MS 96
Peter,, ca. 1130 - 1205 of Poitiers
Chronicon. manuscript
Title in M. R. James catalogue: Petri Pictavensis Compendium Veteris Testamenti
England, between ca. 1225 and ca. 1275.
1 volume (vi, 23, vi leaves) : parchment, illustrated ; 48.5 x 33.5 cm.
"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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Foliation: i-v, 1-25, (26-30).
Medieval foliation at the foot of ff. 3-24: 4-10, 14-21, 23-29.
Ruled space: ca. 400 x 310 mm.
Columns vary in number, up to six, with 94 ruled lines, not all used on any one page.
First line of writing below the top ruled line.
Collation: 1¹² wants 2, 3, 9, 10 (ff. 2-9) 2¹⁰ wants 1, 10 (ff. 10-17) 3⁸ wants 8, probably blank.
1-line red initials.
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).
Plans of the ark are on f. 2v and a plan of Jerusalem on f. 7v.
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).
The illustrations are described more fully by M. R. James as cited in the references below.
The secundo folio leaf is missing, but it must have been "nie".
Rebound in the 20th century; M. R. James does not describe the previous binding.
Written in England, perhaps at the Benedictine abbey of Glastonbury, based on the content.
Probably at Worcester Cathedral in the early 17th century; see provenance notes below for this and other marks of ownership.
Former Eton shelfmark: Bl.1.5.
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. 707-8
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895),
Not in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae, 1697
Eton College Library, MS 96
Reproduction available; Bodleian Library; Eton College Library should be contacted for permission to reproduce; SFW 3091
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
In a late 16th/early 17th century hand on f. 7v: "Elizabeth Flovern" (read by M. R. James as Elizabeth Flobern).
In a late 16th/early 17th century hand on f. 25: "William Hardine".
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.
20th century maroon morocco binding by W. H. Smith.
Arthur King
Francis, 1182 - 1226 of Assisi, Saint
Thomas, 1118? - 1170 à Becket, Saint
Chronology, Historical Manuscripts.
Young, Patrick, 1584 - 1652 associated name.
Worcester Cathedral former owner.
England.
lat
B50020