Mid 13th-century Bible, probably written in England.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.7.10

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

(i) The contents are in the order Genesis-Nehemiah, Esther, Tobit, Judith, Job-Matthew, Luke, Mark, John, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles (with Colossians following 2 Thessalonians), Apocalypse (folio 1). Two leaves containing the end of the general prologue and the prologue to the Pentateuch, and Genesis chapters 24-25 are missing. There are no prologues to 2 Chronicles, Ecclesiastes, Hosea, or the Pauline Epistles from Ephesians to Hebrews. The prologues are the usual set (see ‘Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries’, ii, pages 210-212) with the following exceptions (references to numbers in ‘Repertorium Biblicum medii aevi’ are given in brackets): Job (344 and 349), Daniel (494 and 498), Joel (510 only), Amos (512 only), Obadiah (516 only), Jonah (521 only), Zephaniah (532) , Haggai (535), Zechariah (539 and 540), Maccabees (551 only), Matthew (596, 595 and 590), Luke (49), Romans (669, 674 and 677), 2 Corinthians (?700), Apocalypse (835). The prayer of Manasses in 2 Chronicles is omitted, but the prayer of Solomon at the end of Ecclesiasticus is included.

(ii) The dictionary of Hebrew names, incipit `Aad testificans` (folio 460). The entry ` Aaz apprehens` has been added.

There are two large initials incorporating foliage and a grotesque on gold grounds at the beginning of the first prologue and the opening of Genesis (folios 1, 3); other initials throughout have red and blue decorative penwork extending into the margin and sometimes incorporating a human face or a bird.

Dates

Creation: Mid 13th century.

Extent

1 Volumes (ii (paper) + 491 folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1¹² (-3, 10), 2-12¹², 13¹⁰, 14-20¹², 21¹² (+ 1 after 12), 22⁴, 23⁶ (+1 before 1), 24-39¹², 40¹⁰ (-8, 9, 10), 41¹². 2 columns of 50-62 lines. Ruled in ink.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Vellum. Brown morocco binding by W H Smith, 1907.

Custodial History

There is a signature `M Robert Bruce` in a 16th-century hand (folio 459 verso), and signatures of Sir Andrew Birnie, Lord Saline (folios 1, 255, 458 verso, 459 verso). There are examples of a cipher like that used by Sir James Balfour of Denmilne (folios 1, 3, 255, 468 verso), but no Denmilne number. An inscription (folio 254) records the gift of the manuscript to the Advocates` Library by Lord Saline in 1699. At this date, or not long after, the manuscript was in two volumes.