London, British Library, Royal 7 D. xxiv Guitmundus of Aversa, "De corpore et sanguine Domini"; Aldhelm, "De laudibus virginitatis" "Epistola ad Heahfridum'' [Ker 259, Gneuss 473]

Abstract

293. London, British Library, Royal 7 D. xxiv

Guitmundus of Aversa, "De corpore et sanguine Domini";

Aldhelm, "De laudibus virginitatis" "Epistola ad Heahfridum''

[Ker 259, Gneuss 473]

HISTORY: A composite manuscript comprising a 12c copy of a tract on the eucharist, "De corporis et sanguinis Domini veritate:' by Guitmundus, bishop of Aversa (Campania, r. 1088-91) and a copy of Aldhelm's prose "De laudibus virginitatis" and "Epistola ad Heahfridum:' An early modern transcript of the "Epistola" is bound with part 2. Consensus dates the text of the Aldhelmian part to the early 10c (s. x214 according to Ker, Cat., probably the 930s, according to Gwara [2001: 1.122*, 130*], "x¹ " according to Gneuss' Handlist). Gwara (2001: 1.125*-30*) sees the "Yale Fragment"(= Ker 12 [330]), the oldest extant copy of the prose "De laud. virg:', as the "irrefutable progenitor" of this relatively early copy. The Royal glosses are dated to mid-lOc (Gneuss, Handlist; Gwara 2001: 1.132 ff.). Gwara distinguishes nine glossing hands in various strata (2001: 1.132*-36*). The manuscript is perhaps to be associated with Winchester, though both origin and provenance are a matter of debate. Later provenance was almost certainly Canterbury (Gwara 2001: 1.140*-46*). An origin at Glastonbury in the time of the Reformers Dunstan and Æthelwold seems probable to several scholars (Dumville 1987: 177; Gretsch 1999: 362; Gwara 2001: 1.130*). Gretsch ( 1999: 362-67) associates the manuscript with Æthelwold and believes its scholia influenced subsequent Aldhelm studies at the Winchester school (1999: 362). The small size and multiple layers of glossing indicate a personal copy, and in Gwara's view (2001: 1. 123*, 140*), the manuscript plausibly belonged to Dunstan and traveled to Canterbury with him when he became archbishop. Rusche (2005: 445-46) sees the manuscript originating in Canterbury and remaining there. Royal 7 D. xxiv strongly influenced later Aldhelmian studies, its glossing and interpolated text being copied into several manuscripts at Canterbury (Gwara 2001: 1.132*, also Rusche 2005). It is this role as exemplar that proves Canterbury provenance by the later 10c. The copy of the "Epistola ad Heahfridum" is the best extant version of that text (Gretsch 1999: 363). The already-combined manuscript belonged at one time to John Lumley (1534?-1609). Rebound 1983.