| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 1 |
| Title | Gregory I: Moralia in Job |
| Date | 12th century |
| Extent | 0.07 linear metres |
| Creator Name | Gregory I (540-604); Saint, pope |
| Administrative History | Saint Gregory I (Saint Gregory the Great) (540 - 604) was born to a wealthy family in Rome in around 540. By the age of 30 he held Rome's highest civil office, prefect, and he was, from 579, ambassador at Constantinople. Gregory had also felt called to monasticism and converted his home into a convent. In around 586 he became an abbot, and he served as chief advisor to Pelagius II. When the latter died he was elected pope (590) despite his chronic illness. As pope Gregory is best known for his enforcement of papal supremacy and the strengthening of the temporal position of the pope. His defence of Rome during an attack by the Lombards demonstrated the ability of the papacy to defend itself without direct assistance from the emperor. Gregory also encouraged monasticism and insisted on clerical celibacy. He was the author of several works including 'Moralia', commentaries, and lives of saints, such as of St Benedict, which remained widely read throughout the Middle Ages. He died in 604. |
| Custodial History | A catalogue of St. Paul’s Cathedral Library was drawn up in 1458, around the time of the library’s foundation by Walter Sherington, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the reign of Henry VI (1421-1471). The Catalogue lists over 160 volumes, but the library was subject to destruction during the Reformation, a fire in 1561, vandalism during the Civil War and finally the Great Fire of London in 1666. Very few books survived on site, but some have since been recognised in other libraries as being listed in the original catalogue: most of these are now, via the bequest of Thomas Reid, in the University of Aberdeen.
From St Paul's Cathedral, London, entered in the catalogue of 1458 under letter O. Tertia pars Moralium Gregorii continens xiii libros 2 fo. maior sit deus homine. Old marks - D(2).5.31, H.1.2. |
| Source | Thomas Reid came from the Banchory area of Aberdeenshire, though his date of birth is unknown. He was educated in Aberdeen and took his degree at Marischal College, Aberdeen around 1600. Following his graduation, he worked as a schoolmaster for a short time before being invited to act as one of the Regents of Marischal College, where he remained for four years from 1603 to 1607. Following this, he went abroad to continue his studies, first to France then to Rostock and Leipzig: he was known to be in Leipzig in 1613. On his return to England he aided in the translation of the writings of James VI and I (1566-1625) into Latin, and in 1618 was appointed Latin Secretary to James VI and I, a post which he held until his death in 1624. In his will, he left the entire contents of his library and a fund of 6000 merks to found a library which became a core part of Aberdeen University Library. The books include several from St. Paul’s Cathedral and one from the Royal library, which were presumably obtained by him during his time at court.
Number 7 in the list of Reid's mss. LiberAcad. Marischall. Aberdon. In Reid's list the entry is 'Gregorius in Iobum duobus voluminibus', but no second volume appears to exist. |
| Description | Manuscript version of Gregory I's 'Moralia in Job' Parts V - VI, i.e. chapters xxiii - xxxv. Chapter numbers have been added throughout by a 14th century hand, but otherwise it shows few traces of use.
f. 1 a blank.
On I b-5 is the text of the Book of Job from xxxii to the end, divided into sections, each corresponding to a Book of the Moralia:
headed in red:
Liber primus quinte partis Iob . . . . . f.1b
Finita sunt uerba Iob. Omiserunt autem
- senex et plenus dierum.
The lower half of col. 2 of 5b is filled with a title in
red and blue capital (in alternate lines).
Incipit liber/ Primus quin/te partis/ Moralium / Beati Gre/gorii
pape/ urbis Rome/ in librum Iob.
f. 6 has a headline (xiv). Lib. 23 tocius operis.
Prefationem huius operis . . . . . . . 6
Initial P, 9 in. high, the main framework in orange
with foliage insertions and convolutions in red, blue and
green. The ground of the head of the letter blue with white
dots: the original green (silk?) guard remains.
The text of the Book is in red.
Lib. II quinte partis (=XXIV). 21 b initial in fine red outline.
" III (XXV). 35b similar.
" IV (XXVI). 47 "
" V (XXVII). 68 "
Lib. I ultime partis (XXVIII) 87. Title in red and blue capitals
and fine red outline initial.
" II (XXIX). 99 b similar initial.
" III (XXX). 117b "
" IV (XXXI). 136b "
" V (XXXII). 162 "
" VI (XXXIII). 177 "
" VII (XXXIV). 198 "
" VIII (XXXV). 211b "
ending 224a: pro me lacrimas reddat deo et d. n. I. C. cui cum
patre et sp. s. honor et imperium per eterna sec. Amen.
Expl. moralia b. Greg. pape urbis rome in librum iob, in XXX.
quinque libros divisa. 224b blank. |
| Accruals | None expected. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the University Archivist and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Language | Latin |
| Physical Description | Vellum, 15 x 10 1/4, ff. 224, double columns of 37 lines. 12th century. Binding, stamped leather (16th century) over wooden boards. Clasps gone; lettered on sides A BD (abbr. for Aberdon.). Collation: I (8)-28(8). |
| Finding Aids | See M. R. James, 'A Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts in the University Library Aberdeen' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1932). |