Egerton MS 2889

LIVES OF SAINTS, in Latin. Imperfect at beginning and end, and also wanting leaves after ff. 4, 9, 64, 132, 144, 145, 151, 167, 171, 176, 178 and 180. Four lives and part of the fifth are lost at the beginning, as appears by the marginal numbering. It is impossible to say how many, are lost at the end; but in its present state the MS. covers the period from 6 Dec. to 17 Jan. Contents:-

1. (v. in margin). Life of St. Nicholas [by John the Deacon].. Beg. imperfectly "facundia (sic) loquacitas, in tantarum magnitudine laudium exprimenda." Also wants a leaf after f. 4. Agrees with Add. MS. 36737, ff. 129 b-135 b, rather than with the abridged text printed by Mai, Spicilegium Romanum, iv., 1840, pp). 327-339; but, like the latter, omits the miracles which follow in the former. Ends with the passages "Hucusque de Argolicorum doctorum edicione........diademate redimitos aeterno" and "Letemur ergo, karissimi........quatenus fideliter I. C. domino serure mereamur (ff. 6 b, 7), which are numbered 6107 and 6108 in the Bollandist Bibliotheca Hagiographica Latina, 1898-1901, p. 890. Followed (f. 7) by 23 elegiac couplets, in what are known as "versus paracterici," or "reciproci," or "repercussivi" (see Dreves and Blume, Anal. Hymn., xli. p. 165, xlviii. P. 11; Hümer, in Corp. Scr. Eccl. Lat., x. pp. 155, 162; F. J. Mone, Anzeiger, vii. p. 586), beg. "Sume, Nykola sacer, dicate munera laudis, Magna tropea libens sume, Nykola sacer." f. 1.

2. "Prologus de uita S. Ambrosii Mediolanensis episcopi," beg. "Hortaris, uenerabilis pater Augustine." Life beg. "Igitur posito in amministracione." By Paulinus; printed in Migne, Patrol. Lat., xiv. col. 27, etc., see Bibl. Hag. Lat., no. 377. Imperf, wanting two leaves after f. 9. f. 7 b.

3. "vii. Id. Decemb. Passio S. Sabini Spolitini episcopi," beg. "Imperante Maximiano Augusto, die quinto decimo kalendarum Maiarum." Bibl. Hag. Lat., no. 7451; printed by E. de Azevedo, Vetus Missale Romanum, 1754, p. 467, etc. f. 15 b.

4. "iiij. Id. Decemb. Passio S. Eulalie uirginis et martyris," beg. "In diebus illis beata Eulalia Barchinonensium ciues." B. H. L. 2693; printed in Acta SS., 12 Feb., p. 577, etc. f. 18.

5. "Prologlus de passione b. Eustratii ot aliorum qui cum eo sunt passi," beg. "In una eademque scripturarum serie." Passio, headed "Id. Decemb. Item passio eorumdem sanctorum," beg. "Imperantibus igitur Diocliciano et Maximiano." Author's epilogue (f. 30) beg. "Ego post hec indignus et peccator Eusebitis." B. H. L. 2778; printed in Bibliotheca Casinensis, iii., 1877, Floril., p. 193. f. 20.

6. "Id. Decemb. Pasrio S. Lucie uirginis et niartyris," beg. "Die Iduum Decembriuni cum per uniuersa[m] prouincia[m] Sicilia[m]." B. H. L. 4992 ; printed in Mombritius, Sanctuarium, ii. f. 58 (1910 ed., ii. i). 107), etc. Followed (f. 32) by 63 hexameters on the martyirdom of St. Lucy, beg. "Cum stolidi proceres qui mundi regna regebant," extracted from Aldhelm, De Laudibus Virginum (Patr. Lat., lxxxix. col. 269; B. H. L. 4993). f 30.

7. "xvi. Kal. lan. Nat. S. lgnacii episcopi ot martyris" beg. "Traiano rege imperante et Christianos impie persequente." f. 32 b.

8. "Passio S. Gregorii Spolitini episcopi," beg. "Temporibus Diocliciani et Maximiani imperatorum." B. H. L. 3677; printed in Surius, Vitae SS., 24 Dec. f. 35 b.

9. "xii. Kal. Ian. Passio S. Thome apostoli," beg. "Cum apostolus Thomas, qui et Dydinius dicitur." B. H. L. 8136, as in Mombritius, ii. f. 333 b (1910 ed., ii. p. 606). f. 37 b.

10. "Passio S. Etigenie uirginis," beg. "Septimo igitur consulatu suo Commodus." B. H. L. 2666; pr. Patr. Lat., lxxiii. col. 605. f. 45 b.

