PARS OCULI SACERDOTIS. SECRETA SECRETORUM. GESTA ROMANORUM

MRJ number
36
College classmark
B.14

    Vellum, 10.75 x 7.25, ff. 118 + 8,  double columns of 39 lines, and single of 32 and 30.  Two volumes.  14th and 15th cent.  Old binding, skin over boards, clasp gone.

    Donor, T. C. S.

    Collation: a4 (1 stuck to cover) 18 28 312 || 40 - 1210 : b4 (4 stuck to cover).

    On flyleaves: ib.  A device like a knot, and 'signum meum.'

    iia.  Mem. delyuered to ye  dyer x remnauntes of whyte sarcenett continet (?) in all xxiii yardys.

        Contents:

  I.               In double columns.

              1.   (Willelmi de Pagula Prima pars oculi sacerdotum)        .         .         .        f.  1

                   Cum ecclesie quibus preficiuntur persone

                   Ends f. 28b : erit in gloria ad quam nos perducat idem d. n. I. C.

                      Amen.  Expl. (erasure) oculi sacerdotum.

                   Notes: Qui iurat super librum tria facit, etc., and memorial

                      verses.

  II.              f. 29 blank.  Text in single lines.

              2.  Pseudo Aristotelis Liber de secretis secretorum          .         .         .         .       30 

                   Preliminary matter.  Prologue.  Domino suo excellentissimo 

                      ...guidoni

                   Capitula of the ten books  .        .         .         .         .         .         .         .           30b 

                   De prohemio cuius(dam) doctoris in commendacionem aristotelis                   31b

                   Deus eternus custodiat

                   De prol. Iohannis translatoris huius libri     .         .         .         .         .              32b

                   Iohannes qui transtulit

                   De epistola Aristotelis missa regi  Alexandro      .          .          .         .             32b        

                   O ffili gloriosissime

                   Ends f. 70b : declina semper ad meliorem ad probabiliorem

                      partem.  Expl. lib. de secretis secretorum aristotilis. siue de

                      regimine dominorum ad magnum regem alexandrum.

                   f. 71 blank.

              3.  Change of hand.

                   Gesta Romanorum.

                   De perseuerancia  contra inconstantes potentes et sapientes

                      huius mundi.  Cap. 1.

                   Anselmus in ciuitate romana regnauit prudens ualde

                   In 39 chapters, ending imperfectly: vidisset de eius pulcritudine.  

 

    This copy answers very exactly as far as it goes, to that in MS. Harley 2270, as described in Oesterley's edition of the Gesta, 1872, p. 187.  The Harley MS. has 102 chapters.  Osterley does not mention our MS.          

Manuscript extra information

Negative microfilm in St John's College Library.

Friedrich Wurms, Studien zu den Deutschen und den Lateinischen Prosafassungen des pseudo-aristotelischen 'Secretum secretorum'  (Hamburg, 1970).