Cambridge. Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 286

Contents

Data Source: Parker on the Web

  • Résumé : CCCC MS 286 is the famous manuscript known as the St Augustine Gospels. This is a late sixth-century gospelbook which has for centuries been held to have been sent by Pope Gregory the Great to Augustine of Canterbury (d. 604) during his mission to England. Certainly the manuscript was in Canterbury by the end of the seventh century, and various additions were made there, including some tenth-century Anglo-Saxon charters written between the gospels of Matthew and Mark. CCCC MS 286 is the earliest surviving Gospel Book with figure illumination: although most of it has been lost, with only a picture of Luke as a scribe under an arcade, and a page of gospel images in a grid. Unfortunately, only these two of the probably eight full-page pictures which the book contained have survived. These images seem to have been highly influential on later English art; a number of Anglo-Saxon and Romanesque manuscripts seem to owe a debt to its imagery, as does a famous scene in the Bayeux Tapestry. In the later Middle Ages this manuscript was probably kept on the altar at St Augustine's, Canterbury, where Thomas of Elmham describes a number of manuscripts associated with Augustine being kept. Parker may have been unaware of its association with the Gregorian mission. In recent years it has continued to play a role outside the library: since the Second World War it has been used in the enthronement of archbishops of Canterbury, and in 1982 it was put in the place of honour between Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Robert Runcie during the first papal visit to England since the Reformation.


    Contenu :


    Langue(s) des textes : latin, anglais


    Intervenants :

    Matthew - author

    1r-74r - Gospel of Matthew

    Note : Evangelia quatuor Latine secundum versionem D. Hieronimi, haud tamen absque majoris momenti lectionibus ab editione vulgata discrepantibus. De hoc autem codice notandum est eum ab aliis antiquissimis codicibus, quos in Anglia scriptos esse constat, cum quoad membranorum faciem tum quoad atramenti colorem tum denique quoad literarum ductum maxime differre. Quae quidem cum aliis infra dicendis rationibus faciunt ut credam hunc codicem unum esse eorum quos ad Augustinum Anglorum apostolum et primum Dorobernensem archiepiscopum mille et centum abhinc annis misit Gregorius magnus papa Romanus. De libris ab eo in Angliam missis consulat eruditus lector Iohannem Diaconum in vita Gregorii magni cap. 37. et Beda historiam ecclesiasticam lib. i. cap. 29

    Note : f. 1r begins imperfectly in capitula of Matthew (xii)

    incipit : (1r) (Nine)uitarum signumpharisaeis traditmatrem et fratres spernit

    Note : xxviii ends

    explicit : (2r) et doctrina eius de baptismo

    rubric : (2r) Explicuerunt

    Note : (red)

    Note : Below this is written (xi?) Siferð7 tate

    rubric : (2r) Incipit ipse liber

    Note : On f. 2v is only Mattheus hominem in large capitals

    Note : Text begins at top of f. 3r

    incipit : (3r) Liber generationis

    Note : (in red)

    Note : This page bears some stains from a lost frontispiece

    Note : A conspicuous corrector, who writes in black uncials, appears on f. 14r, 15r etc.: he may be of cent. viii. A later corrector, English (ix?), writes haec on f. 14v, imperauit on 18r, muliere on f. 45v etc.

    Note : On f. 29r, col. 2, is seen a line written in the same script as the section-numbers. See also f. 39r, col. 1, and notably f. 58v, col. 2, bottom

    Note : Ends 74r, colophon in rustic capitals, lines alternately red and black

    rubric : (74r) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum MattheumIncipit Euangeliumsecundum marcumDeo gratias


    Intervenants :

    Mark - author

    75r-77r - Prologue and Capitula to Mark

    Note : (75r) Two little heads of dogs (?)sketched at top of f. 75r

    Note : Prologue to Mark

    incipit : (75r) Marcus euangelista dei

    explicit : (75v) incrementum dat deus est

    rubric : (75v) Explicit prologus

    Note : (75v) (rustic capitals, red)

    rubric : (75v) Incipiunt capitula

    incipit : (76r) i de iohanne baptista et uictu etc.

    explicit : (77r) xiii -et resurrectio eius

    rubric : (77r) Explicueruntcapitula.


