MS. Junius 27

Summary Catalogue no.: 5139

Psalter with Anglo-Saxon gloss ('Codex Vossianus' or the 'Junius Psalter'); England (Winchester?), 10th century, first half

Psalter with Anglo-Saxon gloss ('Codex Vossianus').

Fol. 1 is a paper fly-leaf.

1. (fols. 2r–7v)

Calendar, mutilated, laid out one month per page, written in black, not graded, approximately one-third full, combining verse entries with prose entries of a liturgical calendar: out of some 126 entries, 27 are in verse, closely related to the Metrical Calendar of Hampson (McGurk, 1986; Gretsch, 2001, ‘Junius Psalter gloss’, p. 289). The inventory of saints is similar to 10th- and 11th-century Winchester calendars and the Metrical Calendar of Hampson (Bishop, 1918, pp. 254–5; Temple, 1976, p. 39; Gretsch, 2001, ‘Junius Psalter gloss’, p. 289; McGurk, 1986, discusses the differences with the Metrical Calendar, such as the omission of Irish saints). Includes Valentine (14 February), Patrick (17 March), Augustine of Canterbury (26 May), Benedict (11 July), obits of King Alfred (26 October) and his queen Ealhswith (5 December), all apart from Augustine in prose, but all also present in the Metrical Calendar. Additions of calendarial material, including verses on the ‘Egyptian’ days (Hennig, 1955, set III and another set which differs from all sets published by Hennig) at the top of each month; notes ‘dies mala’ marking unlucky days in the right margin and astronomical notes in a 12th-century hand.

2. (fols. 8r–9v)

Two originally blank leaves between the calendar and psalms contain computistical texts in Latin added in the 12th century, including calendarial table (fol. 8r) and verses (fol. 8v), and a multiplication table (fol. 9v) with Arabic and Roman numerals.

3. (fols. 10r–149v)

Psalms (Roman version), beginning imperfectly at 2: 4 (Qui habitat in cælis . . .) and ending at 144: 6 (. . . terribiliorum tuorum dicent). A stub survives with a frag- ment of a decorated Beatus-initial. A leaf after fol. 67, containing 67: 28–68: 7, is lost; initials of psalms 1, 28, 39, 44, 50, 51, 68, 77, 80 and 140 are excised. Each verse starts on a new line and the Latin text is accompanied by a continuous interlinear gloss in Old English, beginning ‘se eardað in heofonum . . .’ and ending ‘þinra eyes fulnessa cweoðað’ (see Brenner, 1908, pp. xiii–xxxiii; Sisam and Sisam, 1959, pp. 55–6; Gretsch, 2000). Punctuated sporadically, with the ends of verses and minor pauses marked with the medial point, and metrum marked with the medial point or punctus elevatus. The psalms are preceded by short titles, which do not correspond to any of Salmon’s (1959) series (often ‘In finem psalmus dauid’), and usually by their numbers in Roman numerals. The numbers are not used for the gradual psalms, 119–133, each of which has a title ‘Canticum graduum’ (fols. 134r–140v). Some numbers are out of sequence, e.g. fols. 101v and 144r, though the psalm sequence is correct. There are textual divisions at psalms 17, 26, 38, 51, 52, 68 (?), 72, 80, 97, 101, 109, 118 and 119 (see ‘Decoration’). The scribe left blank spaces or filled the remaining space with titles in large script before psalms 38, 51, 101, 109, 118 and 119 in order to begin these on a new leaf or page. Subdivisions within psalms are not indicated, apart from psalm 118, with 2- to 3-line decorated initials and Latin names of Hebrew letters in red at the start of 16-verse units, and slightly enlarged 1-line initials and the names of Hebrew letters at the start of 8-line units. Fol. 150 is a blank paper fly-leaf. The opening words of the adjacent verse are copied in the margin on fol. 116v and the letters of the alphabet ‘abcdef’ are added in light brown ink in the margin on fol. 117r. Psalms 2: 2–3: 3 are added in the margin of fol. 10r in a 12th-century hand.

4. (fol. 117v)

Hours (Prime-Compline) for the last three days of Holy Week (beginning ‘Feria va. in cena domini ad primam. responsorium. In monte oliueti oraui . . .’) are added in a 12th-century hand on a page before psalm 109, which originally contained only the title of psalm 109 at the bottom, but was otherwise blank.

Language(s): Latin and Old English

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: se eardað (Old English gloss, fol. 10r)

Secundo Folio: Qui habitat (psalms, fol. 10r)

Secundo Folio: bearn monna (Old English gloss, fol. 11r)

Secundo Folio: Filii hominum (psalms, fol. 11r)

Form: codex

Support: parchment; fols. 1 and 150 are paper leaves, 17th century; fols. 2–8 are mutilated and repaired with paper

Extent: 150 leaves

Dimensions (leaf): c. 243 × 170 mm.

