Royal MS 13 B VIII, ff 1r-34v

Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hiberniae (Topographia Hibernica); rubric: 'Introitus in recitationem', incipit: 'Consideranti mihi quam brevis' (f. 1r); the dedication to Henry II, incipit: 'Placuit excellentie uestre' (f. 3v); the main work (here entitled 'Hybernica historia'), incipit: 'Hybernia post Britanniam insularum maxima'.

Edited from this manuscript by Dimock 1867, where the manuscript is classified as containing the third edition (after 1189), with marginal additions, which together constitute the fourth edition.

Gerald of Wales (d. 1223) [Giraldus Cambrensis, Gerald de Barry] composed the Topography of Ireland in between 1186 and 1188, after his travels in Ireland in 1183 and with Prince John in 1185. He produced a second edition before the death of Henry II in 1189, followed by a third, fourth and various 'late' editions before his death in 1223.The illustrative programme was probably formulated by Gerald or under his direct supervision during his sojourn in Lincoln (1196-1198). There are three other manuscripts of the Topographia Hiberniae illustrated with a series of marginal tinted drawings: Dublin, National Library of Ireland, MS 700, Bodleian Library, Laud. Misc. MS 720, and Cambridge University Library, MS Ff.1.27. According to Brown 2002, the Dublin manuscript is the closest to the original copy, whilst this manuscript, produced in Lincoln, probably in Gerald's presence (1196-1198, or 1207-1208) is the earliest known. It contains marginal authorial additions, related to both text and images. Nota-signs and pointing hands (maniculae); two further volumes contain maps of Britain and Ireland: Arundel MS 14 and Add. MS 33991.

Decoration:

45 marginal miniatures in colours and tinted drawing of animals, habits of people, and wonders of Ireland: Crane and Barnacle Geese (f. 8v); Osprey (f. 9r); Kingfisher and Stork (f. 9v); Crow (f. 10r); Stag, Hare, Badger, Beaver (f. 10v); Snake, Weasel, Mole (f. 11r); Spider, Fox, Wolf (f. 11v); the fish with golden teeth of Carlingford, Ulster and the deer with golden teeth of Dunholm wood (f. 16v); two episodes from a legend of the priest of Ulster and the wolf (ff. 17v-18r); the bearded woman of Limerick and the man-ox of Wicklow (f. 19r); the half-cow half-stag of Chester, the woman of Connacht embracing a goat, Joanna of Paris embracing a lion, Rooster (f. 19v); St Kevin and the Blackbird (f. 20r); two episodes from of the legend of the bear of St Firmin of Auch (f. 20v); St Colman feeding his ducks, and a fox and a hawk unsuccessfully attacking the ducks (f. 21r); the rats of Ferneginan and the wandering bell of Mactalewus (f. 21v); the tame falcon of Kildare and a scribe writting the miraculous Gospels of Kildare (f. 22r); a leaping salmon of Munster (f. 22v); the Crucifix of Dublin and the fire of St Brigid (f. 23v); an Irish musician playing the harp (f. 26r); two men, one carrying another, with axes (f. 27v); one man killing another with his axe (f. 28r); the kingship ritual in Tirconnel (f. 28v); men of Connaught in a boat; bare-chested man riding on a horse (f. 29r); the priest Bernard blowing the horn of Patrick; bell and crozier reliquaries (f. 30r); a crippled man (f. 30v).

5 foliate initials in colours with dragons and hybrids (ff. 1r, 3v, 4r, 13v). Initials in red and green.