Shelfmark
MS 123
Title
Flores historiarum. manuscript
Varying form of title
Title in M. R. James catalogue: Matthaei Westmonasteriensis Flores historiarum
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, ca. 1275-ca. 1325.
Physical description
1 volume (ii, 265, ii leaves) : parchment, illustrated ; 27.2 x 19.3 cm.
Note
Flores historiarum, from the Creation, ending in the annal for 1306.
Note
For a full account of the importance of this MS, see H. R. Luard's edition (R.S.1890), vol.i, p. xv where this copy is described and collated as E, and printed where it differs from Chetham 6712.
Note
Matthew Parker used this text (only?) for his first edition of 1567 (ESTC S114410). See Richard Vaughan, Matthew Paris, Cambridge 1958, pp. 92-102.
Note
"Matthæus Westmonasteriensis" ('Matthew of Westminster') is a fictitious name traditionally assigned to this compilation.
Note
A new quire begins with William the Conqueror, f. 158.
Note
Written by one hand and at one time to 'celebrarunt' near the end of the annal for 1284 (f. 240va/14). From this point to 'rego', four words from the end of the annal for 1294 (f. 247r, end) seems to be all in the same hand as before, but changes in ink and appearance suggest the events of these years may have been recorded on 12 occasions; see Ker as cited below for references to the printed edition. At the turn of the leaf, a second hand took over from 'per dies' to 'transfretauit' (ff. 247v-250v), and a third hand continued from 'Hic tempore' to 'redemptis' (ff. 250v-251v). The rest, from 'Et statim post hec redierun quidam nuncii de uasconia referentes qualiter in quodam conflictu inter anglos et gallos' (f. 251v), may all be in hand 2, but there is a change in appearance after 'non debet exigi uel imponi'.
Note
Erased early 14th-century marginalia include notes of the succession of priors of Merton on ff. 168, 172, 175, 176v, 177v, 183v, 196, 197v, 203v, 211, 225, 227, 243, 251v, 262v; a further note was added in the text space on f. 243, and a 14th-century note in red ink on f. 251v (AD 1296).
Note
There are notes by Thomas Gascoigne (d. 1458) on ff. 85, 86 and 96v against passages in the text mentioning St Ermenburga, St Ebba, and Bede.
Note
Substantial early 16th-century marginalia by a writer taken by Luard to be Matthew Parker, at work in London in 1562 on the basis of a reference to the flooding of the Thames in that year on f. 182 (AD 1195).
Note
A late medieval foliation 1-110 is continued to 265 in a 16th-century hand.
Note
Written space: 202 x 142-150 mm.
Note
Two columns of 37 lines (36 lines on f. 243r, 34 lines on ff. 243v-265v).
Note
Collation: 1¹² + 1 leaf after 12 2-4¹² 5 three (ff. 50-2) 6¹² (misbound in the order 56-8, 53-5, 62-64, 59-61) 7-13¹² 14¹⁰ wants 10, blank, after f. 157 15¹⁰ 16-22¹² 23¹⁰ 24 four (ff. 262-265).
Note
Illustrations: 9 pictures of coronations at the beginning of each new reign from William I (f. 158) to Edward I, ca. 80mm high and the width of the column, very similar, each representing a king sitting between two bishops or archbishops who are crowning him.
Note
Initials: decorated (f. 1) or historiated (Nativity, f. 27) initials in blue or red and blue, patterned in white on grounds of gold and blue; 2-line blue or red initials with streamer decoration of both colours, the style changing at f. 242, and again at f. 245; the last two initials on ff. 257v and 262v have not been filled in.
Note
Secundo folio: lamech.
Note
Rebound at Eton ca. 1720.
Note
Mostly erased inscription beginning 'Liber ...' at the head of f. 1, where M. R. James read 'Liber sancte Marie de [.....]' is no doubt the ex-libris of the Augustinian priory of Merton, Surrey, where the manuscript belonged in the 14th century.The effort to erase the inscription suggests it was removed from Merton before the Dissolution.
Note
Used by Thomas Gascoigne in the 15th century.
Note
In the hands of Matthew Parker in the 16th century, but Ker suggests in a footnote that no. (33) in the list of John Parker's books at Beakesborne (Lambeth Palace MS 737), 'Florilegi historia siue Matheus Westm', is more likely to be Chester Beatty MS 70 (Sotheby's, 8 Dec. 1975, lot 55) which has John Parker's name in it.
Note
Former Eton shelfmark: Bl.3.9.
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. 740-741
Citation/references note
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), 123
Citation/references note
Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae, 1697, 58
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 123
Provenance
Belonged to the Augustinian priory of Merton, Surrey in the 14th century.
Provenance
Annotations by Thomas Gascoigne and by Matthew Parker.
Binding
18th century calf binding by John Slatter.
Subject
Chronology, Historical Manuscripts.
Subject
Great Britain History to 1485 Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Paris, Matthew, 1200 - 1259 attributed name.
Added entry--name
Gascoigne, Thomas, 1403 - 1458 annotator.
Added entry--name
Parker, Matthew, 1504 - 1575 associated name.
Added entry--name
Augustinians former owner.
Added entry--name
Merton Priory (Colliers Wood, London, England) former owner.
Added entry--place
England.
Language code
lat
Identifier
B50079