On this page, you can find out more about the medieval theological manuscripts in St John’s College Library. The manuscripts here variously date to between the 10th and the 15th centuries. You may also be interested in the Theology section of our western post-1500 manuscripts collection.
MS 2
MS 2 was produced in England in the fifteenth century. It contains a copy of Commentarius in Concordiam evangelistarum Clementis de Lanthony by William of Nottingham. Nottingham appears to be an Oxford Franciscan who died in 1336.
MS 14
MS 14 is a copy of Peter of Harenthals’ Commentary on the Psalms. This manuscript is notable for including a number of historiated initials, most of which depict David. MS 14 was produced in England at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
MS 20
MS 20 contains a commentary on Isaiah, a prophetic book in the Old Testament. The work is attributed to Haymo, who is probably Haymo of Auxerre (d. c. 865). This manuscript, produced in England in the middle of the twelfth century, is notable for its vinework initials.
MS 25
MS 25 contains the only surviving copy of Compilatio ex sacris scripturis. This theological text is attributed to W. Monk of Durham, who is perhaps William of Middleton or William of Greatham. MS 25 was produced in England in the first quarter of the fourteenth century.
MS 28
MS 28 was produced in England c.975 / 1000. It contains a copy of Gregory the Great’s hugely influential Cura pastoralis (‘Pastoral Care’). Gregory the Great was the Pope responsible for sending a Christian mission to convert England in 596. MS 28 includes a full-page illustration of Christ, shown here.
MS 31
MS 31 contains portions of part 4 of Pantheologus by Peter of Cornwall (d. 1221). This manuscript was produced in England at the turn of the thirteenth century. The Pantheologus was written to support preachers, and the text is preceded here by an alphabetical table.
MS 35
MS 35 contains works by Lactantius (d. c. 325). This manuscript was originally put together in 1447. It may have been produced in England, or perhaps instead by an English scribe working in Italy.
MS 38
MS 38 contains a copy of Pseudo-Jerome’s commentary on the Psalter, i.e. the Old Testament Psalms. This manuscript was produced in England in the middle of the twelfth century. It includes colourful arabesque capitals, some of which can be seen here.
MS 43
MS 43 contains Peter Lombard’s gloss on the Pauline epistles. This manuscript was produced at Bury St Edmunds at the end of the twelfth century. MS 43 includes painted initials, one of which you can see here.
MS 46
MS 46 contains a copy of the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Robert of Bridlington, a twelfth-century clergyman and theologian. In this manuscript, major sections are introduced by large arabesque capitals, one of which can be seen here. MS 45 was produced in England in the middle of the twelfth century.
MS 49
MS 49 contains a copy of Peter Lombard’s Sentences. Peter Lombard (d.1160) was an Italian theologian and Bishop of Paris. The Sentences, a theological compendium, is his most famous work. This manuscript was produced in England in the third quarter of the twelfth century.
MS 50
MS 50, which was produced in England c. 1225, contains Peter Lombard’s Sentences. Peter Lombard (d.1160) was an Italian theologian and Bishop of Paris. The Sentences, a theological compendium, is his most famous work.
MS 59
MS 59 is a copy of Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae. Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) was a hugely influential Italian philosopher and theologian. The Summa, his best-known work, is a compendium of theology. This copy was produced in England c.1325.
MS 64
MS 64 is a copy of Peter of Herenthals’ commentary the Psalms (Collectarius super librum Psalmorum). A scribal colophon indicates that this manuscript was produced in the Netherlands in 1414. MS 64 was donated to St John’s College by William Laud (d. 1645).
MS 67
MS 67 principally contains a copy of Peter the Chanter’s Verbum abbreviatum. Peter the Chanter (d. 1197) was a French theologian and also a chanter at Notre Dame. His Verbum abbreviatum, a work of moral theology, was enormously popular. MS 67 was produced in England c.1175.
MS 71
MS 71 contains a copy of Summa de ecclesiastica potestate by Augustine of Ancona (d.1328). This manuscript was produced in Italy in the middle of the fifteenth century. MS 69 and MS 71 are companion donations, both with pastedowns from the same fourteenth manuscript containing works by Walter Burley.
MS 73
MS 73 principally contains a copy of Expositio in Apocalypsim, a commentary on Revelation. This work is generally attributed to Berengaud (d. 892). MS 73 was produced in England in the mid-twelfth century and includes annotations by former St John’s College Librarians including Christopher Wren Sr (d. 1658).
MS 74
MS 74 contains a copy of De ecclesia by John de Turrecremata, a Spanish cardinal and theologian (d. 1468). The manuscript was produced in Italy in the middle of the fifteenth century.
MS 75
MS 75 comprises two probably separate manuscripts, both produced in England in the thirteenth century. Included here are texts by Raymund of Peñafort (d. 1275) and Pope Gregory I (d. 604).
MS 77
MS 77 is a theological miscellany produced in England in the fifteenth century. It includes works by Augustine and Chrysostom, among others. It was formerly owned by John Dygon, the fifth recluse of Sheen.