11. "viii. Kal. Ian. Prologus de uita uel actu S. Anastasie," beg.

Ownia que a sanctis gesta sunt." After the rubric "Explicit prologus. Incipit passio eiusdem," the Passio (f. 54) beg. "Pretextati illustris uiri filiam Anastmiaw." A combination of B. H. L. 1795 and 401: see Mombritius, i. ff. 200 b-202 (1910 ed., ii. pp. 354-357), and Bibl. Cas., iii., Floril., pp. 179-184. f. 54.

12. "Nat. Domini. Sermo S. Gregorii Nazanzeni episcopi," beg. "Christus nascitur, gloriamini." A translation of sermon no. 38 of St. Gregory Nazianzen; for the Greek text, with another Latin translation, see Migne, Patrol. Gr., xxxvi. col. 311. Imperf., wanting a leaf after f. 64. Followed (f. 66 b) by 59 hexameters on the Nativity, beg. "Obruerant mundum dyri mala semina monstri." f. 61 b.

13. "vi. Kal. Ian, Natale S. Iohannis apostoli et euangeliste. Item miraculum." Beg. "Audite,inquid,fabulam.....Cumpost tyranni obitum." f.67. B.H.L. 4324; pr. Rufinus, Hist. Eccl. (1479 ed.), lib. iii. cap. 23, Bibl. Cas., ii., Floril., p. 75, etc. Followed (f. 68) by "Vita uel obitum (sic) S. Iohannis apostoli et euangeliste," beg. "Secundam post Neronem persecueionem." Agrees in part with B. H. L. 4321, which is printed in Mombritius, ii. f. 29 (1910 ed., ii. p. 55), and Bibl. Cas., ii., Floril., p. 67; but differs cosiderably in places. This is followed (f. 72 b) by "Omelia uen. Bede presbyteri," beg. "Leccio sanceti euangelii que nobis lecta est" (Beda, Homilies, i. 8, see Patrol. Lat., xciv. col. 44). f. 67.

14. "Vig. Epiphanie. Exposici[o] sanctorum patrum super Matheum," beg. "Defuncto autem Herode..........Primo omniuni querendum est." f. 75 b.

15. "Vita uel obituin (sic) beati patris nostri Primiani," beg. "Ad beatissimi istius patris nostri Primiani." f. 78. This is not so much a life of the saint as a rhapsody on his virtues. The author speaks of him as the spiritual father of himself and of those whom he is addressing ("Cum enim dicit scriptura, gloria patris est filius sapiens, quante huius sit glorie, qui tanto filiorum sapiencia et deuoeione laetatur. In Christo enim lhesu per euangelium ipse nos genuit"); as Bishop ("Quia pontificis amministracione fulgebat"); and as Confessor ("Et de actiua ad illam uitam beati Primiani confessoris trainstulit, quarto kalendas Ianuairi"). There are various saints named Primianus (see U. Chevalier, Répertoire, Bio-Bibl., 2nd ed., 1905-7, col. 3819); but none of them can be identified confidently with the subject of the present article. One, a Greek Bishop, was venerated in Ancona; but nothing seems to have been known of him before the discovery of his relics there in the 14th cent., and he is regarded as a martyr (Acta SS., 23 Feb., pp. 372-3; Analecta Bollandiana, iv., 1885, p. 344). Another is associated with Spoleto, like the subjects of artt. 3 aud 8 above; but the scanty tradition preserved concerning him calls him a martyr, and says nothing of his having been a bishop (Acta SS., 31 Aug., pp. 664-5). It is perhaps worth noting that the first Bishop of Amalfi (596-620?) was named Primenius or Pigmenius (Gams, Series Episcoporum, i., 1873, p. 847); but he does not appear to have been reckoned as a saint. The entry for 29 Dec. is "Passio erit sancti Primiani Episcopi" in a Calendar written "caractere Longobardo," and prefixed to a Psalter preserved in the Benedictine nunnery of St. John at Capua (see M. Monachus, Sanctuarium Capuanum, 1630, p. 403).

16. "Passio b. Columbe uirginis et martiris," beg. "Tempore illo adueniens Aurelianus imperator." B. H. L. 1892; pr. Mombritius, i. f. 209 (1910 ed., i. p. 370). f. 79 b.

