Add MS 38820

THEOLOGICAL and ethical compilations, viz.: 1. "Auctoritates pro virtutibus contra vitia" (so the modern title on the back) : a collection of biblical texts suitable for texts of sermons (a section de tempore and de sanctis, including St. Francis, is at the end of pt. ii, ff. 46-59) divided into five chief parts, viz., De auersione, De reuocatione, De conuersione, De merito et ecclesiasticis sacramentis, De premio. The short prologue, beg. "Presens opusculum in quinque partes diuiditur," is preceded by a table of chapters of the whole work, and a separate table precedes each part. Pt. i beg. "Derelinquit deum factorem suum." f. 1.

2. "Prouerbia Senece" (so the rubric title), consisting of (a) Part (A-N) of the Sententiae of Publilius Syrus, completed by a selection of prose aphorisms (N-Z) from Pseudo-Seneca de Moribus (cf. Royal MS.

7 A. iii, art. 7). Beg. "Alienum est omne quicquid optando euenit." f. 161 b; (b) Another collection headed "Item prouerbia eiusdem," beg. "Auida est periculi uirtus," and ending "ex quo petatur ultio (cf. Royal MS. 8 E. xvii, art. 9, and Harley MS. 2659, ff. 3-4b). f. 165.

3. "Auctoritates sanctorum et cathoricorum (sic) doctorum primo de virtutibus postea de viciis" (so the rubric). The prologue beg. Quoniam librorum et tractatuum sanctorum patrum prolixitati diffuse angusta succumbit memoria." The contents consist of extracts (chiefly) from the Fathers, including Bernard and Hugh de St. Victor, in two parts (Virtues and Vices), subdivided into chapters. A table of chapter-headings precedes each part. f. 167.

4. Theological distinctiones in rough alphabetical order, "Astare" "Confessio," written in a small hand. f. 218 b. Vellum; ff. viii + 225. 7¹/₂ in. x 5 in. Second half of XIII cent. Headings in red. Gatherings of 10 leaves (xvii⁶, end of art. 2, xviii¹¹, last⁸ ), generally with catch-words. Contemporary binding of sheepskin dyed red (over oak boards), stamped in small square panels with fleurs-de-lys and heraldic beasts and birds within a narrow border of hippocamps with floriated tails. On the lower cover is nailed a vellum label inscribed "De viciis et virtutibus." Note of ownership on f. iv (14th cent.) "Iste liber debet reverti ad conventum sancti Martini Tornacensis," the Benedictine abbey of St. Martin's, Tournai. Phillipps MS. 2144 (sale-cat. 1896, lot 1065). Afterwards belonged to Henry White (sale-cat. 1902, lot 1964). Dunn sale-cat. 1914, lot 1587.

Bindings FRENCH: Oak boards, covered with sheep-skin dyed red and stamped: late 13th cent.

includes:

• f. 1 Sermons: Auctoritates : texts for sermons, in five parts: 13th cent.
• f. 161 b Lucius Annaeus Seneca: "Prouerbia Senece " : the Sententiae of Publilius Syrus, etc.: 13th cent.
• f. 161 b Publius Syrus: Sententiae, ascribed to Seneca: 13th cent.
• f. 167 Virtues and Vices: Auctoritatw sanctorum et catholicorum doctorum de virtutibus et vitiis: 13th cent.
• f. 218 b Theology: Distinctiones: 13th cent.