PARS OCULI SACERDOTIS. SECRETA SECRETORUM. GESTA ROMANORUM
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.
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).