123 folios, on parchment, (collation: i-x8, xi10, xii-xiv8, xv6, xvi3, lacking last folios with last two homilies [see Schneyer, IX, p. 156; missing sermons: T 6 and S 43]), written in a rounded gothic liturgical script, in brown ink on up to 26 long lines (justification 200 x 115 mm), some catchwords, prickings still visible, ruling in light ink, numerous capitals touched in red, numerous initials in red, rubrics in red, some contemporary interlinear corrections, marginal annotations (some contemporary, others a later fifteenth- or sixteenth-century hand), foliation numbered incorrectly from folio 2 on (wrongly numbered folio 1), corrected in recent pencil, upper part of first folio cropped (about 1 cm. at the head of the first leaf) removing an old inscription. Bound in a nineteenth-century black straight-grained morocco, smooth spine decorated with alternating fleurons and floral friezes, gilt frame of floral and palmette motifs on boards, generally in sound condition, boards slightly discolored, corners rubbed, some contemporary repairs to parchment. Dimensions 275 x 185 mm.This homiliary contains a Carolingian collection of sermons, falsely attributed to Bede and known only from a small group of ten manuscripts that are nearly all datable between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries and localized in Italy or southern France. Influenced by the School of Auxerre, the text represents an important step in the evolution of the sermon and is considered to be a contribution of the “Carolingian Renaissance.” The text was not printed in the incunable period, nor is there a modern edition, and no copies are extant in North American collections.
Provenance
1. Script and textual/liturgical evidence all suggest a twelfth century origin, likely Italian or Southern France. A comparative study of all extant manuscripts belonging to this group would allow better dating and localization. See “Text” below.
2. Cheltenham, England [Middle Hill], Sir Thomas Phillips (1792-1872), lion-stamp and his shelfmark 902. Sir Thomas Phillipps acquired this manuscript from Luigi Celotti, an Italian abbot turned art dealer, presumably at the 26 May 1825 Christie’s auction in London where Celotti disposed of a large number of manuscripts and fragments he had acquired from Napoleon’s troops. Most of them came from the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel. French troops under command of the Swiss Calvinist General Haller had seized a vast collection of Vatican treasures. Sir Thomas, a self-described “vello-maniac,” attempted a “frenzied quest to preserve every scrap of paper and vellum fragment he could locate” (see Basbanes, p. 120). In the fifty-plus years that he collected, Sir Thomas amassed over 50,000 books and 100,000 manuscripts, perhaps the largest private library ever. In doing so, he nearly bankrupted himself and drove his family deep into debt. The complete story of Phillipp’s acquisitions and the dispersal of his library required five volumes to narrate (see Munby, 1951-60).
3. Jacobi [James] P.R. Lyell (1871-1949), his gold-stamped morocco bookplate pasted on front pastedown: “Ex-libris Jacobi P. R. Lyell.” Of his collection of some 250 medieval manuscripts, 100 were bequeathed to the Bodleian Library and the remainder sold by his executors to Bernard Quaritch in 1951; see introduction by Albinia de la Mare, Catalogue of the collection of Medieval Manuscripts bequeathed to the Bodleian Library, Oxford by James P. R. Lyell, Oxford, 1971.
Text
ff. 1-2v,
Homeliae de Tempore; heading in a later hand: “Incipiunt Omelie venerabilis Bede presbiteri” [sermons wrongly attributed to Bede]; [missing T 1, found further on at ff. 47v-49 (Schneyer, no. 31, p. 152)]; first rubric,
Dominica .I. de Adventu Domini. Secundum Lucam; incipit, “In illo tempore dixit Jhesus discipulis suis. Erunt signa in sole et luna…// Salvator noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 2, p. 151, T 2]; ff. 2v-4v, rubric,
Dominica .II. “In illo tempore. Cum audisset in vinculis opera… // Sanctus Ioannes Baptista praecursor… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 3, p. 151, T 3]; ff. 4v-6v, rubric,
Dominica .III. “In illo tempore. Miserunt iudei ab ierosolimis sacerdotes…// Humilitas sancti Johannis… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 4, p. 151, T 4]; ff. 6v-7v, rubric,
Feria .IIII. “In illo tempore. Missus est angelus Gabriel… // Quando sancti angeli… “ [not recorded in Schneyer]; ff. 7v-9, rubric,
Feria .VI.. “In illo tempore. Exsurgens Maria abiit in montana… // Ista lectio…”[not in Schneyer]; ff. 9-10, rubric,
In vigilia natalis Domini. “In illo tempore. Cum esset desponsata…// Conceptio Domini…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 5, p. 151, T 5]; ff. 10-10v, rubric,
Inicium sancti evangeli secundum Mattheum. “Liber generationis… // Mattheus apostolus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 6, p. 151, T 6]; ff. 10v-12, rubric,
Sequitur sancti evangelii secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Exiit…// Nativitatem… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 7, p. 151, T 6]; ff. 12-13, rubric,
Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Pastores…// Isti pastores… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 8, p. 151, T 6]; ff. 13-14v, rubric,
Initium sancti evangelii secundum Johannem. “In principio erat verbum… // Nativitatem Domini… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 9, p. 151, T 6];
ff. 14v-16v,
Homeliae de sanctis; rubric,
In sancti Stephani secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus turbis iudeorum…Ecce ego // Sanctus evangelista… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 10, p. 151, S 9]; ff. 16v-18, rubric,
In sancti Johannis evangelium lectio secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus Petro sequere me. Conversus… // Hanc lectionem…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 11, p. 151, S 10]; ff. 18-19, rubric,
Innocentum lectio sancti evangeli secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Apparuit angelus domini…// Iste sanctus… “[Schneyer, IX, no. 12, p. 151, S 11];
ff. 19-20v,
Homeliae de Tempore; rubric,
In octava domini secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Postquam consumati sunt… // Circumcisionem…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 13, p. 151, T 8]; ff. 20v-22, rubric,
Dominica post natalem Domini prima. In illo tempore. Erat Ioseph et Maria… // In presenti…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 14, p. 151, T 7]; ff. 22-23v, rubric,
In Epiphania domini secundum Matheum. « In illo tempore. Cum natus esset… // In ista lectione…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 15, p. 151, T 10]; ff. 23v-25, rubric,
In octava Epiphania secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Vidit Iohannes Ihesum… // Johannes Baptista…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 16, p. 151]; ff. 25-26v, rubric,
Dominica .I. post Epiphania secundam Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum esset Ihesus annorum… // Sanctus evangelista describit… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 17, p. 151, T 11]; ff. 26v-29, rubric,
Dominica .II. secundam Iohannem. « In illo tempore. Nuptie facte sunt… // Quotienscumque… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 18, p. 151, T 12]; ff. 29-30v, rubric,
Dominica .III. secundam Matheum. « In illo tempore. Cum descendisset… // Spiritualiter…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 19, p. 151, T 13]; ff. 30v-31v, rubric,
Dominica .IIII. secundam Matheum. “In illo tempore. Ascendente Ihesu in naviculam… // Redemptor…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 20, pp. 151-152, T 14];
f. 31v-33,
Homeliae de sanctis; rubric,
In purificatione s. Mariae secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Postquam impleti sunt.… // Dominus noster…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 21, p. 152, S 21];
ff. 33-34v,
Homeliae de Tempore; rubric,
Dominica in Septuagesima secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis…Simile est // Regnum celorum…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 23, p. 152, T 16]; ff. 34v-36, rubric,
Dominica in sexagesima secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum turba multa…// Dominus noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 24, p. 152, T 17]; ff. 36-37, rubric,
Dominica in quinquagesima secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Assumpsit Ihesus .xii. discipulos… // Redemptror…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 25, p. 152, T 18]; ff. 37-38,
Feria .IIII. In cap. ieiunii secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Cum ieiunatis nolite… // ” [not in Schneyer]; ff. 38-38v, no rubric, “Fratres karissimi… ” [Schneyer, IX, no. 26, p. 152, T 19 ( ? )]; ff. 38v-40,
Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Ductus est… // Dominus noster fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 26, p. 152, T 19]; ff. 40-41,
Dom. II. secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Egressus est Jhesus secessit…// Iste civitates… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 27, p. 152, T 20]; ff. 41-42v,
Dom. III. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Erat Jhesus…// Iste demoniacus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 28, p. 152, T 21]; ff. 42v-45,
