Manuscript, written in the 14th century, containing extracts from 'De Clementia' and an incomplete text of 'Epistolae morales' by Seneca; with many contemporary annotations.
Scope and Contents
(i) Extracts from the ‘De clementia’, in two series, concerning respectively ‘clementia’ and ‘crudelitas’: i.1.5 ‘rarissimum’ – ‘est’, ‘nemo’ – ‘Romano’, i.1.6 ‘difficile’ – ‘procedunt’, i.1.7 ‘iam’ – ‘sunt’, ‘fecit’ – ‘assecuti’, i.2.2 ‘nec’ – ‘praeponderet’, 1.3.3 ‘nullum’ – ‘struendum est’, i.4.1 ‘ille’ – ‘fidem’, i.4.3 ‘olim’ – ‘capite’, i.5.1 ‘uides’ – ‘parcere’, i.5.3 ‘decet’ – ‘conspicitur’, i.5.5 ‘magnam’ – ‘despicere’, i.7.4 ‘humili’ – ‘liberius est’, i.8.1 ‘eorum’ - i.8.2 ‘timore’, i.8.2 ‘tibi’ – ‘sequitur’, i.8.3 ‘fastigio’ - i.8.4 ‘contingit’, i.8.5 ‘loqui’ – ‘quatiatur’, i.8.7 ‘uoluntas’ – ‘succedunt’, i.11.2 ‘ego’ – ‘crudelitatem’, i.11.4 ‘clementia’ – ‘salus’, ‘quid’ – ‘necessitate’, i.12.3 ‘clementia’ – ‘compescat’, i.13.2 - i.14.3 (with some small omissions), i.16.3 ‘nonne’ – ‘compescet’, i.17.1 ‘nullum’ – ‘homo’, i.18.1 ‘seruis’ – ‘iubet esse’, i.18.3 ‘quemadmodum’ – ‘traditur’, i.19.1 ‘ex quo nemo excogitare’ - i.19.4 ‘satisfaceret’, i.19.5 ‘errat’ - i.19.7 ‘cunctis’, i.19.8 ‘quis’ – ‘abundat’, i.20.1 ‘a’ – ‘exemplo’, i.20.2 ‘nunc’ – i.21.1 ‘securitatem’, ii.3.1 ‘uideamus’ – ‘inferiorem, ‘dici’ – ‘exigenda’, ii.3.2 ‘atqui’ - ii.4.1 ‘poenis exigendis’, ii.4.3 ‘illos’ – ‘habent’, ii.6.4 ‘misericordia’ – ‘subfunduntur’, ‘uitium’ – ‘exigat’, ii.7.1 ‘uenia’ – ‘propositum; ii.4.3 [‘seueritas est] inclinatio’ - ii.5.1 ‘accedit’, ii.5.4 ‘misericordia’ - ii.5.5 ‘reciperet’, ii.6.3 ‘ceterum – ii.6.4 ‘gemitus’, ii.7.1 ‘constituamus’ - ii.7.5 ‘flectantur’. (Folio 1.)
(ii) `Epistulae morales`, 1 - 58.27 ‘ergo’ (the remainder of the manuscript being lost). There is some confusion at the beginning: folio 3 verso column 2 must be read after the first 2½ lines of folio 4 recto, and folio 4 verso after the first ½ line of folio 7 recto. Possibly the scribe at first intended to give only extracts, but soon decided to copy the complete text; this is supported by the fact that many phrases are added in the margin. 9.17 ‘utilitas’ - 10.5 ‘narrant’ are lost (folio lost after folio 8). The text is basically of the δ group, with some contamination from β. (Folio 3 verso.)
Space has been left for initials, but these have not been added. There are frequent contemporary marginal notes. ‘C.386` is written on folio ii.
Dates
- Creation: 14th century.
Extent
1 Volumes (ii (paper) + 53 + i (paper) folios.)
Language of Materials
Latin
Arrangement
Collation: 1¹⁶ (-1⁹; so originally, as shown by signatures and catchwords; the sheets have at some time been cut in half and the parts pasted together to make gatherings of 8 and 7 leaves), 2-3¹⁰, 4-5⁸. Signatures in arabic numerals in the centre lower margin of the first recto of each gathering. Catchwords by the text-hand in the lower right-hand margin, parallel to the text. Pricking with a flat awl on or close to the text-frame from first recto to last verso of each gathering. Ruling in ink (no guide-lines). Mostly 2 columns, but 1 on folios 4, 9-11 recto, 12 verso, 31 verso-37 (sometimes but not always because an imperfect piece of vellum had been employed). 34-48 lines. Ruled area 150 x 110 millimetres. Secundo folio: `(enim) no(m)ina honori`.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Vellum. Continental binding of brown morocco, tooled blind (rebacked); possibly 16th or 17th century.
Custodial History
The manuscript was acquired by the Advocates’ Library before circa 1825.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Seneca. `Epistulae morales`, edited by L P Reynolds (Oxford, 1965).
Physical Description
0.00 linear metresii (paper) + 53 + i (paper) folios.145.00 x 210.00 millimetres
Dimensions
145.00 x 210.00 millimetres
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 03 02 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk