MS 89
Seneca. manuscript
Title in M. R. James catalogue: L. Annaei Senecae opera
Germany?, between ca. 1200 and ca. 1250.
1 volume (i, 187, i leaves) : parchment ; 25.2 x 17 cm.
A collection of pieces by or attributed to Seneca.
The manuscript was rebound around 1900 and the constituent pieces placed in a different order on the basis of the old quire numbers; the description in M. R. James's catalogue as cited in the references below reflects the former binding order.
The constituent pieces are: Epistolae Pauli et Senecae, with preface by Jerome and 6-line 'Epytaphium quod fecit seneca de se ipso cum moretur' (ff. 1-2v); De beneficiis (ff. 3-39v, begins imperfectly in book 4, chapter 5); Epistulae morales ad Lucilium preceded by table of headings (ff. 40-143v); Naturales quaestiones (ff. 144-163v); De clementia (ff. 164-175v); De copia verborum [i.e. Martin of Braga, Formula vitae honestae] (ff. 176-178v); De remediis fortuitorum (ff. 179-181); 'Excerpta de epistolis Senece' (ff. 182-187; f. 187v is blank).
The Epistulae morales are in 89 numbered letters with Epistle 85 of the printed editions being the last letter and Epistle 48 counted as two letters (48 and 49); the subjects of the letters explained by scholia in red.
This manuscript used for Gercke's edition of the Quaestiones naturalibus, and said to be closely related to Montpellier, H. 116.
The added title of the 'Excerpta de epistolis Senece' is in a 15th century English hand; this piece comprises ten paragraphs also in Exeter Cathedral, MS 3549B.
Written space: ca. 170 x 108 mm.
Two columns of 27 lines.
Writing above the top ruled line.
Collation: 1 two (ff. 1,2) 2-3¹² 4¹² + 1 leaf after 12 (ff. 27-39) 5² (ff. 40-41) 6-12¹² 13¹⁸ (ff. 126-143) 14⁸ 15-16¹² 17² + 1 leaf after 2 (f. 178) 18² + 1 leaf after 2 (f. 181) 19⁶.
Quires 2-18 numbered at end V-XXI.
Initials in red or blue; some with ornament of the other colour; in some pieces outside the written space.
Capital letters in the ink of the text filled with red.
Secundo folio not in Ker.
Rebound at Eton around 1900.
Probably written in Germany on the basis of a pencilled Germanic gloss on f. 21 (non exorant id est verbidden'); many near contemporary scholia in red ink and pencil.
In England by the 15th century when further marginalia added, including the mark of Thomas Gascoigne on f. 2v: [four dots] IHC [four dots] ma [four dots].
Former Eton shelfmark: Bk.6.16.
This catalogue record is based on the work of Neil Ker and M.R. James, as cited in the references below.
Ker, N. R.. Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, v. 2 (1977), p. 702-3
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), 89
Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae, 1697, 114
Eton College Library, MS 89
Reproduction available; Bodleian Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; SFW 2159
Previously belonged to Thomas Gascoigne (see above).
Late 19th/early 20th century binding.
Ancient philosophy Manuscripts.
Stoics Manuscripts.
Gascoigne, Thomas, 1403 - 1458 former owner.
Germany.
lat
B50016