Exeter College MS. 27
John Lathbury, OFM, In Lamentationes; Oxford?, England, s. xvmed
Printed Oxford, 1482 (STC 15297); Stegmüller, Bibl., 4762. On the work see Smalley, Friars, 223 et seq., who prints brief excerpts from the text, using this manuscript. More extensive excerpts, also using this manuscript, are in B. Smalley, ‘Flaccianus De visionibus Sibyllae’, Mélanges offerts à Étienne Gilson (Toronto and Paris, 1959), 547–62. As in most copies, chapter divisions are marked by letters of the alphabet. On Lathbury see Sharpe, Latin Writers.
Two columns, 44–49 lines. Ruled in crayon; in the tabula pages frame ruling only.
The text is in hybrida formata in several hands, sparsely punctuated by low point. Headings are in a quadrata bookhand. The tabula are in mixed secretary/anglicana in one hand.
Fine illuminated borders on fols. 1r, 13r, and 158v (Alexander and Temple, no. 520), Oxford work by the decorator of MS 60 (Artist A). For a characterization of his work see the headnote to MSS 51–68 in Watson, Exeter, pp. 85–87.
There are 2/3-line blue lombards flourished red, with extenders; red and blue paraphs.
Sewn on five bands. Standard Exeter binding: simple and quite elegant, calf over millboards, the calf bearing blind decoration of a floral type, early 19th century. Modern spine and flyleaves with 18th-century red leather label with gold lettering.
Provenance and Acquisition
There are some marginal corrections of s. xv.
Recorded at Exeter c. 1600 as Ecloga, no. 27, and later in CMA, no. 42.
Exeter library identifications on the front pastedown are: the Exeter book stamp, ‘Ex Coll. Oxon’ and ‘172 G7’ (both in pencil), ‘No. 42’ (pencil), presumably a reference to CMA, and ‘Coxe Cat. no. xxvii.’
For enquiries relating to this manuscript please contact Exeter College Library.
Last Substantive Revision
2020-04-29: First online publication