Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 329: John Bramis, Historia regis Waldei. Chronicle (incarnation to 1415). Geoffrey de Rocherio OSB, History of Thetford Priory

Show Content

<a href="https://embed.stanford.edu/iframe/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurl.stanford.edu%2Fnv587yn0448" class="su-underline">Show Content</a>

Abstract/Contents

Summary: The provenance of CCCC MS 329 gives every appearance of being firmly established as originating from the Benedictine priory of Thetford (Norfolk). Written c. 1425-50, the manuscript contains a number of texts associating it with the priory of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These include a statement about the authorship of John Bramis (fl. fourteenth century) of the Historia regis Waldei, to the unique copy of the History of Thetford priory by Geoffrey of Rocherio OSB (d. 1301), both texts found in this volume. There is also an anonymous account of a miracle attending the repairs carried out on the buildings of the priory. Yet, as James observed, another anonymous Chronicle from the incarnation to the year 1399, that also appears in this manuscript, takes a close interest in the affairs of the nearby priory of Augustinian canons at Ixworth (Suffolk). Parker no doubt valued it for its account of church history from his home county of Norfolk, but how it came into his possession is not known.
Contents: Historia regis Waldei -- Gesta regum Anglorum (excerpt - De translationibus episcopatuum Wellens. Cestrens. et Thetford) -- Account of how a new Lady Chapel came to be built at Thetford Priory -- Letter of William of St Mary's 'Merlesham' describing the finding of a relic in the heel of a statue in Thetford Priory -- Chronicle of memorable affairs from the incarnation to 1399 -- History of Thetford Priory

Description

Alternative title	Ioh. Bramis Historia Waldei, etc.
Type of resource	mixed material
Extent	ff. 4 + 122 + 5
Date created	[ca. 1400 - 1425]
Language	Latin; English
Material	Vellum
Layout	39 and 32 lines to a page
Height (mm)	225
Width (mm)	155
Collation	a(4), 1(8) 2(10) 3(10) 4(8) 5(10) 6(8) 7(10) 8(10) 9(8) 10(10)11(8) 12(8) 13(6) \| 14(8) \| b(6) (wants 6).
Writing	in a clear rather narrow hand, with good ornaments
Foliation	ff. i-v + pp. 9-220 (221-230 missing) + 231-268 + ff. vi-vii
Provenance	From the Cluniac priory of Thetford in all probability: but be it noted that the compiler of art. 5 had considerable interest in the small priory of Ixworth, not far off.
Research	In Martin's History of Thetford, p. 282, is a short notice of the manuscript
Additions	The flyleaves at the beginning are from a well-written Canon Law MS.: they are folded., At top of p. 1r, glocestre (xv-xvi) and some Parkerian notes. pp. 1r-4v are otherwise blank.