Dom. IIII. Sequitur sancti evangeli secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Abiit Jhesus…// Spiritualiter… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 29, p. 152, T 22]; ff. 45-47,
Dominica de passione secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Dicebat Jhesus…Quis ex vobis…// Dominus noster Jhesus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 30, p. 152, T 23]; ff. 47-47v,
Annunciatio sanctae Marie secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Missus est…// Redemptor noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 31, p. 152, T 24 (Schneyer refers back to T 1)]; ff. 47v-49, rubric,
Dominica in ramis palmarum secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Cum appropinquaret… // Dominus ac redemptor…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 31, p. 152, T 24 (variant ? Schneyer refers back to T 1)]; ff. 49-50v, rubric,
In die secundum pasce. “In illo tempore. Maria Magdalene et Maria Iacobi…// Iste mulieres sancte… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 32, p. 152, T 28]; ff. 50v-51v, rubric,
Feria .II. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Duo ex discipulis… // Isti duo discipuli… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 33, p. 152, T 28/2]; ff. 51v-52, rubric,
Feria .III. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Stetit Ihesus in medio discipulorm…// Quotienscumque… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 34, p. 152, T 28/3]; ff. 52-53, rubric,
Feria .IIII. secundum Iohannem. “Redemptor noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 35, p. 152, T 28/4]; ff. 53-53v, rubric,
Feria .V. secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Maria stabat ad monumentum…// In hoc loco karissimi… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 36, p. 152, T 28/5]; ff. 53v-54v, rubric,
Feria .VI. secundum Matheum. “In illo tempore. Undecim discipuli abierunt… // Redemptor noster fratres…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 37, p. 152, T 28/6]; ff. 54v-55, rubric,
Sabbato secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Una sabbati Maria Magdalene…// Ista mulier…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 38, p. 152, T 28/Sabb]; ff. 55-56, rubric,
Dominica octava pasce secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Cum esset sero…// Dominus et salvator noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 39, p. 152, T 29];
ff. 56-57,
Homeliae de sanctis; rubric, In sancti Thome apostoli secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Thomas autem… // Sanctus evangelista… “ [Barré, 216 et 337; Schneyer, IX, no. 77, p. 154, S 8];
ff. 57-57v,
Homeliae de Tempore; rubric, Dominica .I. post octava pasce secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis. Ego sum pastor…// Redemptor noster…” [Scheneyer, IX, no. 40, p. 152, T 30]; ff. 57v-58v, rubric,
Dominica .II. secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis. Modicum.… // In illa nocte…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 41, p. 152, T 31]; ff. 58v-60, rubric,
Dominica .III. secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis. Vado ad eum.…// Dominus ac redemptor…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 42, p. 153, T 32]; [missing Dominica .IIII. = T 33]; ff. 60-60v, rubric,
Dominica .V. secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis. Amen Amen dico.…// Salvator noster…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 43, p. 153, T 34];
ff. 60v-61,
Homeliae de sanctis; rubric, In natale apostolorum Phylippi et Iacobi
secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Ihesus discipulis suis… Non turbetur…// Dominus noster in ea nocte… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 78, p. 154, S 32]; ff. 61-62v, rubric,
Invencione sancti Crucis secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore. Erat homo ex phariseis…// Iste Nichodemus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 79, p. 154, S 33];
ff. 62v-63v,
Homeliae de Tempore; rubric, In die ascensionis domini secundum Marcum. “In illo tempore. Recumbentibus undecim…// Dominus fratris…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 44, p. 153, T 36]; ff. 63v-64v, rubric,
Dominica post ascensa domini secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore…Cum venerit… // In multis locis… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 45, p. 153, T 37 ]; ff. 64v-65v, rubric,
In pentecosten secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore... Si quis…// Dominus noster in hoc loco… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 46, p. 153, T 39]; ff. 65v-66, rubric,
Feria .II. secundum Iohannem. “In illo tempore... Sic Deus…// Dominus noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 47, p. 153, T 39/2]; ff. 66-66v, rubric,
Feria .III. secundum Iohannem “In illo tempore... Amen. In illo tempore...Nemo potest venire… // In hoc loco karissimi… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 49, p. 153, T 39/4]; ff. 67-67v, rubric,
Feria .V. secundum Lucam “In illo tempore...Convocatis…. // Dominus noster antequam… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 50, p. 153, T 39/5]; ff. 67v-68, rubric,
Feria .VI. secundum Lucam, “In illo tempore... Factum est…// Iste paraliticus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 51, p. 153, T 39/6]; ff. 68-69, rubric,
Sabbato secundum Lucam “In illo tempore... Surgens…// Socrus symonis… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 52, p. 153, T 39/Sabb]; ff. 69-70, rubric,
Dominica .I. post octavus pentecosten secundam Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus…Homo quidam…// Dominus ac Salvator… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 53, p. 153, T 41] ; ff. 70-71, rubric,
Dominica .II. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore… Homo quidam fecit…// Dominus noster qui est omnipotens… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 54, p. 153, T 42]; ff. 71-72, rubric,
Dominica .III. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Erant appropinquantes…// In hoc loco manifestat… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 55, p. 153, T 43];
