Add MS 52778

VULGATE BIBLE, written and illuminated in England, probably in the Diocese of York; circa 1260-1280. Latin. Exhibited by the Burlington Fine Arts Club, Exhibition of Illuminated Manuscripts, 1908, no. 103, and by the Victoria and Albert Museum, 'English Medieval Art', 1930, no. 159. See also N. J. Morgan, Early Gothic Manuscripts (2), 1987, no. 135. The books of the Bible are in the order: Preface (collected prologues of most books), Octateuch, Kings 1-4, Chronicles 1-2, Esdras 1-5, Judith, Esther, Tobit, Job, Psalms, Sapiential Books, Prophets, Maccabees, Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles, Revelation. This approximates to, but is not identical with, S. Berger, Histoire de la Vulgate, 1893, 336, no. 129. At the end (ff. 415-427) is the Interpretation of Hebrew Names, usually attributed to Bede. Ownership note on f. 1, 'Thomas Rant Norwicensis hospitii Lincolniensis . . .', 16th cent. Thomas Rant of Norwich entered Caius College, Cambridge, 12 Apr. 1592, and Lincoln's Inn, 12 Oct. 1597. See f. ii and J. Venn, Biographical History of Gonville and Caius College, i, 1897, p. 145. Owned by John Ruskin who intended to give the MS. to Laurence Hilliard, 7 Apr. 1878, but 'changed his mind' (f. ii). Later owned by Sir Sydney Carlyle Cockerell, who entered extensive notes on ff. ib, ii, 9 Apr. 1902. Purchased from Eric George Millar, who acquired the MS. in 1957.

Vellum; ff. iv+427. Ff. 206-230 misfoliated by Sydney Cockerell, who compensates for his own error, rendering subsequent foliation correct. 208 x 144mm. Circa 1260-1280. Gatherings of 16, with catchwords; i16 (14 and 15 cancelled), ii-xi12, xxiii20, xxiv20, xxvi20, xxvii18, xxviii20, xxix2, xxx2 (2 cancelled). Pricked and ruled in ink. Double columns of 49 or 50 lines, within single bounding lines with an outer frame ruling to guide running titles, pen-flourished initials, catchwords and corrections. Marginal guide-numbers for chapter numbers. Sec. fol.: 'hanc sophista verbosus'. Binding of purple velvet on oak boards, with double brass clasps, 16th cent.

Decorated in a fine but restrained manner, passim. Running titles, chapter numbers and pen-flourished minor initials in blue and red. Main divisions of the text introduced by 83 small historiated or decorated initials in gold and colours. 46 further decorated initials precede the prologues. Initials are often accompanied by or incorporate grotesques and stylized birds. The sequence of initials is:

1. f. 1. Preface. F. A monk, Frater Ambrosius, writing.

2. f. 15. Genesis. I. Roundels with Creation scenes: God the Father; angels; the firmament with earth, sun and moon; fish; beasts; Eve.

3. f. 30b. Exodus. H. Horned Moses with a bishop and seated king.

4. f. 43. Leviticus. V. Sacrificial offering of a lamb.

5. f. 51b. Numbers. L. Balaam on the ass, with the angel.

6. f. 63b. Deuteronomy. H. Moses, with Tablets, speaks to the Israelites.

7. f. 74b. Joshua. E. Jews carrying the Ark across the Jordan.

8. f. 82b. Judges. P. Judah, with spear, appointed leader of Israel.

9. f. 92b. 1 Kings. F. The anointing of Solomon.

10. f. 104. 2 Kings. F. The Amalekite before David.

11. f. 113b. 3 Kings. E. Busts of David and Abishag.

12. f. 124b. 4 Kings. P. Death of King Ahaziah.

13. f. 135. 1 Chronicles. A. Descendants of Adam.

14. f. 144b. 2 Chronicles. C. Solomon seated.

15. f. 157b. 1 Esdras. I. Decorated.

16. f. 161. 2 Esdras. E. Nehemiah and Jerusalem.

17. f. 166. 3 Esdras. E. Inspiration of Esdras.

18. f. 171b. 4 Esdras. A. Uriel appears to Esdras.

19. f. 177b. 5 Esdras. E. Decorated.

20. f. 178b. Judith. A. Judith with the head of Holofernes.

21. f. 182b. Esther. I. Decorated.

22. f. 186. Tobit. T. Burial of the Dead.

23. f. 189. Job. V. Decorated.

24. f. 196b. Psalm 1. B. David harping.