    Intervenants :

    Luke - author

    John - author

    77r-265v - Gospels of Mark, Luke and John

    rubric : (77r) Incipitipse liber

    Note : (78r) Text, beginning in red

    Note : (78r) Between the columns is drawn a half-length figure of a being with lion's claws and ears, and human face, winged, holding a book (facsimile in Goodwin, l.c.). It is before this leaf that the leaf with the frontispiece seems to have stood: there are some colour-stains on 78r.

    Note : 91r, col. 2, has been largely re-inked

    Note : Ends 124r. Colophon as before in red and black rustic capitals

    rubric : (124r) Explicit Euangelium secund(um)Marcum. Incipitsecundum Luca

    Note : 124v blank

    Note : On f. 125r the famous painting in twelve compartments. For reproductions see above. Another painting most probably preceded it

    Note : 125v is blank

    Note : Prologue

    incipit : (126r) Lucas syrus antiocensis arte medicus

    explicit : (126v) prodisse

    rubric : (126v) Explicit prologusIncipiunt capitula

    incipit : (127r) i Zacharias angelo non credens

    explicit : (129r) xx -resurrectio eius et reliqua

    rubric : (129r) ExplicueruntBrebes. Incipitipse liber

    Note : (129v) 129v has the second painting, of St Luke, surrounded by scenes from the Ministry. For reproductions see above

    Note : (130r) Headline in rustic

    rubric : (130r) Incipit Euangelium secundum Luca

    Note : Text

    incipit : (130r) Quoniam quidem

    Note : After 130v a leaf is gone. 130v ends Et incredibiles (1 17). 131r begins Et regni eius (1 33)

    Note : On f. 194v, col. 2 passio dni nri is written in the hand of the later corrector (English minuscule of cent. viii?)

    Note : Ends

    rubric : (205v) Explicit Euangelium secundum Luca.Incipit secundum IohanneInc. prologuseiusdem. Deogratias

    Note : (205v) Here a leaf with the frontispiece to John is missing. There are slight stains on f. 206r

    Note : Headline

    rubric : (206r) Praefatio

    incipit : (206r) Iohannes euangelista

    explicit : (206v) doctrina seruetur. Amen

    rubric : (206v) Explicit prologusIncipiunt capitula

    incipit : (207r) i Pharisaeorum leuitae

    explicit : (207v) xiv -Et resurrectio eius

    rubric : (207v) Expliciunt capitula. incipit ipse liber

    Note : At top of 207v in rustic capitals + More volans aquilae petit astra Iohannes

    Note : Text

    incipit : (208r) In principio eratuerbum

    Note : On f. 256r is a spirited sketch of a man in a pointed cap gesticulating: probably meant for a Jew

    Note : Ends

    rubric : (265v) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum IohannemDeo gratiassemper. Amen


    Intervenants :

    Ealhburg - author

    74v-74v - Grant of renders from land at Brabourne, Kent by Ealhburg to St Augustine's Abbey, c. A.D. 850 || Testamentum Ealhburgae in quo recitantur quae legavit monasterio S. Augustini

    Note : Quod quidem testamentum publicavit D. Georgius Hickesius in dissertatione sua epistolari

    Note : On f. 74v, in fine round black hand, the Will of Ealhburh

    incipit : (74v) In nomine domini ealhburh hafaþ geset myd hyre freonda

    Note : (facsimile in Goodwin, Cambridge Antiquarian Society 1847, pl. 1)

    explicit : (74v) agife land 7 bec þam hiƿum to sanctæ agustine

    Note : Wanley, p. 151

    Note : S 1198


    77v-77v - Agreement between Wulfric, abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury, and Ealdred, son of Lyfing, about land at Clife, Kent, c. A.D. 990 x 1005 || Conventio Saxonice scripta [Paulo ante initium evangelii secundum D. Marcum] quae facta fuit inter Wulfricum abbatem [qui floruit A.D. 949] et Ealredum Lifingi filium

    Note : On f. 77v, originally blank, in good black hand

    incipit : (77v) In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi her sƿutelað on þisum geƿrite hu ƿulfric abb.

    Note : (facsimile in Goodwin, l.c.)

    explicit : (77v) to hyra saƿle ðearfe á butan ende; amen

    Note : Wanley, p. 157

    Note : S 1455


    ir-ir - Agreement about land at Wicham || Redditio terrae de Wicham Deo et S. Augustino et domino Hugoni abbati per Robertum Fresla, in illa quadragesima in qua rex Henricus dedit filiam suam imperatori

    incipit : (ir) Item de terra WICHAM nominata, etc.

