Royal MS 15 A XXXII

SOLINVS de mirabilibus mundi and other tracts, viz.:

1. Incipit argumentum primi libri Bernardi Siluestris philosophi egregii et eximii poete et eloquentissimi uiri ad magistrum Theodericum': the two books (Megacosmus and Microcosmus) of Bernardus Silvestris of Tours (afterwards a teacher at Paris), formerly wrongly confounded with Bernard of Chartres (see Hauréau in Mém. de l'Acad.des Inscriptions, xxxi, pt.ii, p. 99). The treatise (part prose, part verse) is printed by C. S. Barach, Bibliotheca Philosophorum Medziae Aetatis, Innsbruck, 1876. The abridgement of contents, beg. 'In huius operis primo libro qui Megacosmus', is followed by the dedicatory letter, 'Terrico ueris scientiarum titulis doctori . . . Aliquandiu fateor sensu', and text, 'Congeries informis adhuc cum silua teneret'. Lib. ii beg. 'In predecoro longeque artifici'. Colophon, 'Si rerum flores queras nitidosque colores, Libri diuitias istius inspicias'. At f. 9 b is a marginal note (16th cent. ?) in Greek. f. 2.

2. 'Dialogus Hildeberti Cenomanensis episcopi', by Hildebert, Bishop of Le Mans 1097, Archbishop of Tours 1125-1133 (cf. 4 B. XIII, art. 3). Printed by Migne, Patr. Lat. clxxi. 989, as Liber de querimonia et conflictu carnis et spiritus seu animae. A few notes in Patrick Young's hand. Beg. 'Incendio domus mea corruerat'. f. 43.

3. 'Solinus de mirabilibus mundi' (cf. 15 A. XXII, art. 1). The text, notes, colophon, &c., agree closely. f. 53. Vellum; ff. 117. 9 in. x 6¹/₄ in. XIII cent. Gatherings of 8 leaves, numbered at the end. Sec. fol. 'non fauori'. Initials in red and green (rarely red and blue). The ink of several leaves in art. 1 is very much rubbed. A 14th cent. annotator has added a few grotesque drawings in the margins. Belonged to Merton Priory, co. Surrey, 'Liber ecclesie sancte Marie de Merton' (f. 2). Old Royal press-mark 'no. 529' (Westm. inventory of 1542, Add. MS. 25469, f. 15); cat. of 1666, f. 17b; CMA. 8240, 8357.