Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Digby 146 (1747) Aldhelm, "De laudibus virginitatis;' "Epistola ad Heahfridum"; "Passio Sancti Eadwardi Regis et Martyris"

Abstract

370. Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Digby 146 (1747)

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

"Passio Sancti Eadwardi Regis et Martyris"

[Ker 320, Gneuss 613]

HISTORY: A late 10c manuscript descended from London, British Library, Royal 7 D.xxiv (293]; perhaps from Canterbury, to judge by the script (Gwara 2001: 1.147*-48*). The codex was at Abingdon in the mid-llc (inscription, f. 1r) where it received the bulk of its large corpus of over 5500 OE glosses, which "represents a critical manuscript in the Aldhelm gloss tradition, not only because of the density of its glosses but also because of its relationship to Royal 7 D. xxiv, Salisbury 38 [ 458], and other Canterbury manuscripts" (Gwara 2001: 1.150*), a relationship already discerned by Ehwald. It was probably at Abingdon that an abbreviated "Passio Sancti Eadwardi" was added in the 12c "as the lections to be read on St. Edward's day" (Fell 1971: vi). Owned by Thomas Allen (1542-1632) in 1622, and given to the Bodleian Library in 1634 by Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665).