This manuscript consists of two parts (ff. 1-8v; ff. 9-86) that
were produced at the Benedictine abbey of St Alban at St Albans,
and bound together at an early date (see Thomson, Manuscripts from
St Albans (1982), p. 92). The scribe of ff. 1-8 copied the St
Albans Psalter (Hildesheim, Dombibliothek, MS St Godehard 1) and
added marginal notes to Harley MS 2624 (ff. 5r-46v). The scribe of
ff. 9r-33v is the same as that of Cotton Ch XI 8 (dated around
1145), Royal MS 12 G XIV, Royal MS 2 A X (the main hand), and St
Petersburg, Saltykov-Shchedrin Public Library, MS Q.v.l, 62, ff.
1r-6v, which contains a St Albans calendar that closely resembles
that of Royal MS 2 A X, ff. 2r-7v. The hand of ff. 34r-86r is close
to Royal MS 2 A X, ff. 124r-125r (see British Library Catalogue of
Additions to the Manuscripts (1982)). Contents: ff. 1v-7v:
Kalendar, including St Albans liturgy and feasts, written between
1119-1146, according to Wormald, English Benedictine Kalendars
(1938). ff. 8r-v: Excerpts from St Augustine (b. 354, d. 430),
bishop of Hippo, De Doctrina Christiana (On the Christian
Doctrine), chapters 8-11. ff. 9r-86r: St Augustine, De Trinitate
(On the Trinity), imperfect, beginning with book 1 chapter 1:
'Quorum nonnulli ea que de corporalibus rebus', ending with book 15
chapter 8: 'et lumen esse in quo videntur quae oculis carnalibus
non videntur'. ff. 86r-v: Anonymous, De Duodecim Lapidibus (On the
Twelve Stones), beginning: 'Sives (sic) celetis patrie / Regi regum
concinite'; imperfect ending ('Vitam signat angelicam / Discretione
preditam'). Decoration:One decorated initial in gold on a blue wash
background, added in the late12th or early13th century over an
earlier, contemporary initial (f. 9r). Two initials in red with
green penwork decoration (ff. 16r, 50v). One large initial in
green, with simple penwork decoration (f. 8r). One large initial in
green with red penwork decoration (f. 59v). Small initials and
numbers in red, green or brown.
