Egerton MS 2907

NEW TESTAMENT, in Latin; Vulgate version. The arrangement of books is regular, except that the Catholic Epistles precede the Pauline and Hebrews, and that Colossians comes after 1 and 2 Thessalonians and is followed (f. 269b) by the apocryphal 'Epistola ad Laodicences.' Romans is preceded by the argument beg. 'Romani sunt in partibus Ytalie' (Berger, Préfaces, 1902, no. 280A), and Hebrews by the argument 'In primis dicendum est' and preface 'Hebrei proprio gentis suo (sic) uocabulo' (ib. nos. 283, 285). The text has many characteristic features, e.g. a long addition after Matth. XX. 28 (cf. Wordsworth and White, Nouum Testamentum Latine, pt. i, 1889-98, p. 124), a shorter one at the end of Acts (ib. pt. ii, 1905, p. 228), and the inclusion of 1 Joh. v. 7 (the passage relating to the Three Heavenly Witnesses), but after verse 8 (cf. Sir F. G. Kenyon, Textual Criticism of N. T., 1912, p. 208). Modern chapter-numeration inserted in the margins by a later hand.

At the end (f. 309b) is a Calendar, having a striking preponderance of French saints, including some that are specially associated with the south of France, viz. Pontius, martyr (Nice, Narbonne, etc.), May 11; Genesius, martyr (Arles), Aug. 25; Salvius, Bishop (of Alby), Sept. 10; Amantius (Bishop of Rodez), Nov. 4; 'Pauli Narbone' (Paul, Bishop of Narbonne), Dec. 11 (usually venerated on Mar. 22, but in many places on Dec. 12, see Acta SS., 22 Mar., p. 369). St. Thomas of Canterbury if not mentioned, and the Conception of the Virgin (Dec. 8) has been inserted with a plummet. In a blank space at the end of the Apocalypse (f. 309) are the following verses in a slightly later hand:— (i) Three elegiac couplets on the name Adam (cf. Amalarius, De Eccles. Offic. lib. i, cap. 7, in Migne, Patr. Lat. cv. 1004), beg. 'Anachole dissis arcos messimbrios orbis';— (ii) Four leonine hexameters beg. 'Acubens dormit, discumbens fercula sumit';— (iii) A distich against women, 'Femina tormentum iuuenum mortis monumentum/ Hechom inem primum de celo traxit ad imum.'

On ff. 315-327 are tables of Epistles and Gospels throughout the year, in a 15th cent. hand; and on f. 327b are notes of the foundation of the Dominican order, the deaths of SS. Dominic, Peter Martyr, and Thomas Aquinas, and the canonization in 1455 of St. Vincent Ferrer.

Vellum; ff. ii + 327. 5¾in. x 3¾in. Early XIII cent. Gatherings of 8 leaves (last ¹⁵). Sec. fol. 'eo cogitante.' Illuminated initials in gold and colours, often with border-prolongations, at the beginning of books, neatly executed in a curious and interesting style, with the opening words of many of the books in red and blue capitals on coloured grounds; smaller initials flourished in red and blue; words omitted in the text have been supplied by the scribe in the margins, and surrounded with elaborated decorative designs in red and blue outlines. Old binding of wooden boards, with leather thong and brass clasp. On f. ii, 'Ista biblia est michi Jacobo Verder presbytero in ecclesia sancti Agricole [at Avignon ?] beneficiato' (15th cent.). Sold at Sotheby's, 30 June, 1913, lot 158.