ff. 72v-73v,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In die sancti Johannis Baptiste secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Helisabeth…// Dominus noster quando natus est… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 81, p. 155, S 44]; ff. 73v-74v, rubric,
In sancti Petri secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Venit Jhesus…// Philippus qui fuit… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 82, p. 155, S 46]; ff. 74v-76, rubric,
In sancti Pauli secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Dixit Symon…Ecce nos…// Iste sanctus evangelista… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 83, p. 155, S 26]; ff. 76-77, rubric,
In octavo sancti Johannis secundam Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Zacharias…// Iste sanctus evangelista… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 84, p. 155, In oct. Joh. Bap.]; ff. 77-78, rubric,
In octavo apostolorum secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Jussit…// Dominus noster postquam… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 85, p. 155, In oct. Petri et Pauli];
ff. 78-79,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom .IIII. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Estote ergo…// Inter omnes virtutes… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 56, p. 153, T 44]; ff. 79-80, rubric,
Dom. V. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum turbe irruerent…// Stagnum… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 57, p. 153, T 45]; ff. 80-81, rubric,
Dom. VI. Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus…Amen, amen…// In isto loco… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 58, p. 153, T 46]; ff. 81-82, rubric,
Dom .VII. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum turb multa esset…// Dominus noster fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 59, p. 153, T 47]; ff. 82-83, rubric,
Dom. VIII. Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus…Attendite… // Dominus noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 60, p. 153, T 48]; ff. 83-84, rubric,
Dom. VIIII. Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus… Homo quidam… // Spiritualiter iste dives… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 61, p. 154, T 49]; ff. 84-86, rubric,
Dom. X. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum appropinquaret Jhesus…// Dominus noster Jhesus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 62, p. 154, T 50]; ff. 86-86v, rubric,
Dom. XI. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dicebat Jhesus…// In multis locis… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 63, p. 154, T 51]; ff. 86v-87v, rubric,
Dom. XII. Secundum Marcum. “In illo tempore. Exiens Jhesus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 64, p. 154, T 52]; ff. 87v-89, rubric,
Dom. XIII. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus… Beati occuli… // In isto sancto evangelio… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 65, p. 154, T 53]; ff. 89-89v, rubric,
Dom. XIIII. secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Dum iret Jhesus… // Dominus noster fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 66, p. 154, T 54];
ff. 89v-90v,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In natalis sancti Laurenti secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus…Amen Amen…nisi granum… // In hoc loco per granum… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 86, p. 155, S 56];
ff. 90v-91v,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom. XV. secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus…Nemo potest…// Dominus noster manifestat… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 67, p. 154, T 55];
ff. 91v-92,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In sancte Marie virginis secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Intravit Jhesus…// Dominus noster fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 87, p. 155, S 59];
ff. 92-93,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom. XVI. Secundam Lucam. “In illo tempore. Ibat Jhesus…// Naim est civitas… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 68, p. 154, T 56];
ff. 93-94,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In natalis sancti Bartholomeii secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Facta est … // Ista contentio… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 88, p. 155, S 61];
ff. 94-95v,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom. XVIII. Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum intraret Jhesus… // Quando nos legimus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 69, p. 154, T 57]; ff. 95v-96v, rubric,
Dom. XVIII. Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Accesserunt… // Due hereses… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 70, p. 154, T 58];
ff. 96v-98v,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
Decollacio sancte Johannis Baptista secundum Lucam. “In ille tempore. Audivit autem… // Iste Herodes filius… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 89, p. 155, S 64];
ff. 98v-99v,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom. XVIIII. Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Ascendens Jhesus… // Lectio sancti evangelii… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 71, p. 154, T 59]; ff. 99v-101, rubric,
Dom. XX. Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Loquabatur Jhesus… // Regum celorum… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 76, p. 154, T 64];
ff. 101-101v,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In exaltatione sanctis crucis secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Dixit Jhesus discipulis…Nunc judicium …// Antequam Dominus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 90, p. 155 / S 66]; ff. 102-102v, rubric,
