Royal MS 15 C XII

'EXPOSICIO fratris Nicholai Treueth ordinis predicatorum super libros declamacionum Lucei (sic) Annei Senece Cordubensis': the usual Excerpta from the Controversiae of Annaeus Seneca the elder (cf. 1-5 C. IX, art . 1), with the commentary of Nicholas Treveth or Trivet, the historian. Dedicatory letter to frater Iohannes de Lenham (see Cat. Patent Rolls, 1310, p. 275, not Lewisham as in Dict. Nat. Biogr.), confessor to the King [Edward II]. Beg. 'Exacto septenarii annorum natalium quadrato' (i.e. in Trivet's 50th year, circ. 1307). Prologue beg. 'Sicut docet Tullius Cicero in rethorica secunda'; commentary, 'Exigitis rem: promittit (sic) autem libro prohemium in quo tria facit'. Colophon with the scribe's name, 'Sum scriptor talis monstrat mea littera qualis, quod Ellerker'.

A list of contents in a 16th cent. hand on f. 1 b shows that the volume then included (at the beginning) the chronicle of Edw. I- Edw. III by Nicholas Trivet and his continuator, the canon of Bridlington. This part of the MS. came into the possession of 'Mr. Baskervile, as I think, belonging to the Fine office of the Temple, anno 1689' (see a copy of the Bridlington portion in Trin. Coll.,Cambridge, MS. O. 5.37) and seems now to be lost. Another copy is in Harley MS. 688. The fly-leaves (ff. i, ii) are from a 14th cent. antiphonal with music. Vellum; ff. ii + 147. 12¹/₄ in. x 8¹/₂ in. Circ. 1400. Gatherings (beg. f. 2) of 8 leaves, with catchwords. Sec. fol. 'nondum' or 'Exigitis'. The text occupies the centre of the page, surrounded by the commentary in two columns. Initials and partial borders flourished in red and blue. Probably belonged to Bridlington Priory (see an erased inscription on f. 147 b, which seems to read 'Liber fratrum canonicorum sancti Augustini............. ). Belonged to [Henry FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and [John, Lord] Lumley (f. 2, but not in Lumley cat.). Cat. of 1666, f. 8 b; omitted in CMA.