Pseudo-Anselm: De Similitudinibus

The volume comprises a series of short texts copied at various periods in the 13th century (see Manion for more detail). 1. Pseudo-Anslem (perhaps Eadmer) , De Similitudinibus, opening on f.1, ' Incipit liber anselmi catuariensis archiepiscopii de similitudinibus, Tripliciter intelligitur voluntas . . .', ending on f.46, '...et opprimunt ne noceant in quantum volunt, explicit de similitudinibus'.

2. Ambrose of Aubert (d.778, attrib), De Conflictu Vitiorum et Virtutum, opening on f.46v, 'Incipit liber beati gregorii pape de conflictu vitiorum atque virtutum, Apostolica vox clamat per orbem...', ending on f.56v, '...hunc legendum et aliis tradere debes'.

3. Gerard of Liege, O. Cist (attrib.), De Doctrina Cordis, opening on f.57. 'Incipit liber de doctrina cordis, Preparate corda vestra domino, Verba sunt samuelis...', ending on f.141v, '...per eum habebuntur, Explicit liber de doctrina cordis, benedictus qui incepit et perfecit, amen.'

4. Guillaume Perault (Peraldus), Summa de Vitiis, opening on f.143, 'dicturi de singulis vitiis, incipiemus a vicio gule...', ending on f.191v, '...Dicere vera numquam, Explicit'.

5. Stephen, Abbot of Stanlow (attrib.), Tractatus de Confessione, opening on f.192, '[U]t confessionem et decorem induas amictus lumine...', ending on f.194.

6. Alphabetical list of Latin proverbs, on ff.194 and 195, opening 'Leviter ex merito quicquid parcare ferendum est, Amici vicia nisi feras facis tua...'.

7. Advice to a new monk on ff.194v-195, opening 'Inter hec scripsit et quamplures epistolas...'.

8. A Latin poem of 291 lines opening on f.195v 'Amor sponte cor afficit...', ending on f.196, '...et nihil fiunt omnia'.

9. A short commentary on Vidi in dexteram sedentis (Apocalypse 5:1), opening on f.196, 'Liber iste corpus Christi in altari...', ending on f.196v, '...et solvere signacula eius', followed by six lines of verse opening 'Mox ad aquas it sol...', ending '...post altera tercia retro'.

Written in three quite distinct sections: 1). ff.1-142, gatherings 1-18, first half of the 13th century, single column, 29 lines, ruled in plummet with the text beginning above the top ruled line, written space 120 x 77 mm, written in dark-brown ink in an early gothic bookhand, headings in red; 2). ff.192-196, gathering 22 which was originally bound after gathering 18 between ff.142 and 143, mid-13th century, double column, 34-42 lines, ruled in plummet with the text beginning below the top ruled line, written space c.133 x 97mm, written in dark-brown ink in a small gothic bookhand, no rubrication or initials; 3). ff.143-191, gatherings 19-21, late 13th century, double column, 50 lines (49 on the first page), ruled in plummet with the text beginning below the top ruled line, written space 120 x 90mm, written in dark-brown ink in a very small gothic bookhand, some headings in red, a few authorities in the margins in red, capitals touched in red, some underlining in red, paragraph marks in red.

Other Titles - Ambrose of Aubert: De conflictu Vitiorum et Virtutum; Gerard of Liege: De Doctrina Cordis; Guillaume Perault: Summa de Vitiis; Stephen, Abbot of Stanlow (attrib.): Tractatus de Confessione.

Quantity: 1 volume(s).

Physical Description: Vellum, 196 leaves (one blank), bound; 158x118mm.

Finding Aids: Manion, M.M. Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in New Zealand collections, no.142.

Barratt, A. 'A medieval latin manuscript in the Alexander Turnbull Library, New Zealand', Manuscripta, XXX, 1986, pp.199-204..

Provenance: Executed in Southern Flanders.

The manuscript is from the Benedictine abbey of St Martin in Tournai, founded in 652. On ff.50v and 138 is the inscription in plummet, 'Liber Sancti Martini Tornacensis, Auferente Maledictus'. It is recorded in the library catalogue of St Martin compiled in 1615 when it had the shelf mark 4.D.13 in the abbey (see Manion). It belonged to Sir Leicester Harmsworth (1870-1937), and was lot 1892 in his sale at Sotheby's, 15 October 1945, to Maggs. It was no.138 in Maggs catalogue 816 (1953).