Sermones de Tempore, a homiliary written in the early 12th century for Rochester Cathedral Priory.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.2.4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The book is in the tradition of the homiliary compiled by Paulus Diaconus at the command of Charlemagne (see ‘Homéliaires liturgiques médiévaux’, chapter XIII), with additions for the weekdays after Pentecost and the Nativity, and a few other alterations (some of these are shared with the version of Paulus printed in ‘Patrologia Latina’, 95, others with contemporary English homiliaries, cf. `Texts and their traditions in the medieval library of Rochester Cathedral Priory`, chapter IV).

The principal authors are Bede and Gregory the Great; the others are Augustine, Rabanus Maurus (not named), Ps. Origen, Petrus Chrysologus (not named), Jerome, and John Scot Erigena; five homilies are described as `excerpta ex diversis tractatoribus (four of these are also in the compilation of Smaragdus). The homilies included in the manuscript are recorded in the following list in the order in which they appear in the manuscript. Each entry conforms to the arrangement: author; work; folio in the manuscript; reference in ‘Corpus Christianorum’ (CC) and/or ‘Patrologia Latina’ (PL); reference to Gregoire’s list of the homiliary of Paulus Diaconus (I = hiver, ii = ete), and to the version of it in PL 95; and, the day of the liturgical year (as given in the manuscript).

(i) Bede. ‘in sancto sabbato Paschae’ (folio 1). Hom. ii.7, CC 122.225 (Hom.ii.1, PL 94.133); ii.2; Hom. 122, PL 95.1326.

(ii) Gregory. ‘in die resurrectionis dni’ (folio 4). Hom. in Ev. 21, PL 76.1169, ii.5; Hom 123, PL 95.1326.

(iii) Gregory. ‘feria ii’ (folio 6). Hom. in Ev. 23, PL 76.1182; ii.9; Hom. 125, PL 95.1329.

(iv) Bede. ‘feria iii’ (folio 7). Hom. ii.9, CC 122.239 (Hom. ii.2, PL 94.139); ii.10; Hom. 127, PL 95.1329.

(v) Gregory. ‘feria iiii’ (folio 10). Hom. in Ev. 24, PL 76.1184; ii.11; Hom. 129, PL 95.1331.

(vi) Gregory. ‘feria v’ (folio 12). Hom. in Ev. 25, PL 76. 1189; ii.12; Hom. 131, PL 95.1335.

(vii) Bede. ‘feria vi’ (folio 16 verso). Hom. ii.8, CC 122.233 (Hom. ii.3, PL 94.144); ii.13; Hom. 132, PL 95.1335.

(viii) Gregory. ‘sabbato’ (folio 19). Hom. in Ev. 22, PL 76.1174; (Grégoire gives a piece from Augustine for this day) Hom. 133, PL 95.1335.

(ix) Gregory. ‘domenica in octavis Paschae’ (folio 22 verso). Hom. in Ev. 26, PL 76.1197; ii.15; Hom. 134, PL 95.1335.

(x) Gregory. ‘domenica I post octavas Pache’ (folio 26). Hom. in Ev. 14, PL 76.1127; ii.20; Hom. 137, PL 95.1339.

(xi) Bede. ‘domenica ii post octavas Paschae’ (folio 28). Hom. ii.13, CC 122.267 (Hom. ii.5, PL94.154); ii.21; Hom. 138, PL 95.1339.

(xii) Bede. ‘domenica iii post octavas Paschae’ (folio 30). Hom. ii.11, CC 122.253 (Hom. ii.6, PL 94.158); ii.22; Hom. 139, PL 95.1339.

(xiii) Bede. ‘domenica iiii octavas Paschae’ (folio 33). Hom. ii.12, CC 122.260 (Hom. ii.7, PL 94.163); ii.24; Hom. 140, PL 95.1339.

(xiv) Bede. ‘feria ii in rogationibus’ (folio 36). in Luc. 3.11, CC 120.228 (PL 92.473); ii.19; Hom, 141, PL 95.1339.

(xv) Augustine. ‘in vigilia ascensionsionis dni’ (folio 39 verso). in Jo. 104.3, CC 36.603 (PL 35.1903); ii.25 (Hom. 142, PL 95.1339 is a preceding section of Augustine, in Jo. 104.1).

