Marston MS 152     France, s. XII med
Pauline Epistles, with commentary of Gilbert de la Porree

1. ff. 1r-165v //legem consummans te qui per litteram et circumcisionem
preuaricator legis es?  Non enim qui in manifesto...effugerunt aciem
gladij conualuerunt de infirmitate//

Pauline Epistles, written only in the inner column of each page and
beginning and ending imperfectly (Epistola ad Romanos 2.27 through
Epistola ad Hebreos 11.34).  Leaves with text lost between ff. 95-96 (Gal.
4.25-5.4), ff. 119-120 (Col. 3.11-4.6).

2. ff. 1r-165v //nonne iudicabit id est comparatione sui iudicabilem
ostendet te qui non modo per naturam uerum etiam per litteram...exercitus
armatorum.  ut iosue.  samson.  dauid.  et alij multi.  conualuerunt de
infirmitate.//

Commentary of Gilbert de la Poree written only in the outer column of
each page in a smaller script than that in art. 1.  Beginning and ending
imperfectly; Biblical passages underlined.  Stegmueller, v. 2, 2515-28.  On
the author of this work and its date see H. C. van Elswijk, Gilbert
Porreta.  Sa vie, son oeuvre, sa pensee (Louvain, 1966) pp. 54-58.
(Marston MS 152 not cited).

3. [Argumenta, later additions, as follow; f. 69r:]  Incipit argumentum
epistole ad corinthios.  Post actam penitenciam consolatoriam scribit eis
a troade...ostendens.  Explicit argumentum.  [f. 86r:]  Incipit
argumentum epistole ad galatas.  Galate sunt greci hi verbum ueritatis ab
apostolo primum acceperunt...scribens eis ab epheso.  Explicit argumentum.
[f. 110r:]  Incipit argumentum.  Philippenses sunt macedones hi[c deleted]
accepto uerbo ueritatis perstiterunt in fide...per afroditum.  Explicit
argumentum.  [f. 115v:]  Incipit argumentum.  Colosenses et hi sicut
laodicenses sunt asiani.  et ipsi preuenti erant...ab urbe roma.  Explicit
argumentum.  [f. 120r:]  Thesalonicenses sunt macedones in christo ihesu
qui accepto uerbo ueritatis...acolitum.  Explicit argumentum.

Stegmueller, v. 1, nos. 699, 707, 728, 736, 747; all attributed to Hugo
de Sancto Caro or Peter Lombard.

Parchment, ff. iii (paper) + 165 + iii (paper), 293 x 215 (215 x 150)
mm.  2 columns, 21 lines for text, 46 lines for commmentary.  Single
vertical bounding lines for inner margin and space between columns; double
vertical bounding lines for outer margin of outer column.  Rulings for
commentary drawn in hard point; rulings for main text drawn faintly in
lead or crayon.  Ruling format for each leaf tailored to specific
contents.  Prickings in upper, lower, and outer margins.
I-XI 8, XII 8 (-8), XIII-XV 8, XVI 8 (-1), XVII-XX 8, XXI 8 (-8). 
Quires signed with letters of the alphabet (A through Y), later
additions, lower margin near gutter on recto.
Written in fine early gothic bookhand in two sizes of script, above top
line.  
Three illuminated initials at beginning of first three Epistles
of excellent quality, ff. 34v, 69v, 86v, 8- to 5-line, with descenders
extending into margins, red, blue, green and beige against gold ground. 
Bodies of initials filled with stylized scrolling foliage, bright blue,
red, green, orange, silver and yellow with white highlights against gold
ground.  Descenders serve as a trellis for similar scrolls, some ending
in biting animal's heads or fantastic birds.  Scrolling foliage, f. 86v,
inhabited by beasts of a canine variety, white with red shading.  The
decoration of manuscript is unfinished; f. 99r pen and ink underdrawing
for an initial as above, with only touches of red added; blank spaces left
for initals for remaining Epistles.  Small initials, 3-line, gold with red
penwork, for beginning of commentary for each Epistle.  Headings in red or
alternating red and blue majuscules.  Plain initials touched with red. 
Running titles, later addition, in red.
Binding:  United States?, s. xx.  Half bound in dark red goatskin with
gold-tooled lettering on the spine ("St. Paul/ Epistulae cum commento/ MS.
12th Cent."), marbled paper sides, and yellow edges.

Written in France in the middle of the 12th century; early provenance
unknown.  Entry from unidentified sale catalogue (with pl.), in French, in
library files.  Purchased from L. C. Witten in 1957 by Thomas E. Marston
(bookplate).

Bibliography:  Faye and Bond, p. 81, no. 152.  
    Exhibition Catalogue, pp. 187-88, no. 15, pl. 5 of f. 34v.  
The Medieval Book, p. 18. no. 18 (with plate of f. 86v and drawing of 
page format).
C. de Hamel, Glossed Books of the Bible and the Origins of the Paris
Book Trade (Suffolk, 1984) pp. 20, n. 33; 34, n. 45.

Barbara A. Shailor