Skip to main content

The Ecclesiastical History of Bede, Written by several scribes in the 12th century in England

 File
MS. Fairfax 12
Held at the Weston Library

  • Request
    this

The Ecclesiastical History of Bede, styled O5 by Plummer in the Oxford edition, i (1896), p. cxxi:

  1. The prefatory letter, beg. 'Gloriosissimo regi Coeluulfo Beda famulus' (fol. 4)
  2. Followed by the table of chapters (fol. 5)
  3. The text beg. 'Britannia insula cui quondam Albion' (fol. 6)
  4. Followed by the letter of Cuthbert to Cuthwin on Bede's death: beg. (after the salutation) 'Munusculum quod misisti' (fol. 140v)
  5. Followed by the passion of st. Edmund by Abbo of Fleury: beg. 'Domino sancto Dorobernensium ecclesie archiepiscopo Dunstano' (fol. 142)
  6. Text beg. 'Asciti aliquando in Britanniam' (fol. 142v) and ends imperfectly
  7. Charles Fairfax has added (as fol. 144) a leaf containing a 16th-cent. copy of Latin verses on king Oswald: beg. 'Ad magni regis gloriam'

Dates

  • Creation: Written by several scribes in the 12th century in England

Extent

149 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Fairfax 12

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. II, no. 3892

Custodial History

This MS. is stated in a 17th-cent. inscription on fol. 4 to have been owned by Selby priory. Its 14th-cent. press-mark was Cronica xii (fol. 2). 'Anno 1591, 2 Januarii' the book was in the possession of 'W. Santclair of Roislin, knight' (fol. 4, cf. MS. Fairfax 11), and was given to colonel Charles Fairfax in September 1650 by Walter Cant, advocate of Edinburgh (fol. 2v). There are Latin lines dedicated to Fairfax, subscribed 'Sam. Colvile Scotus' (ib.). On fol. 2 are some illegible inscriptions.

Physical Facet

On parchment, fol. 8-end are in double columns. With illuminated capitals, etc.

Dimensions

11 1/2 × 7 2/5 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom