The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts

This volume consists of four manuscripts now bound together but originally separate: B.7.4, B.14.13, B.15.39, and B.15.40.

I. [B.7.4]
f.1 Origenis epistola ad Africanum de Susannae historia
Descriptus est hic libellus ex Patricij Junii exemplari: collatus est cum ea parte hujus epistolae quam edidit D. Hoeschelius. conjecturas suas addidêre Patricius Junius, H. Thorndikius et T. G. v. Origenis opera ex edit. Genebrard.
After the text, which has marginal conjectures, are two notes in Latin on the text.

II. [B.14.13]
f.15 Liber Controversiarum, vol. I (B.14.13)
Table of contents.
Prefatio ad divisionem controversiarum.
Proemium de verbo Dei.
Questio 1^a an verbum dei sit sola interna locutio que in cuiusque animo fit, an externa locutio, videl. scriptura sacra, etc.
f.25 Controversie nostri temporis in epitomen reducte Omnes controversie nostri temporis pertinent fere ad duos articulos simboli apostolici scil. ad 9^m et decimum. credo ecclesiam catholicam, communionem sanctorum. Et credo remissionem peccatorum.
Ends f.163 cum ipsi etiam angeli corda hominum non videant.
On f.164 are some headings.
For vol. II. of this book see B.14.14.

III. [B.15.39]
1. f.165 These ben þe gaderid councelis of seynt ysodre to enforme man how he schulde fle vicis and folewe uertuis. Consideracioun of a man him silf
Man knowe þi silf knowe what þow art.
In sections: Euele þou ’tes.
Chastite.
Continuel prier.
Ffastinge.
Drinke.
Lokinge.
Ffelowschip of wommen.
Traueile.
Redinge.
Meeknesse.
Sadnes of mynde.
Pees.
Compassioun.
...
Dispite of þe world.
Ends f.169b no þing for wordli opinioun but oonli for lijf euerlastinge. Amen.

2. these ben counceilis good and holsum, if þei haue wilful execusioun. Augustinus de contemptu mundi.
a. Iff thou seie to me is an hard word.
b. þis sentence seiþ seint austyn. Dispite of þe world.
c. Omnia terrena per vices sunt aliena.
d. De terra plasmasti me etc. Drþe (l. Erþe) out of erþe is wondirli wrou ’t etc.
e. Memento homo quod cinis es etc.
First biþenke þee how þ^u mizte holde þi silf wreachid etc.
Ends f.171b, lord holde so faste my soule and my loue to þee þat noon oþer loue, ne for synne. I neuere be departid fro þee. Amen.
3. f.172 In a hand of early xvith cent.
By hym that all dothe (embrase)
And nothing his presence (may compase).
In the ende of yemps when phebus had serclied
Envyron the world and stode yn Aquarye
And Saturne finally his wreck hath wreckyd,
My bemys y spied yn compas youre emysperie.
Remembryng your Jugements and faythfull gryerary. [James has i p c above gryerary.]
’e haue concluded your citee to polysshe
Eschwyng Ryot and vertu to norysshe.
The fourth and last stanza ends
But all Odius Rancoure be rasyd from your sone
To youre honoure worship and ryall mageste
That ’e present duryng youre mayralte.
Follows
Vnto the most noble Senature w^t all diligens
Protector of the commonwelle in oure absens.
The poem seems to be an address at a Pageant of a Lord Mayor(?) spoken by one in the character of Apollo? or some luminary.

IV: [B.15.40]
"A Treatise in defence of the People's reading the Scriptures in answer to a book."
"it seems to be learned and usefull. wrote about the end of Q. Eliz. reign" (cf. f.173).
The tract itself begins on f.175.
f.175 In margin: Sect. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Fulk
Scriptures to be translated into vulgare tongues.
The true religion beinge lyke the heuenly bodies w^ch neuer change.
Ends f.214b that you shall procede no further for as much as your madnes shal be knowne to all men. Τέλος.
ff.215-222 are blank.

Mooney, L. R., The Index of Middle English Prose Handlist 11: Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (Cambridge, 1995), p.19