Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286: Gospels of St Augustine

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Abstract/Contents

Summary: 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.
Contents: Gospel of Matthew -- Prologue and Capitula to Mark -- Gospels of Mark, Luke and John -- Grant of renders from land at Brabourne, Kent by Ealhburg to St Augustine's Abbey, c. A.D. 850 -- 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 -- Agreement about land at Wicham -- Agreement between Osbern de Ripla and St Augustine's Abbey -- List of relics -- Agreement about a hill near Sakenhethe -- Agreement about seven acres in Betleshangre -- Agreement about the messuage of Colombine the cleric -- Agreement about the messuage of Benedict son of Radulph -- Agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre -- Confirmation of the previous agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre -- Agreement about the garden of William son of John of Fenglesham

Description

Alternative title	Evangelia Cantuariensia
Type of resource	mixed material
Extent	ff. 2 + 265 + 6
Date created	[ca. 500 CE - 599 CE]
Language	Latin; English, Old (ca. 450-1100)
Material	Vellum
Layout	double columns of 25 lines to a page
Height (mm)	245
Width (mm)	190
Collation	a(2), gap, iii(2) iv(8)-xii(8) xiii(10) (wants 1 or 4) xiv(8)-xviii(8) (+ 8*) xix(8) (wants 1, 8) xx(8)-xxviii(8) xxix(4) (wants 4) xxx(8)-xxxvi(8) xxxvii(4), b(2) c(2) d(2).
Writing	In fine uncials on lines ruled with the dry point
Foliation	ff. a-c + i-iii + 1* + 1-265 + i-v + d-g
Provenance	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.

Bibliographic information

M.R. James Date	vi
Downloadable James Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:ny628kc1913/MS_286.pdf
Superseded Interim Catalogue Record	Title https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:gz989vf7295/286.pdf
Contains	Title Gospel of Matthew. 1r-74r Author 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 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) Below this is written (xi?) Siferð7 tate Rubric (2r) Incipit ipse liber Note On f. 2v is only Mattheus hominem in large capitals Text begins at top of f. 3r Incipit (3r) Liber generationis Note (in red) This page bears some stains from a lost frontispiece 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. 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 Ends 74r, colophon in rustic capitals, lines alternately red and black Rubric (74r) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum MattheumIncipit Euangeliumsecundum marcumDeo gratias Title Prologue and Capitula to Mark. 75r-77r Author Mark Note (75r) Two little heads of dogs (?)sketched at top of f. 75r 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. Title Gospels of Mark, Luke and John. 77r-265v Author Mark Luke John Rubric (77r) Incipitipse liber Note (78r) Text, beginning in red (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. 91r, col. 2, has been largely re-inked Ends 124r. Colophon as before in red and black rustic capitals Rubric (124r) Explicit Euangelium secund(um)Marcum. Incipitsecundum Luca Note 124v blank On f. 125r the famous painting in twelve compartments. For reproductions see above. Another painting most probably preceded it 125v is blank 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 (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) On f. 194v, col. 2 passio dni nri is written in the hand of the later corrector (English minuscule of cent. viii?) 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 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 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 Ends Rubric (265v) Explicit Euangeliumsecundum IohannemDeo gratiassemper. Amen Title Grant of renders from land at Brabourne, Kent by Ealhburg to St Augustine's Abbey, c. A.D. 850. 74v-74v Nasmith Testamentum Ealhburgae in quo recitantur quae legavit monasterio S. Augustini. 74v-74v Author Ealhburg Note Quod quidem testamentum publicavit D. Georgius Hickesius in dissertatione sua epistolari 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 S 1198 Title 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. 77v-77v Nasmith 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. 77v-77v 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 S 1455 Title Agreement about land at Wicham. ir-ir Nasmith 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. ir-ir Incipit (ir) Item de terra WICHAM nominata, etc. Note This is in a hand very closely resembling that of the Missal MS 270 Title Agreement between Osbern de Ripla and St Augustine's Abbey. ir-ir Nasmith Conventio inter Osbernum de Ripla filiosque ejus et abbatem S. Augustini de annua pensione XVIs. VIIId. solvenda ex terra de Ripla. ir-ir 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 Title List of relics. iv-iir Nasmith Reliquiae quae sunt in uno parvo nigro scrinio uno flore notato. iv-iir 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 iir blank Title Agreement about a hill near Sakenhethe. iiv-iiv Nasmith 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. iiv-iiv Note On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Agreement about seven acres in Betleshangre. iiv-iiv Nasmith Concessio 7 acrarum in Betleshangre Willelmo filio Hugonis de Betleshangre per Robertum abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione XLII denariorum curiae de Norb. annuatim solvenda. iiv-iiv Note On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Agreement about the messuage of Colombine the cleric. iiv-iiv Nasmith Concessio messuagii Columbino clerico per eundem abbatem et conventum, reservata pensione Xs. iiv-iiv Note On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Agreement about the messuage of Benedict son of Radulph. iiv-iiv Nasmith Concessio messuagii Benedicto filio Radulphi per abbatem et conventum reservata pensione XIIIIs. annuatim. iiv-iiv Note On f. iiv in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre. iiir-iiir Nasmith Concessio 10 acrarum terrae et dim. in villa de Estbotleshengre Hamoni filio Willelmi de Botleshanger per Robertum elemosinarium cum consensu abbatis et conventus. iiir-iiir Note On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Confirmation of the previous agreement about ten and a half acres at Estbotleshangre. iiir-iiir Nasmith Confirmatio ejusdem donationis per abbatem et conventum. iiir-iiir Note On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 Title Agreement about the garden of William son of John of Fenglesham. iiir-viv Nasmith Concessio cujusdam horti Willelmo filio Iohannis de Fenglesham per dictum elemosinarium. iiir-viv Note On f. iiir in charter hand of cent. xiii, of the time of Abbot Robert (de Bello) 1224-1252 iiiv-viv blank: unimportant scribbles on f. ivv (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
TJames	136
Stanley	L. 15
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/mk707wk3350
Location	MS 286
Repository	UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

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Collection

Parker Manuscripts

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