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date	xv early
Downloadable James Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:vs977vn1907/MS_329.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:bn021nn2402/329.pdf
Contains	Title John Bramis, Historia regis Waldei. 9-204 Nasmith Historia Waldei quondam Norfolchiae et Suffolchiae regis eximii de Gallis et Anglis verbis in Latinum translata. 9-204 Author John Bramis Note Ex prefatione, Verum si cui forsan libet translatoris agnitionem percipere, litteras capitales hujus operis aureas sibillicando perspiciat, quarum a sensu nomen ordo vel patria lucide inspicienti versu inveniente patefiet. Litterae vero aureae de quibus agitur componunt hunc versum, DE: THETFORD: MONACHUS: BRAMIS: EDIDIT: ISTA: IOHANNES. Historia porro fabulosa, in qua tempore Britonum frequens Normanniae et Saracenorum mentio Rubric (17) Incipit prologus super hystoriam Waldei quondam norffolchie suffolchieque regis eximii de gallicis et anglicis verbis in latinum translatam Incipit (17) Primitus subsequens regis Waldei filiorumque historia suorum in lingua anglica metrice composita est. Deinde ad instanciam cuiusdam femine que ipsam penitus linguam nesciret quam non alio quam amice nomine uoluit indagare a quodam in linguam gallicam est translata Note The first four parts only remained in English Explicit (18) Uerum si cui forsitan libet translatoris agnicionem percipere litteras capitales huius operis aureas. quas iccirco aureas siue ab aliis coloris alterius posteris scriptoribus esse deputaui sillibicando perspiciat. quarum a sensu nomen ordo uel patria lucide inspicienti uersu innuente patefiet. Sed et hoc forsitan vanitas vel presumpcio spiritus putabitur. Quibus ut verum est dictum vaticinii testimonium valebit forsitan satisfacere Rubric (18) Explicit prologus (19) Incipiunt capitula libri sequentis Note Capitula of the six parts of the work (24) blank (25) (Pars I.) Rubric (25) Castor a Julio Cesare rex Norff. consti(tutus) castre ciuitatem edificauit. Capitulum primum Incipit (25) Tempore illo Iulio quo cesari esset adeptus plurimumque terrarum Note (25) A very fine border and decorative initial: characteristic English work of the end of the xivth and beginning of the xvth cent. The gold is good. There is a good deal of green flourishing of a somewhat peculiar kind in this and subsequent borders Smaller initials are usually blue with good red pen flourishing: but those which enter into the acrostic are in gold more or less ornamented in other colours. Each Part has a whole or partial border and fine initial (48) Pars II cap. 28 is printed by T. Martin, Hist. of Thetford App. XXXVIII, p. 128 (84) Pars III, very fine initial (117) Pars IV (148) Pars V (181) Pars VI Ends Explicit (204) Imperauit igitur guyacus super duo imperia rome viz. et almannie que omnibus vite sue diebus strenue et insigniter gubernauit. ipsoque defuncto filii sui et filii filiorum suorum multis postmodum diebus successere. Deo gratias et beate marie (204) ffinit hystoria regis Waldei duorumque filiorum suorum guyaci et gudlaci Note Art. 1 has been recently transcribed for publication by Dr Immermann and by Dr Suchier Title William of Malmesbury OSB, Gesta regum Anglorum (excerpt - De translationibus episcopatuum Wellens. Cestrens. et Thetford). 205-205 Nasmith De translationibus episcopatuum Wellens. Cestrens. et Thetford. [ex Willelmo Malmburiensi]. 205-205 Author William of Malmesbury OSB Rubric (205) De translacionibus episcopatuum Wellen. Cestren. et Thetforden Incipit (205) Tres sunt in anglia episcopatus qui ex antiquis sedibus in alias transierunt Explicit (205) si non vana fides penitencie super ethera tulerunt Note From Will. Malmesbury Gesta Regum IV, §§ 338, 9. Rolls Ed. II 385 Title Account of how a new Lady Chapel came to be built at Thetford Priory. 206-209 Nasmith Motiva exhortatoria quare capella virginis gloriosae in parte aquilonari monasterii monachorum Thetfordiae per priorem ejusdem loci extiterat constructa. 206-209 Rubric (206) Hec sunt motiua exhortatoria quare capella virginis gloriose in parte aquilonari monasterii monachorum Thetfordie per Priorem eiusdem loci extiterat constructa Incipit (206) Olim dum sedes episcopalis fuerat in ciuitate Thetfordie predicta in ecclesia parichiali (!) sancte marie Explicit (209) ymagini gloriose virginis supradicte deuotissime optulerunt Note See Blomefield, Norfolk II 117. Martin, Thetford, p. 81 Title Letter of William of St Mary's 'Merlesham' describing the finding of a relic in the heel of a statue in Thetford Priory. 