Our collection of MSS and early-printed books have reached us in a variety of ways
Matthew Parker (obvsly) bequethed us his large library but there's been many smaller donations too
In honour of equippers of libraries 🏛️📖😍:
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/don...
#MedievalMSS #BookHistory #EarlyModern
A miniature portrait from c. 1435 of seated King Offa (d. 796) in scarlet cloak over blue, crowned. He holds a sword and a model of church with central tower and leaded spire. Background is purple with a floral pattern, framed in orangy-red frame with white highlights. The seat is protruding out of the frame. Chronicle and Register of Benefactors of the Monastery of St Albans Once at St Alban's monastery, now in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 7, f. 103r
King Offa (d. 796) portrayed c. 1435 in the Register of Benefactors of the Monastery of St Albans
There are numerous illustrations that represent the benefactors, a few as full figures but mostly as busts or heads
CCCC MS 7, f. 103r
tinyurl.com/yhx9m4y4
#MedievalMSS
Pink-ish-brown bunny incide pink letter C on blue square From a manuscript at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge MS 628, f. 138r
Eight lines of text in Latine, written in black ink on parchment. Text has linefillers in red and gold, and two 1.5-line initilas: I in gold with blue highlights and Q in blue with red highlights. A four-line illuminated initial D at the beginning of the text is blue and is drawn on pink square. The inside is decorated with a pinkish-brown bunny facing right, and half standing and half sitting on golden background. From a manuscript at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge MS 628, f. 104v
Blue rooster inside pink letter C on blue background. From a manuscript at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge MS 628, f. 153r
Pink rooster inside blue letter C on pink background. From a manuscript at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge MS 628, f. 134v
Easter-week delight:
bunnies & roosters hiding in plain sight
A Psalter likely made in c. 1240 Paris contains the Book of Psalms with colourful and sparkly illuminations
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social CCCC MS 628, ff. 104v, 134v, 138r & 153r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#MedievalMSS
Inhabited miniature inside letter D coloured in red, blue and gold. The scene includes Christ with cruciform halo on top, hanging an unrolled scroll with text in Latin "Diligite iustitiuam qui iudicatis terram". Scene below has two groups of men on either side of one bound and blindfolded man in the middle. Background is green. A work written in red ink 'sapientie' is placed above the letter D and identifies the quotation as from book of Wisdom - one of deuterocanonical / apocryphal books of the Bible. The text to the right and below of the initial D reads (D)iligite iustitiam qui iudicatis terram, all written in stylised capital letters.
Diligite iustitiam qui iudicatis terram / Love justice you who judge the earth (Wisdom 1:1)
Christ hangs a scroll containing the advice over a group of men debating the fate of a man tied in the middle
12thC Dover Bible, CCCC MS 4, f. 59r
tinyurl.com/4mstn23d
![Opening of a medieval manuscript depicting the Annunciation scene on the left and the Nativity on the right. Background of both scenes is luxurious gold.
On the left:
An angel with red halo in red and blue garments greets Virgin Mary under a colourful arch. Mary has blue halo and is dressed in red with white scraf on her head and light-blue shawl; she is holding a book. The greeting 'Ave Maria Gr[atia plena]" (Hail, Mary, full of grace) is written in an unravelled scroll between the two figures.
On the right:
Mary reclines on a bed with white and red bedclothing. She holds a baby in her hands, and gazes in the eyes of a baby who looks back at her. Joseph is sitting to the right, resting his head on one hand with eyes closed. Two animals, a donkey and an ox/cow, witness the scene over a green partition.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3qad76gkzttiwst2bqzwnwit/bafkreici4sb4u5mgbjnpzudgw4tpok26sb6xnt3in64zzqeoy5yvnfp4mu)
Opening of a medieval manuscript depicting the Annunciation scene on the left and the Nativity on the right. Background of both scenes is luxurious gold. On the left: An angel with red halo in red and blue garments greets Virgin Mary under a colourful arch. Mary has blue halo and is dressed in red with white scraf on her head and light-blue shawl; she is holding a book. The greeting 'Ave Maria Gr[atia plena]" (Hail, Mary, full of grace) is written in an unravelled scroll between the two figures. On the right: Mary reclines on a bed with white and red bedclothing. She holds a baby in her hands, and gazes in the eyes of a baby who looks back at her. Joseph is sitting to the right, resting his head on one hand with eyes closed. Two animals, a donkey and an ox/cow, witness the scene over a green partition.
Annunciation and its fullfilment on the same book opening
The full-page images precede Peterborough Psalter c. 1310-20
Now CCCC MS 53, ff. 7v-8r tinyurl.com/mwxuw3bn
You can catch a view of the real deal at Courtauld Gallery in London until 27 May!
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/parker-libra...
#MedievalMSS
A composite image showing a fragment from the Cotton Genesis captured under standard, infrared and ultraviolet light.
The Cotton Genesis (Cotton MS Otho B VI, 5th century) was left barely legible after the Ashburnham House Fire in 1731.
Multispectral imaging on the MS has now uncovered texts and images unseen for hundreds of years. Join us at our upcoming conference to learn more.
events.bl.uk/events/multi...
