Title devised by cataloger. Previously cataloged under the title of 'Promptuarium homileticum' and identified as such by Seymour de Ricci. Manuscript codex. Collation: Parchment; fol. ii (20th-century paper) + 174 (foliated 1-95, 95*, 96-173) + ii (20th-century paper); 1-410 510(-6,7,8,9,10 with loss of text; note: "Hic defficiunt 6 distinctiones fere") 6-16101710(±8,9; -10 without loss of text); signed [12]-14 and 16-29; catchwords preceding gatherings signed 13-14, 19-22, 26, and 28. Layout: Written in 2 columns of 48 lines; frame ruled in lead; pricking visible on fol. 21-28. Script: Fol. 1-171 [that is, 172] written by a single scribe in Gothica semitextualis formata; heavily abbreviated; many fused letters, crossed tironian-et signs; prefixes of words frequently separated from rest of word (as in ex cedit). Annotations in many hands including corrections, marginal titles, nota signs, manicules, and general marginal notes; some notes visible at the bottom of... Decoration: blue and red pen-flourished initials on fol. 48r, 107v [that is, 108v], and 125r [that is, 126r]; historiated initial at the beginning of book 4 on fol. 46r; rubrication, alternating red and blue, throughout. Binding: 20th-century limp vellum with Yapp edges and alum tawed tie; red edges; binder's ticket: "Sky Meadow Bindery, Inc. January 1994." Formerly bound in gold tooled full calf circa 1730 (see Long, page 108). This work has been rebound and binding fragments retained. See Special Collections circulation desk for additional information. Origin: Likely produced in England based on subject matter and later English provenance. Jewett and Long date the manuscript between the last quarter of the 13th century and the 14th century (see Traditio, vol. 50), while Long dates it to the late 13th or early 14th century. Once part of a larger codex as evidenced by the quire signatures. "Entire distinctions, aside from those physically cut... Former shelfmark: Chicago, IL, University of Chicago Library, BV4240.P9. Shelfmark: Chicago, IL, University of Chicago Library, Ms156. 18th-century armorial bookplate: "Non sibi, sed toti. Edward Brown, AM." 18th-century armorial bookplate: "This book belongs to the Inner Library, bequeathed by the will of Tho[ma]s Eyre Esqr. deceased. W[illia]m Wakeman & Vincent Eyre Esqrs., acting executors, 1792." Percy Dobell and Son catalogue 48 (October 1925), no.15; purchased by Shirley Farr.
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