Manuscripts

Queens’ MS 26

Queens' College Library
Page aimée · 10 décembre 2015 · ·

Glossa Ordinaria
In Latin
England, first half of the thirteenth century

This volume, containing the gospels of Mark, Luke, and John together with marginal interlinear annotations (Glosses) constitutes an extract from a broader work known as the Glossa Ordinaria. Now recognised to be one of the great intellectual achievements of the Middle Ages, the Glossa Ordinaria embodies the medieval conception of the bible as a ‘bibliotheca’ (or library) rather than single book. Drawn mainly from patristic texts, the origins of the annotations together with the distinctive format lie with Anselm of Laon (d. 1117), although others also played a part to establish a final (albeit evolving) text. As such the Glossa Ordinaria is representative of early efforts to present discrete patristic and medieval interpretations of individual verses of scripture in a readily accessible, easily referenced way. A complete manuscript copy of the Gloss Ordinaria (containing the entire biblical text with commentaries) would have comprised around twenty-one volumes.

The opening on display here shows Luke Chapter 8 (in large text), together with annotated glosses (in smaller text), along with what appear to be further annotations peculiar to this copy (smallest text). This volume is one of the only Queens’ manuscripts for which we have no provenance information. It seems likely, however, to be of monastic origin.