MS 181: Composite manuscript containing six texts, 14th century
Contents
Contains six texts, possibly written by two hands. The first four texts belong to a group of Latin textbooks largely used in schools during the Middle Ages, collectively known as Auctores octo morales ('Eight moral authors'). Catherine Borland erroneously attributes the second, third and fourth text (Liber Faceti docens mores hominum, Liber parabolarum and Liber cartule) to Pope Damasus (pope 366 - 384).
ff. 1r-8r: "Disticha Catonis" ("The Distichs of Cato").
ff. 8v-11v: "Liber Faceti docens mores hominum" ("Book of Facetus teaching the morals of men").
ff. 12r-24v: "Liber parabolarum" ("Book of comparisons") by Alanus de Insulis.
ff. 24v-32v: "Liber cartule".
ff. 33r-46r: "Prophecy of John of Bridlington".
ff. 47r-201v: "French Brute Chronicle, or 'Chronique d'Angleterre'"
The texts are described separately, under MS.181/ff. 1r-8r; MS.181/ff. 8v-11v; MS.181/ff. 12r-24r; MS.181/ff. 24v-32v; MS.181/ff. 32r-46r; MS.181/ff. 47r-201v.
The hand is typical of the late 14th century, fairly good, possibly written by two scribes.
The ornament consists of red and blue filigree initials with simple border on ff. 1r, 47r, and 53r. In the verse part of the Chronicle the ends of the lines are marked in red, and proper names throughout are frequently underlined in red.
Dates
- Creation: 14th century
Language of Materials
Latin and French.
Physical Description
The rubrics have run a little, the margins are badly cropped, and at the beginning the leaves are worm-eaten and stained.
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
An English manuscript, the earliest mark of ownership being the signature on f. 1r C. or G.E. Alva (compare with MS 107). This, with the heraldic book-plate of Charles Areskine of Alva, Esqire, Lord Justice Clerk (1680-1763), bearing the motto Je Pense Plus ('I think more') and a shelf-mark g. 2. 46, show that it belonged to the Alva family. It appears in the Press Catalogue of Lord Alva's library (which is preserved in this library as Edinburgh, University Library, MS Laing 755), and must have been bought by Laing when this collection was dispersed. The signature of David Laing appears on f. 47r.
The content list on f. IV is in hand of Sir Robert Cotton (note of Richard Ovenden 16/1/2000).
Previous reference
Laing 51.
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherina Borland's catalogue: Cato Disticha; Damasus de Mundo Spernendo; John of Bridlington; Chronique d'Angleterre.
Physical Description
The rubrics have run a little, the margins are badly cropped, and at the beginning the leaves are worm-eaten and stained.
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum.
Binding: Modern blue morocco, gold tooling (compare with that of MS 107).
Collation: a8 - d8, e10, f4, g12, h12, i11, k12 - t12 = 201
Dimensions
17.15 cm x 11.43 cm
General
Secundo folio: Cumque mines aliquem.
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 201, irregular number of lines to a page.
Source
- Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library) (Donor, Person)
- Erskine, Charles, 1680-1763 (Lord Tinwald | Regent then Professor of Public Law, University of Edinburgh) (Former owner, Person)
Subject
- Cotton, Robert, Sir, 1571-1631 (antiquarian and bibliophile) (Author of introduction, etc., 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