(xvi) Gregory. ‘in die ascensionsionis dni’ (folio 42). Hom. in Ev. 29, PL 76.1213; ii.28; Hom. 143, PL 95.1339.

(xvii) Bede. ‘domenica infra octavas ascensionionis’ (folio 45 verso). Hom. ii. 16, CC 122.290 (Hom. ii 10, PL 94.181); ii.29; Hom, 145, PL 95.1340.

(xviii) Bede. ‘in vigili Pentecostes’ (folio 50). Hom. ii.17, CC 122.301 (Hom. ii ii, PL 94.189); ii.30; Hom. 146, PL 95.1340.

(xix) Gregory. ‘in die Pentecostes’ (folio 54). Hom. in Ev. 30, PL 76.1220; ii.33; Hom. 147, PL 95.1340.

(xx) Augustine. ‘feria ii’ (folio 58). In Jo. 12.12, CC 36.127 (PL 35.1490).

(xxi) Augustine. ‘feria iii’ (folio 58 verso). in Jo. 45.5, CC 36.390 (PL 35.1720).

(xxii) Augustine. ‘feria iiii’ (folio 59). In Jo. 26.2, CC 36.260 (PL 35.1607).

(xxiii) Bede. ‘feria v’ (folio 59 verso). in Luc. 3.9, CC 120.194 (PL 92.445). = Rabanus Maurus. Hom. 66, PL 110.271.

(xxiv) Bede. ‘feria vi’ (folio 61). in Luc. 2.5, CC 120.119 (PL 92.386); (ii.84) (in Grégoire this is related to Ember Friday in September).

(xxv) Rabanus Maurus (attributed to Bede in the manuscript). ‘sabbato’ (folio 62 verso). Hom. 70, PL 110.278.

(xxvi) Bede. ‘in octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 63 verso). Hom. ii, CC 122.211 (Hom. ii,12m PL 94.197); (ii.16) (in Grégoire this is related to Easter Day); Hom. 157, PL 95.1358.

(xxvii) Gregory. ‘domenica i post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 66). Hom. in Ev. 40, PL 76.1302; (Grégoire here (ii.37) has Bede, Hom. iii.4, PL 94.276 (=in Luc. 2.6, CC 120.146); Hom, 159, PL 95.1362.

(xxviii) Gregory. ‘domenica ii post octavas Pentecostes (folio 72). Hom. in Ev. 36, PL 76.1266; ii.38; Hom. 160, PL 95.1363.

(xxix) Gregory. ‘domenica iii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 76 verso). Hom, in Ev. 34, PL 76.1246; ii.39; Hom. 161, PL 95.1363.

(xxx) Bede. ‘domenica iiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 83). ap. Smaragdus, PL 102.368.

(xxxi) Bede. ‘domenica v post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 84). In Luc. 2.5, CC 120.113 (PL 92.381) (Hom. iii.5, PL 94.278); ii.57.

(xxxii) ex div. tract. ‘domenica vi post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 85 verso). Smaragdus, PL 102.403.

(xxxiii) Bede. ‘domenica vii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 87). In Mar. 2.8, CC 120.527 (PL 92.205) (Hom. iii.6, PL 94.280); ii.60.

(xxxiv) PS. Origen (attributed to Bede in the manuscript). ‘domenica viii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 89). Hom. 5, GCS 41.1.262, PL Supp 4.872; ii.61.

(xxxv) Bede. ‘domenica viiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 92). In Luc. 5.16, CC 120.296 (PL 92.529) (Hom. iii.8, PL 94.284) = Rabanus.

(xxxvi) Gregory. ‘domenica x post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 93). Hom in Ev. 39, PL 76.1294; Hom, 169, PL 95.1375.

(xxxvii) Bede. ‘domenica xi post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 96 verso). in Luc. 5.18, CC 120.324 (PL 92.551) (Hom. iii.10, PL 94.289); ii.64.

(xxxviii) Bede. ‘domenica xii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 97 verso). Hom. ii.6, CC 122.220 (Hom. ii.19, PL 94.234); ii.69; Hom. 172, PL 95.1380.

(xxxix) Bede. ‘domenica xiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 99 verso). in Luc. 3.10, CC 120.220 (PL 92.467) (Hom. iii.12, PL 94.293).

