Shelfmark
MS 96
Author
Peter,, ca. 1130 - 1205 of Poitiers
Title
Chronicon. manuscript
Varying form of title
Title in M. R. James catalogue: Petri Pictavensis Compendium Veteris Testamenti
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, between ca. 1225 and ca. 1275.
Physical description
1 volume (vi, 23, vi leaves) : parchment, illustrated ; 48.5 x 33.5 cm.
Note
"Incipit compendiu[m] vet[er]is testam[en]ti editu[m] a mag[is]tro petro pictauensi. et cancellario parisiensi. Considerans ystorie prolixitatem nec non et difficultatem scolarum ..." (f. 2).
Note
A universal chronicle from the Creation to 1245 A.D. illustrated with medallions and genealogies; the main source is the work attributed to Peter of Poitiers (Stegmüller, no. 6778) as far as f. 9v.
Note
Roundels and connecting lines show the descent from Adam to Christ and after Christ (ff. 10-24v), the succession of popes (red line), Roman emperors (blue line), British and English kings (red line) and French kings (blue line), in parallel columns.
Note
The last words on f. 24v refer to the Tartars in Hungary, and the last event mentioned is the death of Walter Marshall in 1245.
Note
The writer of the text was particularly interested in Glastonbury, with a long "Incidentia de subuersione monasterii glastonie" during the minority of Henry II on f. 24rv, and references to Glastonbury in the passages on St Patrick and King Arthur on ff. 14 and 15, the latter equating the "Insula Auallonie" with Glastonbury and describing the removal of the body of Arthur ("arcturus") 648 years after his burial to a new tomb, following a fire, on the orders of Abbot Henry de Soili.
Note
Six leaves are missing: two between f. 2v and f. 3r; three between f. 9v and f. 10; one between f. 17v and f. 18r. See Ker as cited in the references below for details of the texts preceding and following these losses.
Note
Foliation: i-v, 1-25, (26-30).
Note
Medieval foliation at the foot of ff. 3-24: 4-10, 14-21, 23-29.
Note
Ruled space: ca. 400 x 310 mm.
Note
Columns vary in number, up to six, with 94 ruled lines, not all used on any one page.
Note
First line of writing below the top ruled line.
Note
Collation: 1¹² wants 2, 3, 9, 10 (ff. 2-9) 2¹⁰ wants 1, 10 (ff. 10-17) 3⁸ wants 8, probably blank.
Note
1-line red initials.
Note
The big roundels, ca. 90 mm in diameter, include a tripartite: roundel of Christ in glory, Adam and Eve and the serpent, and Adam and Eve cast out of Paradise (f. 1), the anointing of David (f. 4), Habakkuk and the angel (f. 7), Judith and Holofernes (f. 7v), Mardocheus, Esther and Aman (f. 8), and Alexander (f. 8v).
Note
Plans of the ark are on f. 2v and a plan of Jerusalem on f. 7v.
Note
Figures and scenes not in roundels include Galen (f. 11), Paul, first hermit (f. 12), Nicholas (f. 12v), Bernard (f. 22v), the murder of Thomas of Canterbury (f. 23), and St Francis preaching to the birds (f. 23v; believed by A. G. Little, Franciscan history of legend, 1937, to be the earliest extant representation).
Note
The illustrations are described more fully by M. R. James as cited in the references below.
Note
The secundo folio leaf is missing, but it must have been "nie".
Note
Rebound in the 20th century; M. R. James does not describe the previous binding.
Note
Written in England, perhaps at the Benedictine abbey of Glastonbury, based on the content.
Note
Probably at Worcester Cathedral in the early 17th century; see provenance notes below for this and other marks of ownership.
Note
Former Eton shelfmark: Bl.1.5.
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. 707-8
Citation/references note
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895),
Citation/references note
Not in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae, 1697
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 96
Additional physical form available
Reproduction available; Bodleian Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; SFW 3091
Additional physical form available
Reproduction available; Eton College Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; https://etonweb.etoncollege.org.uk/FlipBooks/MS96/mobile/index.html
Provenance
In a late 16th/early 17th century hand on f. 7v: "Elizabeth Flovern" (read by M. R. James as Elizabeth Flobern).
Provenance
In a late 16th/early 17th century hand on f. 25: "William Hardine".
Provenance
According to Ker, probably no. 342 in Patrick Young's catalogue of the manuscripts of Worcester Cathedral in 1621-2, published by I. Atkins and N. R. Ker in 1944.
Binding
20th century maroon morocco binding by W. H. Smith.
Subject
Arthur King
Subject
Francis, 1182 - 1226 of Assisi, Saint
Subject
Thomas, 1118? - 1170 à Becket, Saint
Subject
Glastonbury Abbey
Subject
Benedictines
Subject
Chronology, Historical Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Young, Patrick, 1584 - 1652 associated name.
Added entry--name
Worcester Cathedral former owner.
Added entry--place
England.
Language code
lat
Identifier
B50020