    Note : This is in a hand very closely resembling that of the Missal MS 270


    ir-ir - Agreement between Osbern de Ripla and St Augustine's Abbey || Conventio inter Osbernum de Ripla filiosque ejus et abbatem S. Augustini de annua pensione XVIs. VIIId. solvenda ex terra de Ripla

    incipit : (ir) Hec est actio que facta est in presentia hugonis abbatis secundi

    explicit : (ir) Anno ab incarnatione domini Millmo co xlvito xvmo kal. apr. apud Norburnam in Hallimoto

    Note : In a good black pointed hand


    iv-iir - List of relics || Reliquiae quae sunt in uno parvo nigro scrinio uno flore notato

    incipit : (iv) Héé sunt reliquie in uno paruo nigro scrinio flore uno signato. De ligno domini plures particule. De sepulchro domini. De Scapula Sancti Nicomedis martiris. De Capillis Sancte Cecilie uirginis et martiris, De Sancta Margareta. De Sancto Ianuario. De uestis Sancte Marie. De ossibus et uestis Sancti Clementis martiris. De uestis Sancte Cecilie. De Sancto Antonio episcopo. De Sancto Laurentio martire. De Sancto Johanne Baptista os unum. De Sancto Pancratio martire. Costa de Sancto Mathia Apostolo. De Sanctis Wandregesilo-Martino- Medardo atque Gildardo, Odulfo episcopo, Audoeno, Dens Sancti Vedasti, De Sanctis Wlgaro, Paulino, Affre, Geruasio, Ambrosio. De cruce Sancti Andree apostoli, De Sanctis Mildretha, Wilfrido, Eadgitha, Folquino, Walburga, Amato Episcopo, Petrocio, Bartholomeo Apostolo, Tecla. Digitus Sancti Gregorii. De Sancto Jacobo Apostolo fratre Sancti Johannis. De Sanctis Nicholao, Leonardo, Benedicto et alie plures reliquie sine scriptis. Et de Sancta Fide Virgine

    Note : (iv) In a separate line: Hollord. Ketil. Ozor. Yun. Andreus. Asclathe

    Note : iir blank


    iiv-iiv - Agreement about a hill near Sakenhethe || Concessio collis, qui est proximus Sakenhethe, Jacobo filio Gilrici per Robertum abbatem et conventum, ea conditione ut dictus Jacobus ibi faciet unam salinam et reddet annuatim ad curiam de Cistelet II ferdendellos salis et V solidos

    Note : On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiv-iiv - Agreement about seven acres in Betleshangre || Concessio 7 acrarum in Betleshangre Willelmo filio Hugonis de Betleshangre per Robertum abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione XLII denariorum curiae de Norb. annuatim solvenda

    Note : On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiv-iiv - Agreement about the messuage of Colombine the cleric || Concessio messuagii Columbino clerico per eundem abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione Xs

    Note : On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiv-iiv - Agreement about the messuage of Benedict son of Radulph || Concessio messuagii Benedicto filio Radulphi per abbatem et conventum reservata pensione XIIIIs. annuatim

    Note : On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiir-iiir - Agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre || Concessio 10 acrarum terrae et dim. in villa de Estbotleshengre Hamoni filio Willelmi de Botleshanger per Robertum elemosinarium cum consensu abbatis et conventus

    Note : On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiir-iiir - Confirmation of the previous agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre || Confirmatio ejusdem donationis per abbatem et conventum

    Note : On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252


    iiir-viv - Agreement about the garden of William son of John of Fenglesham || Concessio cujusdam horti Willelmo filio Iohannis de Fenglesham per dictum elemosinarium

    Note : On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252

    Note : iiiv-viv blank: unimportant scribbles on f. ivv

    Note : (vr) On the paper flyleaf at end is this note: Codex tanta similitudine codicis Amiatini excellit ut omnino saeculi vi esse dicendus sit. M. mart. 9. a. 1865. Const. Tischendorf

Participants

Provenance

Data Source: Parker on the Web

  • Written in Italy. From St Augustine's, Canterbury (see charters at end). Ancient Libraries, pp. lxvii, lxviii. It is probably mentioned by Thomas of Elmham.

Data source