Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 12117

Computistical collection

Aratea text: Excerptum de astrologia; De ordine ac positione

Parchment — iii (modern paper) + 185 fols. (foliated 1-91, 91*, 92-184) + i (unfoliated medieval parchment attached on a stub to the last quire) + iii (modern paper) — 340 × 255 mm — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (?) — s. XI² (ca. 1063)

Support: I²⁺¹ (ff.1-3), II-XXII⁸ (ff.4-170), XXIII⁸⁺¹ (ff.171-178), XXIV⁴⁺¹ (ff.179-185).Modern foliation in the upper right corner.

Layout: Fol. 1, partly 2v, 3r-v written in two columns, 38-39 lines.Layout: The list of kings on ff.105r-106v laid out within two arcades.Layout: Fol. 108v written in three columns (within an arcade decoration).Layout: Written in 38-39 long lines.

Script: Carolingian minuscule by many hands. In general the script exhibits trends of the transitional script of the long twelfth century: upright shaft of a, e-caudata, round r after o, f and long s placed mostly on the baseline, feets on minims often curved to the right, dotting of y. In the same time there are still st, ct, rt, nt, & ligatures and the lower lobe of g is still open.

On f.185r medical recipes (s.XI?): "aduentoris dolorem aut duriciam uel inflationes id est erba quinquefolii succi coclearia ii dab[is] sine mora dolorem tollit. Item Plantagine … Si tumor fuerit … cum uino calido mixto potui da". On f. 1r and 184v note by the same hand (s.XIII) on the extent of the manuscript: "In hoc libro sunt […] folia et nouem. primum folium" on f.184 respectively "… ultimum folium".Decorated initials; equatorial sundial (2v); diagrams (130v, 161v, 166r); picture cycle (105r-108v, 131r-137v).

History: Judging by the presence of the Anneles Sancti Germani (ff.111r-126v) the manuscript was produced in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The last king mentioned in the chronicle list on f.110v (written by a hand copying also other parts in the manuscript) is Henry I. (1031-1060), which gives a terminus post quem 1031. The terminus ante quem is provided by the annals ending 1063. Consequently the date of origin is between the years 1031-1063. Note however, that modern scholars take the last year of Henry's reign and suggest the manuscript is datable to 1060-1063. The introduction of gothic characteristic in the script suggests indeed a date in s.XI². The illustrations and decoration are the work of the artist Ingelard (see the article of Deslandres and Vieillard-Troiekouroff). — The manuscript remained in the abbey till s.XV. See the former shelf-mark on f. 1r "434", "547" as well as two ex-libris notes on f.184v (s.XV?): "Liber germano de pratis pertinet almo" and "Iste liber [est Sancti Germani de Pratis Parisiensis] Qui […]", (s.XIV?) now crossed-over and illegible on the microfilm. On f.184r note (s.XIV?): "legite librum plenum fidei confirmatione morum instructione, bonorum omnium exemplo, karitatis amore errore confusione ac omnibus doctrinis ad uitam eternam consequendam, quam nobis prestare dignet (?), qui est benedictus in secula seculorum amen amen benedictus sit jhesus amen."

Selected Bibliography:Samaran, Charles, and Robert Marichal. Catalogue des manuscrits en écriture latine: portant des indications de date, de lieu ou de copiste. Vol. 3: Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds latin Nos. 8001 à 18613. Paris: CNRS, 1974, p. 275. — Deslandres, Yvonne. “Les manuscrits décorés au XIe siècle à Saint-Germain-des-Prés par Ingelard.” Scriptorium 9 (1955): 3–16. — Juste, Observation, p. 260. — Leonardi, p. 441. — Denoël, Charlotte. “Le scriptorium de Saint-Germain-des-Prés au temps de l’abbé Adelard (vers 1030-1060): les manuscrits enluminés par Ingelard, scriptor honestus.” In Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Mille ans d’une abbaye à Paris, edited by Roland Recht and Michel Zink. Paris: Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 2015. — McCormick, Michael. Les Annales Du Haut Moyen Age. Typologie Des Sources Du Moyen âge Occidental 3. Turnhout: Brepols, 1975. — Vieillard-Troiekouroff, May. “Art carolingien et art roman parisien. Les illustrations astrologiques jointes aux chroniques de Saint-Denis et Saint-Germain-des-Prés. IXe-XIIe siècle.” Cahiers archéologiques 16 (1966): 77–105. — Delisle, Vol. 3, pp. 278-79. — Borst (1994), pp. 157, 284. — Duits, p. 155. — Lippincott, Saxl Project. — Borst, Schriften, Vol. 1, pp. 277-278. — Borst, Reichskalender, Vol. 1, p. 218. — Sternbilder des Mittelalters, pp. 436-441.