(xl) Bede. ‘domenica xiiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 101 verso). in Luc. 5.17, CC 120.312 (PL 92.542) (Hom. iii.13, PL 94.296); ii.75.

(xli) Bede. ‘domenica xv post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 103). In Luc. 5.16, CC 120.299 (PL 92.531) (Hom, iii.14, PL 94.298); 11.75.

(xlii) Bede. ‘domenica xvi post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 104). In Luc. 2.7, CC 120.157 (PL 92.417) (Hom. iii.15, PL 94.300)

(xliii) Bede. ‘domenica xvii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 105). In Luc. 4.14, CC 120.274 (PL 92.510) (Hom. iii.16, PL 94.300); ii.80; Hom. 180, PL 95.1423.

(xliv) Bede. ‘in ieiunio septimi mensis feria iiii’ (folio 106 verso). in Luc. 9.37, CC 120.208 (PL 92.456); (ii.82) (The manuscript agrees with Vat. lat. 8563, cited as a variant by Grégoire).

(xlv) Gregory. ‘feria vi’ (folio 108). Hom. in Ev. 33, PL 76.1239; (there is nothing in Grégoire for this day).

(xlvi) Gregory. ‘sabbato’ (folio 111 verso). Hom. in Ev. 31, PL 76.1228; ii.86; Hom. 184, PL 95.1429.

(xlvii) ex div. tract. ‘domenica xviii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 114). Inc. ‘Ostenditur ex hac interrogation scribe’.

(xlviii) Petrus Chrysologus (attributed to Bishop John in manuscript, to Jerome in PL 95) ‘domenica xviiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 114 verso). Hom. 50, CC 24.276 (PL 52.339); ii. 89; Hom. 186, PL 95.1430.

(xlix) Gregory ‘domenica xx post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 116). Hom. in Ev. 38, PL 76.1282; Hom. 188, PL 95.1438.

(l) Gregory. ‘domenica xxi post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 122). Hom. in Ev. 28, PL 76.1211; Hom. 189, PL 95.1438.

(li) Jerome. ‘domenica xxii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 123). comm. In Mat. 18.23, CC 77.163 (PL 26.132); ii.94a.

(lii) ex div. tract. ‘domenica xxiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 123 verso). Smaragdus, PL 102.504.

(liii) Augustine. ‘domenica xxiiii post octavas Pentecostes’ (folio 124 verso). in Jo. 24.2, CC 36.244 (PL 35.1592); i.1 (Grégoire describes the day as the 5th Sunday before the Nativity; the manuscript (and PL 95) calculate it as after Pentecost); Hom. 197, PL 95.1453.

(liv) ex div. tract. ‘domenica i de aduentu dni’ (folio 126 verso). Smaragdus, PL 102.513.

(lv) Gregory. ‘domenica ii de aduentu dni’ (folio 127 verso). Hom. in Ev. 1, PL 76.1077; i.3; Hom. 3, PL 95.1161.

(lvi) Gregory. ‘domenica I de aduentu dni’ (folio 129 verso). Hom. in Ev. 6, PL 76.1095; i.5; Hom. 5, PL 95.1161.

(lvii) Bede. ‘feria iiii’ (folio 131 verso). Hom. i.3, CC 122.14 (Hom. i.1, PL 94.9); i.11; Hom. 7, PL 95.1161.

(lviii) Bede. ‘feria vi’ (folio 134 verso). Hom. i.4, CC 122.21 (Hom. i.2, PL 94.15); i.12; Hom. 9, PL 95.1161.

(lix) Gregory. ‘sabbato’ (folio 138 verso). Hom. in Ev. 20, PL 76.1160; i.13; Hom. 11, PL 95.1162.

(lx) Gregory. ‘domenica iiii de aduentu dni’ (folio 143 verso). Hom. in Ev. 7, PL 76.1099; i.8; Hom. 13, PL 95.1162.

(lxi) Ps. Origen. ‘in vigilia natalis dni’ (folio 145 verso). Hom. 1, GCS 41.1.239; i.15; Hom. 17, PL 95.1162.

