Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 161: Lives of Saints

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Abstract/Contents

Summary: CCCC MS 161 is a collection of Saints' Lives which has been dated to c.1200. The provenance of the manuscript has been the subject of some debate; the Cluniac monastery at Faversham, Kent has been identified as the possible place of origin, and it seems that the manuscript was later at Canterbury. The majority of the Lives in the collection are of English or British saints, including Aldhelm, David, Dunstan, Ithamar, Neot, and Swithun, but four Cluniac saints are also included, which supports the connection with Faversham. Faversham is in the diocese of Rochester whose cathedral contained the relics of the rarely mentioned Ithamar. According to Lapidge, many of the vitae are somewhat abbreviated. The frontispiece depicts a bishop, and it has been suggested that this may be St Dunstan.
Contents: Life and Miracles of St Martialis -- Miracles of St Nicholas -- Sermon in praise of St Dunstan -- Vita Sancti Aldhelmi (abridged) -- Life and Miracles of St Erkenwald -- Life and Miracles of St Swithun -- Life and Translation of St Neot -- Life of John of Beverley -- Vita Sancti Botulphi -- Miracles of St Ithamar -- Vita Sancti Davidis -- Vita Sancti Odonis -- Vita Sancti Maioli -- Vita Sancti Odilonis -- Vita Sancti Hugonis -- Vita Sancti Edwardi regis et confessoris -- Vita Sancti Edwardi confessoris

Description

Alternative title	Vitae Sanctorum
Type of resource	mixed material
Extent	ff. 152 + 1
Date created	[ca. 1175 - 1225]
Language	Latin
Material	Vellum
Layout	double columns of 36, 37 lines
Height (mm)	300
Width (mm)	203
Collation	1 flyleaf, 1(8) (+1*) 2(8) 3(8) (+1) 4(4) \| 5(8)-14(8) 15(6) 16(6) 17(8)-19(8) 20(8) (wants 7, 8).
Writing	in more than one hand
Foliation	ff. a-b + i + 1-152 + c-d
Provenance	On the flyleaf in red chalk is the name Twyne, which points to a Canterbury origin for the MS. John Twyne, mayor and schoolmaster of the city, got together a good many MSS., especially from St Augustine's. On the same leaf is the Parkerian note given in Nasmith.
Research	It seems possible that we may here have the volume in Bale's list of his MSS. (Scriptores II 161) called Vita Marcialis apostoli cum aliis multis.
Decoration	On f. 1r is a full-page picture of a sainted Archbishop, probably St Dunstan. There is a frame with patterned sides, white on blue and white on green alternately, and squares of red pattern at the angles. Ground in various zones: centre vermilion, next crimson, outside purple. The saint is bearded, full-face, holding curved crosier and blessing. He wears bluish mitre, blue chasuble with green collar, pall with six crosses, crimson sleeved tunicle with vermilion border spotted with white, and alb.
2 fo.	In nomine, ascensurus

