The manuscript is a direct copy of the Worksop Bestiary, New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M. 81 (see Two East Anglian Picture Books: A Facsimile of the Helmingham Herbal and Bestiary and Bodleian Ms. Ashmole 1504, ed. by Nicholas Barker (London: The Roxburgh Club, 1988), p. 5, who characterises...
The Rochester Bestiary is a richly illuminated bestiary, or book of beasts. It is known as the Rochester Bestiary because it was once owned by the Benedictine monks of the cathedral priory of St Andrew, Rochester. Contents: ff. 1r-2r: Added leaves from a service book containing lessons and pr...
Miscellany of theological, grammatical and historical texts
Scope & Content:
Contents: ff. 1r-8v: Geoffrey of Vinsauf, Summa de coloribus rhetoricis, beginning 'Ars semper eadem quod autem ex arte' (imperfect); ff. 9r-22r: The Metrical Life of Saint Hugh of Lincoln; ff. 22v-23v: Poem on Troy, beginning 'Pergama flere volo fato Danaum data solo'; ff. 24r-24v: Extract ...
Anthology of texts on topography, history and marvels of the world
Scope & Content:
The manuscript includes an anthology of texts on topography, history and marvels of the world, relating to Ireland and Wales. Contents: 1. Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hiberniae (Topographia Hibernica) (ff. 1r-34v); 2. Gerald of Wales, Expugnatio Hibernica (ff. 34v-74r); 3. Gerald of Wales...
Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hiberniae (Topographia Hibernica)
Scope & Content:
Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hiberniae (Topographia Hibernica); rubric: 'Introitus in recitationem', incipit: 'Consideranti mihi quam brevis' (f. 1r); the dedication to Henry II, incipit: 'Placuit excellentie uestre' (f. 3v); the main work (here entitled 'Hybernica historia'), incipit: 'Hybernia...
Gerald of Wales, Expugnatio Hibernica; rubric: 'Introitus in recitationem', incipit (f. 34v): 'Quoniam de insule Hybernice situ' ; the dedication to Richard, Count of Poitou, incipit (f. 37r): 'A multis requisitus et multotiens'; the main work (entitled 'Liber vaticinalis hystorie . . . super Hy...
Gerald of Wales Itinerarium Kambriae; rubric: 'Incipit itinerarium Girardi Kambrensis, et tam Kambrie quam Britannie descriptio'; incipit: 'Quoniam ca que laudabili devotione', without the preface which appears in some other manuscripts. Edited by Dimock 1867 (pp. 9-152) from this manuscript, w...
Henry of Sawtry (Saltrey), De purgatorio sancti Patrici
Scope & Content:
Henry of Sawtry (Saltrey), De purgatorio sancti Patrici with the prologue addressed to H[enry] Abbot 'de Sartis' [of Wardon, co. Bucks]. Prologue incipit:. 'Patri suo in Christo, preoptato domino'; text, incipit (f. 101v) : 'Dicitur magnus sanctus Patricius'. Decoration: Two large foliate in...
Eusebius of Caesarea Chronicle (excerpts); rubric (f. 112v): 'Exceptiones de cronicis Eusebii'; incipit (f. 113r): 'In castello Iudee Emaus natus estpuer'. Includes miscellaneous anecdotes with several relating to French and English history. Decoration: Initials in red and green.
Alanus ab Insula (Alain de Lille), Summarium and Anticlaudianus
Scope & Content:
Two works by Alain de Lille, Summarium and Anticlaudianus (a poem in Latin hexameter)in 9 'distinctiones'. Prologue (in prose), incipit: 'Cum fulminis impetus vires suas'; followed by the Summarium, incipit (f. 117v): 'Quia in hoc opere agitur'. Verse prologue to the Anticlaudianus, incipit: 'Au...
