CCA-DCc/LitMs/B/6

Shelfmark CCA-DCc/LitMs/B/6

An early 13th-century copy of the Bible, preceded by a commentary on Genesis by Alexander Neckham called Solatium fidelis animae.

There is an early provenance inscription of Thomas de Banchester, presumably a monk of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury to which the book belonged in the period before the Reformation. The book subsequently passed into the possession of Sir John Wilde (d. 1635), the Registrar to the Dean and Chapter, who is recorded in the Benefactors' Book as giving it to the Chapter Library. The gift can be dated to 1630–1634 as it is listed in first place in the manuscripts section of the 1634 inventory but is not found in the 1630 manuscripts catalogue.

The entry in the Cathedral Archives catalogue (https://archives.canterbury-cathedral.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?id=CCA-DCc%2fLitMS%2fB%2f6):

Bible 
early 13th century 
Belonged to Thomas de Banchester. 
From the library of St Augustine's Abbey (see James, Ancient Libraries, p197). 
ff 2-29v: commentary on Genesis called "Solatium fidelis anime", filling 28 leaves. 
It begins "Rerum subtilium fugas" and ends "per infinita secula seculorum. - Amen". 
Larger initial letters illuminated in red and green, and with their loops ornamented with pen work. 
The Bible is in a much smaller hand, with many contractions. The headings and initials are in red and blue pigment. 
This book was presented to the Library of Christ Church by Sir John Wilde, Knt., (Registrar to the Dean and Chapter in the early years of the 17th century). 
In the margins of this volume will be found a large number of rough drawings mostly executed in lead point - for example, comic heads, heads of dogs and women, strange beasts and caricatures. 
1 vol 
Parchment book, 322ff, double columns. 12 in. by 7 3/4 in. 
Latin

There is an record for the manuscript on the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts: https://sdbm.library.upenn.edu/manuscripts/24324. {{#set:isTitle=Solatium fidelis animae}} {{#set:wasAcquiredIn=1630-1634}} {{#set:isAuthor=Alexander Neckham}}