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Alternative title

Evangelia Cantuariensia

Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 2 + 265 + 6

Date created

[ca. 500 CE-599 CE]

Language

Latin, English, Old (ca. 450-1100)

Material

Vellum

Layout

double columns of 25 lines to a page

Height (mm)

245

Width (mm)

190

Collation

a(2), gap, iii(2) iv(8)-xii(8) xiii(10) (wants 1 or 4) xiv(8)-xviii(8) (+ 8*) xix(8) (wants 1, 8) xx(8)-xxviii(8) xxix(4) (wants 4) xxx(8)-xxxvi(8) xxxvii(4), b(2) c(2) d(2).

Writing

In fine uncials on lines ruled with the dry point

Foliation

ff. a-c + i*-iii* + 1* + 1-265 + i-v + d-g

Provenance

Written in Italy. From St Augustine's, Canterbury (see charters at end). Ancient Libraries, pp. lxvii, lxviii. It is probably mentioned by Thomas of Elmham.

Summary

CCCC MS 286 is the famous manuscript known as the St Augustine Gospels. This is a late sixth-century gospelbook which has for centuries been held to have been sent by Pope Gregory the Great to Augustine of Canterbury (d. 604) during his mission to England. Certainly the manuscript was in Canterbury by the end of the seventh century, and various additions were made there, including some tenth-century Anglo-Saxon charters written between the gospels of Matthew and Mark. CCCC MS 286 is the earliest surviving Gospel Book with figure illumination: although most of it has been lost, with only a picture of Luke as a scribe under an arcade, and a page of gospel images in a grid. Unfortunately, only these two of the probably eight full-page pictures which the book contained have survived. These images seem to have been highly influential on later English art; a number of Anglo-Saxon and Romanesque manuscripts seem to owe a debt to its imagery, as does a famous scene in the Bayeux Tapestry. In the later Middle Ages this manuscript was probably kept on the altar at St Augustine's, Canterbury, where Thomas of Elmham describes a number of manuscripts associated with Augustine being kept. Parker may have been unaware of its association with the Gregorian mission. In recent years it has continued to play a role outside the library: since the Second World War it has been used in the enthronement of archbishops of Canterbury, and in 1982 it was put in the place of honour between Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Robert Runcie during the first papal visit to England since the Reformation.

Contents

Gospel of Matthew -- Prologue and Capitula to Mark -- Gospels of Mark, Luke and John -- Grant of renders from land at Brabourne, Kent by Ealhburg to St Augustine's Abbey, c. A.D. 850 -- Agreement between Wulfric, abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury, and Ealdred, son of Lyfing, about land at Clife, Kent, c. A.D. 990 x 1005 -- Agreement about land at Wicham -- Agreement between Osbern de Ripla and St Augustine's Abbey -- List of relics -- Agreement about a hill near Sakenhethe -- Agreement about seven acres in Betleshangre -- Agreement about the messuage of Colombine the cleric -- Agreement about the messuage of Benedict son of Radulph -- Agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre -- Confirmation of the previous agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre -- Agreement about the garden of William son of John of Fenglesham

M.R. James Date

vi

Downloadable James Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:ny628kc1913/MS_286.pdf

Superseded Interim Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:gz989vf7295/286.pdf

Contains

• Gospel of Matthew. 1r-74r

  Author

  Matthew

  Note

  Evangelia quatuor Latine secundum versionem D. Hieronimi, haud tamen absque majoris momenti lectionibus ab editione vulgata discrepantibus. De hoc autem codice notandum est eum ab aliis antiquissimis codicibus, quos in Anglia scriptos esse constat, cum quoad membranorum faciem tum quoad atramenti colorem tum denique quoad literarum ductum maxime differre. Quae quidem cum aliis infra dicendis rationibus faciunt ut credam hunc codicem unum esse eorum quos ad Augustinum Anglorum apostolum et primum Dorobernensem archiepiscopum mille et centum abhinc annis misit Gregorius magnus papa Romanus. De libris ab eo in Angliam missis consulat eruditus lector Iohannem Diaconum in vita Gregorii magni cap. 37. et Beda historiam ecclesiasticam lib. i. cap. 29
  f. 1r begins imperfectly in capitula of Matthew (xii)

  Incipit

  (1r) (Nine)uitarum signumpharisaeis traditmatrem et fratres spernit

  Note

  xxviii ends

  Explicit

  (2r) et doctrina eius de baptismo

  Rubric

  (2r) Explicuerunt

  Note

  (red)
  Below this is written (xi?) Siferð7 tate

  Rubric

  (2r) Incipit ipse liber

  Note

  On f. 2v is only Mattheus hominem in large capitals
  Text begins at top of f. 3r

  Incipit

  (3r) Liber generationis

  Note

  (in red)
  This page bears some stains from a lost frontispiece
  A conspicuous corrector, who writes in black uncials, appears on f. 14r, 15r etc.: he may be of cent. viii. A later corrector, English (ix?), writes haec on f. 14v, imperauit on 18r, muliere on f. 45v etc.
  On f. 29r, col. 2, is seen a line written in the same script as the section-numbers. See also f. 39r, col. 1, and notably f. 58v, col. 2, bottom
  Ends 74r, colophon in rustic capitals, lines alternately red and black

