DCL MS. A.IV.17Hugh of St Victor; St Augustine, works
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Composite manuscript made of two 12th century parts written in England, works by Hugh of St Victor and St Augustine, united by the 14th century.


Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t1mdj52w473n.html


Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: ii+119+i f
Size: 228 mm x 155 mm

Foliation

Early modern ink folation


Secundo folio: (A) according to 1395 cataloguezatusbut now facilius quippe intelligis
Secundo folio: (B)declinandum a malo

Condition of manuscriptThe volume has suffered both fire and water damage, especially to areas of the outer margin and the fore-edge, areas of which have been reinforced or cut out, with loss of text from f.113 ff. f.119 survives only as a part leaf, having lost most of its blank outer column.
Binding

Standard Tuckett binding, mid 19th century full brown calf over thick wooden boards (Charles Tuckett, binder to the British Museum, rebound many Durham manuscripts in the 19th century)


Manuscript history
Creation

Written in England, second half of 12th century. The two parts had been brought together by the time of the the 1395 Cloister catalogue (Cat. Vet., p. 62, ‘AD’). The entry indicates that the volume then started with “Quedam exposiciones super euangelium” - now missing.

Provenance

Any Durham ex libris inscriptions, press marks, and lists of content will have vanished with the loss of the former first item of (A).


SECTION: (A)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Collation

Structure at start unclear due to loss I (f.1-4, comprising a bifolium followed by two singletons), II (f.5-8)4, III-VII8

Layout

Two columns, 45 lines

Script

Written in Transitional Late Romanesque Caroline to ProtoGothic Minuscule, variable; probably one hand


Manuscript contents
(a)     f.1r-1v
Original title: Adnotationes elucidatoriae in Pentateuchon: In Prologum divi Hieronymi
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Victor, 1096?-1141
Incipit: Desiderius proprium nomen est, hinc desiderii mei
Explicit: greca quam latina, et hebrea quam greca
Rubric: Incipit expositio magistri hugonis super prologum geneseos
Language: Latin
(b)     f.1v-6r
Original title: De scripturis et scriptoribus sacris
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Victor, 1096?-1141
Incipit: Lectorem diuinarum scripturarum primum instruere oportet
Explicit: Ut ab edom, idumei a leui leuite a iuda iudei
Rubric: Que scripture merito diuine appellari debent
Language: Latin

Chapters 1-17 only

(c)     f.6r-21r
Original title: Adnotationes elucidatoriae in Pentateuchon
Author: Hugh, of Saint-Victor, 1096?-1141
Incipit: Liber iste qui primus est divinorum voluminum hebraice dicitur bresith
Explicit: filii post eam nasceretur non oportebat redimi. finit
Rubric: De nuncupatione geneseos
Language: Latin

Genesis-Leviticus

(d)     f.21r-42r
Modern title: Glossary of biblical vocabulary etc.
Incipit: Prologus prolocutio, prohemium, inicium dicendi
Explicit: Gog et magog, iuxta interpretationem, qua tectum et de tecto dicuntur, occultos et apertos indicant hostes
Rubric: De libro Genesis
Language: Latin
(e)     f.41r-42r
Modern title: Glossary
Incipit: Sandapilam dicit feretrum mortuorum in quo plebeii vel dampnati portabantur
Explicit: Mundum animal ruminat .i. audita cogitate. Unde cogitacio sancta servabit te
Language: Latin

Presented as a continuation of (d)

(f)     f.42r-48r
Original title: Dialogus quaestionum lxv
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Licet multi et probatissimi viri diverso quidem stilo
Explicit: sicut sancti post hanc vitam videbunt
Rubric: Incipiunt capitula questionum orosii et responsionum sancti augustini
Language: Latin

Up to the end of lxiii.

(g)     f.48r-48v
Modern title: Exemplum of lax cleric saved by Mary
Incipit: Erat quidam clericus nomine, non vita religionis officio functus sed religionsis operibus valde destitutus
Explicit: ac quemadmodum iterum talem districtionem incidere expavit, vitam suam dereliquo emendare curavit
Rubric: De quodam clerico
Language: Latin

SECTION: (B)
Physical description of section of manuscript
Collation

I-VIII8; IX7 (= 8 with leaf 8, probably blank, cancelled or lost)

Layout

Two columns 45 lines.

Script

Written in Transitional Romanesque Caroline to Protogothic; probably one changing hand.


