DCL MS. B.IV.46Medieval library catalogues
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

A collection of Durham Priory book lists made up of three parts with distinct contents: (A), f.1-17; (B) f.18-33; (C) f.34-47. The lists have been annotated and updated to indicate book movements within the Priory and to and from Durham College, Oxford during the monastic period.


Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2msn009x76t.html


Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment (low quality)

Extent: i+47+i f.
Size: 280 mm x 198 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation.


Secundo folio: E. Quatuor libri Regum.
Collation

Made up of three parts with distinct contents: (A), f.1-17; (B) f.18-33; (C) f.34-47. (A): I8, II9 (first leaf a singleton). (B) III-IV8. (C) V8, VI6.

Catchwords: Contemporary catchwords on quires I and V.
Layout

Main text-block: 220 x 120 mm. Generally 40 lines per page, written below top line, with titles in the upper margin. Ruled in ink with three vertical columns to delineate margins - the left side for the identifying letter, the right for comments.

Script

Written in variants of Anglicana and Secretary.

Decoration

None.

Corrections and annotation

Annotated and updated by custodians of the Priory books to reflect changes in book locations during the monastic period.

Binding

Local Durham binding by Waghorn, 1730s, full light brown panelled calf (with gold stamped arms of Durham Cathedral added later to centre of front cover) over pasteboard boards.


Manuscript history
Creation

Written in Durham, end 14th - early 15th century.


Manuscript contents
SECTION: (A)    
(i)     f.1-14
Modern title: Spendement Catalogue 1392
Original title: Le Spendement
Date: 1392
Incipit: Isti libri infra scripti inuenti fuerunt in communi armariolo dunelm′ infra Spendementum, in recessu fratris domini Roberti de langchester ab Officio librarie, ad Officium Feretrarie. Et liberati Fratri Willielmo de Appleby circa festum purificationis beate virginis marie. Anno domini millesimo CCC Nonogesimo primo.
Explicit: Z. psalterium cum commendacione et exequiis mortuorum iio. fo. Ego autem.
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Le Spendement", 10-38
(ii)     f.15r
Modern title: List of missing psalters
Original title: Psalteria subscripta defuerunt
Date: 1392
Incipit: Psalteria subscripta defuerunt tempore quo praescriptum inventarium fuit factum, scilicet ad festum Purificationis Beatae Mariae Virginis, Anno Domini millesimo CCCmo nonagesimo primo
Explicit: Psalterium iio. fo. domine.
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Psalteria subscripta defuerunt", 39
(iii)     f.15r
Modern title: Books sent to Oxford [between 1406 and 1409]
Original title: Libri missi prima vice collegio monachorum Dunelm′ in Oxonia
Date: 1406x1409
Incipit: Isti sunt libri missi prima vice collegio monachorum Dunelm′ in Oxonia, per Johannem Wessyngton Cancellarium, ex deliberato mandato Prioris et Conventus Dunelm. per supervisionem Dominorum Supprioris Johannis Barton et Willelmi Poklyngton
Explicit: D. Thomas prima secunde, iio fo per se
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Isti sunt libri primi", 39-40
(iv)     f.15r-f.15v
Modern title: Books sent to Oxford 1409
Original title: Libri missi secunda vice Oxoniam
Date: 1409
Incipit: Isti sunt libri missi secunda vice Oxon′ per Johannem Wessyngton Cancellarium, ex deliberato mandato Prioris et Conventus Dunelm. per supervisionem Dominorum Supprioris Walteri Tesdale et Willelmi Poklyngton, a capitulo deputatorum, in die Sancti Calixti, Anno Domini Mo CCCCmo nono
Explicit: G. Psalterium, glo, 2o fo, cionibus novum
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Isti sunt libri secunda", 40-41
(v)     f.15v-f.17r
Modern title: Replacements for books sent to Oxford
Original title: Libri de nouo adquisiti ad commune armariolum
Date: [approximately 1409]
Incipit: Libri infrascripti sunt de nouo adquisiti ad commune armariolum in recompensationem predictorum librorum Oxon′ missorum.
Explicit: ex procuracione Bertrami prioris Dunelm′
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libri infrascripti sunt de nouo adquisiti", 41-45
SECTION: (B)    
(vi)     f.18-31
Modern title: Cloister Collection catalogue 1395
Original title: Libraria Claustralis Dunelm′
Date: 1395
Incipit: Isti libri subscripti inuenti fuerunt in comuni armariolo Dunelmen′ in diversis locis infra claustrum tempore quo Frater Willelmus de Appelby librarius fuit ad festum Pasche videlicet anno domini Millesimo CCCmo nonagesimo quinto
Explicit: Floriloquium et breuiloquium fratris J. Wallen′ habentur in cronica Martini sub I litera.
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libraria Claustralis Dunelm", 46-79
(vii)     f.32r
Modern title: Books for the Refectory
Original title: Libri pro refectorio
Date: [end 14th century]
Incipit: Libri subscripti iacent in almariolo iuxta introitum ad infirmariam pro lectura in refectorio et ponuntur sparsim inter alios libros in inventario precedenti.
Explicit: D. Omelie excerpte de diuersis tractatoribus ut patet supra, iio. fo. in dicto ieiunio.
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libri pro refectorio", 80-81
(viii)     f.32v
Modern title: Books in the Novices’ Cupboard, 1395
Original title: Libri in communi almariolo noviciorum infra claustrum
Incipit: Libri subscripti inventi fuerunt in communi almariolo noviciorum Dunelm' infra claustrum tempore quo Frater Willielmus de Appelby sunt Librarius viz. ad festum Pasche Anno Domini Millesimo CCC nonagesimo quinto
Explicit: L. unum primarium cum suffragiis iio fo. laude dignissima.
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libri subscripti inventi", 81-82
(ix)     f.33r
Modern title: Works of Robert Grosseteste
Original title: Libri Lincolniensis
Date: [end 14th century]
Incipit: R. Lincoln′ super psalterium iio. fo. a te deus
Explicit: Breuiloquium exempla de animalibus sive fabule. iio fo. gemmas eligens
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libri Lincolniensis", 82-83
(x)     f.33r-33v
Modern title: Tabulae
Original title: Tabule super libros diversorum doctorum
Date: [end 14th century]
Incipit: P. Tabule xiiii super Glosam omnium librorum biblie
Explicit: tabula super legenda sanctorum. 2o. fo. vestem christi
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Tabulae super libros diversorum doctorum", 83-84
SECTION: (C)    
(xi)     f.34r-44v
Modern title: Spendement catalogue 1416
Original title: Spendemente
Date: 1416
Incipit: Infrascripti libri prepuncti inuenti fuerunt in Cancellaria Dunelm′ per J. Fyshborn′ in festo Beati Mauri abbatis Anno Domini Millesimo iiiio decimo sexto
Explicit: Z. Psalterium cum commendatione et exequiis mortuorum iio fo Ego autem
Language: Latin

