Petrus Comestor, Historia scholastica

15th century

Paper and parchment

i, 226, i' leaves

300–305 × 210 mm

Latin

1 (ff. 1v–4v) Table of contents

Note:

Table of contents, divided and keyed to the text by biblical book, section number, and chapter rubric.

f. 1r: guidelines but no text.

2 (ff. 5r–226r) Petrus Comestor, Historia scholastica

Incipit: REuerendo patri et domino suo Gylelmo dei gratia Sennonensi Archiepiscopo Petrus seruus christi presbyter Trecensis vitam bonam et exitum beatum

Explicit: et in loco magis honorabili scilicet in cathacumbis

Note:

Two sections of Comestor's text have been mixed up and transposed: on f. 17v, in the middle of the chapter listed as ‘De dispersione filiorum Noe’, at ‘etiam plane prophetauit’ (Migne col. 1088C), the scribe skips part of the text - from ‘Et predixit discipulo suo’ (Migne col. 1088C) to ‘mortuus est in Haran’ (Migne col. 1091D), which is inserted instead on ff. 26r–27r, with the transposition noted in the margin by a second hand. At f. 17v, the scribe has instead inserted the section beginning in the middle of the chapter designated as ‘De labore Rebece in partu geminorum’ at ‘et concepit mulier’ (Migne col. 1109D) and ending on f. 19r with ‘Serapis nominatus est’ (Migne, col. 1112D); this transposition is also noted in the margin on f. 19r, at the end of the displaced section, and on f. 27r, where the correct sequence of the text is resumed; on both f. 19r and f. 27r, the last 6 lines of the misplaced section are written by a second hand on top of the earlier, erased text.

ff. 170r–172v: guidelines and part of running titles but no text.

f. 226v: blank.

Colophon: f. 226rLiber finitus scolastice intytulatus Hystorie \multum legenti conficeret fructum/ Finitoque libro reddatur gloria christo AMEN Sunt tua consilia equissime iudex abyssus multa nec humane condicionis egent

Edition: PL, vol. 198, cols. 1053–1722.

Physical Description

Support

Binding/Endleaves

Locus: LCI, f. SL1, SR1, RCI

Support: Paper

Leaf dimensions: 300 × 210 mm

Watermark 1

Locus: ff. LCI–SL1/SR1,

Motif: Beehive and the word TUMBA.

Watermark 2

RCI,

Motif: Bell with flower.

Note: Similar to Briquet online nr 4016.

Textblock

Support 1

Locus: ff. 1–4

Support: Parchment

Leaf dimensions: 305 × 210 mm

Support 2

Locus: ff. 5–226

Support: Paper

Leaf dimensions: 305 × 210 mm

Watermark 1

Locus: ff. 5–226,

Motif: Bell.

Note: Similar to Briquet online nr 3972.

Foliation

Modern foliation in pencil. Intermittent and crossed out foliation in pencil by a modern hand starting on f. 5r.

Running titles in red ink, indicated by guide words in top left corner of each verso (ff. 2v–226v), and, in some cases, also on the recto (e.g. f. 149r, f. 185r ).

Collation

Formula: 1(1+1+1+1), 2-19(12), 20(2+2+2). Collation of quires 1 and 20 tentative.

Note: VisColl collation

Signatures: Quire signatures on quires 2-20.

Condition

Textblock

Several wormholes penetrate multiple leaves in the upper margin (e.g. from ff. 3–49). ff. 126–156, edges singed.

Layout

Layout 1

Locus: ff. 1r–4v

Columns: 3

Ruled lines: 47

Written area: 210 × 160 mm

Layout 2

Locus: ff. 5r–226r

Columns: 2

Written lines: 45–48

Written area: 210 × 140 mm

Note: Guidelines in ink.

Script

Textblock

Description:

Hand 1

(ff. 1v–4v)Gothic cursive.

Hand 2

(ff. 5r–226r)Gothic cursive.

Additions

Binding/Endleaves

(RCI) Top of leaf, a note on simony in a contemporary hand; below, a table in a different contemporary hand listing the number of chapters for each biblical book included in the Historia scholastica; next to this, another table, in the same hand, listing the ages of members of Adam's, Sem's and Abraham's respective family tree.

Textblock

(ff. 5r–226r) Explanations of words, indications of topics, and exegetical notes (e.g. (f. 6r)); nota marks and the occasional manicule (e.g. (ff. 125r–125v)) (f. 17v), (f. 19r), (f. 27r); annotations in pencil by a modern hand noting the displacement of text (using the earlier, crossed out foliation) and with references to Migne.

(ff. 169v–170r) A loose piece of scrap paper with contemporary writing on one side, probably used as a bookmark.

Decorations

Textblock

Description:

Main text in brown ink. Chapter rubrics in red. Capitals touched in red.

Initials:

(f. 5r): plain opening initial ‘R’ over 8 lines in red ink with flourishing in brown ink extending into the margin.

(ff. 5r–173r): plain book initials in red ink over 4-7 lines, several with flourishing in brown extending into margin (e.g. (f. 149v)) and some with interior reserved shapes (e.g. (f. 112v)); one missing ((f. 90v)).

(ff. 5v–226r): plain chapter initials over 2 lines, with some descenders beween 3 and 13 lines, in red ink, sometimes with penwork (e.g. (f. 192v)).

Binding

Description:

Medieval binding. Leather over wooden boards. 4 double raised bands and endbands. Pin clasps with leather straps. Metal corner and centre bosses. Spine, in brown ink on a paper label: ‘N^o 48.’; stamped in gold: ‘A 171’; in brown ink on a paper label: ‘e. 30. 5. 7.’.

Binding dimensions: 310 × 230 × 95 mm

Condition: The leather is heavily worn (torn and stitched at Spine) and the cover riddled with wormholes. Endbands visible. Centre front and lower back corner boss missing. Original straps and clasps missing; bottom leather strap (modern) severed.

Contemporary: Yes

History

Origin

15th century. Origin unknown.

Provenance

Early provenance unknown.

Acquisition

Acquisition date unknown. It is uncertain whether the item listed on p. 53 of Vossius's catalogue of 1651 (U 202:1) refers to this or some other manuscript. The manuscript is listed as no. ‘48’ in the catalogue of 1734 (U 125e), and as ‘e. 30. 5. 7’ in Hammarsköld's catalogue from the 19th century (U 133; both signa found on the Spine).