Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 12 The Alfredian OE translation of Pope Gregory's "Regula Pastoralis"

Abstract

23. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 12

The Alfredian OE translation of Pope Gregory's

"Regula Pastoralis"

[Ker 30; Gneuss 37]

HISTORY: A large format copy of the Alfredian OE translation of Gregory's "Regula Pastoralis" written in the second half of the 10c by a single scribe in a large script, probably intended for display purposes (cf. Horgan 1986: 116; Schipper 2003: 159; on the large format size see Gameson 2012: 23-24). The OE text agrees with London, BL Cotton Tiberius B.xi [230] a 9c copy perhaps from Winchester, rather than Oxford, Bodl. Lib. Hatton 20 [377], the copy sent by Alfred to Worcester (Angstrnm 1937: 37; Sisam 1953: 146; Horgan 1973 and 1982; Schreiber 2003: 51-82). Budny (1997: 1.188) suggests a Worcester origin, though this is countered by Schreiber (2003: 79-82); Angstrnm (1937: 156) suggested connections to Winchester on dialectal grounds. The last six Latin chapter headings added in the outer margin off. 8r (13c) are in the same hand as occurs in Oxford, Bodi. Lib. Hatton 114 [384b], f. l0r, another manuscript of Worcester provenance. There are spaces left for (unprovided) chapter headings and no alterations or corrections to the text (though an unsuccessful attempt at correction on f. 123v is noted by Ellis 1998). The title 'PASTORAL£' (llc) added at the top of f. l r has been imperfectly erased; a similar title occurs in Oxford, Bodi. Lib. Hatton 20 (4113) [377], f. 48v. Probably one of the two 'pastorales englisce' in the Worcester booklist of c. l 050 in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 367 [54] (ed. Lapidge 2001: 131-32).

Budny (1997 1.193) indicates there are dry point drawings (f. 4r) of the 10c and 12c or 13c and marks (ff. 54r, 82r, 141v, 193r) of the 12c or 13c (cf. Schreiber 2003: 56).] The central bifolium of quire XXVIII (between ff. 218/219) is missing and some cropping occurred before the manuscript was glossed throughout by the "Tremulous Hand" when at Worcester in the 13c (Graham 2009: 183-84; Collier 2000: 202-05; Franzen 1991: 60-63; Page 1987).

Annotated by John Joscelyn (1529-1603), perhaps in the 1560s, most likely in Worcester (Budny 1997: 1.190). Many leaves (38 altogether) were repaired in the 16c by the addition of late medieval membrane patches (from a manuscript or manuscripts flourished in red and gold, probably a 14c breviary) where the original wide margins had been cut out (Graham 1998: 195-200). Membrane endleaves front and back were probably added at the same time, when the book was probably bound for Matthew Parker (1504-1575). Book numbers at the top of pages and chapter numbers in the margins were added in Parkerian red ochre crayon in the 16c; rubrics in Parker's hand in red ochre occur on ff. 26r, 30r, 72r, 74v, 220v; Parkerian inscriptions visible on f. lr as well (see James 1909-12: 12 and Schreiber 2003: 56). Glosses by the "Tremulous Hand" lost when cropping took place have been made good by Parker himself in his own hand, e.g. on f. l 74v/l l- 12. Occasional short hair-line strokes at the top of the letter-body to mark word-division have been added, presumably in the 16c to assist a copyist, e.g. on f. 4v/14-15, '.XI. Hwelc selbeon sceal . selorerltolcu II manlnelsceal:'. Tape tags have been fixed over the top of leaves on ff. 55 ( end of part 1, start of part 2), 72 (end of part 2, start of part 3), 79 (last leaf of quire X), 95 (last leaf of quire XII), 144 (first leaf of quire XIX), 151 (last leaf of quire XIX), 215 (last leaf of quire XXVII). Note affirming the text as an example of Alfred's impetus added in the 16c on f. iv recto. Bequeathed by Parker to Cambridge, Corpus Christi College in 1575. No doubt Parker had it bound, as the modern binding preserves 16c paper endleaves at front and back (ff. i-ii and iii-iv) with ff. i and iv showing signs of previously being pastedowns. New paper endleaves were added with the binding of 1953, done by John P. Gray, as noted on first paper leaf (Budny 1997: 1.192 and Schreiber 2003: 56). At one time this manuscript was used to house the unique copy of the first item to be printed with 'Queen Elizabeth's Irish Types: Pilip Bocht Ó hUiginn's poem "Tuar ferge foighide Dhe" known as the "Irish Broadside" ([Dublin, William Kearney], 1571; STC 19844.5; Dickins 1949), but that is now kept separately between glass. Previous descriptions by James 1912: 1:32-3, Budny 1997: 187-93, no.13, and Schreiber 2003: 55-57 and 79-82.