25. f. 198b. Psalm 26. D. Decorated.

26. f. 200. Psalm 38. D. David pointing to his mouth, accompanied by a hirsute beast.

27. f. 201. Psalm 51. Q. Decorated.

28. f. 202b. Psalm 68. S. Figure struggling to escape the mouth of hell.

29. f. 204. Psalm 80. E. Decorated.

30. f. 205b. Psalm 97. C. Angel bearing a scroll points heavenward to a poor man, who clutches his head in bemusement.

31. f. 206. Psalm 109. D. Decorated.

32. f. 209. Proverbs. P. Solomon instructs Rehoboam.

33. f. 216. Ecclesiastes. V. Decorated.

34. f. 218b. Song of Songs. O. Bridegroom crowns the Bride.

35. f. 220. Wisdom. D. Decorated.

36. f. 225. Ecclesiasticus. O. Jesus ben Sirach seated.

37. f. 238b. Isaiah. V. Decorated.

38. f. 254b. Jeremiah. V. Jeremiah's vision of the seething pot.

39. f. 275. Baruch. E. Decorated.

40. f. 277. Ezekiel. E. Ezekiel's vision, with evangelist symbol heads.

41. f. 294. Daniel. A. Decorated.

42. f. 301. Hosea. V. Hosea and Gomer.

43. f. 303. Joel. V. Decorated.

44. f. 304. Amos. V. Decorated.

45. f. 306. Obadiah. V. Decorated.

46. f. 306. Jonah. E. Jonah issuing from the whale.

47. f. 307. Micah. V. Decorated.

48. f. 308b. Nahum. O. Inspiration of Nahum.

49. f. 309. Habakkuk. O. Decorated.

50. f. 309b. Zephaniah. V. Inspiration of Zephaniah.

51. f. 310b. Haggai. I. Decorated.

52. f. 311. Zechariah. I. Zechariah seated.

53. f. 313b. Malachi. O. Inspiration of Malachi.

54. f. 314. 1 Maccabees. E. Decorated.

55. f. 325b. 2 Maccabees. F. Delivery of the letter to the Jews of Egypt.

56. f. 333. Matthew. L. Jesse tree, with dove above.

57. f. 344b. Mark. I. Mark, in an aedicule surmounted by the lion.

58. f. 351b. Luke. Q. Zacharias in the Temple.

59. f. 362b. John. I. Decorated, surmounted by the eagle.

60. f. 371. Acts. P. The Virgin and two apostles.

61. f. 382b. James. I. Decorated.

62. f. 383b. 1 Peter. P. Peter seated.

63. f. 384b. 2 Peter. S. Decorated.

64. f. 385. 1 John. Q. John seated.

65. f. 386b. 2 John. S. Decorated.

66. f. 386b. 3 John. S. John standing.

67. f. 386b. Jude. I. Decorated.

68. f. 387. Romans. P. Paul disputing.

69. f. 391. 1 Corinthians. P. Decorated.

70. f. 395. 2 Corinthians. P. Decorated.

71. f. 397b. Galatians. P. Paul preaching.

72. f. 399. Ephesians. P. Paul preaching.

73. f. 400b. Philippians. P. Decorated.

74. f. 401b. Colossians. P. Paul preaching.

75. f. 402. 1 Thessalonians. P. Decorated.

76. f. 403. 2 Thessalonians. P. Paul standing before a kneeling figure [the unrighteous?] with toppling crown.

77. f. 403b. 1 Timothy. P. Decorated.

78. f. 404b. 2 Timothy. P. Paul standing before a kneeling crowned figure [the righteous?].

79. f. 405b. Titus. P. Decorated.

80. f. 406. Philemon. P. Paul, imprisoned, repays Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, who is rebuked by Philemon.

81. f. 406b. Hebrews. M. Decorated.

82. f. 409b. Apocalypse. A. John writing.

83. f. 415. Hebrew Names. A. Decorated.

The subjects of the initials on ff. 92b, 124b, 205b, 403, 404b, 406 and the hirsute beast on f. 200 are unusual. The initials are the work of two hands, the major artist being responsible for those on ff. 1-13b and ff. 167-427. Cockerell first noted

(f. ib) a close resemblance, and possible identity, between the work of the major artist and of the artist responsible for the Psalter of Simon of Meopham (Sion College MS. Arc.L.40.2/L.2), which is attributable to the diocese of York. Written in littera gothica glossularis. Marginal annotations, 14th-16th cent., passim.