Manuscript leaf from a Bible, in Latin, produced in France (Paris)

Text: From a Bible, in Latin

Script: Praegothica

The text from a Bible shows a part of Luke and part of the prologue to John.

It is written in double columns of fifty lines in a small exquisite early gothic hand in black ink and ruled with plummet; rubrics are in red. Capitals are touched with yellow. There are several prick marks for the vertical ruling. The vellum was slightly thin and, to overcome this, the vellum makers had attached a thin patch of vellum on the verso side to strengthen the leaf. This is seen part way down adjacent to lines 32 to 38 of the left side of the left column but is not easy to detect.

A twelve-line illuminated initial ‘H’ in pink with delicate white tracery and an interior of burnished gold, blue, pink and orange sits on a square ground of blue with white tracery. An extender flows into the margin in colours of blue, pink, orange and burnished gold with fine white tracery. One two-line initial ‘U’ in blue with red pen-work which extends into the central margin. The large size of the leaf, from the Johannes Grusch Workshop, is unusual in thirteenth-century Bible production. The leaf is from the same Bible as MS 5650/73. It had been owned by, and perhaps written for, the Abbey of St. Genevieve in Paris.

The large initial ‘H’ may be compared with the large initial ‘N’ in MS 5650/37 and, of course, the large initial ‘L’ in MS 5650/73 - several features are similar.

Recto side, column 1:

1 [23:27] . . .p(op)(u)li (et) mulier(um) q(ue) plangebant (et) lame(n)- [Luke 23:27

2 tabantur eu(m) . [23:28] Conv(er)sus au(tem) ad illas ih(esu)s

3 dixit . Filie ier(usa)l(e)m nolite flere sup(er) me .

4 s(ed) s(upe)r vos ip(s)as flete . (et) sup(er) filios v(est)ros .

5 [23:29] Q(uonia)m ecce venient dies i(n) quib(us) dicent .

6 Beate steriles . (et) ventres qui n(on) genu-

7 er(un)t . (et) ub(er)a q(ue) non lactav(eru)nt . [23:30] Tunc in-

8 cipient d(ice)re montib(us) cadite s(upe)r nos .

9 (et) collib(us) coop(er)ite nos . [23:31] q(uia) si in viridi

10 ligno h(ec) faciunt : i(n) arido quid fiet :

11 [23:32] Ducebantur au(tem) (et) alii duo neq(ua)m cu(m)

12 eo ut int(er)fic(er)entur . [23:33] Et postq(ua)m vene-

13 runt i(n) locu(m) qui d(icitu)r calvarie : ibi cru-

14 cifixerunt eum . Et latrones . unu(m) a

15 dextris . (et) alt(eru)m a sinistris . [23:34] Ih(esu)s au(tem) di-

16 cebat . Pater dimitte illis . q(uia) nesci-

17 unt quid faciunt . Dividentes a(utem) ves-

18 tim(en)ta sua miseru(n)t sortes . [23:35] Et stabat

19 p(o)p(u)l(u)s expecta(n)s . Et deridebant eum prin-

20 cipes cum eis dicentes . Alios salvos

21 fecit : se ip(su)m salvu(m) faciat . si hic est

22 (christus) dei electus . [23:36] Illudebant a(utem) ei (et) mili-

23 tes accedentes . (et) acetum offerentes il-

24 li [23:37] dicentes . Si tu es rex iudeor(um) : salvu(m)

25 te fac . [23:38] Erat a(utem) (et) sup(er)script(i)o scripta s(upe)r

26 eu(m) . litt(er)is grecis (et) latinis . (et) hebraicis .

27 Hic (est) ih(esu)s rex iudeor(um) . [23:39] Unus a(utem) de hiis

28 qui pendebant latronib(us) blasphema-

29 bat eu(m) : dicens . Si tu es (christus) salvu(m) fac

30 temet ip(su)m (et) nos . [23:40] R(espon)dens a(utem) alt(er) inc(re)pa-

31 bat eu(m) dicens . Neq(ue) tu times deu(m) . q(uo)d

32 in ead(em) dampnat(i)one es . [23:41] Et nos quid(em)

33 iuste . nam digna factis recipim(us) . hic

34 v(er)o nichil mali gessit . [23:42] Et dicebat ad

35 ih(esu)m . D(omi)ne mem(en)to mei cu(m) ven(er)is in

36 regnu(m) tuu(m) . [23:43] Et dixit illi ih(esu)s . Ame(n)

37 dico tibi . hodie mecu(m) eris in p(ar)adi-

38 so . [23:44] Erat a(utem) fere hora sexta . (et) tenebre

39 f(a)c(t)e sunt in universa t(er)ra usq(ue) in ho-

40 ram nonam . [23:45] Et obscuratus (est) sol (et)

41 velu(m) templi scissum (est) mediu(m) . [23:46] Et

42 clamans voce magna ih(esu)s ait . Pat(er)

43 in manus tuas (com)mendo sp(iritu)m meu(m) .

44 (et) hec dicens expiravit . [23:47] Videns aut(em)

45 centurio . q(uo)d f(a)c(tu)m fuerat gl(or)ificavit

46 deu(m) dicens . Vere hic homo iustus

47 erat . [23:48] Et om(n)is turba eor(um) qui simul

48 aderant ad spectac(u)l(u)m istud . (Et) vide-

49 bant q(ue) fiebant p(er)cutientes pectora

50 sua rev(er)tebantur . [23:49] Stabant a(utem) om(ne)s

Recto side, column 2:

1 noti ei(us) a longe . (et) mulieres q(ue) secute

2 era(n)t eum a galilea h(ec) videntes . [23:50] Et ec-

3 ce vir no(m)i(n)e ioseph qui erat decurio

4 vir bonus (et) iustus . [23:51] Hic n(on) (con)senserat

5 (con)silio (et) actib(us) eor(um) ab arimathia ci-

6 vitate iudee . qui expectabat (et) ip(s)e re-

7 gnu(m) dei . [23:52] Hic accessit ad pilatum (et)

8 petiit corpus ih(es)u . [23:53] (et) depo(si)tu(m) invol-

9 vit in sydone . (et) posuit eu(m) in monu-

10 m(en)to exciso in quo n(on)dum quisq(ua)m po-

11 situs fu(er)at . [23:54] Et dies erat parasceves . et

12 sabbatu(m) illucescebat . [23:55] Subsecute aut(em)

13 mulieres que cu(m) ip(s)o venerant de ga-

14 lilea vid(er)unt monum(en)tum . (et) q(ue)mad-

15 mod(um) po(s)itu(m) fu(er)at corp(us) eius . [23:56] Et rev(er)ten-

16 tes p(ar)aver(un)t aromata (et) unguenta . (et)

17 sabbato quid(em) siluerunt s(e)c(un)d(u)m man-

18 [24:1] U na aut(em) sab- X X I I I I datum .

19 bati valde diluculo venerunt

20 ad monum(en)tum . portantes q(ue) p(ar)ave-

21 runt aromata . [24:2] Et i(n)vener(un)t lapidem

22 revolutum a monum(en)to . [24:3] (et) ingresse

23 non i(n)venerunt corpus d(omi)ni ih(es)u . [24:4] Et

24 f(a)c(tu)m (est) dum m(en)te (con)sternate essent de

25 isto : ecce duo viri astit(er)unt iuxta il-

26 las in veste fulgenti . [24:5] Cum tim(er)ent

27 a(utem) (et) declinarent vultum in t(er)ram : di-

28 x(er)unt ad illas . Quid queritis viven-

29 te(m) cum mortuis :[24:6] Non est hic . s(ed) sur-

30 rexit . Recordamini q(ua)liter locutus (est)

31 d(ominu)s vobis cum adhuc i(n) galilea esset

32 [24:7] dicens . Quia oportet filiu(m) ho(min)is tra-

33 di in manus hominu(m) pecc(at)or(um) . (et) cru-

34 cifigi . (et) t(er)tia die resurgere . [24:8] Et recor-

35 date sunt v(er)bor(um) eius . [24:9] Et regresse a

36 monum(en)to nu(n)ciav(eru)nt h(ec) o(mn)ia ill(is) . (undecim) .

37 (et) ceteris omnib(us) . [24:10] Erat a(utem) maria mag-

38 dalene . (et) iohanna . (et) maria iaco-

39 bi . (et) cet(er)e q(ue) cum eis erant q(ue) diceba(n)t

40 ad ap(osto)los hec . [24:11] Et visa sunt ante il-

41 los q(uas)i deliram(en)tum v(er)ba ista . (et) non

42 credebant illis . [24:12] Petrus a(utem) surgens cu-

43 currit ad monum(en)tum . (et) p(ro)cumbens

44 vidit lintheami(n)a sola po(s)ita . Et a-

45 biit mirans secum q(uo)d f(a)c(tu)m fu(er)at . [24:13] Et

46 ecce duo ex ill(is) ibant ip(s)a die i(n) castel-

47 lum q(uo)d erat in spacio stadior(um) . (sexaginta) .

48 ab ier(usa)l(e)m no(m)i(n)e emaus . [24:14] Et ip(s)i loq(ue)-

49 bantur ad invice(m) de hiis om(n)ib(us) que

50 accid(er)ant . [24:15] Et f(a)c(tu)m (est) dum fabularen-

Verso side, column 1:

1 tur (et) secum q(ue)rerent . (et) [ipse] ih(esu)s appropin-

2 qu(an)s ibat cum ill(is) . [24:16] Oculi aut(em) eor(um) teneb(a)n-

3 tur ne eu(m) agnosc(er)ent . [24:17] Et ait ad illos .

4 Qui s(un)t hii sermones quos (con)fertis ad

5 i(n)vice(m) ambulantes . (et) estis tristes : [24:18] Et

6 r(espon)dens un(us) cui nom(en) cleophas dixit ei .

7 Tu solus p(er)egrinus es in ier(usa)l(e)m . (et) no(n)

8 cognovisti q(ue) f(a)c(t)a sunt in illa hiis

9 dieb(us) . [24:19] Quib(us) ille dixit . Que : Et di-

10 xerunt . De ih(es)u nazareno qui fuit

11 vir p(ro)ph(et)a potens in op(er)e (et) sermone co-

12 ra(m) deo (et) om(n)i p(o)p(u)lo . [24:20] (et) quomodo tradi-

13 d(er)unt eu(m) su(m)mi sacerdotes (et) principes

14 n(ost)ri in dampnat(i)onem mortis . (et) crucifi-

15 x(er)unt eu(m) . [24:21] Nos au(tem) sperabamus q(uo)d ip(s)e

16 redemptur(us) ess(et) isr(ahe)l . Et nunc sup(er) h(ec) o(mn)ia

17 t(er)tia dies est hodie ex quo h(ec) f(ac)ta sunt .

18 [24:22] S(ed) (et) mulieres q(ue)dam ex n(ost)ris t(er)rueru(n)t

19 nos q(ue) ante lucem fu(eru)nt ad monumen-

20 tu(m) . [24:23] (et) non invento corpore eius vene-

21 runt dicentes se (etiam) visionem angelo-

22 ru(m) vidisse qui eum d(icu)nt viv(er)e . [24:24] Et abi-

23 erunt quidam ex n(ost)ris ad monume(n)-

24 tum (et) ita i(n)venerunt sicut mulieres

25 dix(er)unt . Ip(su)m v(er)o non i(n)venerunt . [24:25] Et

26 ip(s)e dixit ad eos . O stulti (et) t[ar]di corde [‘tardi’ in margin

27 ad credendu(m) in o(mn)ib(us) q(ue) locuti sunt p(ro)ph(et)e .

28 [24:26] No(n)ne h(ec) oportuit pati (christu)m . (et) ita intra-

29 re in gl(or)iam suam . [24:27] Et incipiens a moy-

30 se (et) om(n)ib(us) p(ro)ph(et)is int(er)pretabatur illis in

31 o(mn)ib(us) scripturis que de ip(s)o erant . [24:28] Et ap-

32 propinq(ua)verunt castello quo ibant . (et)

33 ip(s)e se finxit longi(us) ire . [24:29] Et coegerunt

34 illu(m) dicentes . Mane nob(is)cum q(uonia)m adve(s)-

35 p(er)ascit . (et) inclinata (est) iam dies . (et) intra-

36 vit cu(m) illis . [24:30] Et f(a)c(tu)m (est) du(m) discumb(er)et cu(m)

37 illis accepit pane(m) . (et) b(e)n(e)dixit ac fregit

38 (et) porrigebat ill(is) . [24:31] Et ap(er)ti sunt oculi

39 eor(um) (et) cognoverunt eum . (et) ip(s)e eva-

40 nuit ex oculis eor(um) . [24:32] Et dixerunt

41 ad invicem . No(n)ne cor n(ost)r(u)m erat ar-

42 dens i(n) nob(is) du(m) loq(ue)retur i(n) via (et) aperi-

43 ret nobis scripturas . [24:33] Et surgentes ea-

44 dem hora regressi sunt in ier(usa)l(e)m . Et i(n)-

45 vener(un)t (con)g(re)gatos . (undecim) . (et) eos qui cum

46 ip(s)is erant [24:34] dicentes q(uo)d surrexit d(omi)n(u)s

47 vere . (et) apparuit symoni . [24:35] Et ip(s)i nar-

48 rabant q(ue) gesta erant i(n) via . et quom(odo)

49 cognov(eru)nt eu(m) in fract(i)one panis . [24:36] Cum a(utem)

50 h(ec) loq(uu)rentur : ih(esu)s stetit i(n) medio eor(um) (et)

Verso side, column 2:

1 dixit eis . Pax vob(is) . ego sum noli-

2 te tim(er)e . [24:37] Conturbati v(er)o (et) (con)t(er)riti exis-

3 timabant se sp(iritu)m vid(er)e . [24:38] Et dix(it) eis .

4 Quid turbati estis : (et) cogitat(i)ones

5 ascendunt in corda v(est)ra : [24:39] Videte ma-

6 nus meas (et) pedes meos . q(uia) ego ip(s)e

7 su(m) . palpate (et) videte q(uia) sp(iritu)s carnem

8 (et) ossa no(n) h(abe)t sicut me videtis h(abe)re .

9 [24:40] Et cum h(oc) dixiss(et) ostend(it) eis manus

10 (et) pedes . [24:41] Adhuc a(utem) ill(is) non credentib(us)

11 (et) mirantib(us) p(re) gaudio : dix(it) . Habe-

12 tis aliquid hic q(uo)d manducetur : [24:42] At

13 illi obtul(er)unt ei partem piscis assi (et)

14 favu(m) mellis . [24:43] (et) cum manducass(et) co-

15 ram eis sumens reliquias dedit eis .

16 [24:44] Et dixit ad eos . Hec sunt v(er)ba q(ue) locut(us)

17 sum ad vos . cu(m) adhuc essem vobis(cum) .

18 q(uonia)m nece(ss)e (est) impleri o(mn)ia que scripta

19 su(n)t in lege moysi . (et) p(ro)ph(et)is . (et) psalmis

20 de me . [24:45] Tunc aperuit illis sensu(m) ut i(n)-

21 telleg(er)ent script(ur)as . [24:46] Et dixit eis . Q(uonia)m

22 sic scriptu(m) est . (et) sic oportebat pati

23 (christu)m . (et) resurg(er)e a mortuis t(er)tia die .

24 [24:47] (et) p(re)dicari in no(m)i(n)e eius p(e)n(itent)iam . (et) re-

25 missione(m) p(e)cc(at)or(um) in om(ne)s gentes inci-

26 pientib(us) ab ierosolimis . [24:48] Vos a(utem) estis

27 testes hor(um) . [24:49] (et) ego mitta(m) p(ro)missum

28 p(at)ris mei in vos . Vos a(utem) sedete i(n) civita-

29 te quoadusq(ue) induamini virtute

30 ex alto . [24:50] Eduxit a(utem) eos foras in betha-

31 nia(m) . (et) elevatis ocul(is) suis b(e)n(e)dixit il-

32 lis . [24:51] Et f(a)c(tu)m (est) dum benediceret illis :

33 recessit ab eis . (et) ferebat(ur) in celu(m) . [24:52] (et) ip(s)i

34 adorantes regressi sunt ier(usa)l(e)m cum

35 gaudio magno . [24:53] Et erant semper

36 in te(m)plo laudantes (et) benedicentes

37 deum . Incip(it) prolog(us) in libro ioh(ann)is .

38 H ic est ioh(ann)es evangeli- [Prologue to John

39 evang(e)lista unus ex ste .

40 discipul(is) dei qui vir-

41 go a deo electus est .

