London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius B.v., Part I Computistica, Historical Texts, "Wonders of the East," etc.

Abstract

229. London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius B.v., Part I

Computistica, Historical Texts, "Wonders of the East," etc.

(with London, BL, Cotton Nero D ii [205];

Cambridge, University Library Kk.1.24 [102]

+ BL Sloane 1044, f. 2 [305])

[Ker 193, 194; Gneuss 373,374; Lowe 2.190 (f. 75),

Lowe 2.139 (f. 76)]

HISTORY: A deluxe illuminated compilation of geographic, scientific, historical, and ecclesiastical texts, most in Latin but some in OE, copied in the first half of the 11c in southern England, possibly at Winchester (cf. [S]UUIÐHUN, f. 21r/16d) or Christ Church, Canterbury (Dumville 1976: 67). By the 12c it was at Battle Abbey, where were added the annals, written ca. 1119-1206, once part of this manuscript, which are now in Cotton Nero D.ii (ff. 238-241) [205] (see below). Owned in the 17c by Lord Lumley, appearing as item 1295 in his catalog of 1609 Qayne ap.d Johnson 1956: 162). The order of the leaves has drastically changed since Lumley's day, whose catalogue has the order: four leaves now in Cotton Nero D. ii (ff. 238-241), Tiberius ff 78- 88, 2-54, 57-73, 55, 56, 77. A copy ofRabanus Maurus, "De laude crucis cum pulchris variarum crucium formis" followed f. 88 and is now missing, lost before the manuscript was described for Cotton. The contents, more or less corresponding to the present contents and order, are listed in the 1621 Cotton catalogue (BL, Harley 6018, ff. 84-85, no. 178); the inscription 'Robertus Cotton Bruceus 1598' is on f. 2r. Cotton added two leaves, f. 74 and 76, excised from the 8c English Gospel Book, C.U .L. Kk.1.24 [102], probably from Ely (Ker, Cat. 36). The missing upper part of f. 76 is now British Library Sloane 1044, f. 2 [305]. Cotton also added a leaf, f. 75, from an otherwise unknown 8c English Gospel, probably from Exeter (= Ker no. 194, Gneuss no. 3 7 4, Lowe 2.190). These three added leaves bear later OE documents. The manuscript was damaged in the Ashburnham House fire of 1731; rebound and the leaves mounted in paper frames in 1843 (McGurk et al. 1983: 27).