MS 89
MS 89 contains works by Bede and pseudo-Augustine on the Apocalypse. This manuscript was produced in England at the turn of the twelfth century, and was written collaboratively by seven or more scribes.
MS 98
MS 98 is a theological miscellany including works by Augustine and Gregory the Great. This manuscript was produced in France in the thirteenth century, but has additions (some made in England) up until the fourteenth century.
MS 106
MS 106 comprises two originally separate manuscripts, both of which were produced in England in the twelfth century. Both manuscripts contain parts of works attributed to Hugh of St Victor, a twelfth century theologian. These are De sacramentis and Summa sententiarum.
MS 109
MS 109 contains a copy of Pera peregrini, a theological dictionary. This text is generally attributed to John Felton (fl. 1430), a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. As of 2002, Pera peregrini was still unpublished. MS 109 was produced in England c. 1425.
MS 114
MS 114 contains a work on allegories in the Old and New Testament written by Richard of St Victor, an important twelfth-century theologian. This manuscript was produced in England at the end of the twelfth century, and it survives in a sixteenth-century binding.
MS 115
MS 115 contains works by Jerome, Gennadius, Isidore, and Cassiodorus. This manuscript was produced in England in the twelfth century. It was later annotated in the fifteenth century by Thomas Gascoigne, chancellor of the university of Oxford.
MS 128
MS 128 is a translation of the pseudo-Dionysian corpus by John Scotus Eriugena. This manuscript was produced in England in the twelfth century. The historiated initial shown here depicts Christ nimbed, standing on the heads of two dragons, holding a Greek cross and a book.
MS 130
MS 130 contains various theological works by Hugh of Fouilly, Ralph of Battle, Bernard, and Augustine. This manuscript was produced in England in the fifteenth century. The opening folio, shown here, has a decorative border including a bird.
MS 140
MS 140 contains a copy of Quales sunt, a twelfth-century treatise on spiritual life. This text has been attributed to Pseudo-Peter of Blois, perhaps William, Prior of Grandmont. MS 140 was produced in England at the beginning of the thirteenth century.
MS 144
MS 144 contains a fifteemth-century copy of William Woodford’s De sacramento altaris. William Woodford (d. c. 1397) was a critic of the reformer John Wycliffe (d. 1384). Woodford’s De sacramento altaris was a response to the Confessio of 1381, in which Wycliffe rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation.
MS 149
MS 149 is a theological miscellany produced in England in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It contains texts by Gilbert Crispin and Roger of Ford.
MS 153
MS 153 principally contains a partial copy of Moralia in Job by Gregory the Great (d. 604). This manuscript was produced in England in the twelfth century. The folio here is part of an extensive table of contents for the Moralia.
MS 163
MS 163 contains works by Anselm (d.1109), Ambrose (d.397), Guy of Southwick (d.c.1217), and Bartholomew of Exeter (d.1184). It was produced in England in the twelfth century. A contents page was added at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
MS 169
MS 169 contains a copy of Guillaume de Paris’s De sacramentis (On the Sacraments). The seven sacraments are Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders. MS 169 was produced in England in the second quarter of the fifteenth century.
MS 171
MS 171 contains biblical commentary by John Wycliffe (d.1384), an English theologian. This manuscript was produced in England at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
MS 173
MS 173 is a religious miscellany containing works by Bernard, Augustine, and Aquinas among others. This manuscript was produced in England at the beginning of the sixteenth century. The initial here marks the start of a pseudo-Augustinian text.
MS 177
MS 177 contains works of monastic theology. This manuscript was produced in England at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
MS 183
MS 183 contains selections from John Cassian’s Collationes, in addition to some Anglo-Norman verse. This manuscript was produced in England at the turn of the thirteenth century.
MS 185
MS 185 contains a copy of the Liber testimoniorum ueteris testamenti quem Paterius ex opusculis S. Gregorii excerpi curauit. This manuscript was produced in England in the eleventh century.
MS 189
MS 189 contains a copy of the Breviloquium, a theological text written by Saint Bonaventure (d. 1274). This manuscript was produced in England in the middle of the fourteenth century. MS 189 contains many manicules, i.e. pointing hands used to flag sections of text.
MS 195
MS 195 comprises five originally separate manuscripts dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, all produced in England. Among other things, MS 195 includes the Latin Psalter commentary written by Richard Rolle (d. 1349).
MS 199
MS 199 is a copy of De vita contemplativa by Julianus Pomerius, a fifth-century Christian priest. This work describes the ideals of a contemplative life. MS 199 was produced in England in the twelfth century. The opening page, which is decorated with alternating red and blue initials, is shown here.
MS 200
MS 200 is a theological notebook produced in England at the end of the thirteenth century or the turn of the fourteenth century. It contains works by Hugh of Fouilly and Hugh of St Victor in addition to various miscellaneous theological notes.
MS 206
MS 206 comprises four originally separate manuscripts produced in England variously in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It is a Patristic miscellany including works by Bernard of Clairvaux, Augustine, and Richard of St Victor.