(lxii) Jerome. ‘in die nativitatis dni nri ihu xpi’ (folio 148). in Ma. 1.1-9, CC 77.7 (PL 26.22).

(lxiii) Gregory. ‘[night of Nativ.]’ (folio 148 verso). Hom. in Ev. 8, PL 76.1103; i.24; Hom. 18, PL 95.1167.

(lxiv) Bede. ‘[dawn of Nativ.]’ (folio 149 verso). Hom. i.7, CC 122.46 (Hom. i.6, PL 94.34); i.25; Hom. 20, PL 95.1167.

(lxv) Bede. ‘[Nativ.]’ (folio 151 verso). Hom. i.8, CC 122.52 (Hom. i.7, PL 94.38); i.26; Hom. 21, PL 95.1167.

(lxvi) Jerome. ‘in natalis Sci Stephani’ (folio 154 verso). in Ma. 23.34, CC 77.218 (PL 26.172); i.30; Hom. 29, PL 95.1169.

(lxvii) Bede. ‘de sco Iohane euangelista’ (folio 156). Hom. i.9, CC 122.60 (Hom. i.8, PL 94.44); i.33; Hom. 36, PL 95.1174

(lxviii) Bede. ‘in nataIi Innocentium’ (folio 159). Hom. i.10, CC 122.68 (Hom. i.9, PL 94.50); i.36; Hom. 37, PL 95.1174.

(lxix) Bede. ‘infra octavas’ (folio 161). in Luc. 1.1, CC 120.44 (PL 92.327).

(lxx) Bede. ‘infra octavas’ (folio 164 verso). in Luc. 1.2, CC 120.53 (PL 92.334).

(lxxi) John Scot Erigena. ‘infra octavas’ (folio 166). in prol. Jo., PL 122.283.

(lxxii) Bede. ‘domenica post natal. dni’ (folio 173 verso). in Luc. 1.2, CC 120.67 (PL 92.345) (Hom. iii.32, PL 94.339).

(lxxiii) Bede. ‘in circumcision dni’ (folio 175). Hom. i.11, CC 122.73 (Hom. i.10, PL 94.53); i.40; Hom. 45, PL 95.1186.

(lxxiv) ex div. tract. ‘in vigilia Epiphanie dni’ (folio 177 verso). Smaragdus, PL 102.54.

(lxxv) Gregory. ‘in die [Epiph.]’ (folio 178). Hom. in Ev. 10, PL 76.1110; i.48; Hom. 48, PL 95.1188.

(lxxvi) Bede. ‘domenica infra octavas [Epiph.]’ (folio 180). Hom. i.12, CC 122.80 (Hom. i.11, PL 94.58); i.58; Hom. 51, PL 95.1188.

(lxxvii) Bede. ‘in octavis [Epiph.]’ (folio 183 verso). Hom. i.15, CC 122.105 (Hom. i.14, PL 94.74); i.49; Hom. 50, PL 95.1188.

(lxxviii) Bede. ‘domenica’ (folio 185 verso). Hom. i.19, CC 122.134 (Hom. i.12, PL 94.63); i.59; Hom. 52, PL 95.1189.

(lxxix) Bede. ‘domenica’ (folio 188). Hom. i.14, CC 122.95 (Hom. i.13, PL 94.68); i.60; Hom. 53, PL 95.1189.

(lxxx) Ps. Origen. ‘domenica’ (folio 192). Hom. 6, GCS 41.246; i.61; Hom. 54, PL 95.1189.

(lxxxi) Ps. Origen. ‘domenica’ (folio 196). Hom. 7, GCS 41.1.256; i.64; Hom. 55, PL 95.1196.

There is a major alteration from Paulus Diaconus in regard to order: whereas the original`s Temporale was arranged normally by winter (Advent to Holy Week) and summer (Easter to Sundays after Pentecost), here there is a single sequence from Easter to the 4th Sunday after Epiphany. Each homily is preceded by its Gospel reading.

The homiliary is followed by nine verses, ` De utilitate confessionis` , incipit `Ad se nos dominus cupiens remeare benignus` (Walther 439 with addenda), and another five incipit `Luxurie pondus valet a se pellere nullus` (Walther 10529, citing only this manuscript, from Schenkl) (folio 198), an account of a dispute concerning land claimed by Rochester (folio 198 verso; ‘Textus Roffensis’, page 149), a list of benefactions to Rochester by William I (folio 198 verso; ‘Textus Roffensis’, pages 211-212), and lists of churches in Rome (folio 199 verso).

