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Alternative title

Biblia

Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 276 + 3

Date created

[ca. 1175 - 1199]

Language

Latin

Material

Vellum

Layout

in double, triple and quadruple columns of 63 lines

Height (mm)

324

Width (mm)

212

Collation

I(8)-VI(8) VII(10)-XXVIII(10) (+1) XXIX(10) (wants 8-10), a(2) (+1).

Writing

in very beautiful small hands

Foliation

ff. a-b + 1-276 + i-iv + c-d

Provenance

The presence of the tract of Senatus Bravonius in this Bible has always suggested the probability that it is a Worcester book. I would point out that there is a very great similarity in size, arrangement of writing and contents, between this and a Bible at Eton College (no. 26 in my catalogue). This latter book is written in triple columns of 62 lines. Its contents are arranged in much the same way, viz.: Genesis - 2 Chron. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Lamentation (Hebrew alphabet precedes in red, blue and green). Ezekiel - Malachi. Job. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 1 Esdr. Proverbs - Ecclesisastes, Oratio Salomonis. Tobit, Judith, 1, 2 Maccabees Psalter (triple, with much prefatory matter). Table of Epistles and Gospels. Eusebian Canons. Evv., Acts, Catholic Epistles, Apocalypse Pauline Epistles (verses of Damasus, and preface of Pelagius). Laodicean follows Hebrew The Eton book was given to St Albans by Prior Mathias. This is recorded at the top of f. 1r and at the end of Proverbs. There was room for a like record at the top of f. 1r of the Corpus Bible, which has been removed. There is no direct proof that the Eton Bible was written at St Albans, but my belief is that it was a sister book to the Corpus Bible and that both belonged to St Albans. The Corpus book is far more finely decorated. A third book closely connected with these two is a 2nd volume of a Bible at Trinity College, Dublin (A. 2. 2: no. 51 in Abbott's Catalogue). This has the prologue of Senatus; the same prologues to the Pauline Epistles: the writing and ornament also agree (note specially the mottled marble shafts in the framework of the Gospel Canons). It belonged in the xvth century to Westdereham in Norfolk.

Additions

In the cover (f. av) are pasted two slips, one of vellum with a carefully written extract from Leland on Senatus Bravonius, the other of paper with notes of some various readings (xvi).

A slip has been cut from the top of f. 1r and replaced by blank vellum.

On the flyleaves at the end (ir-ivv). A piece of parchment pasted on (iir), with a list of the contents of this Bible (xv). Verses and note on the Tribes (iiir). Classified list of the books (ivr) (xvi early). Note to the effect that there are 258 leaves in the book from Gen. i (ivr).

Decoration. The initials in this book are exceedingly beautiful. I give a list of those which contain subjects or are otherwise remarkable (included within contents below).

Summary

This Bible from St Albans, CCCC MS 48, dating to c. 1170, is part of a group of manuscripts produced at the abbey during the abbacies of Abbot Simon (1167-83) and Abbot Warin (1183-95). Related in text and decoration are two other St Albans Bibles of this period, Eton College MS 26 and Dublin, Trinity College MS 51 (A.2.2). The main artist of the Corpus Bible also worked for the Abbey of St Bertin and may be French in origin; he seems to have been a travelling illuminator. The book has thirteen historiated initials some of them on separate pieces of vellum stuck onto the page. The version of the Vulgate in this Bible has been classified by Glunz as 'Lanfranc's Scholastic Text'. The book is much smaller than most twelfth-century Bibles, but is considerably larger than the small 'pocket' versions which become popular in the middle years of the thirteenth century. An unusual feature of the page format is a three (and occasionally four) column text.

