This manuscript is the first volume of a two volume-set containing
Flavius Josephus (b. 37, d. c. 98)'s Antiquitates Iudicae
(Antiquities of the Jews). It is preceded by an excerpt on Flavius
Josephus from St Jerome (b. c. 347, d. 420)'s De viris illustribus
(On Illustrious Men). The second volume is Royal MS 13 D VII and
contains the last books (books 15-20) of the Antiquitates Iudicae
and also includes Josephus's De bello iudaico (On the Jewish War).
The manuscript was written by Scribe A of the Benedictine abbey of
St Albans between c. 1120-1140 (see Thomson, Manuscripts from St
Albans Abbey (1983), no. 37). Contents: f. 1r: Excerpt on Josephus
Flavius from St Jerome, De viris illustribus, beginning: 'Josephus
Mathie filius ex Ierosolimis sacerdos, a Vespasiano captus',
ending: 'et usque hodie Christianorum gens ab hoc sortita vocabulum
non deficit'. ff. 1r-218v: Josephus Flavius, Antiquitates iudaicae
(Books 1-14), preceded by a prologue (ff. 1r-2r). The prologue,
beginning (f. 1r): 'Prologus incipit. Hystoriam conscribere
disponentibus non unam nec eandem video eius'; the text beginning
(f. 3r): 'In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram. Sed dum terra
ad aspectum non veniret'. Book 1 (ff. 3r-17v), preceded by capitula
(f. 2v); Book 2 (ff. 17v-32v), preceded by capitula (f. 17v); Book
3 (ff. 33r-47r), preceded by capitula (f. 33r); Book 4 (ff.
47r-61v), preceded by capitula (f. 47r); Book 5 (ff. 61v-77r),
preceded by capitula (f. 61v); Book 6 (ff. 77v-96r), preceded by
capitula (f. 77v); Book 7 (ff. 96r-115r), preceded by capitula (f.
96r); Book 8 (ff. 115r-134r), preceded by capitula (f. 115r); Book
9 (ff. 134r-146v), preceded by capitula (f. 134r); Book 10 (ff.
146v-158r), preceded by capitula (ff. 146v-147r); Book 11 (ff.
158v-170v), preceded by capitula (f. 158v); Book 12 (ff.
170v-185v), preceded by capitula (f. 170v); Book 13 (ff.
185v-201r), preceded by capitula (ff. 185v-186r); Book 14 (ff.
201r-218v), preceded by capitula (ff. 201r-v); ending (f. 218v):
'Nos igitur hunc terminum cognationis a Samoneorum accepimus.
Explicit liber quartus decimus'. Decoration: The style of the
decoration is related to the St Albans Psalter (see Kauffman,
Romanesque manuscripts (1975)). One historiated initial of
Creation, in colours, at the beginning of book 1 with eight
medallions which show scenes from Creation, including a scene of
the Creation of Adam in which God is depicted as a potter moulding
Adam (f. 3r). Fifteen large initials, some with foliate decoration
interlaced with human figures, animals or birds, in colours, at the
beginning of the prologue and other books. Initials in blue or red.
The rubrics are in red and green display-script. Headings in red.
Quire signatures in Roman numerals and red.
