Shelfmark
MS 26
Main entry--uniform title
Bible
Title
Biblia. manuscript
Varying form of title
Title in M. R. James catalogue: Biblia sacra
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, between ca. 1175 and ca. 1200.
Physical description
1 volume (vii, 362, vii leaves) : parchment ; 31 x 22 cm.
Note
'The byble in laten' (15th-century inscription on f. vii), closely similar to one from St Albans now at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, MS 48.
Note
According to M.R. James, the finest Vulgate in the ECL collection, with very fine writing and ornaments, and remarkable in contents and aspect.
Note
The order of the books is given in Ker, with correspondences to standard reference works Biblia sacra iuxta Latinam vulgatam versionem (Rome, 1886-) and Wordsworth and White, Novum Testamentum (Oxford, 1889-1954).
Note
Features noted by Ker include: Gallican, Roman and Hebrew Psalms in parallel columns with Ps. 151 at the end of each version; Ezra and Nehemiah written as one book in a single series of chapters numbered 1-35; the Hebrew alphabet with the meaning of the letters preceding Lamentations.
Note
Proverbs and Psalms begin on new quires (ff. 185 and 229), and most books begin a new leaf.
Note
The Prayer of Manasses is an early addition in the margin of f. 111v, the page on which 2 Chronicles ends.
Note
Prefaces, argumenta and other preliminary matter include 46 prefaces of the common set of 64; a table of chapters is in front of 49 books and stichometric notes at the end of 26 books; see Ker for details.
Note
Following Psalm 151 are five ferial canticles (ff. 291-2) and epistle and gospel lections of the temporale and 'in anniuersario dedicationis ecclesie' (ff. 292v-293v).
Note
Written space: 238 x 160 mm.
Note
Three columns of 62 lines.
Note
Pricks in both margins to guide ruling.
Note
Collation: 1⁷ (ff. 1-7) 2¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 7 (ff. 8-18) 3¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 6 (ff. 19-29) 4¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 2 (ff. 30-40) 5¹² 6¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 5 (ff. 53-63) 7¹⁰ 8¹⁰ + 1 leaf before 1 (ff. 74-84) 9¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 4 (ff. 85-95) 10-17¹⁰ 18¹⁰ wants 10, blank, after f. 184 19¹⁰ + 1 leaf before 1 and 1 leaf after 5 (ff. 185-96) 20⁸ + 1 leaf after 1 (ff. 197-205) 21¹⁰ 22¹⁰ + 1 leaf after 4 (ff. 218-228) 23-28¹⁰ 29⁸ 30-35¹⁰ 36⁸ wants 7, 8, blank. Leaves 3 and 8 in quire 19, 5 and 8 in quire 21, and 4 and 5 in quire 29 are half-sheets.
Note
Quires numbered at end in pencil, and also in ink I-XXI, eight unnumbered quires, XXII-XXVII, one unnumbered quire; also catchwords.
Note
Script: an excellent square upright hand; a little punctuation with the flex for example on ff. 164-5.
Note
Initials in gold on blue and pink grounds, patterned, framed in green; or in red or blue with ornament of the other colour; or 1-line, red or blue.
Note
Secundo folio: fornicarium.
Note
Rebound in 18th century; ff. vii recto and 363 verso were pasted down to a former binding.
Note
A gift to St Albans from prior Matthew; see provenance notes for this and other inscriptions.
Note
Former Eton shelfmark: Bk.3.2.
Note
This catalogue record is based on the work of Neil Ker and M.R. James, as cited in the references below.
Citation/references note
Ker, N. R.. Medieval manuscripts in British libraries, v. 2 (1977), p. 653-6
Citation/references note
James, M. R. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Eton College (1895), 26
Cite as
Eton College Library, MS 26
Provenance
Inscribed in red on f. iii, in a 13th-century hand: 'Hunc codicem dedit domnus mathias prior sancto albano quen qui ei abstulerit aut titulum deuerit anathema sit. amen', and erased inscription on f. 191: 'Biblia Mathei prioris Sancti Albani de armario B', i.e. Prior Matthew of St Albans.
Provenance
15th century inscription of 'Iohannes Sybley' on f. 1.
Provenance
Late 15th/early 16th-century inscripion 'Eton Colledg book' on f. 1.
Provenance
16th-century inscription 'Edwarde Seymour 27 AugustL 1582'' [Edward Seymour] on f. vii.
Binding
18th century English calf binding.
Subject
Bible. Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
St. Albans Abbey former owner.
Added entry--place
England St Albans.
Language code
lat
Identifier
B49974