In natalis sanctis Matthie secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Vidit Jhesus hominem… // In isto loco legitur… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 91, p. 155 / S 67]; ff. 102v-104, rubric,
In sancto Michaele secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore…Quis putas… // Iste sanctus evangelista in alio loco… “; [Schneyer, IX, no. 92, p. 155 / S 70];
ff. 104-105,
Homeliae de Tempore, rubric,
Dom. XXI. secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore. Erat quidam… // Ista lectio… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 73, p. 154 / T 61];
ff. 105-106, rubric, Dom. XXII. secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore… Simile est factum regnum…// Spiritualiter iste rex… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 74, p. 154 / T 62]; ff. 106-106v, rubric,
Dom. XXIII. secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Abeuntes Pharisei…// Quando Dominus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 75, p. 154 / T 63]; ff. 106v-107v, rubric,
Dom. XXIIII. secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Loquente Jhesu…// Inter omnia… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 76, p. 154 / T 64];
ff. 107v-108v,
Homeliae de sanctis, rubric,
In sancti Andree apostoli secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore. Ambulans…// Antequam Dominus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 93, p. 155 / S 1]; ff. 108v-109v, rubric,
In natalis apostolorum secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore…Hoc est preaceptum…// Dominus noster dignatus est… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 94, p. 155 / S 10]; ff. 109v-110, rubric,
Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore…Haec mando…// Dominus noster in hoc loco… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 95, p. 155 / S 10];
ff. 110-111v,
Homeliae de communi; rubric,
In natalis evangelistarum secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Designavit dominus… // Istud sanctum evangelium… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 96, p. 155 / C 2]; ff. 111v-112v, rubric,
In natalis omnium sanctorum secundum Mattheum. In illo tempore. Videns Jhesus turbis…// Dominus noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 97, p. 155 / C 5]; ff. 112v-113, rubric,
In nativitate plurimorum martirorum secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Descendens Jhesus de monte… // Lectio hujus sancti evangelii… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 98, p. 155 / C 5]; ff. 113-114, rubric,
Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Cum audieritis proelia… // Salvator noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 99, p. 155 / C 5]; ff. 114-115, rubric,
Secundum Mattheum “In illo tempore. Nolite arbitrari… // Pax non semper ponitur… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 100, p. 155 / C 5]; ff. 115-115v,
Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Ecce ego mitto vos…// Dilectissimi fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 101, p. 155 / C 2]; ff. 115v-116v, rubric,
In nativitate unius martyrius secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore…Si quis venit…// Monet nos Dominus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 102, p. 155 / C 4]; ff. 116v-117v, rubric,
Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore…Si quis vult… // Salvator dilectissimi… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 103, p. 155 / C 4]; ff. 117v-118, rubric,
Secundum Johannem. “In illo tempore…Ego sum vitis… // Dominus noster fratres… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 104, p. 156 / C 2]; ff. 118-119, rubric,
Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore… Homo quidam.. // Dominus interrogatus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 107, p. 156 / C 6]; ff. 119-120, rubric,
Secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore…Nemo accendit… // Si aliquis homo… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 108, p. 156 / C 6]; ff. 120-120v, rubric,
Secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore…Vigilate quia nescitis… // Redemptor noster… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 109, p. 156 / C 6]; ff. 120v-121v, rubric,
In nativitate virginium secundum Mattheum. “In illo tempore…Simile est regnum… // Thesaurus absconditus… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 110, p. 156 / C 9]; ff. 121v-123, rubric,
Secundum Mattheum. In illo tempore…Simile est regnum… // In hoc loco… “ [Schneyer, IX, no. 111, p. 156 / C 9]; ff. 123-123v, rubric,
In dedicatione ecclesie secundum Matheum; incipit, “In illo tempore. Egressus Jhesus perambulabat… // In isto loco…” [Schneyer, IX, no. 112, p. 156 / C 11]; f. 123v, rubric,
In honore sancte marie virginis secundum Lucam. “In illo tempore. Missus est angelus… // Fratres karissimi… “ [incomplete] explicit: “ …dignitatus est fa[ - ]” [Schneyer, IX, no. 113, p. 156 / BMV].
This homiliary belongs to a small group of ten manuscripts, repertoried by Barré, which are Carolingian in origin, even though all the extant examples date later, from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. As is the case with other manuscripts in the group, our manuscript opens with a rubric falsely attributing the sermons to Bede. The 113 or 114 homilies included in manuscripts in this group have diverse sources, including not only Bede (16 homilies), but also Alcuin (his commentaries on the Gospel of John) and other early writers. In fact, manuscripts in this group are close to and probably modeled on a group of Carolingian sermons typical of the “School of Auxerre” and written by Haymon of Auxerre, bishop of Halberstadt, who died c. 855 (
editio princeps, Cologne, 1535). This edition was published under the title
Homiliae Venerabilis Bedae presbyter i. The text is also close to sermons actually attributed to Haymon (
editio princeps, Cologne, 1531, published by Migne, PL, vol. 118). There is no modern edition.