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date	xii late, xiii early
Downloadable James Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:nz703zb8001/MS_161.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:jx175cc3978/161.pdf
Contains	Title Life and Miracles of St Martialis. 2r-23r Nasmith Vita et miracula gloriosi episcopi Martialis, qui fuit unus de antiquis Christi discipulis. 2r-23r Rubric (2r) In nomine domini nostri Ihesu Christi incipit liber de vita et miraculis gloriosi Episcopi Marcialis qui fuit unus de antiquis christi discipulis (2r) Capitulum primum. qualiter sanctus puer marcialis a parentibus suis domino presentatur Incipit (2r) Predicante domino nostro Ihesu Christo apud iudeam in tribu beniamin Explicit (20v) mereamur participes ascisci sanctorum collegio in regnum domini nostri Ihesu Christi cui est gloria in secula seculorum. Amen Rubric (20v) Explicit uita Sancti marcialis apostoli Note See a text edited by W. de Gray Birch in Journal of the Archaeological Association 1872, pp. 353-899, also separately, 1877, Life of St Martial Rubric (20v) Incipit prologus in miracula ad eius mellifluam memoriam declarata Incipit (20v) Quicunque sanctorum beatissimas actiones Note (BHL. 5551, prologue only) Explicit (20v) peritissimum deducat stilum Rubric (20v) Incipiunt miracula Sancti marcialis apostoli (2v) De genuinis sanctorum sepulchris etc. Incipit (20v) Igitur Sanctus marcialis apostolus a romano missus episcopo Explicit (23r) pax omnibus restituta fuit auxiliante deo et saluatore nostro Ihesu Christo qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum. Amen Note These miracles begin nearly as BHL. 5559 = Gregorius Turonensis Glor. conf. 27 Life = BHL 5552, Prologue to miracles = BHL 5551, Miracles = Gregory of Tours, Liber in gloria confessorum, 27, 28, plus more unidentified Title Miracles of St Nicholas. 23r-25r Nasmith Miraculum Sancti Nicholai episcopi. 23r-25r Rubric (23r) Incipit prephacio in subsequens miraculum Sancti Nicholai episcopi Incipit (23r) Sicut a prisca grecorum ueritate Explicit (23r) et utinam ad hoc non impar Rubric (23r) De clerico qui ob cuiusdam mulieris amorem prosam historiam Sancti Nicholai dulcissime composuit quem postea sanctus dei pontifex ab inepta uoluntate chohibuit Note (BHL. 6210) Incipit (23r) Generosus et gratiosa forma spectabilis quidam iuuenis ... scolam regebat in urbe barensi ... Explicit (25r) latro et samaritanus Title Sermon in praise of St Dunstan. 25r-26r Nasmith Sermo de maxima laude Sancti Dunstani archiepiscopi et confessoris. 25r-26r Rubric (25r) Sermo de maxima laude Sancti Dunstani Archiepiscopi Incipit (25r) Beatissimus dei presul Note Printed in Stubbs, Memorials of St Dunstan, 454 Title Faricius of Malmesbury OSB, Vita Sancti Aldhelmi (abridged). 26r-30v Nasmith Vita Sancti Aldelmi episcopi et confessoris. 26r-30v Author Faricius of Malmesbury OSB Rubric (26r) Incipit uita Sancti Aldelmi episcopi et confessoris octauo kalendas Iunii (26v) De regia beati aldelmi prosapia etc. Incipit (26v) Beatus Aldelmus regia stirpe descendens Note The hand of f. 30r is much closer: 43 lines in a column Explicit (30v) per eum ibidem prestantur beneficia ad illius laudem cui est honor etc. Rubric (30v) Explicit uita Sancti Aldelmi episcopi et confessoris Note An abridgment of the life by Faricius. Hardy I 389, 394 An abbreviated version of BHL 256, ending with chapter 3 Title Life and Miracles of St Erkenwald. 31r-45v Nasmith Vita et miracula Sancti Erkenwaldi Londoniensis episcopi. 31r-45v Note At f. 31r (quire v) is a distinct change in the aspect of the vellum and script Perhaps quires i-iv were added at Canterbury, rather later than the rest of the book: the numbering of the quires is old Rubric (31r) Incipiunt capitula (vii) in vitam Sancti Erkenwaldi lundoniensis episcopi Note Text Incipit (31r) Post passionem ac resurrectionem dominicam cum catholica fides Explicit (33r) recto corde petentibus exhibetur prestante domino nostro Ihesu Christo qui cum etc. Rubric (33r) Explicit vita Sancti Erkenwaldi (33r) Incipit proemium miraculorum Sancti Erkenwaldi episcopi Incipit (33r) Eloquentie uirtus quam sit Explicit (34r) spem habeamus Rubric (34r) Explicit proemium (34r) Incipit miracula Sancti Erkenwaldi lundoniensis episcopi Incipit (34r) Fuit itaque in doctoris gentium familia Note The Life in Dugdale's History of St Paul's, ed. 1818, p. 289. The Miracles by a nephew of Gilbert Bishop of London. See Hardy I 293, 4 Life, ff. 31r-33r, is BHL 2600. Miracles BHL 2601 Title Life and Miracles of St Swithun. 