17. Life of St. Silvester. Prologue beg. "Hystoriographus noster Eusebius." Life, "Siluester itaque dum esset infantulus." Agrees substantially with B. H. L. 7725-7, 7731, pr. Mombritius, ii. f 279 b (1910 ed., ii. p. 508), but without division into books, and with many variations. The concluding paragraph, " Post haec Constantinus," etc. (f. 99) = B. H. L. 7333. The whole article agrees closely with Add. MS. 18359, ff. 5 b-39, which, however, omits the Prologue (cf. also Add. MS. 17357, fF. 49-64, and Harl. MS. 3043, fF. 164-178, which contain it). f. 81.

18 (in a different hand). " S. Vitalis martiris," beg. " Ambrosius seruus Christi per onnem Italiam in domino eternam salutem. In diuinis uoluminibus." Quite distinct from B. H. L. 8690, etc., though the opening words are similar. Other copies are in Cotton MSS. Nero E. i., pt. i., f. 206 b, and Tiberius D. iii., f. 54 b (the latter imperf.). Imperf. at end. f. 99 b.

19. "Prologus de uita uel obitu b. Basilii Cesaree Cappadocie archiepiscopi, edita ab Amphilokio episcopo Nikomediense. Translata de Greco in Latinum ab Urso presbytero Neapolitano." Beg. "Postquam Lucifer ille procax." Life beg. "[B]asilius igitur in ciuitate Cesarea." Both Prologue and Life agree in the main with Bibl. Casin. iii., Floril., pp. 205-219 (B. H. L. 1024); but the text of the Life is sometimes closer to Patrol. Lat., lxxiii. coll. 295-312 (B. H. L. 1022). St. Gregory Nazianzen's lamentation (Bibl. Casin., p. 219) is here (f. 118 b) put into accentual verse :-"Quiuit artus meus esse prius sine spiritu Sed ut uideo sum ego iam superstes hodie," etc. f. 100 b.

20. "Vigiliis Epyphanie." Two lessons, "Omnes sicientes, uenite ad aquas," and "Surge, inluminare Hierusalem" [Isai. lv. l-lvi. 2, lx. 1-16]. ff. 119 b, 120.

21. "Natalem (sic) Epyphanie." (a) "Sermo b. Maximi episcopi," beg. "Celebrato proximo die" (Patrol. Lat., liv. col. 235, as Sermon 31 of St. Leo the Great). f. 120 b; -(b) "Unde supra. Sermo b. Maxi[mi] episcopi," beg. "Gaudete in Domino, dilectissimi" (pr. ib., col. 237, no. 32). f. 121 b;-(c) "Unde supra b. Maxinii episcopi," beg. "Quamuis sciam, dilectissimi" (ib., col. 240, no. 33). f. 123;-(d) "Unde supra. Sermo b. Gregorii presbyteri Anthioeensis, in Epyphania," beg. "Viri amatores Christi" (Patrol. Gr., lxxxviii. col. 1865). f. 124 b;-

(e) Unde Sermo S. Leonis pape," beg. "Dies, dilectissimi, quo primum" (Patrol. Lat., liv. col. 253, no. 36). f. 127;-(f) Sermon beg. "Iterum lhesus meus iterat mysterium." f. 129;-(g) Another, beg. "Pater ergo, pater estsine inicio." f. 131. Imperf, wanting a leaf after f. 132.

22. "Passio S. Iuliani martyris et S. Basilisse," beg. "Temporibus Diocliciani ot Maximiani." f. 134.

23. "Vita S. Seuerini abbatis et miracula," beg. "Tempore quo Attila rex Hunnorum." B. H. L. 7656; pr. Patrol. Lat., lxii. col. 1170, etc. Imperf., wanting a leaf after f. 144 and 7 leaves after f. 145. f. 139.

24. "Deposicio b. Pauli magni heremite." Prologue beg. "Inter multos sepe dubitatum est"; text (without a break) "Sub Decio et Valeriano." B. H. L. 6596; pr. Patrol. Lat., xxiii. col. 17, etc., S. Eusebii Hieronymi Vita S. Pauli Primi Eremitae. f. 146 b.

25. "iii. Id. Ian. Nat. S. Leueci confessoris Christi," beg. "Regnante uenerabile et magnifico Theodosio." Resembles B. H. L. 4897 (Acta SS., 11 Jan., pp. 669-672) and 4894 (Bibl. Casin., iii., Floril., pp. 358-365), but with many variations. The text has been much altered by a corrector, who has scored through and erased several passages and marked others "hie dimitte," or "hie lege," in the margins. Imperf., wanting one or more leaves after f. 151. St. Leucius is specially associated with Brindisi, but his relics were also venerated at Trani and Benevento (see Acta SS., 11 Jan., p. 667), and his name appears in the Capuan calendar mentioned above (art. 15). f. 150.

