Basil, Homeliae in Psalmos (fragment), c. 750–800 [MS40A]
Probably French
Manuscript on vellum, ff. 3. Bound in grey-blue card covers, 20th century (30 x 19.7 cm)
These three leaves are the oldest manuscript fragments in the Fellows’ Library. They once formed part of the binding of MS40, a [...]
Paschasius Radbertus, In Lamentationes, c. 1100 [MS5]
Winchester
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 126, bound in alum-tawed pigskin over wooden boards by Roger Powell, 1948 (31.4 x 23.6 cm)
Paschasius Radbertus was a French abbot of the 9th century. He was the author of several important theological works, including an [...]
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, c. 1150 [MS6]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+192+ii. Bound in dark blue crushed morocco blind-stamped with floral bands over wooden boards by Nutt of Cambridge, late 19th century (40.5 x 29.2 cm)
‘Antiquities of the Jews’ (Antiquitates Iudaicae) is an account of the history of Jewish people in twenty books, originally written in [...]
Gospel of Saint Matthew (fragment), mid-12th century [MS40B]
Probably England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. 4. Bound in grey-blue card covers, 20th century (19.8 x 14.6 cm)
This fragment is part of an unfinished medieval manuscript. The text, from Matthew’s Gospel, is written in a thin column down the [...]
Palladius, De Agricultura, 12th century [MS40]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 37. Bound in limp vellum, late 16th–early 17th century (30.5 x 19 cm)
De Agricultura, or ‘On Farming’, was written by the Roman author Palladius around the late 4th or early 5th century AD. The full text [...]
Augustine, De doctrina christiana, c. 1150–1200 [MS20]
Northern England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+123+ii. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1957 (19.7 x 14.8 cm)
De doctrina christiana is a theological text written by Augustine of Hippo (354–430), a Church Father whose writings had a significant [...]
Petrus Comestor, Historica scholastica, 1170s [MS14B]
France
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 154. Bound in brown morocco over pasteboard by Zaehnsdorf, early 20th century (36.7 x 25 cm)
The Historia scholastica is a universal history completed around 1173 by Petrus Comestor (c. 1148–78), a Latin name meaning ‘Peter the [...]
Vitas Patrum and Smaragdus’ Diadema monachorum, c. 1190 [MS18]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. i+252+i. Bound in dark green crushed morocco blind-stamped with floral bands over wooden boards by Nutt of Cambridge, late 19th century (42.5 x 33 cm)
This manuscript is the first part of a volume that was divided in two before the mid-16th century. The second part is in Winchester [...]
The Life and Miracles of Thomas Becket, c. 1190-1200 [MS4]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 211, bound in alum-tawed pigskin over wooden boards by Roger Powell, 20th century (30.5 x 21 cm)
This manuscript contains a Life of Thomas Becket by the monk William of Canterbury, and an account of the miracles performed after his [...]
Medical texts by Salernitan authors, early 13th century [MS24]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+166+ii. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1959 (25 x 16.5 cm)
The manuscript contains texts written by authors of the Salernitan school of medicine in the 12th century. Founded in the 9th century, [...]
Paris Bible, c. 1250–1300 [MS29]
Probably France
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+548+ii. Bound in white alum-tawed pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1963 (30.7 x 21.8 cm)
This large Bible is full of small and delicate illuminations and was probably produced in northern France (possibly England) in the [...]
Peter Lombard, Sentences, c. 1250–1300 [MS7]
France
Manuscript on parchment, ff. iv+162+iii. Bound in alum-tawed white goatskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1955 (35.2 x 24cm)
Peter Lombard (c. 1100–60) was a theologian from Novara who taught at the cathedral school of Notre Dame, Paris. He was consecrated [...]
Petrus Comestor, Historica scholastica, 1260s [MS14A]
France or England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 221. Bound in alum-tawed goatskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1948 (32.5 x 23 cm)
The Historia scholastica is a universal history completed around 1173 by Petrus Comestor (c. 1148–78), a Latin name meaning ‘Peter the [...]
Medical texts, late 13th–early 14th century [MS26]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+215+iv, Bound in crushed red morocco over pasteboard, by Katherine Adams 1909–12 (25.4 x 16 cm)
The manuscript includes seventeen texts on surgery, anatomy and prognosis, plus one on the medicinal properties of certain animals. [...]
Jacobus de Voragine, Legenda sanctorum, early 14th century [MS9]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+315+ii. Bound in alum-tawed pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1958 (29.2 x 20 cm)
The Legenda sanctorum (‘Reading of the Saints’), most commonly referred to as ‘The Golden Legend’ (Legenda aurea), is a collection of [...]
Taxatio Ecclesiastica, 1350–1400 [MS38]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+94+ii. Bound in brown calfskin over pasteboard, 1780 (39.3 x 27.8 cm)
This manuscript contains the Taxatio Ecclesiastica carried out on the orders of Pope Nicholas IV (1227–92). Also known as the Valor [...]
