Royal MS 15 A XXI

'STACII primus (-duodecimus) liber Tebaidos incipit': the Thebais of P. Papinius Statius, a text probably of mixed origin, akin to Kohlmann's G and H (Teubner Ser., 1884). At the beginning (f.2) is an imperfect metrical epitome (twelve lines to a book) as in 15 C. X, but all before lib. v is lost. Two leaves of the text (lib. i.228-383) are lost after f. 5 and one (lib. i. 462- 539) after f. 6. The margins of ff. 38-41, 80, 95, and 111 have been cut away.

Vellum; ff.127. 8¹/2 in. x 5 in. Early XIII cent. Gatherings, 15 (orig. ⁸), ii-xvi⁸, xvii⁵. Sec.fol. 'exaudisi'. Initials in red and blue. Belonged (cf. 14 C. VII) to John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln (1480-1494), whose autograph inscription 'Stirpe parum clarus, magis aptus quam bene doctus, fraudis inexpertus, facto sermoneque veRus Celluy je suis', is on f. 1. An earlier owner's name is erased on f. 2 b and other 15th-16th cent. names occur, 'Liber Willelmi Brygon titulo empcionis'and 'Margeria Appeley' (?), f. 124 b. Afterwards belonged to Ben Jonson, whose autograph motto and inscription is erased on f. 2 b, 'tanquam explorator. Sum Beni. Ionsonii liber ex dono Thome (Strange ?)'; and to Sir Robert Cotton, whose autograph inscription, 'Robertus Cotton Bruceus', is on f. 3. Not entered in the early Cotton catalogue, Harley MS. 6018, Old Royal pressmark of a seal (a ship). Not in cat of 1666; perhaps CMA. 8605 or 8622, but cf. 15 A. XXIX, 15 C. X.