26. "Item prologus b. Fortunati de uita S. Hylarii episcopi ad Pascencium paparm." beg. "Domino sancto et meritis beatissimo." The Life is headed "Id. Ian. Natale S. Hylarii Pictauiensis episcopi," and beg. "Igitur beatus Hylarius." Prologue and Life are printed in Patrol. Lat., ix. col. 185, lxxxviii. col. 439, etc. (B. H. L. 3885). Only Lib. i. of the Life is given here. It is followed (f. 161 b) by the "Epistola S. Hylarii reseriptam (sic) ad dulcissimam filiam," beg. "Dilectissime filie Apre" (Patrol. Lat., x. col. 549), and (f. 163) by the hymn "Lucis largitor splendide" (ib. col. 551 Chevalier, Rep. Hymn., no. 10701). f. 157 b.

27. "Id. Ian. Passio S. Potiti martyris," beg. "Sub Antonino imperatore." Agrees substantially with Acta SS., 13 Jan., pp. 36-9 (B. H. L. 6908, cf. also 6909). Slightly imperf. at end, a leaf (or perhaps more ?) being lost after f. 167. f. 163.

28. Life of St. Felix of Nola [by Marcellus; presbyter]. Imperf at beg. (see Acta SS., 14 Jan., p. 229, B. H. L. 2874). f. 168.

29. "Passio S. Felicis Nolanensis episcopi," beg. "In illo tempore erat quidam puer." A different text from B. H. L. 2869. Imperf., wanting a leaf (or perhaps more ?) after f. 171. Including two hymns to St. Felix, the first beg. "Inclite confessor, meritis et nomine felix" (f. 172), the second headed "Item post reuersionem," and beg. "Felix hoe merito quo nomine et idem" (f. 172). Imperf., wanting leaves after f. 171 and at the end. f. 169 b.

30. Life of St. Maurus. Imperf. at beg., after f. 178 (4 leaves), and after f. 180 (1 leaf). B. H. L. 5773; pr. Acta SS., 15 Jan., pp. 321- 332, etc- f. 177.

31. "Passio S. Marcelli pap£ martyris," beg. "Tempore quo Maximianus." Acta S. Marcelli, 1-3, 22 (Acta SS., 16 Jan., pp. 369- 370, 373), being part of B. H. L. 5234. f. 181.

32. "Pamio S. Hermuli martyris," beg. "Regnante Licinio, insania magna usus est." For the Greek original, with a different Latin translation, see Patrol. Gr., cxiv. col. 553; another text of the latter is in Acta SS., 13 Jan., p. 51. f. 181 b.

33. "Prologus de uita sanctimimi patris nostri domni Antonii," beg. "Presbiter Euagrius Innocencio salute[m]. Ex alia in aliam linguam," The author's Prologue beg. (without a break), "Episcopus Athanasius ad peregrinos monachos. Optimum, fratres, ini,stis certamen"; followed (f. 184b) by "Explicit prologus. Incipit uita b. Antonii abbatis. Igitur Antonius nobilibus religiosisque parentibus." B. H. L. 609; pr. Patrol. Lat., lxxiii. col. 125, etc. Imperf. at end. f. 184. Vellum ; ff. ii. + 187. 1 ft. 4½ in. x 11¼ in. xi.-xii. centt., in South-Italian minuscules, of the type known as Beneventan (except art. 18, which is in ordinary Italian minuscules). Headings in red; large ornamental initials in pen-and-ink, with occasional touches of red, and with a few marginal sketches of saints (e.g. ff. 15 b, 18). The most distinctive names in the list of saints are Sabinus and Gregory (artt. 3, 8), associated with Spoleto in Umbria; Primianus (art. 15), of doubtful identity and locality; Severinus (art. 23), apostle of Noricum, translated to Naples; Leucius (art. 25), associated chiefly with Brindisi, but also with Trani and Benevento; Potitus (art. 27), of Sardinia, to whom a monastery was dedicated at Naples; Felix (artt. 28, 29), of Nola; and Hermulus or Hermylus (art. 32), of Belgrade, venerated in "Graccia" generally. These names do not suffice to define the place of origin precisely, though they plainly support the evidence furnished by the style of script; and it is significant that they all occur in the Capuan Calendar mentioned above (art. 15). Belonged to Cardinal Federigo Borromeo (see f. 1, "Liber iste est monasterii Case Noue, D. Cardinalis Borromei 1612"). On the margin of f. 187 b is a 15-16th cent. scribble, "Ego frater Domingo de Planella manu propria scripsi." From the Farnborough Fund.