Ranulf Higden, Polychronicon, late 14th century [MS15]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 220. Bound in mid 20th-century alum-tawed pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, with late 20th-century deerskin chemise by Tim Wiltshire (33.5 x 23.5 cm)
The Polychronicon was begun by Ranulf Higden (d. 1364), a Benedictine monk from Chester. His text became a staple compendium of world [...]
Tractatus de medicina (fragment), 14th–15th century [MS45]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. iii+317+iii. Bound in alum-tawed white goatskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1962 (22.3 x 15 cm)
This manuscript contains parts six and seven of a much longer medical text. The end of part seven is similar to the corresponding [...]
Book of Hours with musical notation, c. 1400 [MS48]
England
Manuscript on vellum with grisaille decoration and illuminated initials, ff.149. Bound in green crushed morocco over pasteboard by Katharine Adams, 1911 (21 x 14 cm)
A Book of Hours is a liturgical book that contains prayers to the Virgin Mary to be recited at certain times of day. Unlike many Books [...]
Psalter, c. 1400–20 [MS10 ]
England, illuminated in Winchester
Manuscript on parchment, ff. iii+126+iii. Bound in brown morocco over pasteboard by Zaehnsdorf (40 x 27.5 cm)
A Psalter is a liturgical manuscript that contains the Book of Psalms, and frequently includes other devotional material. As with this [...]
Wycliffe New Testament, early 15th century [MS42]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. iv+294+iii. Bound in white alum-tawed pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1949 (21.8 x 14.3 cm)
An example of the Purvey revision of the Wycliffite translation. This well-decorated manuscript was copied around the time of the [...]
Clement of Llanthony, Commentary on the Four Gospels, 1432–37 [MS17]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+313+ii. Bound in brown calfskin over pasteboard, 18th century (40 x 26.4 cm)
Clement of Llanthony (active in the mid-12th century) was a clergyman, theologian, and a prior of Llanthony Priory. This manuscript [...]
William of Nottingham, Commentary on Clement of Llanthony’s ‘Harmony’, mid-15th century [MS22]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. ii+316+ii. Bound in crushed purple morocco over wooden boards by Zaehnsdorf, 1890 (53.5 x 37.5 cm)
William of Nottingham (d. 1336) was a lector to the Franciscans in Oxford in the early 14th century and served as the Minister [...]
Odo of Cheriton, Sermones, mid-15th century [MS11]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+264+iii. Bound in white alum-tawed goatskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1955 (28.5 x 19.7 cm)
Odo of Cheriton (d. 1247) was an English preacher and fabulist from Kent, who studied at the University of Paris before lecturing in [...]
Collection of letters by Renaissance humanists and medieval theological texts, mid-15th century [MS41]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. iv+216+iii. Bound in white alum-tawed pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1959 (20.8 x 15 cm)
This manuscript consists mainly of letters by early Italian humanists, interspersed with two medieval theological texts. They are all [...]
Jacopo da Forlì, Expositio in Aphorismos Hippocratis, mid-15th century [MS3]
Italy
Manuscript on paper, ff. iii+157+iii. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1962 (43.2 x 29.5 cm)
The Aphorisms were written by the Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460–370 BC) around 400 BC. An aphorism is a truth conveyed in a short [...]
Martin of Troppau, Tabula Martiniana, mid-15th century [MS8]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. iv+137+iv. Bound in brown calf skin over pasteboard, 18th century; repaired by Roger Powell, 1962 (32.5 x 22.5 cm)
Martin of Troppau (also known as Martinus Polonus and Martin of Opava, d. 1278) was a Dominican friar and chronicler from Poland. He [...]
Petrus de Crescentiis, Opus Ruralium Commodorum, 15th century [MS44]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+167+ii. Bound in alum-tawed white goatskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1955 (25.2 x 17 cm)
The Opus Ruralium Commodorum is a horticultural and agricultural guide, written by Petrus de Crescentiis (c. 1233–c. 1320) between 1304 [...]
Bible, 15th century [MS28]
England
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+151+iii. Bound in dark blue crushed morocco over wooden boards by Katharine Adams, 1912 (49.5 x 37.5 cm)
This Latin Bible is exceptionally large for one produced as late as the 15th century. Bibles like these would have been placed on [...]
Abu ʻAli al-Husayn Ibn Sina, The Canon of Medicine, 15th century [MS43]
Netherlands and England
Manuscript on paper, ff. iv+106+iv. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1963 (21.6 x 13.7 cm)
The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī al-ṭibb) was written in the first quarter of the 11th century by the Persian polymath Abu ʻAli [...]
Dramatic and Theological Miscellany, 15th century [MS33]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. 122, bound in 20th-century green morocco over pasteboard by Richard Harsher, 1978 (20.7 x 14.2 cm)
The manuscript contains a miscellany of texts including two unique Middle English dramatic dialogues, and theological texts such as the [...]