1r-2r Remius Favinus: Carmen de ponderibus et mensuris [P] ondera peonis ueterum memorata libellis … — … nec non et sine aquis […]

2r Text on the measures ›De olearia mensura‹ Mensura centum sextarii … — … libra grece lx librę atticę talentum.

2v Fulbert of Chartres: De libra et partibus eius ›De libra et partibus eius‹ Libralis [!] as ex unciolis constat duodenis … — … mediam secuntiam iungens.

2v Fulbert of Chartres: De uncia et partibus eius ›De uncia et partibus eius‹ Uncia uiginti scripulos et quattuor ambit … — … scripulis seu gramma retentant.

2v Fulbert of Chartres: De scripulo et partibus eius ›De scripulo et partibus eius‹ Unus item scripuli calcis componitur octo … — … calcus ciceris duo granula pensans.

2v Alchandreana (Liber Alchandrei, § 17) [S] ciendum est quam uis sol moritur in uno quoque signo … — … et secunda hora connumerantur scorpioni et sic deinceps.

3r-3v Mnemonic verses for the months of the year [P] rocedunt februe quinta sub sorte KL … — … [N] one iuni explentur tribus

4r-99v Ps. Clemens: Recognitionum libri X

(4r) Table of content presenting the ten books. ›In hoc corpore continentur libri clementis numero decem‹ Primus liber ex his quae misit ad eum continent de uero propheta … — … de his ergo singulis quae aput.

(4v-5r) Praefatio ad Gaudentium episcopum: ›In hoc codice habentur sancti clementis libri numero X‹ Tibi quidem papa Gaudenti nostrorum decus … — … quam apostolo exhiberet. ›Explicit liber decimus.‹

(5r-99v) Text of the ten books: Ego clemens in urbo roma natus ex prima aetate … — … ei gratiam quam apostolo exhiberet. ›Explicit liber decimus.‹ Division: f.19r Lib. II; f.33r Lib. III; f.49v Lib. IV; Lib. V; f.62r Lib. VI; f.65r Lib. VII; f.70v Lib. VIII; f.82v Lib. IX; f.88rLib. X Large decorated initial P on f.4r; ca. 6-line decorated initials on ff.19r, 33r, 70v, 82v, 88r; left space for initial on f.62r, f.65r.

99v-103v Ps-Clemens. Spurious Decretal Epistle of Clemens to Jacob translated by Rufinus ›Incipit epistola Clementis ad Iacobum fratrem domini‹ [C] lemens jacobo domino episcopo episcoporum recenti hebreorum … — … quae pręcipit exponere iam incipiam. Die Pseudoklementinen. Vol. 2: Rekognitionen in Rufins Übersetzung. Edited by Bernhard Rehm. Berlin: Akad.-Verl., 1994, pp. 375-387.

103v-104v Another letter: ›Item alia eiusdem clementis epistola ad eundem Iacobum‹ [C] lemens Jacobo carissimo. Quam sicut a petro accepimus … — … qui autem non te audierit immo deum loquentem per te ipse sibi dimnationem accipiet. PL 130,37-44B.

104v Two mathematical mnemonic verses (written by the same hand but in a fainter ink):

Adsistunt domino seniors bis duodem … — … Tercia namque tribus super pars unica solus.

Quattuor et pentas duo monas tres mias unus … — … Tum quoque cuncto. MGH Poetae lat. aevi carol. 4, p. 1119

105r-108r Series annorum mundi nova World chronicle of the six ages (from Adam to Charlemagne) [A] dam cum esset annorum CXXX genuit seth … — … ab origine mundi usque in praesentem annum I¯I¯I¯I¯ DCCLXI. The text in positioned within single and double arcade; in the tympanua the artist Ingelard drawn portraits of the Patriarchs or biblical scenes (including Abraham as astronomer with astrolab), together with some zoomorphical decoration or drolleries. For description see Yvonne Deslandres, “Les manuscrits décorés au XIe siècle à Saint-Germain-des-Prés par Ingelard,” Scriptorium 9 (1955): 3–16.

(108v) Continuation with a list of Roman emperors and kings: [A] nte ęneam isti reges fuerunt in italia Ianus Saturnus Picus … — … Carlomannus atque Carolus item et Carlomannus et hludouicus.

MGH SS, Auct. ant., Vol. XIII, pp. 349-354.

109r-110r Chronica based on Isidore 's Etymologiae, Lib. V, 39. ›Item alia chronica. Prima aetas seculi‹ Primo die condidit deus lucem. Secundo firmamentum caeli … — … Hludouicus reganuit annis XXVII. Et inde domnus Karolus et deo protegente gubernauit annis XXX et uno.

