De contemptu mundi by Pope Innocent III (f. 1-41v) and a theological miscellany entitled Hie incipiunt auctoritates de diversis materiis (f. 41v-49), copied by at least 11 different hands. Hand G is responsible for the musical additions on f. 19v-20 and f. 50v-51. Entered the collection of Bishop Arne Sigurdsson of Bergen (1305-1314), and from thence arrived in Germany, where it was sold to the Swedish student Johannes Kanutus at Greifswald. Later he became custos of the Franciscan monastery in Stockholm, to which he left his manuscript in 1489. In 1620 king Gustave Adolphus IV gave the monastery library to the university of Uppsala.

very worn binding of light red leather over wooden boards.

mainly in longs with a rectangular body, together with a few ligatures

5 double four-line staves in red

parchment

RISM B/IV 1: A 13th century parchment manuscript meas. 150 x 110 mm. and containing 52 folios in a very worn binding of light red leather over wooden boards. The main contents are De contemptu mundi by Pope Innocent III (f. 1-41v) and a theological miscellany entitled Hie incipiunt auctoritates de diversis materiis (f. 41v-49). 11 different hands have been distinguished, of which hand G of the end of the 13th century is responsible for the musical additions on f. 19v-20 and f. 50v-51. The second piece, a hymn of congratulation on the marriage of the Norwegian king Eirikr Magnusson to the Scottish princess Margaret at Bergen in 1281, clearly dates from the same period as the hand, though it has been suggested that the two-part hymn to St. Magnus on f. 19v-20 dates from the 12th century. Count Magnus died in 1115 and was canonised in 1135, so that this saint of the Orkney Islands may have indeed been celebrated at this epoch. Moreover, the polyphony in parallel thirds may date from the 12th century, though nothing opposes a 13th century date for a composition of this style in such an outlying community. The manuscript itself seems to have been written for the Franciscan order, and if the hymn itself was written for an establishment of this order, it can scarcely be dated before 1230-40. Since most compositions in the style of the Magnus hymn date from the latter part of the 13th century, it is likely anyhow that this work too dates from around the time of the wedding hymn on f. 50v-51. The wedding hymn has been considered the work of Friar Maurice who served king Eric's father on a mission to Scotland in 1264. Since king Eric's father was called Magnus, it does not seem impossible that the Magnus hymn is connected with him. The notation of both pieces is mainly in longs with a rectangular body, together with a few ligatures. The polyphony is on 5 double four-line staves in red, the voices separated by the usual wavy line, also in red. The later history of the codex is that it apparently entered the collection of Bishop Arne Sigurdsson of Bergen (1305-1314), and from thence arrived in Germany, where it was sold to the Swedish student Johannes Kanutus at Greifswald. Later he became custos of the Franciscan monastery in Stockholm, to which he left his manuscript in 1489. In 1620 king Gustave Adolphus IV gave the monastery library to the university of Uppsala.

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