Four distinct manuscripts bound together, containing A (f. vi-x verso): parts of 4 Old English sermons, together with 2 sequences; B (f. xi-xxxix verso) : 67 short Latin sermons on passages from the New Testament ; C (f. 1 to 164v): 74 Old English sermons, mostly by Aelfric; D (f. 165-172v): similar works in Old English and Latin, together with another sequence in the same hand as f. x but in slightly more primitive neumes. The second of the sequences in part A on f. x verso is neatly written in 2 columns: each column represents a distinct voice, and the two-part polyphony operates by voice exchange. Given to the Bodleian by Sir Robert Cotton in 1603.

Rebound in the 18th or 19th century with brown leather over pulp boards and mottled brown paper on the front and back covers

mostly unmeasured longs and breves

16 red four-line staves per page (f. x verso)

x r+v

The foliation is particularly complicated. There are 5 flyleaves at the front and 2 at the back. Fol. i-ii and 174 are paper flyleaves which go with the binding, f. iii and f. 173 are old parchment flyleaves, while f. iv-v are 2 paper leaves containing a 17th century index of sermons. The foliation of these flyleaves is in modern pencil at t.r.r. Parts A and B of the MS are on the one hand paginated at t.r.r. and t.l.v., and on the other hand continue the flyleaf foliation to f. xxxix. All this is in modern pencil. An older 17th century ink foliation then runs through from i to 172.

Green and red initials

parchment

RISM B/IV 1: A 12th century parchment manuscript meas. 308 x 200 mm. and containing v + 33 + 173 + ii folios, OBo 343 was given to the Bodleian by Sir Robert Cotton in 1603. It is in fact made up of 4 distinct manuscripts bound together. The ms was rebound in the 18th or 19th century with brown leather over pulp boards and mottled brown paper on the front and back covers. The foliation is particularly complicated. There are 5 flyleaves at the front and 2 at the back. Fol. i-ii and 174 are paper flyleaves which go with the binding, f. iii and f. 173 are old parchment flyleaves, while f. iv-v are 2 paper leaves containing a 17th century index of sermons. The foliation of these flyleaves is in modern pencil at t.r.r. Parts A and B of the ms are on the one hand paginated at t.r.r. and t.l.v., and on the other hand continue the flyleaf foliation to f. xxxix. All this is in modern pencil. An older 17th century ink foliation then runs through from i to 172. The contents are as follows. A (f. vi-x verso): parts of 4 Old English sermons, together with 2 sequences; B (f. xi-xxxix verso) : 67 short Latin sermons on passages from the New Testament ; C (f. 1 to 164v): 74 Old English sermons, mostly by Aelfric; D (f. 165-172v): similar works in Old English and Latin, together with another sequence in the same hand as f. x but in slightly more primitive neumes. The second of the sequences in part A on f. x verso is neatly written in 2 columns on 16 red four-line staves per page. Each column represents a distinct voice, and the two-part polyphony operates by voice exchange. The green and red initials of this early 13th century composition suggest that it may really belong with part B of the ms. The incipit shows that the notation is made up primarily of unmeasured longs and breves.

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