Leaves were trimmed in rebinding and sometimes decoration (e.g. fol. 88r), and possibly text, such as the psalm numbers, was partly lost.

Foliation: Modern, in pencil, 1–150; fols. 3–6 with older pencil foliation 4, 3, 6, 5, corresponding to notes on the upper pastedown dated 1890, demonstrate a previous misbound state.

Collation

(fol. 1) fol. 1 conjoint with the upper pastedown | (fols. 2–8) I (8−1) 1 missing | (fols. 9–14) II (8−2) 2 and 3 missing after fol. 9 | (fols. 15–62) III–VIII (8) | (fols. 63–69) IX (8−1) 6 missing after fol. 67 | (fols. 70–149) X–XIX (8) | (fol. 150) fol. 150 conjoint with the lower pastedown. The arrangement of hair and flesh sides varies from quire to quire.

Layout

Ruled in hard point for 20 lines of Latin text and for the gloss, with double vertical bounding lines extending the full height of page; lines are widely spaced suggesting that the gloss was part of the original design; written above the top line; written space: c. 185 × 110 mm.

Hand(s)

Square Anglo-Saxon minuscule; brown ink. ‘The Latin text is in a rather stiff square Anglo-Saxon minuscule, resembling that in the Parker chronicle, fols. 16v– 25v. The OE is in much smaller script, but may be by the same hand’ (Ker, 1957, p. 409). The Latin hand closely resembles that of two other manuscripts attributed by Ker to Winchester, the ‘Tollemache Orosius’ and the Læceboc, London, British Library, Royal MS. 12 D. XVII (Campbell, 1953, pp. 16–17), as well as that of the metrical calendar added to the ‘Æthelstan Psalter’ (Parkes, 1976).

Decoration

'Fine historiated and other initials.' (Pächt and Alexander iii. 21, pl. II)

Calendar months start with elaborate KL monograms decorated with interlace, acanthus leaves, animal figures and heads.

Large 5-line illuminated initials (or evidence for their original presence) and capitals for part or whole of the first line at psalms 1 (leaf cut out), 17 (fol. 20r), 26 (fol. 29v), 38 (fol. 43r), 51 (fol. 55r, cut out), 52 (fol. 55v), 68 (leaf cut out, stub after fol. 67), 72 (fol. 72v), 80 (fol. 84r, cut out), 97 (fol. 100r), 101 (fol. 102v), 109 (fol. 118r, seven lines high), 118 (fol. 124v), 119 (fol. 134r).
2- to 5-line illuminated initials at the beginning of other psalms and at subdivisions within psalm 118.
Simple 1- to 2-line initials highlighted in different colours at the beginnings of verses.

The initials are decorated with interlace, acanthus leaves and other plant motifs, animal and human figures. Typically the body of the letter consists of animal and vegetable details merging into one another. The arrangement is usually asymmetrical, without background or frame. Animal figures include winged dragons, birds, beasts, snakes, biting bird and animal heads and mask heads. Human figures include halffigures and heads, with half-figures placed in the loops of plainer frame-like initials.

The figures are usually half-turned to the right or left with brown hair and draped clothes; some have halos; several hold a book or a scroll, or have a hand raised in a gesture of blessing. There is a tonsured half-figure with a hand raised in blessing at psalm 108 (fol. 115v). Initial D at psalm 109 (fol. 118r) is decorated with geometric and floral designs, and two birds’ heads; inside its loop is David pulling apart the jaws of a lion.

According to Wormald (1984, p. 57) the initials may be the work of the artist who also executed the initials at the beginnings of the first five books in the ‘Tollemache Orosius’ (London, British Library, Add. MS. 47967). According to Temple (1976, p. 39) the decoration can be attributed to Winchester because of its similarity with London, British Library, Cotton MS. Galba A. xviii, and Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 484, fol. 85 (‘Æthelstan Psalter’).

Psalm numbers and titles are in red; verse initials are partly filled with colour

Binding

Parchment over pasteboard, 17th century; double blind fillet lines round the edges of both covers; evidence of two tawed leather ties now lost. Inscribed on spine in brown ink: ‘Psalterium Latino Saxonicum MS’; ‘27’; ‘III 3’(?). Inscribed in brown ink above the centre of the front cover: ‘9’. Evidence of a small square (Bodleian) label on spine, now lost. Sewn on four cords. Three medieval (?) tawed leather bookmarks attached to each other at the top by pink sewing.

History

Origin: 10th century, first half ; English, Winchester (?)

Provenance and Acquisition

Made at, and for use in (?), Winchester: evidence of the calendar, script and decoration. Made for a secular church (subdivisions within psalms are not indicated, psalm 118 subdivided in accordance with secular use) or possibly for a lay patron (the calendar is minimal and partially metrical). MLGB3 lists under Winchester, Hampshire, Benedictine cathedral priory of St Peter, St Paul, and St Swithun.