Prepuncti refers to the dot placed before an entry to indicate that it was found. Entries are also underlined in red, notes such as

Oxon
indicate locations of books and some extra entries have been added in a paler ink.

Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Deus assit Spendemente", 85-116
(xii)     f.44v
Modern title: List of Psalters
Original title: Psalteria subscripta defuerunt tempore quo prescriptum inventarium fuit factum
Date: 1391
Incipit: Psalteria subscripta defuerunt tempore quo prescriptum inventarium fuit factum scilicet ad festum Purificationis Beate Marie Virginis Anno Domini Millesimo CCCmo Nonagesimo primo
Explicit: P Psalterium iio fo Domine quid
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Psalteria subscripta defuerunt", 116
f.45r-47r

Blank.

(xiii)     f.47v
Modern title: Books sent to Stamford 1422
Original title: Libri missi Stamfordiam
Date: 1422
Incipit: Libri Henrici Helaugh′ missi Stamfordiam in octavis Sancti Laurencii Anno Domini Mo IIIIc XXIIo
Explicit: Epistola Alredi abbatis iio fo tatis
Language: Latin
Edited: Catalogi veteres, "Libri Henrici Helaugh", 116

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. B.IV.46 - Durham Priory Library catalogues (14th - 15th century)
Digitised in August 2015 as part of the Durham Priory Recreated Project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2msn009x76t.html

Bibliography

Catalogi veteres librorum Ecclesiae cathedralis dunelm. Catalogues of the library of Durham cathedral, at various periods, from the conquest to the dissolution, including catalogues of the library of the abbey of Hulne, and of the mss.   OCLC citation, Surtees Society 7, (London: J.B. Nichols and Son, [1838]).

Pearson, David, Durham bookbinders and booksellers, 1660-1760   OCLC citation, Occasional publication: Oxford Bibliographical Society 19, (Oxford: Oxford Bibliographical Society, 1986).

Index terms