209-210 Nasmith Epistola Willelmi ecclesiae S. Mariae de Merlesham ministri qualiter sanctae reliquiae in capite supradictae imaginis repertae ad Thetfordense monasterium pervenerint. 209-210 Rubric (209) Qualiter sancte reliquie in capite supradicte ymaginis repperte ad Thetfordense monasterium peruenerunt. Epistola Incipit (209) Domino et patri Stephano Thetfordensis ecclesie procuratori egregio Willelmus ecclesie S. Marie de Merlesham minister Explicit (210) in hac ecclesia anniuersarium suum imperpetuum deuote fieri quod est Idus Octobris Note See Blomefield, Norfolk II 117. Martin, Thetford, p. 84 Title Chronicle of memorable affairs from the incarnation to 1399. 211-219 Nasmith Chronologia rerum memorabilium ab incarnatione verbi ad annum 1399. 211-219 James Chronicle. 211-219 Note (211) Chronicle Incipit (211) Scire cupiens quot anni fluxerunt a tempore quo hec subscripta contigerunt Note (211) Anno a creacione mundi iiii ml lxxxvijo Brutus venit in Angliam To Translation of St Thomas 1220 Rubric (212) De prima christianitate missa in angliam Note (Lucius) (212) De secunda ... (Germanus) (212) De tercia ... (Gregory) Rubric (212) De institucionibus quorundam (!) religionum Note Augustine (402) to 1287 Austin Friars Rubric (213) Sequitur de vita sanctorum confessorum et pontificum Note Nicholas, Martin, Silvester Rubric (213) De doctoribus ecclesie catholice Note The Four Latin Doctors Rubric (213) Sequitur de confessoribus abbatibus et heremitis Note Paul, Benedict, Leonard, etc. Rubric (213) Sequitur de episcopis et confessoribus Anglis Note Dunstan, Anselm, Edward, Edmund C. Rubric (213) De Sancto Bernardo et Sancto Dominico Note Bede and John of Bryglynton (1382) Rubric (214) De regibus Anglie ante conquestum Note (from Arthur) Rubric (214) De regibus Anglie post conquestum Note Ends with 1415 Explicit (215) Capta fuit ciuitas areletensis ab henrico quinto rege Anglie Rubric (216) De preliis per anglicanos et alios commissis Note (216) Taking of Jerusalem by Titus. The last is Poitiers Rubric (217) Construcciones quorundam monasteriorum anglie Note Glastonbury, Peterborough, Canterbury, Westminster, Hulme, St Albans, Cluny, Ely, Bury (several dates), Thetford: 1119 St Osith's 1170 Construccio domus et prioratus de Ixword 1172 Introduccio Canonicorum apud Ixword 1096 Building of Norwich Cathedral Rubric (217) De mirabilibus signis et prodigiis Note (218) Under 1361 are the verses (218) Luce tua maure magnus fuit impetus aureM. c. ter ventus fui(t) l. monaptata decem The last is 1412 Explicit (218) in vigilia Sancte Cecilie magnus ventus ... ac eciam in nocte katherine sequente Note (219) A. d. millmo ccco xc ixo pro isto anno in datum presens (219) Anno ab origine mundi vi mo Do xco ixo (219) Anno a passione Sancti Edmundi (219) ab introduccione in Sanctum Edmundum (219) Anno a construxione domus de Ixword cc xo (219) ab insurrectione communitatis xixo (219) Pontificatus pape Bonifacii quarti xo (no reference to Thetford) pp. 220-229 missing Title Geoffrey de Rocherio OSB, History of Thetford Priory. 230-267 Nasmith Historia cenobii Thetfordensis per Gaufredum ejusdem loci monachum. 230-267 Author Geoffrey de Rocherio OSB Note (230) No title, and different script Incipit (230) Fratribus commanentibus in Thetfordensi ecclesia cuius protectrix extat virgo Maria vester Gaufredus eiusdem virginis filio Explicit (230) quantum sapio quantum capio hoc modo enarrat mea deuocio Incipit (230) Anno ab incarnacione domini millmo co iiiio a passione Sancti Edmundi regis et martyris cco xxxiiiio Note (236) Unfinished, ending Explicit (236) Quod episcopus cum ira magna se facere negauit. Tunc prior ex parte dei et beate marie Note Printed: Monasticon V 151. By Geoffrey de Rocherio. Martin's Thetford, App. VI, p. 29 pp. 110-114 are ruled but blank. 115-122 entirely blank (238) On this page is the mark and signature of F. Blomefield, who uses this MS. in his history of Norfolk At the end are 5 flyleaves (pp. 263-268), bits of a roughly written account roll of 35-36 Edward III (236) On the last page, the name ffr. Wyllmus Weting and a rhyme Summa totalisNescio que qualisSed si sit tantaEst que qualis quantaAff uel negatyveI cannat contryveUtrum partycularnescio vel syngularvel indeffinitaScio non. Ita
TJames	100
Stanley	J. 10
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/nv587yn0448
Location	MS 329
Repository	UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Access conditions

Use and reproduction: Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk
License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC).

Collection

Parker Manuscripts

Loading usage metrics...