  Rubric

  (74r) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum MattheumIncipit Euangeliumsecundum marcumDeo gratias

• Prologue and Capitula to Mark. 75r-77r

  Author

  Mark

  Note

  (75r) Two little heads of dogs (?)sketched at top of f. 75r
  Prologue to Mark

  Incipit

  (75r) Marcus euangelista dei

  Explicit

  (75v) incrementum dat deus est

  Rubric

  (75v) Explicit prologus

  Note

  (75v) (rustic capitals, red)

  Rubric

  (75v) Incipiunt capitula

  Incipit

  (76r) i de iohanne baptista et uictu etc.

  Explicit

  (77r) xiii -et resurrectio eius

  Rubric

  (77r) Explicueruntcapitula.

• Gospels of Mark, Luke and John. 77r-265v

  Author

  Mark

  Luke

  John

  Rubric

  (77r) Incipitipse liber

  Note

  (78r) Text, beginning in red
  (78r) Between the columns is drawn a half-length figure of a being with lion's claws and ears, and human face, winged, holding a book (facsimile in Goodwin, l.c.). It is before this leaf that the leaf with the frontispiece seems to have stood: there are some colour-stains on 78r.
  91r, col. 2, has been largely re-inked
  Ends 124r. Colophon as before in red and black rustic capitals

  Rubric

  (124r) Explicit Euangelium secund(um)Marcum. Incipitsecundum Luca

  Note

  124v blank
  On f. 125r the famous painting in twelve compartments. For reproductions see above. Another painting most probably preceded it
  125v is blank
  Prologue

  Incipit

  (126r) Lucas syrus antiocensis arte medicus

  Explicit

  (126v) prodisse

  Rubric

  (126v) Explicit prologusIncipiunt capitula

  Incipit

  (127r) i Zacharias angelo non credens

  Explicit

  (129r) xx -resurrectio eius et reliqua

  Rubric

  (129r) ExplicueruntBrebes. Incipitipse liber

  Note

  (129v) 129v has the second painting, of St Luke, surrounded by scenes from the Ministry. For reproductions see above
  (130r) Headline in rustic

  Rubric

  (130r) Incipit Euangelium secundum Luca

  Note

  Text

  Incipit

  (130r) Quoniam quidem

  Note

  After 130v a leaf is gone. 130v ends Et incredibiles (1 17). 131r begins Et regni eius (1 33)
  On f. 194v, col. 2 passio dni nri is written in the hand of the later corrector (English minuscule of cent. viii?)
  Ends

  Rubric

  (205v) Explicit Euangelium secundum Luca.Incipit secundum IohanneInc. prologuseiusdem. Deogratias

  Note

  (205v) Here a leaf with the frontispiece to John is missing. There are slight stains on f. 206r
  Headline

  Rubric

  (206r) Praefatio

  Incipit

  (206r) Iohannes euangelista

  Explicit

  (206v) doctrina seruetur. Amen

  Rubric

  (206v) Explicit prologusIncipiunt capitula

  Incipit

  (207r) i Pharisaeorum leuitae

  Explicit

  (207v) xiv -Et resurrectio eius

  Rubric

  (207v) Expliciunt capitula. incipit ipse liber

  Note

  At top of 207v in rustic capitals + More volans aquilae petit astra Iohannes
  Text

  Incipit

  (208r) In principio eratuerbum

  Note

  On f. 256r is a spirited sketch of a man in a pointed cap gesticulating: probably meant for a Jew
  Ends

  Rubric

  (265v) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum IohannemDeo gratiassemper. Amen

• Grant of renders from land at Brabourne, Kent by Ealhburg to St Augustine's Abbey, c. A.D. 850. 74v-74v

  Nasmith

  Testamentum Ealhburgae in quo recitantur quae legavit monasterio S. Augustini. 74v-74v

  Author

  Ealhburg

  Note

  Quod quidem testamentum publicavit D. Georgius Hickesius in dissertatione sua epistolari
  On f. 74v, in fine round black hand, the Will of Ealhburh

  Incipit

  (74v) In nomine domini ealhburh hafaþ geset myd hyre freonda

  Note

  (facsimile in Goodwin, Cambridge Antiquarian Society 1847, pl. 1)

  Explicit

  (74v) agife land 7 bec þam hiƿum to sanctæ agustine

  Note

  Wanley, p. 151
  S 1198

• Agreement between Wulfric, abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury, and Ealdred, son of Lyfing, about land at Clife, Kent, c. A.D. 990 x 1005. 77v-77v

  Nasmith

  Conventio Saxonice scripta [Paulo ante initium evangelii secundum D. Marcum] quae facta fuit inter Wulfricum abbatem [qui floruit A.D. 949] et Ealredum Lifingi filium. 77v-77v

  Note

  On f. 77v, originally blank, in good black hand

  Incipit

  (77v) In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi her sƿutelað on þisum geƿrite hu ƿulfric abb.

