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Cambridge. Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 48

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Source
Parker Library On the Web (Cambridge)
Library
UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Shelfmark
  • MS 048
Biblissima authority file
Date
  • 1175 - 1199
Language
  • Latin
Title
  • Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 048: Bible
  • Bible
Description

  • 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 :


    1r-276v - Bible

    Note: (1r) In double columns

    Note: (1r) Prologue Jerome ad Paulinum

    Note: (1r) Prol. Initial in gold very delicately outlined in black

    Note: (2v) In triple columns

    Note: (2v) Capitula of Genesis - Judges, 1 Regum - 2 Paralipomenom, Rest., Tobit, Judith, 1, 2 Maccabees

    Note: (7r) Pref. b. Ieronimi presb. ad Desiderium

    Note: (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.

    Note: (7v) Genesis begins

    Note: Stichometric notes are given in most cases

    Note: (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

    Note: (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.)

    Note: (7v) Quatrefoil, gold ground. Christ half-length with scroll hands to Moses, nimbed, below, the Tables delicately mottled in various hues to represent marble.

    Note: 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

    Note: (47r) Jos. Prol.

    incipit: (47r) Tandem finito

    Note: (52r) Jud. Arg. (ex epistola beati Ieronimi ad Paulinum). Short extract

    Note: (57r) Similarly for Ruth

    Note: (58r) 1 Reg. Prol.

    incipit: (58r) Viginti duas

    Note: (84r) 1 Par. Proll.

    incipit: (84r) Si septuaginta

    incipit: (84r) Eusebius Ieron. Domnioni

    Note: (84v) Argumentum ex epistola ad Paulinum

    Note: (97r) 2 Par. is followed by the Prophets

    Note: (119r) Baruch follows Jeremiah and precedes Lamentations

    Note: (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)

    Note: (148r) After Malachi follow

    Note: (149r) Job

    Note: (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

    Note: (154v) Prov., Eccl., Cant, (with the speakers indicated in the margin on f. 160v)

    Note: (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

    Note: (161r) Ezra, Nehemiah

    Note: (166v) (Followed by extract. Hic post incensam a chaldeis iudeam)

    Note: (166v) Hester

    Note: (167r) Esther. Of singularly fine execution

    Note: (169v) Sap. (prol. Liber sapientieTres libros salamonis)

    Note: (173r) Ecclus. Oratio Salomonis

    Note: (173r) Ecclus. A crowned white-bearded man, half-length, facing R. A cleft in the initial (as above)

    Note: (182v) Tobit

    Note: (184r) Judith

    Note: (184r) Judith. Birds with necks intertwined on a fine red ground

    Note: (187r) 1, 2 Maccabees

    Note: (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

    Note: (200v) The Canons under coloured arches with coloured shafts. A delicately mottled marble shaft (see on Gen.) is very striking

    Note: (201v) Distinctiones Canonum (beginnings of the sections)

    Note: (203v) Capitula of the four Gospels

    Note: (204v) In quadruple columns

    Note: (204v) Prol. Plures fuisse

    Note: (204v) The Arguments (Matheus ex iudea etc.) in parallel columns

    Note: (205v) The Text of the Four Gospels in parallel columns

    Note: (205v) The initials to the Gospels (all on one page) contain the Evangelistic emblems and make a noble appearance

    Note: The breadth of the column varies with the length of the text, Mark being naturally the narrowest

    Note: (233v) In triple columns

    Note: (233v) Capitula to Acts, Cath. Epp., Apoc., Pauline Epp.

    Note: Followed by text of

    Note: (236r) Acts, Cath. Epp., Apocalypse

    Note: Cath. Epp. have prologues

    Note: (242v) JacobusPetrusIohannesludas

    incipit: (242v) Non ita est ordo

    Note: Jac.

    incipit: (243r) Jacobum qui appellatur

    incipit: (243r) Jacobus apostolus sanctum instruit clerum

    Note: (243r) James and 1 Peter (f. 244r) contain half-length figures of the writers

    Note: 1 Pet.

    incipit: (243v) Simon petrus filius Iohannis

    incipit: (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

    incipit: (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

    incipit: (246r) Judas apostolus fratres

    Note: (246v) Apoc. Half-length figure of Christ with the sword (silver) across His mouth: holding book

    Note: 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

    incipit: (250v) Romani sunt in partes

    Note: (250v) Rom. Half-length of Paul with scroll

    Note: The usual arguments to the other Epistles

    Note: (263v) Philem. A large blue nude man with red face and beard hangs from the initial

    Note: (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

    Note: (266r) In the 3rd column a copy of the Wycliffite version of the epistle written at the same time

    Note: (267r) In quadruple columns

    Note: (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

Rights
  • Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk
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