Cambridge, University Library, Hh. 1.13: fols 71v-72v

CUL, Hh.1.13, fol. 71v

CUL, MS Hh.1.13, fol. 71v. Copyright Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library, MS Hh. 1. 13 (Hh.1.13) is one of over 50 extant copies of the Speculum Christiani, a popular pastoral compilation dating most likely from the first few decades of the fifteenth century. The Speculum almost always consists of eight sections or tabulae, each of which expounds on certain aspects of the Christian faith, in keeping with Pecham’s basic syllabus of religious instruction. The Speculum, however, is often combined with other religious texts of diverse provenance.

Fols 1r-71v of Hh.1.13 contain a unique version of the Speculum (G. Holmstedt (ed.), Speculum Christiani, EETS: OS, 182 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1933, p. cxlii).

On fols 72v-73v, the main text is followed by a passage from Book 2 Chapter 4 of Hugo de Sancto Victore’s De arca Noe morali (PL 187, 0383A-0383C), which is also present only in London, British Library, MS Landsowne 344.

Fols 71v-72v contain a collection of aphorisms hitherto unidentified. They accompany the Speculum in at least eleven other manuscripts, including MS Landsowne 344 and Cambridge, Pembroke College, MS 285. Like the Speculum Christiani, it combines short citations from various devotional Latin sources, which I have identified as follows:

  1. 71v: Si aliquos inueneritis contradeum et iusticia| manifeste delinquere et tam magni tiranni | fuerunt, quod super eos iusticiam facere non possitis, tunc | leuibus verbis et dulcibus dicatis eis, quod se corrigant | et si obedire noluerint. iudicio dei eos relinquatis | [fol. 72r] qui vestram beneuolam respiciet voluntatem (Revelations of Saint Bridget, Book VII).
  2. 72r: Crisostomus. Si loquitur, in dolo loquitur, si tacet male | cogitat . si irascitur. insanit . si pacientur agit tempus | exspectat nocendi . et opportunitatem considerat quam | noceat . si male agit . non erubescit . si bene facit . ad | vanam gloriam propter homines facit (John Chrysostom, In Matthaeum, Homily XX).
  3. 72r: Augustinus. In malis pro|missis renscinde fidem. In turpi voto muta decretum. (Note: Although ascribed to Augustine in the manuscript, the source appears to be Isidore of Seville, Synonymorum libri duo. The passage was later adapted into canon law, which is the more likely source).
  4. 72r: Crisostomus. Differentia intersanctuet sanctum Christus solus cognoscit . | cuius membra nos omnes sumus . Ipsis autem sanctis non est | concessum . ut cognoscant differentiam suam adinvicem . ut | non meliores superbiant contra deteriores . et deteriores | detristentur contra meliores . et per hoc soluta caritate, inter | eos nascatur discordia  (John Chrysostom, In Matthaeum, Homily XXXVI).
  5. 72r: Crisostomussuper illud euangelium. Nolite arbitrari, quia venerim pacem mittere in terram . | sed gladium est pax bona et est pax mala . pax | bona est inter bonos et fideles et iusticia iacent | In pace vero malorum infidelitas et iniusticia | stant fides et iusticia iacent (John Chrysostom, In Matthaeum, Homily XXVI).
  6. 72r: Augustinus. Lex magni caritatissuper omnes libros est. (Source unidentified)
  7. 72r: Prosper. est vita virtu|tumipsa est mors viciorum (Prosper of Aquitaine, unidentified passage).
  8. 72r: Sicut fluit cera a fa|cie [fol. 72v] ignis sic pereant vicia a facie caritatis. (Psalm 67)
  9. 72v: De bonumquod latet et quod patet in diuinis codicibus tenet qui caritatem perfectam tenet in moribus (Paraphrase of Augustine, Sermo 350).
  10. 72v: Ecclesiasticus3º Fili sine consilio nichil facias et post factum non penitebis (Ecclesiasticus 32:24).
  11. 72v: Prou 8. Cumfatuis non habebis | consilium, non enim poterint diligere nisi ea que eis | placent (Ecclesiasticus 8:20).
  12. 72v: Psalmus. Beatusvir qui non abiit in consilio | impiorum. Pro consiliaris . ante omnes diligendus est | deus (Psalm 1).
  13. 72v: Thobit. 3º. Omnia consilia tua in ip|so permaneant (Tobit 4:20).

Bernardo S. Hinojosa, M.Phil Student 2014-15.

Research conducted as part of the Textual and Related Studies component of the MPhil in Medieval and Renaissance Literature.

Please cite as: Bernardo S. Hinojosa, Cambridge, University Library, Hh. 1.13: fols 71v-72v, ‘The Manuscripts Lab’, December 2015.