Royal MS 2 B VII, ff 280v-302r

Canticles, with scenes from the Passion of Christ and other miniatures.

Decoration:

f. 280v: Miniature of four scenes of the Resurrection in quatrefoils, with: (top left) Christ lying in the uncovered sepulchre, with soldiers apparently repulsing a disciple (perhaps Joseph of Arimathaea); (top right) Joseph sent by the Jews to prison; (bottom left) the Resurrection of Christ, with two angels in clouds above, and two sleeping soldiers in the foreground; (bottom right) Christ with resurrection cross delivering Joseph from prison, with an historiated initial 'C'(onfitebor) with Isaiah raising his hands to the Almighty in the cloud above, with a bas-de-page scene of Catherine before the emperor Maxentius, with the burning of the wise men.

f. 281r: Four-part miniature with scenes from the Passion of Christ, including the Harrowing of Hell, the three women and angel at the Tomb, the Last Supper, and the Doubting of Thomas and Noli me tangere, with a bas-de-page scene of a female martyr being scourged.

f. 281v: Historiated initial 'E'(go) with Hezekiah lying in bed with his hands raised in prayer below a cloud with the head of the Almighty, with a bas-de-page scene of Catherine being sent to prison.

f. 282r: Bas-de-page scene of an emprisoned Catherine being visited by the empress, who finds her assisted by angels playing musical instruments, a mandora and a rebec.

f. 282v: Bas-de-page scene of Catherine before the emperor, assisted by two men.

f. 283r: Historiated initial 'E'(xultavit) of Hannah bringing Samuel to Eli, with a bas-de-page scene of Catherine standing before her broken wheel, with two angels with swords above and two fallen men assisted by two others below.

f. 283v: Bas-de-page scene of Catherine being beheaded by a man with a raised sword, before the king.

f. 284r: Historiated initial 'C'(antemus) of a horned Moses with his hands upraised to the Almighty in the cloud above, with Miriam and a tambourine and the Red Sea sweeping over the Egyptians, with a bas-de-page scene of Catherine being entombed above wild animals on Mount Sinai by two angels.

f. 284v: Bas-de-page scene of Saturninus and Sisinnius before a judge.

f. 285r: Bas-de-page scene of Saturninus and Sisinnius being beheaded by two men with raised swords.

f. 285v: Bas-de-page scene of Andrew before the king.

f. 286r: Historiated initial 'D'(ominus) of the Virgin Mary standing with outstretched arms towards a cloud with the crucified Christ, with a bas-de-page scene of Andrew being crucified by two men on a diagonal cross.

f. 286v: Bas-de-page scene of Lucy before the king.

f. 287r: Bas-de-page scene of Lucy being beheaded by a man with a raised sword, with the king watching.

f. 287v: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas arguing before the king.

f. 288r: Historiated initial 'A'(udite) with a horned Moses praying to the Almighty in a cloud above, with the flaming mouth of Hell and three Israelites to his right, with a bas-de-page scene of Thomas being beheaded by a man with a raised sword, and watched by two men dressed in chain mail.

f. 288v: Bas-de-page scene of the mother of Thomas, the Saracen Emir's daughter, being recognized by Gilbert Becket's servant.

f. 289r: Bas-de-page of the mother of Thomas of Canterbury being baptised, immersed in a large font, by two bishops.

f. 289v: Bas-de-page scene of the mother of Thomas Becket, the Saracen Emir's daughter, being married to Gilbert Becket.

f. 290r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket's mother lying in bed with the infant Thomas beside her in a cradle and a woman holding back the curtain.

f. 290v: Bas-de-page scene of the king giving Thomas Becket a letter nominating him as Archbishop.

f. 291r: Bas-de-page of Thomas Becket, with mitre, pall and cross, being consecrated.

f. 291v: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket disputing with the king.

f. 292r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket going into exile, as he sits in a boat, holding a cross, assisted by four others.

f. 292v: Historiated initial 'T'(e) with a bishop with an asperging brush, and five figures in white vestments, with a bas-de-page scene of the king ordering all Thomas Becket's kin to be banished.

f. 293r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket and his family crossing the Channel in a boat, going into exile.

f. 293v: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket and his family journeying on foot into their exile, the women carrying infants.

f. 294r: Historiated initial 'B' of three children in the fiery furnace, with a bas-de-page scene of Thomas welcoming and blessing his family.

f. 294v: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas resigning to the Pope his pontifical ring and cross.

f. 295r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas at a table, dining with the Pope.

f. 295v: Historiated initial 'B'(enedictus) with John the Baptist with the Agnus Dei standing on a hill, and Pharisees questioning him, with a bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket being welcomed by the Abbot of Pontigny.

f. 296r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket having a vision of Christ.

f. 296v: Historiated initial 'M'(agnificat) of the Annunciation in two parts, with a bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket being reconciled with the king.

f. 297r: Bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket in a boat returning to England.

f. 297v: Three-part miniature of scenes from the life of the Virgin, including the Ascension of Christ, the Pentecost, and the death of the Virgin, with an historiated initial 'N'(unc) of the Presentation in the Temple, and a bas-de-page scene of a messenger announcing the arrival of four knights to Thomas Becket.

f. 298r: Four-part miniature with scenes from the Life of the Virgin, including the procession with her body, the Coronation, the Entombment, and the Assumption of the Virgin, with a bas-de-page scene of the murder of Thomas Becket.

f. 298v: Miniature of Christ in Majesty, surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists, with an historiated initial 'Q' of a bishop speaking to a group of people, and a bas-de-page scene of Thomas Becket lying in state in his tomb.

f. 299r: Miniature of the Trinity, surrounded by four angels, and a bas-de-page drawing of Thomas Becket, supported by two angels, kneeling before Christ.

f. 299v: Bas-de-page scene of two women speaking to three men.

f. 300r: Bas-de-page scene of Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Christ with her hair.

f. 300v: Bas-de-page scene of Mary Magdalene and Christ after his Resurrection (Noli me tangere).

f. 301r: Bas-de-page scene of a woman speaking to a group of haloed men (Apostles?).

f. 301v: Bas-de-page scene of a soul being carried to heaven by angels.

f. 302r: Bas-de-page scene of a body being laid to rest.