Petrus de Crescentiis, Opus Ruralium Commodorum, 15th century [MS12]
France
Manuscript on vellum, ff. ii+224+ii. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1959 (29.3 x 20 cm)
The Opus Ruralium Commodorum is a horticultural and agricultural guide, written by Petrus de Crescentiis (c. 1233–c. 1320) between 1304 [...]
Compotus manualis, c. 1450–1500 [MS1]
England
Manuscript on paper and vellum, ff. iii+18+iii. Bound in 16th-century parchment covered with marbled leaf from an 18th-century English printed Psalter (12.4 x 9.3 cm)
Computus is the method of calculating times and dates using rules based on mathematics and astronomy. The manuscript begins with a [...]
Roger Alban, Genealogy of the Kings of England, Adam to Henry VI, 1454–61 with later additions [MS13B]
England
Manuscript on roll of 11 membranes, previously fastened to a roller (83.7 x 35.7 cm)
This Latin genealogical roll shows the descent of Henry VI from Adam and Eve. At the centre is the lineage of English Kings, whose [...]
Genealogy of the English Kings to Edward IV, c. 1461 with later additions [MS13A]
England
Manuscript on roll of 9 membranes, previously fastened to a roller (59 x 36 cm)
On both sides of the roll are genealogies (family trees). The tree on the face (front of the roll) shows the descent of the Kings and [...]
Book of Hours, Master of the Échevinage de Rouen, c. 1455–85 [MS102]
Rouen
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 140 + early parchment flyleaf. Bound in black crushed morocco over pasteboard (20.5 x 15 cm)
This richly illuminated manuscript is a Book of Hours: a liturgical book that contains prayers to the Virgin Mary to be recited at [...]
Ranulf Higden, Polychronicon, 15th century (possibly 1478) [MS27]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. iii+231+iii. Bound in brown morocco over pasteboard by Zaehnsdorf (32.5 x 22 cm)
The Polychronicon was begun by Ranulf Higden (d. 1364), a Benedictine monk from Chester. His text became a staple compendium of world [...]
Roger Bacon and Johannes de Rupescissa, Scientific and alchemical miscellany, late 15th century [MS39]
England, probably Oxford
Manuscript on paper, ff. 221. Bound in alum-tawed white pigskin over pasteboard by Roger Powell, 1957 (30.7 x 21.4 cm)
This 15th-century compilation brings together important texts on science and alchemy originally written in the 13th and 14th centuries. [...]
De mutabilibus pronosticare elementorum, late 15th century [MS50C]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff.vii+13+ixxx. Bound in brown calfskin over pasteboard with blind-tooled decoration, 19th century (16 x 22 cm)
This short manuscript is structured around eight questions on the four elements: 1. de humore aeris; 2. de gelu et quando humor cadens [...]
Albert of Saxony, Tractatus proportionum, late 15th century [MS50A and MS50B]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. 16. Bound in brown calfskin over pasteboard with blind-tooled decoration, 19th century (21.5 x 15.3 cm)
Albert of Saxony (c. 1320–90) was a German natural philosopher best known for his work on logic. He taught at the Arts Faculty of the [...]
Jacobus Publicius, Ars memoriae, late 15th century [MS50D]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. 36, with movable diagrams. Bound in brown calfskin over pasteboard with blind-tooled decoration, 19th century (16 x 22 cm)
Jacobus Publicius (active in the second half of the 15th century) was the author of the first widely printed Ars memoriae, a handbook [...]
Qâdi Zâda Al-Rûmî, Commentary on the Compendium of Cosmology, late 15th century [MS234]
Samarkand, Persia
Manuscript in Arabic on polished paper, ff. 86. Bound in red morocco over pasteboard, early 18th century (17 x 10 cm)
This manuscript is an Arabic textbook of medieval astronomy. The author, Qâdi Zâda Al-Rûmî (1364–1436), was a Turkish astronomer and [...]
Tabulae Botanicae, c. 1490 [MS51]
England
Manuscript on paper, ff. iii+48+ii. Bound in half brown calfskin over buckram-covered pasteboard, 20th century (25.5 x 19.5cm)
This short manuscript, formerly bound with four early printed books, is a medical glossary that gives the English and Flemish [...]
Fragments from Choirbooks, illuminated by the Master B.F., c. 1500–10 [MS215 and MS216]
Lombardy
Decorated single manuscript leaves (15 x 32 cm; 23 x 18 cm)
The two fragments are part of a large group of cuttings, dispersed through many collections, which can be traced back to a series of [...]
Psalter Commentary and Old Testament Chronology, early 16th century [MS2]
England
Manuscript on parchment, ff. 45. Bound in 16th-century manuscript waste parchment covered with marbled leaf from an 18th-century English printed Psalter (15 x 11.4cm)
This pocket-size book contains commentaries on the Psalms (fols 4v–7v) followed by an Old Testament chronology (fols 7v–45) with [...]