42 que(m) de nuptiis vole(n)-

43 tem nub(er)e vocavit

44 deus . Cuius virginitatis in h(oc) dup-

45 plex testemonium datur in evange-

46 lio . Q(uo)d (et) p(re) cet(er)is dilectus a deo d(icitu)r . (et)

47 huic pendens in cruce matre(m) suam

48 (com)m(an)davit d(omi)n(u)s ut virgine(m) virgo ser-

49 varet . Deniq(ue) manifestans in eva(n)-

50 g(e)lio q(uo)d erat ip(s)e i(n)corruptibil(is) v(er)bi

Notes:

A Letters: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u/v,x,y,z.

Capitals: A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U/V.

Versal: H

B Alternative forms of letters ‘a’(2), ‘r’(3), ‘s’(3) and ‘v’(2).

Of especial interest is the final ‘s’ of ‘spiritus’ (verso 2, line 7) with the final ‘s’

which resembles a letter ‘c’. Note the use of a small majuscule ‘r’ in ‘respondens’

(verso 1, line 6). Note the form of ‘s’ in ‘omnes’ (verso 2, line 25).

Note the rare use of ‘z’ in ‘nazareno’ (verso 1, line 10).

C Generally ascenders are quite short.

D Fusion between letters ‘ba’, ‘be’, ‘da’, ‘de’, ‘do’, ‘he’, ‘ho’, ‘pa’, ‘Pa’, ‘pe’,

‘Pe’, ‘po’ and ‘pp’.

E Elision between letters ‘cu’, ‘ru’, ‘ti’ and ‘tu’.

F Ligature of ‘ct’, e.g. in ‘lactaverunt’ (recto 1, line 7).

G Ligature of ‘st’, e.g. in ‘est’ (recto 1, line 21).

H Roman numerals have been expanded as words.

I There are hairline flourishes on many letters.

J Some letters at the beginning or end of lines are elaborate, e.g. ‘evangelo’

(verso 2, line 50).

K Use of the crossed Tironian ‘et’ (e.g. recto 1, line 1).

L Abbreviation of ‘sed’ (recto 1, line 4).

M Two different abbreviations of ‘super’ (recto 1, line 4).

N Abbreviation of ‘Quoniam’ (recto 1, line 5).

O Abbreviation of ‘quibus’ (recto 1, line 5).

P Abbreviation of ‘dicitur’ (recto 1, line 13).

Q Abbreviation of ‘quia’ (recto 1, line 16).

R Use of ‘xp’ in place of the Greek chi-rho (χρ) in ‘christus’ (recto 1, line 22).

S Abbreviation for ‘rum’ in ‘iudeorum’ (recto 1, line 24).

T Use of Tironian ‘est’ (e.g. recto 1, line 27).

U Abbreviation of ‘Respondens’ (recto 1, line 30).

V Abbreviation of ‘commendo’ (recto 1, line 43).

W Abbreviation of ‘eorum’ (recto 1, line 47).

X Abbreviation of ‘secundum’ (recto 2, line 17).

Y Abbreviation of ‘hec’ (recto 2, line 36).

Z Abbreviation of ‘procumbens’ (recto 2, line 43).

AA Abbreviation of ‘sunt’ (verso 1, line 4).

AB Abbreviation of ‘propheta’ (verso 1, line 11).

AC Abbreviation of ‘populo’ (verso 1, line 12).

AD Abbreviation of ‘esset’ (verso 1, line 16).

AE Abbreviation of ‘Sed’ (verso 1, line 18).

AF Abbreviation of ‘etiam’ (verso 1, line 21). This is shown as a Tironian ‘et’ with a bar over it.

AG Abbreviation of ‘congregatos’ (verso 1, line 45).

AH Abbreviation of ‘quomodo’ (verso 1, line 48).

AI The flourish and enlarged ‘P’ of ‘Pax’ (verso 2, line 1).

AJ Abbreviation of ‘dixisset’ (verso 2, line 9).

AK Abbreviation of ‘vobiscum’ (verso 2, line 17).

AL Abbreviation of ‘dicitur’ (verso 2, line 46).

AM In the chapter identification 'XXIIII' (recto 2, line 18) the scribe has included only

one upward slanting stroke with 'XX'.

MS 5650/73