This manuscript contains the Four Gospels with prologues and tables
of contents, followed by a lectionary in which readings from the
Gospels are divided over the liturgical year. The manuscript has,
on stylistic grounds, been identified as a product of the
Benedictine abbey of St Remaclus in Stavelot. The manuscript was
produced in the 10th century, possibly during the abbacy of
Ravanger II (r. 980-1007). It has been illuminated in a Mosan style
found in a group of manuscripts produced at Stavelot around the
same time. Another British Library manuscript that belongs to this
group is Add MS 18043 (a Psalter). Like many manuscripts from
Stavelot, this manuscript contains unfinished miniatures (and
initials and display capitals) that have only been drawn in ink
(Nordenfalk, Codex Caesareus Upsaliensis (1971), pp. 141-42).
Contents:ff. 3r-8v: Eusebian Canons (unfinished, featuring only the
arches but lacking contents). ff. 9r-10r: St Jerome, Prologue to
the Four Gospels. ff. 10r-11v: St Jerome, Epistola Hieronimi
presbiteri ad Damasum papam urbis Rome (Letter from priest Jerome
to Pope Damasus of the City of Rome). ff. 11v-12r: St Jerome,
Prologue to the Gospel of John. ff. 12r-14r: A table of contents
for the Gospel of Matthew. ff. 14r-69v: The Gospel of Matthew. ff.
69v-70r: St Jerome, Prologue to the Gospel of Mark. ff. 70r-72r: A
table of contents for the Gospel of Mark. ff. 72v-105v: The Gospel
of Mark. ff. 105v-106v: St Jerome, Prologue to the Gospel of Luke.
ff. 106v-111v: A table of contents for the Gospel of Luke.ff.
111v-169v: The Gospel of Luke. ff. 169v-170r: St Jerome, Prologue
to the Gospel of John. ff. 170r-171v: A table of contents for the
Gospel of John.ff. 172r-215v: The Gospel of John. ff. 216r-224v: A
lectionary, beginning ‘In nomine domini · Incipit capitulare
evvangeliorum de anni circulo’.The manuscript contains a later
addition: f. 1r: A description of the manuscript (‘Note’) in
French, added in the 19th century (?). [ff. 2r, 14v, 15v, 16r,
172v, [215a] recto, [215a] verso are empty].Decoration:1 full-page
miniature with colours: Matthew writing at a desk (f. 2v). 1
full-page unfinished 'LI'(ber) monogram in green and gold on purple
parchment with birds for the beginning of Matthew (f. 15r). Arches
for canon tables, with birds, dragons, or hybrids in colours, and
foliate or inhabited capitals, left unfilled (ff. 3r-8v). 1 large
unfinished sketch in pencil for a miniature of Mark writing
accompanied by his symbol, and the beginning of his Gospel (f.
72v). 3 sketches in pencil and purple ink for large initials with
interlace, foliate decoration, and zoomorphic figures at the
beginning of Luke and of John (ff. 111v, 112r, 172r). Large and
small simple initials in red or brown. Running headings in red.
