Boethius — 12th century, end; English

Title

Boethius — 12th century, end; English

Boethius — Multiple dates; English

Astronomical and mathematical treatises — 12th century; English

Martianus Capella — 12th century, end; English

Cicero, Macrobius — 12th century; English

Robert Grosseteste — 13th century, late; English

Shelfmark

MS. Selden Supra 25

Date

12th century, end

added decoration, 14th century, early

12th century

12th century, first half

13th century, late

Language

Latin

Contents

Binding

Stamped brown leather on boards, re-backed, with clasps, middle 15th cent. work, perhaps of Canterbury.

Acquisition

Acquired by the Bodleian in 1659

Provenance

Canterbury, Kent, Benedictine abbey of St Augustine (originally of St Peter and St Paul): "Distinctione 13 a Gradu 3 a [sic]' (top of fol. 1r), s. xv. (Medieval binding.) (MLGB3: inferred evidence).

W. Patten. (MLGB3)

John Selden, 1584–1654

Title

Arithmetical and astronomical pieces

Shelfmark

MS. Selden Supra 25

Summary

Arithmetical and astronomical pieces:

1st half of 13th cent.: with illuminated capitals, etc., (fol. 1). 'Arismetica Boycii', i. e. Boëthii: pref. beg. 'In dandis accipiendisque muneribus': with diagrams and notes and (fol. 43) two added paragraphs. Foll. 39-44 are injured by burning.

About A. D. 1200: with illuminated capitals, diagrams, etc.; (fol. 45). 'Musica Boecij': beg. 'Omnium quidem perceptio': after fol. 75 the loss of many leaves is supplied ip a 14th cent. hand (C) which gives bk., iii, cap. 7 ('Idem vero hoc')--end of bk. v.

Early 13th cent.: with illuminated capitals:

Fol. 94, 'Compositio Astrolabij secundum Hermannum 'Contractum.

Fol. 90v, [Hermanni Contracti]'de utililatibus astrolabii libri ij', followed (fol. 105) by astronomical excerpts from Beda de natura rerum, etc.

Fol. 106v. De abaco [with preface by Radulphus of Laon, but the rest is not certainly his. Cr.]: beg. 'Adiuuante Domino aliquid in abacum scripturi': at fol. 114 follow in different hands some notes for constructing a sundial, an astronomical globe, roofs and ceilings ('Ratio faciendorum tectorum' et laquearium: fol. 116). On fol. 115v is a diagram of musical tones for bells. Foll. 110-117 are an inserted gathering: cp. fols, 110 and 118.

Fol. 118v. 'Theorica Girbertj', i. e. the Geometria of Gerbert (pope Silvester ii), as far as chapter xiii inclusive: with diagrams. On fol. 128v is an astronomical table.

Late 12th cent.: with illuminated capitals, etc.:

Fol. 130. 'Liber Marciani [Capellae] de Nupciis Philologiæ' et Mercurii, a later title: with notes. These are bks. 1-2 of the whole encyclopaedia of Capella.

Fol. 163. The first part of the eighth book of Capella's encyclopaedia entitled De Astronomia (beg. 'Mundus igitur ex quatuor elementis'), see MS. Auct. F. 3. 13, MS. Bodl. 430: it ceases, a leaf or two being lost, with 'Set ortum itidem uespertinum facit cum post occasum solis luminis sui'.

Early 13th cent., with coloured capitals, diagrams, etc., (fol. 175) at end: 'Finit liber Macrobii Ambrosii Theodosii viri eloquentissimi', 'de Somnio Scipionis', in two books, cf. fol. 199v: a second longer colophon is added.

2nd half of the 13th cent., (fol. 212). The De arte Computi of bp. Robert Grosseteste, here without title or author's name: beg. 'Compotus est sciencia numeracionis'; ends 'nos admonet atque Matheus': a list of the twelve chapters precedes.

Date

Made up of seven pieces written in the 12th-13th century

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment, binding, stamped brown leather on boards, re-backed, with clasps, middle 15th cent. work, perhaps of Canterbury

Physical extent

246 Leaves

Custodial history

'Distinctione 13a Gradu 3a' in the library of St. Augustine's abbey at Canterbury in the 15th cent.: no. 1019 in dr. M. R. James's edition (Cambr. 1903) p. 305. Owned in the 16th cent. by 'W. Patten'.

Manuscript 3427 acquired by the Bodleian Library