The Production and Use of English Manuscripts 1060 to 1220

Owen Roberson

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ashmole 328

Byrhtferth of Ramsey's Handbook

Date: s. ximed

Summary:

Computus handbook written in Latin and Old English, and two homiletic pieces. One hand, origin unknown.

Manuscript Items:

1. Item: pp. 1-247

   Title (B.20.20.1): Byrhtferth's Manual

   Incipit: in capite (The contents of pp. 1-54 are disarranged.)

   Text Language: English

   Note: Inscription relating to a diagram: 'byrhtferð monachus ramesiensis' on the seventh leaf of the first quire (a fragment).

   Bibliography:

   Ker 1957, item 288

2. Item: pp. 247-51

   Title (B.3.4.38): Anonymous Homilies [for unspecified occasions, published]: Napier 1883 [1967], no. 47: 'Larspell and scriftboc'

   Incipit (Latin): (p. 247) Iohannes ait. post mille annos.

   Incipit: (p. 247) Se halga iohannes cwæð æfter þam þusende byð se deofol unbunden

   Text Language: English

   Bibliography:

   Ker 1957, item 288

3. Item: pp. 251-58

   Title (B.3.4.39): Anonymous Homilies [for unspecified occasions, published]: Napier 1883 [1967], no. 48: 'Ammonitio amici'

   Rubric (initial): (p. 251) Ammonitio amici. þæt ys freodlic mynegung.

   Incipit: (p. 251) Eala þu wynsuma man. þu æðela wer

   Text Language: English

   Bibliography:

   Ker 1957, item 288

Administration Information:

Described by Owen Roberson with the assistance of Hollie Morgan, with reference to published scholarship (2010; 2012).

Bibliography:

Ker, N. R., Catalogue of Manuscripts Containing Anglo-Saxon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1957; repr. 1990), item 288