Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 375: Metrical Lives of St Katherine and St Ælfheah, Hymns

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Abstract/Contents

Summary
CCCC MS 375 is a compilation of verse made at St Albans Abbey in the middle of the twelfth century, probably for immediate presentation to Christ Church, Canterbury as a gift. It was certainly at Christ Church by the early fourteenth century, when it was included in Henry of Eastry's library catalogue. The flyleaf on which the classmark was recorded became detached from the rest of this manuscript, and is still at Canterbury Cathedral, classmark SB B 232 final page. The main contents of the manuscript are metrical saints' lives of Katherine and Ælfheah (Alphege), both written by an unidentified Richard, presumably a monk of St Albans. Their composition has been associated with Abbot Geoffrey de Gorron (abbot 1119-46), who is known to have been devoted to St Katherine.
Contents
Metrical life of St Katherine -- Geta (extract) -- Metrical life of St ÆlfheahHymns

Description

Alternative title Passio S. Katherinae. Passio S. Ælphegi, etc.
Type of resource mixed material
Extent ff. 1 + 120
Date created [ca. 1100 - 1299]
Language Latin
Material Vellum
Layout 32 lines to a page
Height (mm) 211
Width (mm) 141
Collation 1 flyleaf, 1(8)-15(8).
Writing very beautifully written, not in the Christ Church hand, but in that of St Albans (see later)
Foliation ff. i-ii + 1a (loose leaf) + 1-120 + iii-iv
Provenance From Christ Church, Canterbury. At top of f. 1r (xii): Passio (written over erasure) sce katerine et sci Ælphegi. In the upper R. corner the mark . Ancient Libraries, p. 49, no. 281., It seems to me that the book must be a production of the scriptorium of St Albans sent probably as a present to Christ Church.
Additions The flyleaf is a slip having on the verso (f. 1A) in Parkerian hand an extract from Eadmer's Vita Anselmi (I, cap. 30): Lanfrancus ad Anselmum. Fateor inquit subtilem perspicaciam (referring to Osbern's Passio Aelphegi).

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date xii-xiii
Downloadable James Catalogue Record
Title
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:fm899bn1509/MS_375.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
Title
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:dw669sb4876/375.pdf
Contains
Title
Metrical life of St Katherine. 1r-54v
James
Passio Sancte Katerine. 1r-54v
Note
(no heading)
Incipit
(1r) Ut super omne melos delectat cantus olorisCum uicina premit mors et noua causa doloris
Note
30 lines in sets of six 1-6 rhyme -oris 7-12 rhyme -orem 13-18 rhyme -undo 19-24 rhyme -auit 25-30 rhyme -are
ending
Explicit
(1r) Hanc imitemur ad hec bona que meruit properareFestinemus et hec sine tempore finis amare
Note
Gold initial to text of f. 1v
Incipit
(1v) Non humilis turbe proles insignis in urbe Alexandrina uirgo nituit catherina
Note
In paragraphs, with red, blue and green initials
Fresh divisions begin at
(8v) Talia dum memorat dum uiua uoce perorat
(16r) Uirgo sit inquit ita sed si minus arte polita
(24r) Iam catherina satis tantis ac tot superatis
(34r) Nox abit aurore superaccedente rubore
On f. 42r is a coloured drawing occupying the upper half of the page: washed with colour: no background. Katherine in green habit with jewelled nimbus stands in the midst of four red and brown wheels set with knives. Divine Hand in cloud on L. The wheels are all set upright, showing all the spokes
Incipit
(43v) At Regina dolis non cessit fragmine molisTerrita penali
Note
Ends
Explicit
(54v) O pia martir aue cui spirat aroma suaue, etc....Hec precor hec dona ne frauder uirgo coronaVictricibus palme tibi sit laus spiritus alme
Title
Vitalis of Blois, Geta (extract). 54v-56v
Author
Vitalis of Blois
Note
In a different ink, not much later, a speech by Sosia and reply by Geta (cf. the Comoedia Getae)
Incipit
(54v) Contemptus limo sapientia marcet in imoQue fuerat primo florida parque thymo
Note
Ending
Explicit
(56v) Ergo studere uelis ut ames. ac mente fidelis Cantes in celis carmina plena melis Ut perpes uita feruenter amando petita Que super astra sita sit tibi. fiat ita. Amen
Title
Metrical life of St Ælfheah, Hymns. 57r-120r
James
Passio Sancti Ælphegi. 57r-120r
Note
(57r) In a hand like the first: large gold initial (no title)
Incipit
(57r) Mens quod amando diu concepit de generosaMartiris Ælfegi uirtute parit studiosaTanti gesta patris recitare uolens animosaDum pro posse suo fierit cupit officiosa Metra nouando canit que sunt prius edita prosaNam pater Osbernus de laude uiri speciosa Scribit habetque sibi satis id gens religiosa Sed uirtute tamen minor etas deliciosa Carmine scripta probat cui prosa dicta perosa
Note
This then is a versification of Osbern's work, probably by the author of no. 1
The Passion begins
Incipit
(57r) Floruit insignis pater Ælfegus generosaDe radice fluens ac summe religiosa
Note
Breaks occur
Incipit
(65v) Uenerat interea presul Wentanus ad astra
(74v) Iam dorobernorum summus patriarcha beatus
(84r) Cum fragor armorum cecidisset pace sepultus
(96v) Hactenus excidium destructe fleuimus urbis
(106v) Talia dunstanus dum pertractando reuoluit
Note
Ending
Explicit
(116v) Omnibus expletis finem licet expediamusQuo tibi festiuas laudes pater alme canamus
TJames 323
Stanley 9. 8
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/hb336yt8349
Location MS 375
Repository UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Access conditions

Use and reproduction
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License
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Collection

Parker Manuscripts

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