On the Continent by the 12th century, second half (?): text on fols. 8r–9v and 117v is in Continental hands from the second half of the 12th century.

Queen Christina of Sweden (1626–1689): recorded in the Antwerp catalogue of her collection, 1655 (now Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. D’Orville 42, p. 12), as ‘Davidicum Psalterium . . . Latino Saxonicum’ (cf. spine inscription). Manuscripts in the D’Orville catalogue were acquired for Christina in 1650 by Alexander Petau.

Isaac Vossius (1618–1689), librarian of Queen Christina: received from her.

Francis Junius (1591–1677), see ODNB: received from his nephew Isaac Vossius in 1665. Numbers ‘9’ (fol. 1v), ‘B. 19’ (fol. 1r) and ‘170’ (fol. 3r), brown ink, 17th century.

Bodleian Library: bequeathed by Junius in 1677. Earlier shelfmark: ‘Arch. F. d. 19’ (upper pastedown); also known as ‘Codex Vossianus’ and ‘Junius Psalter’. Notes on the upper pastedown detail the mutilations, dated 1890.

Record Sources

Elizabeth Solopova, Latin Liturgical Psalters in the Bodleian Library: A Select Catalogue (Oxford, 2013), pp. 3–8. Previously described in the Summary Catalogue.

Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 2, p. 971

Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 2, p. 972

Availability

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Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (143 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Select bibliography (to 2005):

Brenner, E. (ed.), Der altenglische Junius-Psalter: die Interlinear-Glosse der Handschrift Junius 27 der Bodleiana zu Oxford, Anglistische Forschungen, Heft 23 (Heidelberg, 1908).

Bishop, E., Liturgica historica: papers on the liturgy and religious life of the Western church (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1918).

Summary catalogue, vol. 2, part 2, no. 5139.

Kendrick, T. D., Late Saxon and Viking art (London: Methuen, 1949), pp. 32–3.

Latin liturgical manuscripts (1952), no. 42.

Campbell, A. (ed.), The Tollemache Orosius (British Museum Additional manuscript 47967), Early English Manuscripts in Facsimile 3 (Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1953).

Ker, N. R., Catalogue of manuscripts containing Anglo-Saxon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1957), no. 335

S. J. P. van Dijk, Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, vol. 2: Office Books (typescript, 1957), p. 5

Kuhn, S. M., ‘The Vespasian psalter gloss: original or copy?’, PMLA 74 (1959), pp. 161–77, passim.

Sisam, C. and Sisam, K. (eds.), The Salisbury Psalter, edited from Salisbury Cathedral MS 150, EETS O.S. 242 (London: Published for the EETS by OUP, 1959).

Morrell, M. C., A manual of Old English biblical materials (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1965), pp. 81, 83, 84, 87, 124–5, 129.

Bishop, T. A. M., ‘An early example of Square Minuscule’, Transactions of Cambridge Bibliographical Society 4 (1966), pp. 246–52, at p. 247.

Bjurström, P. (compiler), Hort, P. and Tanner, R. (transl.), Christina, Queen of Sweden: a personality in European civilisation; the Council of Europe’s 11th exhibition (Stockholm: National Museum, 1966), no. 1341.

Gneuss, H., Hymnar und Hymnen im englischen Mittelalter: Studien zur Überlieferung, Glossierung und Übersetzung lateinischer Hymnen in England (Tübingen: M. Niemeyer, 1968), pp. 92, 95.

Alexander, J. J. G., Norman illumination at Mont St Michel, 966–1100 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1970), pp. 70 n. 1, 72, 129, 161, 193.

Pächt and Alexander (1966–73), vol. 3, p. 21, pl. II.

Kauffmann, C. M., Romanesque manuscripts, 1066–1190, Survey of Manuscripts Illuminated in the British Isles 3 (London: H. Miller, 1975), p. 19.

Parkes, M. B., ‘The paleography of the Parker manuscript of the Chronicle, laws and Sedulius, and historiography at Winchester in the late ninth and the tenth centuries’, ASE 5 (1976), pp. 149–71, passim.

Temple, E., Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, 900–1066, Survey of Manuscripts Illuminated in the British Isles 2 (London: H. Miller, 1976), no. 7.

Parkes, M. B., ‘A fragment of an early-tenth-century Anglo-Saxon manuscript and its significance’, ASE 12 (1983), pp. 129–40, passim.

Lapidge, M., ‘A tenth-century Metrical Calendar from Ramsey’, Revue Bénédictine 94 (1984), pp. 326–69.

