Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 048: Bible
Description
Abstract/Contents
- 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
Bibliographic information
- 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- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record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
- Bible. 1r-276v
- TJames
- 46
- Stanley
- E. 3
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
- Location
- MS 048
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
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