45v-54v Nasmith Vita et miracula Sancti Swithuni episcopi. 45v-54v Note (45v) Capitula vii Vita Incipit (45v) Glorioso rege anglorum egberto Note Miracula Incipit (47v) Temporibus religiosissimi ... eadgari Note Ends Rubric (54v) De contracto erecto Explicit (54v) fecit succedere laudem Note Attributed to Goscelin. See Earle, On St Swithin 1861, p. 67, Analecta Bollandia VII 374 The Miracles are abridged in this copy. Hardy I 513, 14: Acta Sanctorum Julii I 328 (292). P. L. CLV 61 Life BHL 7943; miracles not in BHL Title Life and Translation of St Neot. 54v-60r Nasmith Vita Sancti Neoti abbatis. 54v-60r Note Praefatio Incipit (54v) Beati Neoti confessoris uitam Explicit (54v) suffragatorem habere Note Vita Incipit (54v) Sanctus igitur neotus fecunde britannie Explicit (60r) tempore prorsus nescio mete. Amen Note Abridged from the Life in MS. Bodley 535. See Hardy I 544, 548 Whitaker, Life of S. Neot (1809), 339 BHL 6054, 6055 Title Life of John of Beverley. 60r-61v Nasmith Vita Sancti Iohannis archiepiscopi Eboracensis. 60r-61v Note (60r) Capitula xix Vita Incipit (60r) Beatissimus Iohannes archiepiscopus intra confinia anglorum editus Explicit (61v) cui condita cuncta famulantur Note Also in Tiberius D. III. Hardy I 428 Printed in Raine, Historians of the Church of York (Rolls) I 519 BHL 4346 Title Folcard OSB, Vita Sancti Botulphi. 61v-63v Nasmith Vita Sancti Botulphi abbatis. 61v-63v Author Folcard OSB Note (61v) Capitula viii Vita Incipit (61v) Omnipotentis dei benignitas compaciens Explicit (63v) gloriosa fiunt miracula. ad laudem et gloriam omnipotentis dei qui uiuit et regnat per omnia secula seculorum. Amen Note By Folcard. Mabillon Acta Sanctorum O. S. B. III 1. Hardy I 373. Acta Sanctorum Junii III 402 (IV 327) BHL 1428 Title Miracles of St Ithamar. 63v-68r Nasmith Miracula Sancti Ithamari episcopi. 63v-68r Note (63v) Capitula xvii Prologue Incipit (64r) Pauca de miraculis beati ythamari Explicit (64v) mendacii admiscens Note Text Incipit (64v) Tempore igitur uenerabili et deo dilecti patris nostri gundulfi Explicit (68r) fideli deuotione expetunt. prestante domino nostro Ihesu Christo qui etc. Note Apparently this is the only copy. It seems to have been composed about 1140-50. Hardy I 252 BHL 4501 Title Rhygyfarch ap Sulien, Vita Sancti Davidis. 68r-75v Nasmith Vita Sancti David Gualensis archiepiscopi. 68r-75v Author Rhygyfarch ap Sulien Note (68r) Capitula xxviii Vita Incipit (68v) Dominus noster quamuis omnes suos ante mundi Explicit (75v) michi autem qui ricemarchus nominor ... iuuamen apud Christum qui est benedictus super omnia deus in secula. Amen Note It does not exactly agree with the best copy of the Life by Ricemarch (Vespasian A. xiv). See Hardy I 118, 123. Rees, Lives of Cambro-British Saints 117 BHL 2107 Title John of Cluny OSB, Vita Sancti Odonis. 75v-93r Nasmith Vita Sancti Odonis abbatis [Cluniacensis] per fratrem Ioannem. 75v-93r Author John of Cluny OSB Rubric (75v) Proemium Incipit (75v) Dominis et in christo fratribus ... Iohannes Explicit (76r) ad consummationem seculi uobiscum sum Note (76r) Capitula, liber I xxxvi; liber II xxxvii Vita Incipit (77r) Odo uir beatissimus Explicit (93r) candore beate immortalitatis per eundem Christum dominum nostrum qui etc. Note See Mabillon Acta 18 Novembris. P. L. CXXXIII 43 BHL 6292-5 Title Odilo of Cluny OSB, Vita Sancti Maioli. 93r-96v Nasmith Vita Majoli abbatis Cluniacensis per Odilonem. 93r-96v Author Odilo of Cluny OSB Note (93r) Capitula xii Prologue Incipit (93r) Hugoni et karissimo fratri Aimanno Explicit (93v) et uere catholico Note (Acta Sanctorum Maii II 684. P. L. CXLII 943) Vita Incipit (93v) Quia deus omnipotens nullum tempus Explicit (96v) sospes et letus. prestante domino nostro Ihesu Christo qui etc. Note BHL 5182 Title Peter Damian OSB, Vita Sancti Odilonis. 96v-103r Nasmith Vita Odilonis abbatis Cluniacensis per Petrum Damianum. 96v-103r Author Peter Damian OSB Note (96v) Capitula xxxvii Prefatio Incipit (96v) Petrus damianus sanctis ecclesiis Explicit (97r) nos exhibeat alienos Note Vita Incipit (97r) Beatus igitur odilo aruernie oriundus Explicit (103r) perstrinximus. ad honorem et gloriam redemptoris nostri Ihesu Christi qui etc. Note Acta Sanctorum I Januarii. P. L. CXLIV 925 BHL 6282 Title Hugh of Cluny OSB, Vita Sancti Hugonis. 103r-108v Nasmith Vita Hugonis abbatis Cluniacensis per Hugonem. 103r-108v Author Hugh of Cluny OSB Note (103r) Capitula xxxvi Prefatiuncula Incipit (103v) Patrum cluniacensium conuentui Explicit (103v) multa pretereo Note Vita Incipit (103v) Hugo iste quem debitus sermo Explicit (108v) anno uerbi incarnati millesimo centesimo nono Note Acta Sanctorum 29 Aprilis. P. L. CLIX 920 BHL 4012 Title Aelred of Rievaulx OCist, Vita Sancti Edwardi regis et confessoris. 108v-138v Nasmith Vita beati confessoris Christi Edwardi gloriosi regis Anglorum dictata a domino Æilredo abbate Rievallensi. 108v-138v Author Aelred of Rievaulx OCist Rubric (108v) Incipit epistola domini Æilredi abbatis Rieuallensis ad regem anglorum Henricum secundum de vita Sancti Regis Eadwardi Incipit (108v) Plurimum ueterum studio fuisse Explicit (109r) optineas felicitatem Rubric (109r) Item epistola eiusdem Abbatis ad Abbatem Westmonasterii Laurentium Incipit (109v) Dilecto et diligendo et intimis uisceribus Explicit (109v) opitulatione donetur Note (109v) Capitula xliv Text Incipit (110r) Gloriosi ac deo dilecti Regis Eadwardi vitam Explicit (131r) beata resurrectione donandus per Ihesum Christum dominum nostrum cui etc. Note Miracula Incipit (131r) Rebus humanis exemptus quam potens fuerat Note Last: de monacho a triplici clade redintegrato ends Explicit (138v) tanti meriti patronum omnium corda commouit Rubric (138v) Expliciunt miracula Sancti Eadwardi regis et confessoris Note Twysden I 369. P. L. CXCV 737 BHL 2423 Title Osbert of Clare OSB, Vita Sancti Edwardi confessoris. 138v-152v Nasmith Vita et miracula Sancti Edwardi regis et confessoris abbreviata ex tractatu Beati Osberni Westmonasterii prioris. 138v-152v Author Osbert of Clare OSB Rubric (138v) Incipit excerptum epistole domini Osberni prioris Westmonasterii ad albericum legatum in uitam Sancti Eadwardi regis Incipit (138v) Innocentii summi pontificis sancteque romane et apostolici sedis legato uenerabili Alberico ... frater Osbertus Explicit (138v) nouum regis opus sacrandum dirigitur Rubric (138v) Explicit excerptum Epistole (138v) Incipit prologus excerptus eiusdem auctoris Incipit (138v) Insignia uirorum fortium gesta Explicit (139r) ut a ueritatis dulcedine non discordet Rubric (139r) Explicit prologus de uita sanctissimi Eadvvardi anglorum regis et confessoris Note (139r) Capitula xxx Rubric (139v) I(ncipiunt uita et miracula) beati Eadwardi regis et confessoris ex tractatu domini Osberni prioris Westmonasterii Incipit (139v) Pretiosus athleta domini et rex Explicit (152v) hinc superno regi laus et gloria cuius maiestas et imperium extat in secula seculorum. Amen Rubric (152v) Explicit Vita et miracula Sancti Eadwardi regis et confessoris abbreuiata ex tractatu domini Osberni Westmonasterii prioris Note The capitula to this Life by Osbern are printed in Luard's Lives of Edward the Confessor (Rolls), p. xxv from this copy. The full text of the Life, of which this is an abridgment, is in British Museum Additional 36737. The MSS. have been recently examined by the Dean of Westminster (Dr J. A. Robinson) BHL 2422
TJames	2
Stanley	A. 2
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/qt747ct6627
Location	MS 161
Repository	UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

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Collection

Parker Manuscripts

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