Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series A - 01.06.2003, Page 42
4*
INTRODUCTION
as they appear in AM 234 fol. (S2; see pp. 8*-53*), giving approximate-
ly 16 fols. for the former and nine for the latter in their complete state.
Stefán Karlsson suggests, EIM VII, 49, that the extant leaves made
fols. 1-3, 6 and 8 of a gathering of eight. If the gatherings were of nor-
mal size throughout, Jóns saga would thus have occupied fols. 7-8 and
1-8 of two gatherings preceding the extant remnants; Augustinus saga
fols. 1-7 of a gathering following them. There were doubtless other
works in the 221 codex, but their identity remains problematic; cf. pp.
47*-48*.
The provenance of AM 221 fol. is unknown. Since its immediate
offspring, AM 234 fol., was associated with Skálholt, it probably was
as well.
The simple pret. snaraöi, rather than hefir snarat, in the Augustinus
saga title might be taken to show that the words were written after
Abbot Runólfr’s death (30/12 1306; the precise date is given only in
Skálholtsannáll, IslAnn., 201). It is however only safe to conclude
from the tense that some time had elapsed since the work was com-
piled and translated (on the senses of snara cf. EIM V, 12-13). Stefán
Karlsson also notes that the abbot’s name appears without any qualifi-
cation such as góðrar minningar, but he acknowledges that this offers
no reliable criterion (EIM VII, 56). Runólfr was consecrated abbot in
1264, succeeding Brandr Jónsson (bishop of Hólar 1263-64), whose
pupil he had been (Árna saga byskups, 6). Presumably his Augustinus
saga was made during his long service as abbot. That would also fit
with the likelihood of direct or indirect dependence on the Speculum
historiale (EIM IV, 23). The Speculum is thought to have been com-
piled by Vincent of Beauvais (died 1264) in the years 1247-59. We
may thus accept 1264 as a probable terminus a quo.
For a meticulous survey of the script and orthography of 221 refer-
ence should be made to Stefán Karlsson’s description in EIM VII, 48-
60. He particularly discusses norwegianisms and considers the only
other known evidence of the scribe’s work - his hand is found in chap-
ter-titles in AM 47 fol., Eirspennill, thought to have been written c.
1300-25 (AMOrdbog Registre, 432). Stefán Karlsson concludes that
221 was written not later than about 1300 by an Icelander who affect-
ed Norwegian spellings and forms and who very probably did his
work at Skálholt.
Mattias Tveitane studied 221 at about the same time as Stefán