Summary description
Described as follows in A. B. Scott and F. X. Martin (ed.), The Conquest of Ireland by Giraldus Cambrensis (Dublin 1978) xxxvii.
Written c. 1200 in two cols. of 36 lines, with the writing above the top ruling; red and light blue initials with flourishes in the alternate colour, chapters numbered in red and blue, and the title of the Distinctio at the top of each page in alternating red and blue letters. Two intercalated leaves (69 and 87) do not have this heading, and their initials are much cruder. There is a map of Europe (fol. 48), reproduced by Prof. O'Meara in his translation of the Topographia, and numerous marginal drawings illustrating both Topographia and Expugnatio. The text of the Expugnatio is in one hand, with alterations over erasures and marginal additions in the scribe's hand, and also in another more rounded contemporary hand. The two intercalated leaves and the proemium secunde edicionis at the end of the Expugnatio are in a third hand.\ \ Belonged to the vicars choral of Hereford cathedral (N. R. Ker, Medieval libraries of Great Britain (London 1964) 99), with ascription to 'Walter Mybbe' (? 14th cent, [f. [99]r]). Formerly Phillipps MS 6914.
For an acephalous copy of the Topographia on ISOS see Archbishop Marsh's Library MS IV E 6.
Contents
f.
[1]r . [ Topographia Hibernica] 'Prefacio prima in hybernicam Topographiam.' Beg.Consideranti mihi quam brevis et fluxa sit vita quam ducimus. Foll. (f. [2]va) by 'Incipiunt capitula Libri primi Giraldi Kambrensis. de mirabilibus hybernie. Foll. (f. [5]ra) by 'Prefacio Secunda / Illustri Anglorum regi Henrico Secundo. Giraldus Kambrensis'. Beg. Placuit excellentie vestre inuictissime anglorum rex.
[5]va . 'Incipit hybernice hystorie distinctio prima de situ hybernie variaque eiusdem natura.' Beg. Hybernia post Britanniam insularum maxima.
[17]ra . 'Incipit secunda distinctio de mirabilibus hybernie et miraculis.' Beg. Nunc ad ea que contra nature cursum edita digna stupore uidentur: calamum uertamus.
[32]ra . 'INcipit Distinctio Tertia de Terre istius habitatoribus.' Beg. (f. [32]rb) De cetero tempus esse uidetur, ut ad primos terre istius habitatores . Ends (f. [47]va) quicquid a tanta maiestate fuerit iniunctum. 'Explicit: Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci.' Foll. (f. [48]r) by map. F. [48]v blank.
[49]ra . [ Expugnatio Hibernica] 'Prefacio prima in librum expugnac[i]onis hibernice.' Beg. Quaniam de insule hybernice situ. Foll. (f. [50]rb) by 'Incipiunt Capitula: In duos libellos; liber iste libratur'. Foll. (f. [52]ra) by 'Prefacio Secunda / Illustri Pictauiensium Comiti Ricardo Giraldos Kambrensis.' Beg. A multis requisitus et multociens ut inclita nostri temporis gesta.
[53]ra . '[D]e exilio Dermicii principis lagene et eiusdem per anglorum regem henricium secundum restitucione.' Beg. Dermicius itaque Murchardi filius Lageniensium princeps.
[73]va . 'Explicit Liber primus. Incipit secundus.' Beg. Hactenus hystoriam pleno perfectoque tenore produximus.
[95]vb . Book III beg. Quoniam in prioribus libris Merlini vaticinia.
[96]va . 'Proemium secunde editionis et correctorie Regi Anglorum Johanni facte.' Beg. (f. [96]vb) Reuerentissimo domino suo et in Christo dilecto . Ends (f. [99]ra) saltem in posterum. cum suus ex merito quemque tuebitur honor; assequamur. 'Explicit proemium secunde edicionis et correctorie.'
F. [99]v blank.