A preliminary study of the ten extant manuscripts (see especially Barré, pp. 27-30, 212, 214-229, 339-344, as well as Etaix, Morin, and Meyer/ Burkhardt) has led scholars to hypothesize on the basis of liturgical and orthographic features that the source manuscript originated in Italy or perhaps southern France, the provenance of most of the extant manuscripts: Basel, UB, B. VII. 6 (studied by Morin, and Meyer and Burkhardt); Oxford Bodleian Library, MS 123; Rome, Angelica MS 934 (eleventh and fourteenth century), incomplete; Vatican, MS lat. 4365 (Italy, beginning of the twelfth century), mutilated at the end; Paris, BnF, MS lat. 3804 (southern France, second half of the twelfth century), ff. 1-167; Paris, BnF, MS lat. 3576 (southern France, last half of the twelfth century), ff. 1-122v; Vatican, Ottob. MS lat. 298 (Italy, twelfth/thirteenth century), ff. 1-100v; Rome, Vallicelliana MS C. 78 (Italy, thirteenth century), mutilated at the beginning and the end; Avignon, Bibl. mun., MS 63 (thirteenth century), ff. 1-54v; Paris, BnF, MS lat. 3827 (southern France, last half of the thirteenth century), ff. 1-162v. The present manuscript follows quite closely the order of sermons included in Paris, BnF, MS lat. 3804 (see, Paris, BnF,
Catalogue général des manuscrits latins, VI, pp. 220-226). No manuscripts are recorded in North American collections
As Barré and others have pointed out, what distinguishes this collection is that the structure and method of composition of the sermons in it mark a new step in the evolution of the sermon that is specifically Carolingian. The sermons cover the entire liturgical cycle but are arranged, mixing the temporal and sanctoral sections, without a break between the summer and winter portions. A group of twenty sermons of the Common of the Saints follow. This order derives from the fact that they were not used strictly for the liturgy but for study and inspiration. Their originality lies in the fact that, although they are inspired by the sayings of the Church Fathers and thus belong to the genre known as “Patrisitc Homiliaries,” they adhere to these sayings loosely and develop them in a highly personal fashion. In this respect, for Barré, they are exemplary of the “Carolingian Renaissance” (pp. 27-29).
Etaix (in Iogna-Prat et al., 1991, pp. 243, 248) notes that, building on the pioneer work of Barré, there remains much research to be done on the influence of the School of Auxerre on successive authors of sermons. Further research on our collection, and the publication of a modern edition, would represent an important contribution to such a project.
Literature
Barré, Henri. Les homéliaires carolingiens de l'Ecole d'Auxerre…,Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1962 [Studi e Testi, 225], pp. 27-29.
Iogna-Prat, D., C. Jeudy, and G. Lobrichon, eds., Entretiens d’Auxerre--L’École carolingienne d’Auxerre: de Murethach à Rémi (830-908) (actes du colloque Auxerre, 1989), Paris, 1991 [see especially the D. Iogna-Prat, "L’oeuvre d’Haymon d’Auxerre: état de la question," pp. 157-179, and Raymond Etaix, “Les homéliaires carolingiens d’Auxerre,” pp. 243-248].
Grégoire, R. Les homéliaires du Moyen-Age: inventaire et analyse des manuscrits, Rome, 1966.
Grégoire, R.. Homéliaires liturgiques médiévaux, Spolète, 1980.
Meyer, G. and M. Burkhardt. Die mittelalterliche Handschriften der Universitätsbibliothek Basel, Basel, vol. I (1960), pp. 670-673.
Morin, D. “A travers les manuscrits de Bale. Notices et extraits des plus anciens manuscrits latins,” Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskund e, 26 (1927), pp. 175-249.
Munby, A. N. L. Phillipps Studies, 5 vols., Cambridge, 1951-60.
Schneyer, J.B. Repertorium der lateinischen Sermones des Mittelalters: für die Zeit von 1150-1350, vol. IV and especially IX, pp. 150-156 (Paris, BnF MS lat. 3804).
Online resources
On sermons and preaching
http://www.eleves.ens.fr/home/robin/histoire/medievale/eglise/predication.html
The sermon as a literary genre
http://www.cafe.umontreal.ca/genres/n-sermon.html
On Lyell’s manuscripts
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/medieval/lyell/lyell.html
Textmanuscripts - Les Enluminures
