Shelfmark
MS 125
Author
Petrus Comestor
Uniform title
[Historia scholastica]
Title
P. Comestor, Historia scholastica. manuscript
Varying form of title
Title in M. R. James catalogue: Historia scholastica Petri Manducatoris
Publication, distribution, etc.
France?, ca. 1175-1225.
Physical description
1 volume (v, 167, iv leaves) : parchment, initials ; 31 x 23 cm.
Note
The Historia scholastica of Petrus Comestor (ff. 1-166), with a large number of short pieces, chiefly in verse, added in the margins and blank leaves.
Note
Folios 166v-169v were left blank by the scribe; ff. iii-v and 168, 169 are medieval flyleaves.
Note
Two bifolia from quire 12 were removed between f. 90 and f. 91 of the MS and used in binding college accounts for 1638 and 1648, and now form pp. 71-78 of Eton College MS 219.
Note
The Epitaph (in red ink) is Walther, Initia, no. 14050.
Note
Many contemporary marginalia.
Note
At least 84 pieces of verse from 2-14 lines in length have been written in the wide margins in a neat hand of the late 12th/early 13th century. They include 32 biblical pieces listed by A. Wilmart in RB 48, pp. 256-8, as almost certainly by Hildebert of Le Mans; 8 similar pieces listed by Wilmart, loc. cit., p. 157; and 45 other pieces of a similar nature. See Ker as cited in the references below for a list of the pieces.
Note
45 further pieces of verse (about 170 lines in all) were added in the 13th century on f. 167v and on the flyleaves. See Ker as cited in the references below for a list of the pieces.
Note
The flyleaves also contain six prose pieces; see Ker as cited in the references below for additional details.
Note
Written space: ca. 230 x 165 mm.
Note
Two columns of 49-51 lines.
Note
Collation: 1-11⁸ 12⁸ (ff. 89-90; MS 219, pp. 71-78; ff. 91, 92) 13-21⁸ 22 three (ff. 165-167).
Note
A new scribe, writing a closer hand, begins at f. 30v.
Note
On f. 1, initial I of 'In principio' in gold on a blue ground, and initial I of 'Imperatorie' in blue and red with ornament of both colours; other 2-line initials in blue, red, or (rarely) green, sometimes with red ornament.
Note
Secundo folio: terra herbam.
Note
Rebound at Eton around 1720; the leaves in MS 219 are the same size, so the edges were not trimmed in rebinding.
Note
Written in France (?); in England by the 15th century at latest and at Eton by 1500 on the evidence of annotations including some by Robert Elyot on ff. 46 and 90, and one of his typical heads on f. 48.
Note
Former Eton shelfmark: Bl.3.11.
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. 742-745
Citation/references note
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), 125
Citation/references note
Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae, 1697, 41
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 125 + 219, pp. 71-78
Provenance
At Eton before 1500 on the evidence of the notes in the hand of Robert Elyot, vice provost of Eton (d. 1499).
Binding
18th century calf binding by John Slatter.
Subject
Bible. History of Biblical events Manuscripts.
Subject
Theology Manuscripts.
Subject
Latin poetry, Medieval and modern. Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Elyot, Robert, ? - 1499 annotator.
Added entry--name
Hildebert, 1056? - 1133 Archbishop of Tours
Added entry--name
Slatter, John, active 1693 - 1721 bookbinder.
Added entry--place
France.
Language code
lat
Identifier
B50082