In a physically different section and a different hand, there are unattributed sermons on the conception of the Virgin (incipit `Conceptioni beate virginis corde et voce`; folio 200) and on Mary weeping at the tomb (incipit `Audivimus fratres Mariam ad monumentum`; folio 207).

The main scribe writes in the Rochester version of the Christ Church script. He has written at the end (folio 178) `Qui scripsit uiuat and qui legat letat(ur) in euu(m)`. There is a historiated initial at the beginning (folio 1), depicting a preacher in a boat, with an audience of bishops and a soldier; the background is red internally, yellow externally, and the figures etc. are in green, purple, yellow, and red. Each reading and homily have large initials (some divided) in red and green, or (but not beyond folio 76 verso) green and red. Internal divisions are marked by smaller initials in the same colours. Rubrics are in red rustic capitals. Black apostrophes in the margins are of uncertain significance. The two added homilies have inhabited initials in blue and purple.

The text has been carefully corrected by contemporary hands, often in a paler ink: either errors have been erased and the corrections written in the text, or additions have been made between the lines or in the margins. A different hand has written (folio 178) the lines `Ut flos marcescit sic pristina lex redolescit. Et noua lex crescit and per mala multa senescit.` On folio 212 verso are various later notes, probably pen-trials (the line `Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus. Amen` occurs three times).

Strips cut from the middle of a 13th-century contents list of the manuscript have been used to strengthen the joints. That at the front gives the middle of the incipits of the readings for folios 1-92; that at the rear gives the ends of these incipits, and the numbers, authors and beginnings of the incipits of the readings for folios 93-159. There must originally have been three columns.

Dates

Creation: Early 12th century.

Extent

1 Volumes (viii (paper) + 228 + viii (paper) folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1-24⁸, 25⁸ (-8), 26¹⁴ (-14). No signatures or catchwords. Ruling with hard point (the added section in ink). 2 columns, 34 lines (32 in the added section). Written area 240 x 174 millimetres. (240 x 168 in the added section).

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Vellum. Binding of brown sheepskin, tooled blind, with two clasps.

Custodial History

Ownership by Rochester Cathedral Priory is indicated (as well as by the script) by the note on folio 198 verso, where it is referred to as `nostra ecclesia`. The foot of folio 1 has been cut out, but the remaining tops of ascenders are consistent with the usual 14th-century Rochester ex-libris ( ‘Medieval Libraries of Great Britain’, 2nd edition, 160). The volume probably appears in Rochester catalogues of the mid-12th century (‘Archaeologia Cantiana’, volume 6, page 127) and 1202 (‘Archaeologia Cantiana’, volume 3, page 57). It later belonged to Sir James Balfour, whose contents-list and ex-libris, dated 1628, are on folio ii, undated signature on folio 1, and device on folio 212 verso; Denmilne number 40 is on folio i. It is number 155-157 in the sale-catalogue of his manuscripts in 1698. The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1698.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilm available: Mf.Sec.MSS.423.

Bibliography

A description of the manuscript is in Miss C R Borland`s Catalogue of Mediaeval manuscripts (kept in the Department of Manuscripts), volume i, page 219.

Possibly recorded in the library catalogue of Rochester Priory, 1122-1123. See ‘English Benedictine Libraries’, edited by R Sharpe [et al.], ‘Corpus of British Medieval Library Catalogues 4’ (1996) Catalogue B77, number 85, page 490 [pressmark = GBE 36].

Gregoire, R. ‘Homéliaires liturgiques médiévaux’ (Spoleto, 1980).

Migne, Jacques-Paul. ‘Patrologia Latina’, 95, 1159 folios.

Richards, M P. `Texts and their traditions in the medieval library of Rochester Cathedral Priory`, in ‘Transactions of the American Philosophical Society’, volume 78, part 3 (1988).

‘Textus Roffensis’, edited by Thomas Hearne (1720).

Ker, ‘Medieval Libraries of Great Britain’, 2nd edition.

‘Archaeologia Cantiana’, volumes 3 and 6.