Flyleaves to a copy of the works of Claudian in a 13th century hand (105 folios), removed from their binding in 1920 (the flyleaves were almost certainly doubled across the middle, since the Claudian only measures. 245 x 140mm). The MS appears to come from Arbroath in Scotland, for at both beginning and end it bears the words Liber Sancti Thome martiris de Albr[oath]. A 15th century hand has added the following on f. 1, however: pro conventu fratrum minorum sancti Iohannis, nisi pro illo missum fuerit de Arbrod, indicating that it may have once been housed in a Franciscan monastery (perhaps near Arbroath - St. Andrews or Dundee?).

Acquired from Arbroath Abbey with other manuscripts by Marcus Wagner in 1553, for Matthias Flacius Illyricus. Acquired with the rest of Flacius's library in 1597 by Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Luneburg, then transferred in 1618 from Wolfenbuttel to the University Library Helmstedt.

The preserved 14th century voices are parts of motets, and the upper voices reveal that these were mainly troped Alleluia motets such as appear in the Worcester fragments. The use of a fourth textless part, the quartus cantus, is also noteworthy. A very unusual feature is the high f clef above the treble g clef in no. 5, which appears to be isorhythmic.

An early 15th century addition, in white mensural notation but without clef, is in 3 parts but textless.

dark brown leather over wooden boards (15th century), with a single clasp

Typical English 14th century: longs and breves predominate and independent use of the semibreve only occurs in no. 5 (excluding the 15th century addition no. 4)

9 red five-line staves per page, though there were originally 10

modern pencil foliation. 1-2v

Initials are in blue and red

Parchment

RISM B/IV 1: Two 14th century parchment flyleaves meas. 28 x 24.5 cm. (originally 36 x 28 cm), now removed from the binding. The main part of the manuscript is a copy of the works of Claudian in a 13th century hand, which takes up 105 folios. The two musical flyleaves, one each end of the manuscript, were obviously doubled across the middle, since the Claudian only meas. 24.5 x 14 cm. The ms binding itself is of dark brown leather over wooden boards, with a single clasp. Initials are in blue and red. The musical notation of the flyleaves is typically English, though the ms appears to come from Arbroath in Scotland, for at both beginning and end it bears the words Liber Sancti Thome martiris de Albr[oath]. A 15th century hand however has added the following on f. 1: pro conventu fratrum minorum sancti Iohannis, nisi pro illo missum fuerit de Arbrod. The notation is clearly 14th century, although longs and breves predominate and independent use of the semibreve only occurs in no. 5, if we except the 15th century addition no. 4. There are now 9 red five-line staves per page, though there were originally 10, the top one having been generally cut away completely. The preserved 14th century voices are parts of motets, and the upper voices reveal that these were mainly troped Alleluia motets such as appear in the Worcester fragments. The use of a fourth textless part, the quartus cantus, is also noteworthy. A most unusual feature is the high f clef above the treble g clef in no. 5, which appears to be isorhythmic.

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