Manuscript 428 is a convolute of historical and philosophical texts: (ff. 1r-48v) the Historia Britonum per Gaufridum Monemutensem composita; (ff. 48r-51r) the Editio Gaufridi Monemutensis de edictis Merlini Ambrosii; (ff. 51r-54r) Liber Methodii episcopi ecclesie et martiris Christi, quem de Hebreo transtulit in Latinum, quem beatus Jeronimus in opusculis suis collaudavit; (ff. 55r-59r) Liber tercius de ira ad Novatum; (ff. 59r-63v) Liber de vita beata ad Gallionem; (ff. 63v-69r) Liber de brevitate vite; (ff. 69r-73r) Liber ad Marciam de morte filij; and (ff. 73r-76v) Liber ad Helbiam matrem de consolatione filii. While the fenestra title lists a work of Dares Phrygius as the first text in this manuscript, it is lacking. Of the second text, the first leaf is absent. This was already the case in the seventeenth century, as the first extant leaf features both the title of the Historia Britonum and the cross-shaped stamp of Ten Duinen. The first two texts have been written by Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. 1095-c. 1155), a British cleric and history writer. His History of the Kings of Britain, the first of the two texts, is an attempt to present a history of the British Isles from Brutus of Troy, a descendant of Aeneas, to the seventh century. His work was seminal for the incorporation of the Arthur myths in British historical thought. Despite being considered nowadays to be unreliable and fantastic, for many centuries his work was considered historical truth. The other text concerns the so-called prophecies of Merlin, uttered by the latter to king Vortigern. The third text has no obvious relation to its companions. The Apocalypse of pseudo-Methodius was falsely attributed to the fourth-century Church Father Methodius of Olympus, but it describes the history of the world from the Creation until the Islamic conquest of the Near East, occurring in the seventh century. These military and religious events led to disarray and fear among the Syrian Christians, which was voiced in the Apocalypse through a depiction of the end of times. The text might be linked to the previous through the prophetic outlook at the end, or perhaps due to the appearance of the giants Gog and Magog, which are also found in Geoffrey's works. The rest of the texts are works by the Roman philosopher Seneca, and mainly discuss the briefness of earthly life and the importance of leading a blissful life. In De Ira he gives advice on how to avoid anger, while in De vita beata Seneca determines that reason is the main source of happiness, as it allows one to understand events. This theme returns in his consolatory writings, to Marcia and his own mother Helbia (or Helvia), in which is the stoic idea of being untouched by uncontrollable events forms the basis of his attempts to offer consolation. The manuscript consists of two units. The former, containing the first three works, appears to have been written in the early fourteenth century. Initials have been added consequently in red and blue ink, while rubrics are present and majuscules have been highlighted in red ink. The latter unit, with Seneca's writings, dates from the later fourteenth century. Here, rubrics and running titles are present, both in red ink, but no initials or other decoration is found. Spaces have been left empty for the initials. This unit is much heavier annotated and appears to have been more of a study book than the other unit. The units have been bound together in the Middle Ages, as is seen from the binding. It consists of brown leather with blind stamping over wooden boards; the back board contains the fenestra. [Summary by Dr. Mark Vermeer]
Note
De Excidio Troiae Historia van Dares Phrygius ontbreekt, hoewel deze in de fenestratitel genoemd wordt
Note
Convoluut
Genre/form
Kroniek|Q185363
Genre/form
Biografie|Q36279
Genre/form
Heiligenlevens / hagiografie en mirakelverhalen|Q208628
Genre/form
Traktaat|Q384515
Topic general subdivision
Godsdienst
Topic general subdivision
Geschiedenis
Topic general subdivision
Wijsbegeerte
Material
Perkament (Wikidata Q226697)
Extent
76 ff.
Dimensions
340 x 250 mm
Decoration and binding
gedecoreerde initialen|Q63872683
Decoration and binding
lombarden|Q28670094
Decoration and binding
Middeleeuwse band
Script
gotische textualis
Bibliographic references
De Poorter, A., Catalogue des manuscrits de la bibliothèque publique de la ville de Bruges (Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothèques de Belgique 2), Gembloux: Duculot, 1934
Bibliographic references
Herren, Michael W., 'The Revelationes of Pseudo-Methodius in the Eighth Century', Felici curiositate. Studies in Latin Literature and Textual Criticism from Antiquity to the Twentieth Century. In Honour of Rita Beyers (Brepols 2017) 409-418
Bibliographic references
Prinz, Otto, Eine fruhe abendlandische Aktualisierung der lateinischen Übersetzung des Pseudo-Methodius, Deutsches Archiv für Erforschung des Mittelalters 41, (1985), 1-23
Bibliographic references
Verbeke, W., J. Janssens, M. Smeyers (red.), Arturus Rex. Volumen I: Catalogus. (Mediaevalia Lovaniensia, Series I, Studia XVI) Leuven University Press, 1987
Bibliographic references
Online catalogue description by Dr. Mark Vermeer. Online catalogusbeschrijving door Dr. Mark Vermeer.
Provenance
Cisterciënzerabdij Ter Doest (S.O.Cist.)
Provenance
Cisterciënzerabdij Ten Duinen (S.O.Cist.)
Digitization project
Arturus Rex : Koning Artur en de Nederlanden : la matière de Bretagne et les anciens Pays-BasMmmonk: Middeleeuwse Monastieke Manuscripten - Open - Netwerk - Kennis
Vind gelijkaardige manuscripten zoals B_OB_MS428 - Historia Daretis phrigii de excidio troie. Et historia britonum per gaufridum monemutensem composita, cum aliis [fenestratitel]