110v List of Frankish kings from Merovech to Henry I. ›Genealogia regum francorum‹ Ex genere priami fuit Merouens qui genuit Childericum … — … heynricus rex frater eius pro eo.

111r-126v Cycli decemnovenales with the annals of Saint-Germain-des-Pres (till year 1063)

127r Fulbert of Chartres: De signis et mensibus et diebus et horis compendium computi Annum sol duodena means per signa rotundat | singula denis percurrit signa diebus … — … tres bissexte quadris quinis nes iungito derus.

127v Cycli decemnovenales for the years 1064 – 1196 (later addition)

128r-128v Computistical argumenta ›Ad terminus septuagesimę inveniendum‹ … Sed quintus decimus bis denaque bina habet annus XXII.

129r blank.

129v-130r Excerptum de astrologia The text is preceded by a short note also found in Strasbourg, BNU, Ms 326 "Discite de iuvenes cum Abraham caeli et cursus syderum cognoscere non cum epicureo uoluptatum adsertore ventre desevire et luxuriare". ›Excerptum de astrologia‹ Duo sunt extremi vertices mundi quos appellant polos … — … quia ad ipsum usque decurrit accipiens.

130r In quo signo versetur mars In quo duodecim signorum mars habeatur. In quo signo uersetur mars. Annis ab initio mundi per senarium diuisis … — … in uirginem memoratam simper inueniri planetam.

130v Horologium viatorum Spera caeli quater senis horis dum reuoluitur omnes stele fixe celo … — … qui erectus ad superna ducitur radius ad ima mersus hiemalis dicitur.

131r-137v De ordine ac positione stellarum in signis Est quidem hic ordo et positio syderum … — … Anticanis habet stellas III. Illustrations of the constellations with stars marked with different symbols presumably reflecting the size and magnitude of stars.

138r De spaera caeli Haec pictura docet quicquid recitauit yginus … — … centaurique pedes postremos tangit et aram.

138r-139r Excerpt from Libri computi, Lib. III, 9 Primo igitur anno praeparationis bissexti prima hora noctis … — … XV kalendas martias arietem posit ingredi.

139r Anonymous text on calculating the current year Hrabanus Secundum computationem eusebii et iheronimi [!] sunt anni ab adam usque ad diluuium II CC XLII … — … ad passionem dominus uenit fiunt anni V CC XXXI.

139r-146v Helpericus: Liber de computo (here Abbo of Fleury’s redaction) ›Incipit excerptio vel expositio compoti herici‹ Cum quibusdam fratribus nostris adolescentulis … — … Bis quaterni sunt octo remanet nihil. Sic de reliquis facies.

146v Anonymous mnemonic text on the alphabet Omnes litere ad similitudinem uocis caracteres accepterunt A sub hiatu oris congruo solo spiritu nominamus … — … Z uero idcirco appius Claudius detestatur que dentes mortui dum exprimitur imitator.

147r-v Wandalbert of Prüm: Horologium ›Versus domini bede ad componendum orologum‹ Quos cursus solis iugant sua tempora menses … — … Hinc centro torrens ternos sibi sexta retentat.

148r-160r Abbo of Fleury: Computus vulgaris Computus vulgaris qui dicitur ephemerida de luna

Collection of computistical tables, argumenta and verses.

(160v-174r) Computistical tables.

(171va-b) Verse accompaning the table on f.172r Quid subiecta ferat cognosces pagina lector … — … Paschalem dehinc indicat esse diem.

(171va) De sideribus Ps. Priscianus. ›Versus prisciani de sideribus caeli‹ Ad boreae partes arcty uertuntur et anguis … — … Celsior his saturnus tardior omnibus astris.

(174r) 19-line verse on the dates of the paschal full moon. None aprilis norunt quinos. V … — … quindenę constant tribus adeptis. III

(174v-177r) Computistical argumenta and regula. Anni domini notantur in psenti linea cum … — … Aug XIIII. Quatrenis regularibus at letatur augustus.

177r-179r Isidore of Seville. Excerpt from Etymologies (V, 28-39) Cronica grece dicitur quae latine temporum series appelatur … — … sexto animantia ex terra et hominem quem appelauit adam.

179v blank.

180r-181v Excerpts from Libri computi, Lib. V-VI:

(180r) De positione et cursu septem planetarum ›De positione et cursu septem planetarum‹ Inter caelum et terram certis discreta spatiis semptem sydera pendent … — … Dein morata in coitu solis biduo cum tardissimę a tricesimali luce ad easdem uices exit.