Wormald, F., ‘Decorated initials in English manuscripts from A.D. 900 to 1000’ in J. J. G. Alexander, T. J. Brown and Joan Gibbs (eds.), Francis Wormald: collected writings, 2 vols. (London: H. Miller; New York: OUP, 1984), vol. 1, Studies in medieval art from the sixth to the twelfth centuries, pp. 47–75.

McGurk, P., ‘The metrical calendar of Hampson: a new edition’, Analecta Bollandiana 104 (1986), pp. 79–125.

Raw, B. C., Anglo-Saxon crucifixion iconography and the art of the monastic revival (Cambridge: CUP, 1990), pp. 23, 234.

Gameson, R., ‘English manuscript art in the mid-eleventh century: the decorative tradition’, The Antiquaries Journal 71 (1991), pp. 64–122, at pp. 73, 108 n. 73, 113 n. 196.

Dumville, D. N., Wessex and England from Alfred to Edgar: six essays on political, cultural, and ecclesiastical revival (Woodbridge: Boydell, 1992), pp. 65, 68, 73–5, 77–8, 85, 87–8, 92–3, 104–6, 135, 136.

Gameson, R., ‘Manuscript art at Christ Church, Canterbury, in the generation after St. Dunstan’ in N. Ramsay, M. Sparks and T. Tatton-Brown (eds.), St Dunstan: his life, times and cult (Woodbridge: Boydell, 1992), pp. 191–2.

——, ‘The decoration of the Tanner Bede’, ASE 21 (1992), pp. 115–59, passim.

Lapidge, M., Anglo-Latin literature, 900–1066 (London: Hambledon Press, 1993), pp. 14, 361–2.

Dumville, D. N., ‘English libraries before 1066: use and abuse of the manuscript evidence’ [revised version of article first printed 1981] in M. P. Richards (ed.), Anglo-Saxon manuscripts: basic readings (New York, London: Garland, 1994), pp. 169–219, at pp. 196, 217.

Deshman, R., The benedictional of Æthelwold (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995), pp. 233, 234, fig. 166.

Gameson, R., The role of art in the late Anglo-Saxon church (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995), pp.

200, 219, 220 n. 164, 228, 229, 230, 233, 254.

Pulsiano, P., ‘Psalters’ in R. W. Pfaff (ed.), The liturgical books of Anglo-Saxon England, Old English Newsletter Subsidia 23 (Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 1995), pp. 61–85, at pp. 62, 70, 72, 81.

Robinson, P. R., ‘A twelfth-century scriptrix from Nunnaminster’ in P. R. Robinson and R. Zim (eds.), Of the making of books: medieval manuscripts, their scribes and readers; essays presented to M. B. Parkes (Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1997), pp. 73–93, at p. 73.

Gretsch, M., The intellectual foundations of the English Benedictine reform (Cambridge: CUP, 1999), pp. 18, 26, 33, 38, 39, 270, 272, 316–31.

——, ‘The Junius Psalter gloss: its historical and cultural context’, ASE 29 (2000), pp. 85–121.

Gneuss, H., Handlist of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts: a list of manuscripts and manuscript fragments written or owned in England up to 1100, Medieval and Renaissance texts and studies 241 (Tempe: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2001), no. 641.

Gretsch, M., ‘The Junius Psalter gloss: tradition and innovation’ in N. J. Higham and D. H. Hill, Edward the Elder: 899–924 (London: Routledge, 2001), pp. 280–91.

——, ‘Die sprachliche und kulturelle Bedeutung der altenglischen Glossierung des Junius-Psalters’ in R. Bergmann, E. Glaser and C. Moulin-Fankhänel (eds.), Mittelalterliche volkssprachige Glossen: internationale Fachkonferenz des Zentrums für Mittelalterstudien der Otto-Friedrich- Universität Bamberg 2. bis 4. August 1999 (Heidelberg: C. Winter, 2001), pp. 171–4, passim.

Pulsiano, P., Old English glossed psalters: psalms 1–50, Toronto Old English Series 11 (Toronto, etc.: University of Toronto Press, 2001), pp. xxi, xl–xli, 742 (listed as siglum ‘B’).

Rushforth, R., An atlas of saints in Anglo-Saxon calendars, ASNC Guides, Texts, and Studies, 6 (Cambridge: Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, 2002), p. 5.

Stanton, R., The culture of translation in Anglo-Saxon England (Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer, 2002), pp. 37, 39 pl. 4, p. 44 n. 104.

Gryson (2004), p. 148, no. 375.

Gretsch, M., ‘The Roman psalter, its Old English glosses and the English Benedictine reform’ in H. Gittos and M. B. Bedingfield (eds.), The liturgy of the late Anglo-Saxon church (London: Boydell, 2005), p. 14.

Online resources:

Electronic Gneuss-Lapidge (entry 641)

MLGB3: Medieval Libraries of Great Britain

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2024-01: Matthew Holford: encoded description from Solopova catalogue.

A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges