Shelfmark
MS 42
Author
John Chrysostom Saint
Uniform title
[Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Latin]
Title
Pseudo-Chrysostomus, Homiliae in Matthaeum. manuscript
Varying form of title
Title in M. R. James catalogue: S. Johannis Chrysostomi Opus imperfectum in Mattheum
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, between ca. 1400 and ca. 1425.
Physical description
1 volume (iii, 313 leaves) : parchment ; 25.5 x 17.5 cm.
Note
The text (ff. 1-297) is arranged differently to the edition in Patrologia Graeca (v. 56, cols 611-946) which makes 54 homilies instead of 57, which is the usual number in the manuscripts; the last words in the Eton manuscript, as in others, come in the Patrologia Graeca at col. 908 line 11 ('... in loco sancto').
Note
The main text is followed by two partial indexes put together to make a complete index.
Note
The first part of the index (ff. 297v-300v) begins with Abraham and ends with Dies iudicii; it is in the hand of the main text and fills the space which remained blank in quire 25.
Note
The second part of the index (ff. 301-311) begins imperfectly with Dies insciencia and ends with Zelus, and is on a different principle referring to subdivisions of the homilies by letters which are not present in the Eton manuscript. Ker notes that corresponding letters in the margins occur in Bodleian MSS Bodley 709 and 743, both of which have the same index, suggesting that these leaves are the remains of another manuscript.
Note
Leaves ii and iii are medieval parchment flyleaves.
Note
Written space: ca. 175 x 115 mm.
Note
29 long lines.
Note
Collation: 1¹² 2¹⁰ 3¹⁴ 4-25¹² 16¹⁶ wants 1-3 before f. 301.
Note
Quires 1-9 only are signed in the usual late medieval way, except that the quires are numbered (in arabic figures) and the leaves lettered (a-f) instead of vice versa.
Note
Written in current anglicana. From about f. 95 the minims are not linked but made in separate unfooted strokes (so that m resembles 111 and n and u resemble 11).
Note
The second part of the index is in a mixture of anglicana and secretary, the latter predominating.
Note
Initials in blue with red ornament.
Note
Secundo folio: scilicet rex.
Note
Rebound at Eton in the early 17th century. The medieval flyleaves ff. ii and iii were in their present position before the book was rebound at Eton in the 17th century on the basis of the pattern of worm-holes matching those on f. 1 but not present on the paper fly-leaf f. i
Note
Written in England by a scribe named Wodewarde (with the exception of last 13 leaves of index, see above).
Note
Two inscriptions recording donation to Eton College, one by Thomas Weston on 23 April 1453 and ther other, undated by William Wey; see provenance notes below. Ker suggests that two copies of the homilies on Matthew were given to Eton, and that Wey's copy was scrapped in or before 1608-9, and the last 13 leaves of index added to the one in Weston's copy which was already incomplete when the book was rebound; see also Robert Birley, 'The history of Eton College Library', The Library, 5th ser., v. 11 (1956), p. 232.
Note
Former Eton shelfmark: Bk.4.6.
Note
This catalogue record is based on the work of Neil Ker and M.R. James, as cited in the references below.
Citation/references note
Ker, N. R.. Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, v. 2 (1977), p. 681
Citation/references note
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), 42
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 42
Provenance
Inscription on f. iii verso recording donation by Thomas Weston: "Libri Collegii Regalis beate Marie de Eton' ex dono M' Thome Weston' socii eiusdem Collegii xxiiiº die Aprilis anno domini mº ccccliiiº Et Anno Regni Henrici Sexti xxxiº"
Provenance
Inscription on f. 313v recording donation by William Wey, possibly referring only to the final 13 leaves of index taken from another copy no longer in the library (see above): "Ex dono Magistri Willelmi Wey quondam socii istius collegii regalis beatissime marie Eton", above which is "E.C." with an overscore and to the left, "Eton" (see also Eton MSS 76 and 99).
Binding
Early 17th century English calf binding by Williamson, blind tooled with 'Herculis and Vena' roll.
Subject
Bible. Matthew Commentaries Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Weston, Thomas, fl. 1441 - 1453 former owner.
Added entry--name
Wey, William, 1405 or 1406 - 1476 former owner.
Added entry--name
Williamson, Vincent bookbinder.
Added entry--place
England.
Language code
lat grc
Identifier
B49992