Add MS 48179

DICTAMINAL TREATISES, theological works, etc., compiled at Reading Abbey and written by ' Abendone' (see artt. 18, 19, below); 15th cent. Latin.

1. ff. 1-3b. Matteo de' Libri, the shorter 'Summa Dictaminis', beg. 'Cum summe plures et optime compilate sint in arte dictaminis'; 13th cent. On Libri and his works, see further P. Kristeller, 'Matteo de' Libri, Bolognese Notary of the Thirteenth Century, and his Artes Dictaminis', Miscellanea

G. Galbiati, ii, Fontes Ambrosiani (Milan) xxvi, 1951, pp. 283-320.

2. ff. 3b-16b. Forms of salutation and subscription together with model letters, compiled at Reading Abbey, 14th? cent. The Reading origins of the collection are apparent from the frequent references to the abbey and the model letter addressed to W. de H. Prior of Reading, f. 16b. Included are: (a) Letter from Edward III to Pope Benedict XII and the College of Cardinals, declaring his right to the crown of France; 16 July 1339. See Foedera, 1816-1819, ii, pt.2, pp. 1086-1087. ff. 6b-8b; (b) Two letters from Richard II to the Anti-Pope Clement VII (Robert of Geneva) on behalf of Cardinal Adam Easton, imprisoned by Clement; 1387? ff. 8b-9b;

(c) Letters from the Regents of Oxford University to Clement VII, also on Easton's behalf; 1387? ff. 9b-10; (d) Two letters from the English Benedictine chapter to Clement VII, also on Easton's behalf, 1387? These differ from the letter of the chapter on behalf of Easton dated 9 July 1387 printed in Historical Papers and Letters from Northern Registers, ed.

J. Raine, RS, 1873, pp. 423-425, and W. A. Pantin, Chapters of the English Black Monks, iii, Camden Soc., 3rd ser., liv, 1937, p. 82, from the register of the Prior and Convent of Durham II, f. 295b. ff. 10-11.

3. ff. 16b-32. 'Tractatus de Sacramentis': treatise on the sacraments; 15th? cent. Beg. 'Primo videndum est quod sit sacramentum et quot sunt genera sacramentorum'.

4. ff. 32-37. 'Admonitio ad Filium Spiritualem', falsely attributed to St Basil. See PL, ciii, cols. 683-699.

5. ff. 37-48. St Isidore of Seville, 'Synonyma'. PL, lxxxiii, cols. 825-868.

6. ff. 48-81b. 'De Pena Inferni': treatise on the penalties for sin and on virtues and vices; 15th? cent. Beg. 'Sequitur iudere qualis erit pena inferni'. Apparently related to art. 2 above: on f. 66 is a reference 'Tractatus de sacramentis quere ante folio quinquagesimo'.

7. ff. 81b-87. 'Secreta Philosophorum': collection of recipes for colours, chemical experiments, tricks, etc. Extracts. See D. W. Singer, Catalogue of Alchemical Manuscripts, 1930, no. 1078, and L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin, 1963, col. 791. Dated 14th cent. by Singer, but considered to be perhaps 13th cent. by L. Thorndike, History of Magic and Experimental Science, ii, 1923, p. 788. In Lincoln Cathedral MS. 226, f. 77, it is falsely attributed to the alchemist George Ripley.

8. f. 87. Anecdote concerning four students from Oxford, beg. 'Venerunt quondam quatuor scolares ad domum cuiusdam divitis'.

9. f. 87. Miscellaneous couplets and scraps of verse: (a) 'Mittitur in disco michi piscis ab archiepisco/Po non declino quia missio fit sine vino'. H. Walther, Carmina Medii Aevi Posterioris Latina, II, Proverbia Sententiaeque Latinitatis Medii Aevi, 1963- , 14973; (b) 'Nato de scorto pira porto cum pede torto'. Walther, II, 15920; (c) concerning a jester and a bishop, beg. 'Venit quidam burdator qui vocabatur Nobis'.

10. f. 87b. 'Versus de adoracione ymaginis beate marie', beg. 'Celestis vite de virgo dogmata rite/Vita gaudentes bona fac captare placentes'.

11. f. 88. Verse beg. 'Vistas dogmata serves graviata carpito laudes'.

12. f. 88. Note on the cardinal and ordinal numbers.

13. ff. 88-89b. Extracts from the works of SS Augustine of Hippo, Gregory, Jerome, Bernard, Ambrose, Anselm, etc., concerning salvation, the punishment of sin, etc.

14. ff. 90-93. Table of subjects in arts. 3-6, above.

15. f. 93. Letter from the Prior and Convent of Reading to Edward I requesting permission to elect a new abbot following the death of 'Will. de N.', probably William de Sutton (d.1305); 1305?

16. ff. 93-95. Notes on miscellaneous subjects: (a) The fate of adulterers.

f. 93; (b) Times when weddings may not be celebrated. f. 93; (c) Natural phenomena in Ireland. f. 93b; (d) Number of churches, villages, etc., in England. f. 93b; (e) Value of tithes in England, Wales and Ireland. f. 93b; (f) The nature of God. ff. 94-95.

17. f. 93b. Verse, beg. 'Hec tria dum cerno presencia gaudia sperno'.

18. f. 93b. Tag giving the name of the scribe of the present MS.: 'Nomen scriptoris sui pro mercede laboris/Angelicis choris societur omnibus: qui Abendone'.

19. ff. 95b-96b. Three ordinances of Thomas Erle, Abbot of Reading, 1410-1413. At the end of two of the ordinances are further notes of the scribe's name, 'Abyndone, Abendone', ff. 95b, 96b.

20. f. 95b. Recipes for the cure of spasms.

Paper; ff. ix + 96. XV cent. Written by Abendone at Reading Abbey. N. R. Ker, Medieval Libraries of Great Britain, 1964, p. 155. Written in a single column, 39 lines; ruled in plummet. Gatherings: i12, ii-iv16, v-vii12. Leaf signature in roman numerals in the first half of each gathering except i, where there are signatures from 3 to 6, and v, where there are signatures from 1 to 8. Quire signatures in the form of a distinctive mark such as two crosses or a circle at the end of each gathering, with a matching sign at the beginning of the next gathering. Contemporary ink foliation in roman numerals on versos from ff. 1b-89b. Red coloured initials with penwork decoration extending into the border; text initials highlighted in red or yellow. Cropped. On the inside front cover (f. ii) is an old pressmark 'Theologia R.10'. The binding contains fragments from two obligations, printed forms completed in MS., both dated 1675. One (ff. iv, x) relates to John Dawson of Yarmouth?, the other (ff. iii, ix) to Nicholas Redgrave of Suffolk. Brown leather binding, covers bearing stamp of Henry Yelverton, 1st Viscount de Longueville. Gilt-tooled spine titled 'M.S.S. Theol. 1410', with label 'Ap.II', f. i.

Bookplates and Book-stamps: Henry Yelverton, 15th Baron Grey of Ruthin; 1st Viscount de Longueville: Stamp on binding of Lord de Longueville: 1690-1704.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Coloured initials with penwork decoration: 15th cent.

Abendone, of Reading Abbey: Wrote: 15th cent.

Theology LATIN: Miscellaneous tracts: 15th cent: Lat.

includes:

• ff. ii, viii Nicholas Redgrave, of county Suffolk: Obligation rel. to: 1675.
• ff. iii, ix John Dawson, of Yarmouth: Obligation rel. to(?): 1675.
• ff. 1-3b Matteo de' Libri, Bolognese notary: Shorter Summa Dictaminis: 13th cent: Lat.
• ff. 1-3b Letters, Forms of: M. de' Libri, shorter Summa Dictaminis: 13th cent: Lat.
• ff. 3b-16b Formularies: Letters, Forms of: Collection of model letters, etc., from Reading Abbey: 14th cent(?): Lat.
• ff. 6b-8b Benedict XII; Pope: Letter to, from Edward III: 1339: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 6b-8b Edward III of England: Letter to Pope Benedict XII and the College of Cardinals: 1339: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 8b-11 Adam Easton, Cardinal: Letters on his behalf: 1387(?): Lat: Copies.
• ff. 8b-11 Clement VII; Pope; Anti-Pope: Letters to, from Richard II, Regents of Oxford University and English Benedictine Chapter: 1387(?): Lat: Copies.
• ff. 8b-9b Richard II of England: Letters to Anti-Pope Clement VII: 1387(?): Lat: Copies.
• ff. 9b-10b University of Oxford: Letter from the Regents to Anti-Pope Clement VII: 1387(?): Lat: Copy.
• ff. 10-11 Orders Religious. Benedictines: Letters from the English Provincial Chapter to Anti-Pope Clement VII: 1387(?): Lat: Copies.
• ff. 16b-32 Sacraments: `Tractatus de sacramentis': 15th cent(?): Lat.
• ff. 32-37 Saint Basil,; of Caesarea; 'the Great': `Admonitio ad Filium Spiritualem', falsely attrib. to,: 15th cent: Lat.
• ff. 37-48 Saint Isidore,; Bishop of Seville: Synonyma: 15th cent: Lat.
• ff. 48-81b Virtues and Vices: `De Pena Inferni': 15th cent(?): Lat.
• ff. 81b-87 Art. Treatises: Recipes for colours, etc.,: 13th cent: Lat.
• ff. 81b-87 Alchemy: `Secreta Philosophorum': 13th cent: Lat: Extracts.
• f. 87 University of Oxford: Anecdote conc. students from: 15th cent(?): Lat.
• f. 87b Saint Mary,; the Blessed Virgin: `Versus de adoracione ymaginis beate marie': 15th cent(?): Lat.
• f. 87b Poetry LATIN: `Versus de adoracione ymaginis beate marie': 15th cent(?).
• ff. 87-88, 93b Poetry LATIN: Miscellaneous couplets and scraps of verse: 15th cent(?).
• f. 88 Grammar: Note on the cardinal and ordinal numbers: 15th cent: Lat.
• f. 93 Reading Abbey; Berkshire: Letter from Prior and Convent to Edward I: 1305(?): Lat: Copy.
• f. 93 Edward I of England: Letter to, from Prior and Convent of Reading: 1305(?): Lat: Copy.
• f. 93b England, Ecclesiastical History: Note on number of churches, etc., in: 15th cent: Lat.
• f. 93b Ireland: Note on natural phenomena in: 15th cent: Lat.
• f. 93b Tithes: Note on their value in Great Britain and Ireland: 15th cent: Lat.
• f. 95b Recipes: For the cure of spasms: 15th cent: Lat.
• ff. 95b-96b Reading Abbey; Berkshire Abbots. Thomas Erle: Ordinances by: 1410-1413: Lat: Copies.