Contents

Bible

M.R. James Date

xii late

Downloadable James Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:qk007bj7006/MS_48.pdf

Superseded Interim Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:tv538vg2458/48.pdf

Contains

• Bible. 1r-276v

  Note

  (1r) In double columns
  (1r) Prologue Jerome ad Paulinum
  (1r) Prol. Initial in gold very delicately outlined in black
  (2v) In triple columns
  (2v) Capitula of Genesis - Judges, 1 Regum - 2 Paralipomenom, Rest., Tobit, Judith, 1, 2 Maccabees
  (7r) Pref. b. Ieronimi presb. ad Desiderium
  (7r) Prol. to Pentateuch, Jerome as black monk nimbed, writing, with knife and pen. In the tail of the letter a tonsured bust. Gold ground.
  (7v) Genesis begins
  Stichometric notes are given in most cases
  (7v) Genesis. Magnificent initial, the height of the page. The general scheme is ladderlike, with small white beasts: gold ground, edged with green. At top, quatrefoil: gold ground. Christ half-length with scroll across, blessing
  (7v) Six medallions, red frames: a. Angels. 3 heads seen on L., 3 on R., one half-length full-face in C. b. Band of clouds above and blue lined water below. Globe in C. marked HILE (ὕλη). c. Red ground, clouds, earth with trees, water. d. Sun and moon with faces, red stars in blue sky, earth with trees, water. e. Bird in clouds, birds (swans, storks, etc.) on earth: whales in water. f. Beasts on L. Christ in C. creates Eve (on R.)
  (7v) Quatrefoil, gold ground. Christ half-length with scroll hands to Moses, nimbed, below, the Tables delicately mottled in various hues to represent marble.
  The subsequent initials as far as Job are decorative and are of the most exquisite delicacy and brightness. Perhaps that to Zechariah may be singled out as particularly marvellous for the fineness of its white pattern on deep blue. The initials are uniformly edged with green
  (47r) Jos. Prol.

  Incipit

  (47r) Tandem finito

  Note

  (52r) Jud. Arg. (ex epistola beati Ieronimi ad Paulinum). Short extract
  (57r) Similarly for Ruth
  (58r) 1 Reg. Prol.

  Incipit

  (58r) Viginti duas

  Note

  (84r) 1 Par. Proll.

  Incipit

  (84r) Si septuaginta
  (84r) Eusebius Ieron. Domnioni

  Note

  (84v) Argumentum ex epistola ad Paulinum
  (97r) 2 Par. is followed by the Prophets
  (119r) Baruch follows Jeremiah and precedes Lamentations
  (121r) Lamentations is headed by a fine table of the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew letters are well written in gold, and their names, in red and green capitals, are twice given in the columns on R. with two sets of interpretations. At top are turrets with shields hanging to them. Linen guards to initials survive in the case of some of the minor prophets (ff. 138r, 141v, 142r)
  (148r) After Malachi follow
  (149r) Job
  (149r) Job. Job's wife on L. Job on R. Scrolls inscribed in red: Benedic deo et morere. Quasi una de stultis mulieribus locuta es. Red ground
  (154v) Prov., Eccl., Cant, (with the speakers indicated in the margin on f. 160v)
  (160v) Cant. A crowned female seated, one hand to her face. A curious cleft is managed in the initial so that the text (Osculetur) is directly connected with her other hand. Esther. Of singularly fine execution
  (161r) Ezra, Nehemiah
  (166v) (Followed by extract. Hic post incensam a chaldeis iudeam)
  (166v) Hester
  (167r) Esther. Of singularly fine execution
  (169v) Sap. (prol. Liber sapientieTres libros salamonis)
  (173r) Ecclus. Oratio Salomonis
  (173r) Ecclus. A crowned white-bearded man, half-length, facing R. A cleft in the initial (as above)
  (182v) Tobit
  (184r) Judith
  (184r) Judith. Birds with necks intertwined on a fine red ground
  (187r) 1, 2 Maccabees
  (199r) Epistola Eusebii de canonibus euangeliorum

  Incipit

  (199r) Eusebius Carpiano

  Rubric

  (199r) Incipit tractatus magistri Senati Wigorniensis bibliothecharii de concordia et dispositione canonum euangeliorum

  Incipit

  (199r) Dilecto amico suo et socio magistro Æluredo suus senatus wig(orniensis) ecclesie films salutem et si quid in obsequio potest. Inter preciosa maiorum munera

