MS 123: Composite manuscript containing four texts, 12th-13th century
Item
Identifier: MS 123
Composite manuscript (MS 123)
Contents
This major text contained in this manuscript is Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae, one of the most important texts of the Middle Ages, which was probably originally written around the start of the 7th century. It is accompanied by other related works in this manuscript, which dates from the 12th or 13th century and was probably made in Lucelle, France. The contents are as follows:
ff. 1r-144v: Etymologiae by Isidore of Seville
ff. 144v-154v: De natura rerum by Isidore of Seville
ff. 154v-155v: Descriptions of various medieval arts, from De coloribus et artibus Romanorum by Eraclius and De diversis artibus by Theophilus Presbyter
ff. 155v-158v: Antiphons in honour of Saint Thomas of Canterbury
There is a small extra section of vellum inserted after f. 158, with a small illumination. The front and back boards contain unidentified text.
The texts are described separately under MS 123/ff. 1r-144v; MS 123/ff. 144v-154v; MS 123/ff. 154v-155v; and MS 123/ff. 155v-158v.
Writing
The script is good and uniform, rather compressed, with plain red capitals to chapters.
Illumination
Very handsome decorative book initials with conventional foliage and occasional human or animal heads boldly executed in rather unusual colouring, i.e. green, blue, vermilion, lake, and yellowish buff. All the pigments are heavy. There are diagrams throughout, and the tables of relationships are very fully illustrated with pen-drawings of various subjects in red and black on thin buff grounds.
Dates
- 12th-13th century
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.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
The colophon to the first section on f. 144 v (see Contents of the Etymologiae by Isidore of Seville at MS 123/ff. 1r-144v) gives precise details as to the scribe.
In her Descriptive Catalogue of the Western Medieval Manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library, Catherine Borland suggests that the scribe was a writer of legal documents, as she understood lucelensis to be derived from lucellus or libellus, a particular land of deed of conveyance. She translates meticuriensis as a compound of Metac (Metz) and curia, suggesting a court scribe at Metz as the subject of the colophon.
However, in his article “A Manuscript from Lucelle” (see Bibliography), C.P. Finlayson suggests that meticuriensis means that one of the scribe’s parents was from Metz, and the other from Chur, Switzerland. He also suggests that lucelensis refers to the Cistercian abbey at Lucelle, where this manuscript was probably made.
The next mark of ownership is the inscription on f. 1, Ex Bibliotheca Reisachiorum 1809. This refers to the library of the Carmelite cloister of Reisach at Rosenheim in Upper Bavaria. The manuscript can be found in their 1806 catalogue (see Bibliography). Another inscription inside the upper board reads Isidori Episcopi Hispalcnsis Liber Ethimologiarum, etc. Ex Reis. 3 Feb. [1]820, No. 14, MS. to. This could refer to the manuscript’s movement to the sale-room. It was bequeathed to Edinburgh University Library in 1878 by David Laing.
Previous reference
Laing 147
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland’s catalogue: Isidori Hispalensis Etymologiae, etc.
Bibliography
Brown, Carleton. English Lyrics of the XIIIth Century. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1932. p. 198.
Finlayson, C.P. “A Manuscript from Lucelle.” Scriptorium 32 (1978): 259.
Reece, Gustave. Music in the Middle Ages: With an Introduction on the Music of Ancient Times. New York: W.W. Norton, 1940. p. 242.
Reisach, Hans Adam. Biblioteca Reisachiana. Steinberg, 1806. pp. 9-10.
Waley Singer, Dorothea. Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland Dating from Before the XVI Century, Vol. II. Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1930. pp. 593 and 689.
Finlayson, C.P. “A Manuscript from Lucelle.” Scriptorium 32 (1978): 259.
Reece, Gustave. Music in the Middle Ages: With an Introduction on the Music of Ancient Times. New York: W.W. Norton, 1940. p. 242.
Reisach, Hans Adam. Biblioteca Reisachiana. Steinberg, 1806. pp. 9-10.
Waley Singer, Dorothea. Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland Dating from Before the XVI Century, Vol. II. Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1930. pp. 593 and 689.
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum
Binding: Oak boards, covered pigskin, tooled, 5 studs on each board lost, 2 straps (one pin lost), chain mark, marks of metal frame in which the title was encased still visible on front board.
Collation: a8-t8, v6=158
Binding: Oak boards, covered pigskin, tooled, 5 studs on each board lost, 2 straps (one pin lost), chain mark, marks of metal frame in which the title was encased still visible on front board.
Collation: a8-t8, v6=158
Dimensions
41.91 cm x 27.94 cm
General
Secundo folio: singulis prout vult
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 158, double columns, 42 lines to a page.
Creator
Source
- Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library) (Donor, Person)
- Lucelle (Abbey : Lützel, Switzerland) (Former owner, Organization)
- Bibliotheca Reisachiorum (library of the Carmelite cloister at Rosenheim) (Former owner, Organization)
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
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk