Royal MS 4 E II

4 E. 11

COMMENTARY on the Harmony of the Gospels, in Latin, by William of Nottingham (d. 1251), of the order of Friars Minor (cf Little, The Grey Friars in Oxford, 1892, pp. 182-185), in twelve parts; avowedly based on the Harmony of the Gospels by Clement of Llanthony. Preceded by a prologue (beg. 'Da michi intellectum et scrutabor', f. 2) and table of capitula, giving the subject of each section (f. 4). The commentary beg. 'Quoniam vt dictum est supra maxime intendo' (f. 6). Followed by (a) a note on the Eusebian canons, beg. 'Supponito ex predictis quid sit canon' (f. 462 b); (b) a table of capitula, giving the first words of each section, with references to the Eusebian canons and the divisions in the text of Clement of Llanthony (f. 463); (c) tables of Eusebian canons (f. 468 b); (d) a summary of reasons for the order adopted in the concordance, beg. 'In principio erat: Ratio ordinis primae partis' (f. 470). Colophon (f. 471), 'ln hoe uolumine continetur exposicio Xii. parcium totius processus euangelici secundum ordinem et distincionem Clementis. Quo qui vsi sunt rogent pro anima domini lohannis Leyre, Rectoris ecclesie de Dodington, qui dictum uolumen ad suum proficuum et honorem dei quoad omnia fecit parari: pro anima eciam fratris Wyllelmi de Notingham, qui studio laborioso predictam exposicionem ex uariis compilauit'; followed by the verses: 'Qui me compleuit: non tota nocte quieuit. Hoc opus est factum : scriptor tenuit bene pactum. Non petit incaustum: sed vini nobilis haustum. Sorte beatorum: lector libri pociatur. Morteque malorum: raptor libri moriatur.' 'Anno Domini millesimo cccmo octogesimo primo.' Vellum; ff. 47,. 1 ft, 41 in. x 11 1/2 in. Written in 1381 (see above)for John Leyre,rector of Dodington [?co.Som.]. Gatherings 92

of 8 leaves, with catchwords. Double columns. Written in several hands, with a marked change of style at f. 195; some of the catchwords in this part have ornamental designs. Sec. fol. ' misticus unus'. An illuminated border in the English style on f. 2, and partial borders at the beginning of each subsequent book (ff. 45 b, 70 b, 99 b, 144 b, 189, 211, 260 b, 306, 368, 401 b, 438). Presented to the monastery of Evesham by Abbot John Wykwon [al Wykewane] on the feast of S. Augustine [28 Aug.], 1458 (f. 1). Old Royal press-mark ' no. 1220'. Not under Nottingham's name in the cat. of 1666 or CMA., but possibly one of the commentaries on the 'Unum ex quatuor' entered anonymously.