  Note

  Ending

  Explicit

  (200r) et omnia in quibus conuenientia cum aliis repperiri potest

  Note

  The opening of this, with the interesting reference to the Bible presented to Worcester by king Offa, was printed by Martene and Durand, Thes. Nov. I 484, from a manuscript then at Conches (in Normandy)

  Rubric

  (200r) Incipit epistola sancti ieronimi ad damasum

  Note

  (200v) The Canons under arches
  (200v) The Canons under coloured arches with coloured shafts. A delicately mottled marble shaft (see on Gen.) is very striking
  (201v) Distinctiones Canonum (beginnings of the sections)
  (203v) Capitula of the four Gospels
  (204v) In quadruple columns
  (204v) Prol. Plures fuisse
  (204v) The Arguments (Matheus ex iudea etc.) in parallel columns
  (205v) The Text of the Four Gospels in parallel columns
  (205v) The initials to the Gospels (all on one page) contain the Evangelistic emblems and make a noble appearance
  The breadth of the column varies with the length of the text, Mark being naturally the narrowest
  (233v) In triple columns
  (233v) Capitula to Acts, Cath. Epp., Apoc., Pauline Epp.
  Followed by text of
  (236r) Acts, Cath. Epp., Apocalypse
  Cath. Epp. have prologues
  (242v) JacobusPetrusIohannesludas

  Incipit

  (242v) Non ita est ordo

  Note

  Jac.

  Incipit

  (243r) Jacobum qui appellatur
  (243r) Jacobus apostolus sanctum instruit clerum

  Note

  (243r) James and 1 Peter (f. 244r) contain half-length figures of the writers
  1 Pet.

  Incipit

  (243v) Simon petrus filius Iohannis
  (243v) Discipulos saluatoris inuicti

  Note

  2 Pet.

  Incipit

  (244v) Symon petrus per fidem

  Note

  1 Joh.

  Incipit

  (245r) Johannes apostolus et euangelista quem Ihesus amauit
  (245r) Racionem uerbi

  Note

  2 Joh.

  Incipit

  (246r) Usque adeo ad sanctam

  Note

  3 Joh.

  Incipit

  (246r) Gaium pietatis

  Note

  Jud.

  Incipit

  (246r) Judas frater iacobi
  (246r) Judas apostolus fratres

  Note

  (246v) Apoc. Half-length figure of Christ with the sword (silver) across His mouth: holding book
  After Apoc.

  Rubric

  (249v) Incipit prefatio pelagii de corpore epistolarum beati pauli apostoli

  Incipit

  (249v) Primum queritur quare post euangelia

  Note

  Alia prefatio Ieronimi

  Incipit

  (250r) Omnis textus uel numerus

  Note

  Argumentum in Rom.

  Incipit

  (250r) Romani sunt qui
  (250v) Romani sunt in partes

  Note

  (250v) Rom. Half-length of Paul with scroll
  The usual arguments to the other Epistles
  (263v) Philem. A large blue nude man with red face and beard hangs from the initial
  (263v) Heb. is followed by

  Rubric

  (266r) Incipit Epistola ad Laodicenses que non habetur in canone

  Note

  A smaller rubric says

  Rubric

  (266r) hec epistola non est emendata

  Note

  After the text

  Rubric

  (266r) Ex epistola ad Colosenses

  Incipit

  (266r) Cum lecta fuerit etc.

  Rubric

  (266r) Beatus Gregorius in ultimo moralium

  Incipit

  (266r) Paulus apostolus quamuis epistolas quindecim etc.

  Note

  (266r) In the 2nd column another text of the Epistle, neatly written in cent. xvi
  (266r) In the 3rd column a copy of the Wycliffite version of the epistle written at the same time
  (267r) In quadruple columns
  (267r) Interpretationes nominum

  Incipit

  (267r) Abel ciuitas uel filius adam qui interpretatur luctus etc.

  Note

  Ends (Zorobabel)

  Explicit

  (276r) Uel magister babylonis uel confusionis

  Note

  The work maintains its excellence to the end

TJames

46

Stanley

E. 3

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 048

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