial of burnished gold, floriated, but very much defaced.
Dates
- Creation: between 1267 and 1399
Creator
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.
Full Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
There are no marks of early ownership. The illumination may be English. There is a name on f. 1r (17th or 18th century), W. Stonehouse, and a modern note in pencil on a fly-leaf suggesting the 13th century as the date of the manuscript. [custodial history supplied by Catherine Borland, see Archivist's note.]
This is Walter Stonehouse (1597-1655), who owned the manuscript between 1629 and 1644 (f. 93r). Stonehouse gave other papers of his to Magdalen in 1644 and this manuscript may have been among them. There is also mention of an unknown Elizabeth ("accepit Elizabeth"). This is written in an italic hand suggesting that Elizabeth herself wrote it. On f. 3r, is written "Theologus servus natus". This has been written by Walter Stonehouse and is an anagram of his Latin name Gualterus Stonehousus. [additional custodial history information supplied by Michael Lord, see Archivist's note.]
Previous reference
D. b. VI. 9.
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum
Binding: nineteenth century vellum-covered boards, with marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Gilt-tooled frame of a single fillet and dentelle border, and centrepiece of University arms on boards. Gilt-lettered, red leather spine label “Latin Dictionary Ms”. Hollow back and sewing structure repaired, probably early 2000s.
Collation: a5(wants 2, 4 reversed), b12, c12, d8, e8, f2, g12, h11(wants 7), i12, k10, l12, m12, n12 =128.
Dimensions
18.73 cm X 13.65 cm
General
Secundo folio: eeum. ei
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 128, double columns, 33 lines to a page.
Archivist's note
The original description used to create this catalogue entry on ArchivesSpace in 2018 was taken from the following volume: BORLAND, Catherine, A descriptive catalogue of the Western mediæval manuscripts in Edinburgh university library (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1916), p. 298.
In August and September 2021, the catalogue entry was updated to include additional information on the text's contents and on the custodial history of the book provided by Michael Lord, as well as additional binding description provided by Elizabeth Quarmby Lawrence.
Source
- Stenhouse, Walter, 1597-1655 (rector of Darfield, Yorkshire) (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