  Note

  (facsimile in Goodwin, l.c.)

  Explicit

  (77v) to hyra saƿle ðearfe á butan ende; amen

  Note

  Wanley, p. 157
  S 1455

• Agreement about land at Wicham. ir-ir

  Nasmith

  Redditio terrae de Wicham Deo et S. Augustino et domino Hugoni abbati per Robertum Fresla, in illa quadragesima in qua rex Henricus dedit filiam suam imperatori. ir-ir

  Incipit

  (ir) Item de terra WICHAM nominata, etc.

  Note

  This is in a hand very closely resembling that of the Missal MS 270

• Agreement between Osbern de Ripla and St Augustine's Abbey. ir-ir

  Nasmith

  Conventio inter Osbernum de Ripla filiosque ejus et abbatem S. Augustini de annua pensione XVIs. VIIId. solvenda ex terra de Ripla. ir-ir

  Incipit

  (ir) Hec est actio que facta est in presentia hugonis abbatis secundi

  Explicit

  (ir) Anno ab incarnatione domini Millmo co xlvito xvmo kal. apr. apud Norburnam in Hallimoto

  Note

  In a good black pointed hand

• List of relics. iv-iir

  Nasmith

  Reliquiae quae sunt in uno parvo nigro scrinio uno flore notato. iv-iir

  Incipit

  (iv) Héé sunt reliquie in uno paruo nigro scrinio flore uno signato. De ligno domini plures particule. De sepulchro domini. De Scapula Sancti Nicomedis martiris. De Capillis Sancte Cecilie uirginis et martiris, De Sancta Margareta. De Sancto Ianuario. De uestis Sancte Marie. De ossibus et uestis Sancti Clementis martiris. De uestis Sancte Cecilie. De Sancto Antonio episcopo. De Sancto Laurentio martire. De Sancto Johanne Baptista os unum. De Sancto Pancratio martire. Costa de Sancto Mathia Apostolo. De Sanctis Wandregesilo-Martino- Medardo atque Gildardo, Odulfo episcopo, Audoeno, Dens Sancti Vedasti, De Sanctis Wlgaro, Paulino, Affre, Geruasio, Ambrosio. De cruce Sancti Andree apostoli, De Sanctis Mildretha, Wilfrido, Eadgitha, Folquino, Walburga, Amato Episcopo, Petrocio, Bartholomeo Apostolo, Tecla. Digitus Sancti Gregorii. De Sancto Jacobo Apostolo fratre Sancti Johannis. De Sanctis Nicholao, Leonardo, Benedicto et alie plures reliquie sine scriptis. Et de Sancta Fide Virgine

  Note

  (iv) In a separate line: Hollord. Ketil. Ozor. Yun. Andreus. Asclathe
  iir blank

• Agreement about a hill near Sakenhethe. iiv-iiv

  Nasmith

  Concessio collis, qui est proximus Sakenhethe, Jacobo filio Gilrici per Robertum abbatem et conventum, ea conditione ut dictus Jacobus ibi faciet unam salinam et reddet annuatim ad curiam de Cistelet II ferdendellos salis et V solidos. iiv-iiv

  Note

  On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Agreement about seven acres in Betleshangre. iiv-iiv

  Nasmith

  Concessio 7 acrarum in Betleshangre Willelmo filio Hugonis de Betleshangre per Robertum abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione XLII denariorum curiae de Norb. annuatim solvenda. iiv-iiv

  Note

  On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Agreement about the messuage of Colombine the cleric. iiv-iiv

  Nasmith

  Concessio messuagii Columbino clerico per eundem abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione Xs. iiv-iiv

  Note

  On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Agreement about the messuage of Benedict son of Radulph. iiv-iiv

  Nasmith

  Concessio messuagii Benedicto filio Radulphi per abbatem et conventum reservata pensione XIIIIs. annuatim. iiv-iiv

  Note

  On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre. iiir-iiir

  Nasmith

  Concessio 10 acrarum terrae et dim. in villa de Estbotleshengre Hamoni filio Willelmi de Botleshanger per Robertum elemosinarium cum consensu abbatis et conventus. iiir-iiir

  Note

  On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Confirmation of the previous agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre. iiir-iiir

  Nasmith

  Confirmatio ejusdem donationis per abbatem et conventum. iiir-iiir

  Note

  On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

• Agreement about the garden of William son of John of Fenglesham. iiir-viv

  Nasmith

  Concessio cujusdam horti Willelmo filio Iohannis de Fenglesham per dictum elemosinarium. iiir-viv

  Note

  On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252
  iiiv-viv blank: unimportant scribbles on f. ivv
  (vr) On the paper flyleaf at end is this note: Codex tanta similitudine codicis Amiatini excellit ut omnino saeculi vi esse dicendus sit. M. mart. 9. a. 1865. Const. Tischendorf

TJames

136

Stanley

L. 15

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 286

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