Manuscript contents
(h)     f.49r-55v
Original title: De perfectione iustitiae hominis
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Sanctis fratribus et coepiscopis eutropio et paulo Augustinus
Explicit: et ore omnium anathematiandum esse non dubito
Rubric: Aurelii Augustini doctoris liber incipit ad paulum et eutropium de perfectione iusticie hominum adversus qui asserunt hominem posse fieri iustum solum suis viribus
Language: Latin
(i)     f.55v-67r
Original title: De natura et gratia
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Librum quem misistis karissimi filii timasi et iacobe, intermissis paululum que in minibus erant
Explicit: Ipsa est enim gratia dei per iesum christum dominum nostrum cui est cum patre et spiritu sancto, eternitas, bonitas, in secula seculorum amen.
Rubric: Aurilii augustini doctoris liber incipit de gratia ad tymothium et iacobum
Language: Latin
(j)     f.67r-75v
Original title: De correptione et gratia
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Lectis litteris vestris valentine frater dilectissime
Explicit: et cooperit multitudinem peccatorem
Rubric: Aurelii augustini doctoris liber incipit de correptione et gratia ad valentium monacum
Language: Latin
(k)     f.75v-84v
Original title: De praedestinatione sanctorum
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Dixisse quidem apostolum sciamus in epistola ad philipenses, eadem scribere vobis
Explicit: ne offendat unius nimia longitudo
Rubric: Aurelii augustini doctoris liber primus incipit de predestinatione sanctorum ad prosperum et ylarium
Language: Latin
(l)     f.84v-97r
Original title: De dono perseverantiae
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Iam de perseverantia diligentius disputandum est
Explicit: dignanturque nosse quod scribo
Rubric: Incipit secundus de bono perseverantie
Language: Latin
(m)     f.97r-103r
Original title: De natura boni
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Liber de natura boni adversum manicheos est ubi ostenditur naturam incommutabilem, deum esse
Explicit: et omnibus carnalis vite illecebris celestem vitam eternamque preponant. Amen
Rubric: Incipit prologus sancti augustini in librum de natura boni
Language: Latin
(n)     f.103r-104v
Original title: Sermo de decem preceptis legis et de decem plagis egyptiorum
Author: Caesarius, of Arles, Saint, 470?-542
Incipit: Non sine causa est fratres dilectissimi
Explicit: poteritis peruenire illesi
Rubric: Incipit omelia beati augustini episcopi de decem preceptis legis, et de decem plais egyptiorum
Language: Latin

Attributed to Augustine

(o)     f.104v-106r
Original title: Formula vitae honestae
Author: Martin, of Braga, Saint, approximately 515-579 or 580
Incipit: Gloriosissimo atque tranquillissimo regi mironi, martinus humilis episcopus
Explicit: nec timidum esse hominem nec audacem
Rubric: Incipit libellus de iiiior virtutibus id est prudencia fortitudine temperantia atque iusticia. Martini episcopi ad mironem regem
Language: Latin
(p)     f.106v-108r
Original title: Epistolae ad Valentinum
Author: Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
Incipit: Domino dilectissimo et in christi membris honorando fratri valentino et fratribus qui tecum sunt augustinus in domino salutem
Explicit: veniat ad me frater florus
Rubric: Epistola ad valentinum
Language: Latin

Two letters

(q)     f.108r-110r
Original title: Epistola ad Augustinum
Author: Prosper, of Aquitaine, Saint, approximately 390-approximately 463
Incipit: Domino Beatissimo pape, ineffabiliter mirabili, incomparabiliter honorando
Explicit: incomparabiliter venerande prestantissime patrone
Rubric: Incipit epistola sancti prosperi ad Beatum Augustinum
Language: Latin
(r)     f.110r-112r
Original title: Epistola ad Augustinum
Author: Hilary, Saint, Archbishop of Arles, 401-449
Incipit: Domino beatissimo, ac toto affectu desiderando et multum in christo suscipiendo patri augustino
Explicit: confirmare et custodire dignetur
Rubric: Epistola ylarii arelatensis episcopi ad Beatum Augustinum
Language: Latin
(s)     f.112r-118r
Original title: Contra Felicianum arianum de unitate trinitatis
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Extorsisti michi dilectissime fili ut de unitate trinitatis
Explicit: cum iustis ceperit rethuere mercedem
Rubric: Aurelii augustini doctoris disputatio incipit contra felicianum hereticum
Language: Latin

Parts of the outer column of text on each page – including the explicit - have been lost or are obscured by damage.

(t)     f.118r-118v
Original title: Sermo ccxxxv
Author: Pseudo-Augustine
Incipit: Credimus in unum deum patrem omnipotentem et unigenitum filium eius iesum christum deum
Explicit: a christo domino premia consecuturi regni celorum. Amen
Rubric: Simbolum a beato augustino
Language: Latin
(u)     f.118v-119r
Modern title: Two Mary miracles
Language: Latin

Microfilm
Microfilmed in 1985/86 by the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, St John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Copies held by them and Durham University Library.

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. A.IV.17 - Hugh of Saint-Victor; Augustine
Digitised April 2017 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t1mdj52w473n.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]).

Mynors, R.A.B., Durham Cathedral manuscripts to the end of the twelfth century. Ten plates in colour and forty-seven in monochrome. With an introduction [including a list of all known Durham manuscripts before 1200]   OCLC citation, (Durham: 1939)

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