(180r) De intervallis earum ›De intervallis earum‹ Interualla earum a terra multi indagare temptarunt … — … Ita septem tonis effici quam diapason armoniam uocant.

(180r-v) De absidibus earum ›De absidibus earum‹ Tres autem quas supra solem diximus sitas … — … sicut in rotis radios ut subiecta figura demonstrat.

(180v) De cursu earum per zodiacum circulum ›De cursu earum per cotidianum circulum‹ Cur autem magnitudines suas et colores mutent … — … et supeream duabus Saturni duabus ut sol. (180v-181r) ›Item de eadem re‹ Tres superiores ab exortu matutino latitudinem signiferi scandere … — … sydera martis maxime in obseruabilis est cursus.

(181r) Libri computi, Lib. V, 11 ›Dimensio caelestium spatiorum secundum quosdam‹ A terra ad lunam tonum esse pronuntiant … — … id est miliaria CVIIII et CCCLXXV.

(181r-v) De presagiis tempestatum ›De presagiis tempestatum‹ Et enim predictis difficilioribus transire conuenit ad reliqua tempestatum presagia … — … si in alteram earum aquiloniam caligo abstulerit auster saeuit. Si in austrinam aquilo.

(181v-182r) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 2 ›De probatione auri et argenti‹ Omne aurum purum cuius libet ponderis omni argento similiter puro … — … sicut prima lectionis huius fronte prefixum est.

(182r) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 3 ›De mensura cere et metalli in operibus fusilis‹ In fundendis operibus cuius ponderis metallum quodlibet ad certum … — … auri librae XVIIII et duodecies VIII denarii quod sunt untiae III et denarii XVI.

(182r-182v) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 4 ›Ambrosii Macrobii Theodosii. De mensura et magnitudine terrae et circuli per quem solis iter est.‹ In omni orbe uel spera medietas centrum uocatur … — … et insuper centum septuaginta milia.

(182v-183r) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 5 ›De mensura vel magnitudine solis‹ His dictis quibus mensura quam terrę uel ambitus uel diametros habet … — … Ergo ex his dicendum est sollem octies terra esse maiorem.

(183r) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 6 ›De mensura lunae vel eius magnitudine‹ Luna item circuli sui sexcentesimam obtinet portionem … — … Ipsum uero circulum centies maiorem esse tellure.

(183r) Libri computi, Lib. VI, 7 ›De magnitudine terreni orbes‹ Eratostenes phylosophus idemque geometra subtilissimus magnitudinem terreni orbis nosse uolens … — … nullam humanae coniecturae dimensionem admittit.

183v Abbo of Fleury: Sententia Abbonis de ratione sperae (imperfect) A studiosis astrologie primo sciendum est per geometricam … — … sed ex oblique natet ac nauiget.

Abreviated Literature:

Borst, Reichskalender	Borst, Arno. Der karolingische Reichskalender und seine Überlieferung bis ins 12. Jahrhundert. 3 vols. MGH: Libri memoriales 2. Hannover: Hahn, 2001.
Borst, Schriften	Borst, Arno. Schriften zur Komputistik im Frankenreich von 721 bis 818. 3 Vols. (MGH: Quellen zur Geistesgeschichte des Mittelalters, 21, 1-3) Hannover: Hahn, 2006.
Borst (1994)	Borst, Arno. Das Buch der Naturgeschichte: Plinius und seine Leser im Zeitalter des Pergaments. Heidelberg: Winter, 1994.
Juste, Observation	Juste, David. “Neither Observation nor Astronomical Tables. An Alternative Way of Computing the Planetary Longitudes in the Early Western Middle Ages.” In Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences in Honour of David Pingree, edited by Charles Burnett, 181–222. Leiden: Brill, 2004.
Leonardi	Leonardi, Claudio. "I codici di Marziano Capella," Aevum 34 (1960): 1-99 and 411-524.
MGH Poetae lat. aevi carol.	Monumenta Germaniae historica. Poetae latini aevi carolini
MGH SS	Monumenta Germaniae historica. Scriptores
PL	Patrologia latina ed. J. P. Migne. - Paris 1844ff.
Sternbilder des Mittelalters	Blume, Dieter, Mechthild Haffner, and Wolfgang Metzger. Sternbilder des Mittelalters: der gemalte Himmel zwischen Wissenschaft und Phantasie. Vol. I, 1: Text und Katalog der Handschriften. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2012.

Catalogued by: Ivana Dobcheva

(draft version: 2018-06-01)

How to quote: Ivana Dobcheva, 'Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 12117 - Aratea Digital ' (https://github.com/ivanadob/aratea-data/blob/master/data/descriptions/desc__paris_bnf_lat_12117.xml last update: 2018-06-01).