Alan of Tewkesbury (d. 1202) compiled this collection of St Thomas
Becket's letters from earlier collections than John of Salisbury's
collection. This manuscript is the earliest extant version of Alan
of Tewkesbury’s collection. It contains a number of emendations,
additions and corrections indicating that it may have been a work
in progress. The volume is an extensive form of this work,
comprising 598 letters arranged in chronological order. John of
Salisbury's Life of St Thomas Becket with Alan's prologue preface
the collection. Contents: ff. 2r-9r: John of Salisbury, Vita Sancti
Thome Becket (Life of St Thomas Becket), beginning with Alan of
Tewkerbury's prologue (ff. 2r-v); beginning of the prologue:
'Sacrosanctam ecclesiam iugiter impugnat hostis antiquus';
beginning of John of Salisbury's life of St Thomas Becket (f. 2v):
'Predictus igitur beatissimus Thomas Londoniensis urbis indigena'.
ff. 9r–356v: Alan of Tewkesbury, Collectio Epistolarum Sancti
Thome Cantuariensis (Collection of St Thomas Becket's epistles),
preceded by a prologue (ff. 9r-17r), beginning: 'Gloriosus dei
martyr Thomas qualis cuius vite'; beginning of the text (first
epistle): 'Iohannes Pictavensis episcopus. Reverentissimo domino et
patri beatissimo Thome'. Decoration:Possibly the first known
manuscript miniature of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, depicting
the Archbishop struck down while at prayer in Canterbury Cathedral
(f. 341r). Added, early modern representation of St Thomas Becket
in grisaille (f. 1r).Large framed 'P' initial for 'Predictus' in
gold, purple and blue, with interlaces, geometrical and zoomorphic
features (f. 2v). Large historiated 'I' initial (f. 214v) decorated
with three medallions portraying St Thomas's martyrdom, with a
background of geometrical motifs and interlace. The major sections
open with large framed initials in gold leaf and colours with
interlace and zoomorphic details; other sections open with
three-line initials, alternating between blue, red, green and gold.
Human or animal figures at the end of some columns (e. g., ff.
286v; 287r; 291r). Rubrics in red or green and red.