Our current exhibition "Making of the Bible: Texts and Languages" closes at the end of the month 📖 👀
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/mak...
Two more chances to visit it (23 & 31 March) - book your tickets via our Eventbrite site!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parker-lib...
#MedievalMSS
Two hairy monkeys sit facing each other, seemingly deep in conversation CCCC MS 22, f. 163 (Bestiary, 12th century)
Two monkeys
That's all
12thC Bestiary, now CCCC MS 22, f. 163r
tinyurl.com/yzjnpbdp
#MedievalMSS #Bestiary
Letter O on square background filled in purple with white highlights and framed in thin light purple, red and green frame. Inside multicoloured O there is a portrait of Christ with cruciform halo, holding an empty scroll in his both hands. He is dressed in blueish-purple and white, has a dark brown beard and long hair. His eyes are looking up to the right. Background is filled in with red. Gold highlights the halo and both the right and left curve of the letter O. Image is a detail from Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge MS 380, f. 27r
One of our treasures is the sole surving copy of Robert of Cricklade's (OSA, prior of St Frideswide, Oxford | d. after 1188) 'Speculum fidei' (Mirror of Faith)
Christ is pictured with pensive eyes & an empty scroll; what could he be thinking?
CCCC MS 380, f. 27r
tinyurl.com/2am9zv2t
#MedievalMSS
Welcome to the blue, it's great to get more medieval with you!
Visitors to Lincoln Castle have the chance to see a medieval book highlighting the role the city played in shaping English history
Chronica Majora includes the story of the Battle of Lincoln in 1217, which turned the tide of the First Baron's War
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We're delighted to loan Matthew Paris's (d.1259) 'Chronica Majora' to Lincoln Castle exhibition
See the Siege of Lincoln in 1217 displayed along with Magna Carta - visit these two stars while you can!
www.lincolncastle.com/events/event...
CCCC MS 16ii, ff. 55v-56r
tinyurl.com/mre3xwp4
#MedievalMSS
Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary is making a visit to London!
Why not drop by to say hi
The manuscript is on loan at a new exhibition:
The Painted Tower: Conservation in Context at Longthorpe
Courtauld Gallery, 26 Feb–27 May 2026
courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh...
CCCC MS 53, ff. 7v-8r
#medievalMSS
Making of the Bible: Texts and Languages
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/mak...
Lent '26 exhibition offers a number of medieval MSS & early-print treasures from our shelves
A wonderful chance to see various English bible translations: Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale & Matthew Parker's Bishops' Bible
Medieval Worlds Residential 9-10 April 2026 Nominations by teachers of Year 12 (Y13/S5) students; includes free accommodation and food. Deadline for nominations 2 March 2026 (midday)
We're looking forward to the Medieval Worlds Residential, hosted here by @corpuscambridge.bsky.social on 9-10 April for Year 12 (Y13/S5) students
What is it? Check College Outreach's Instagram: tinyurl.com/5n94vtk3
or
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/medieval-wor...
DL for nominations: Monday 2 March at noon!
Excerpt of a page in medieval manuscript containing information about herbs and their uses. Right hand column contains the text in brownish-black ink, with a capital S in red with blue pen-flourishes that starts the paragraph on 'allia' / garlic. Left hand column contains summary of main medical uses of garlic, written in red ink by the same hand has the main text. Left column is occasionally intersperced with translation glosses of the main headword, added by a later hand. Black ink reads 'Haus .Garlec.' to indicate the Middle French and Middle English words for 'allia'. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
Trilingualism in action: Latin book on herbs & their uses gets translation annotations of some head words to French & English
Things I learned: 'haus' (Middle French) is a (rare) plural form of 'allia' (Latin), aka 'garlec' (Middle English)
CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Gothic letter U with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue and two rabbits on red background inside the bow of the U The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 134v (c. 1400-1425)
Gothic letter O with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue, two rabbits on red background inside the circle of the O and one (parrot-like) bird sitting on top. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 214v (c. 1400-1425)
Luxurious miniature of a seated bishop in blue chasuble lined in red, red and gold mitre, holding a red book in his lap. Bishops throne is gold, background patterned with pink and white, framed in golden border, golden corner decorations linked with blue bars decorted with delicate white penwork. Another gold, blue and pink decorative border visible at the edges of this image. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 25r (c. 1400-1425)
The most elaborate Pontifical (liturgical handbook for bishops) to survive from medieval England contains gilt images of bishops at work & careful notation.
The playful initials could so easily be missed! 😛🎵🐇
CCCC MS 079, ff. 134v, 214v (c.1400-25)
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalmss
Screenshot with a banner text 'The hermit's best-seller' in pink and 'The only surviving original version of one of late medieval England's most popular works of literature reveals its secrets' in white on black background and a medieval painting of two men. Below the banner is an image of Dr Glover on the right and text 'Parker Library Research Fellow reveals the secrets of one of England's most popular works of medieval literature' on the left.
Exciting news for fans of Richard Rolle of the 'The Fire of Love' fame ❤️🔥
Dr Timothy Glover, recently Parker Library Early-Career Research Fellow, has made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery that brings us closer to the beloved mystic, hermit and author Richard Rolle (d.1349)
tinyurl.com/e3266str
A circle drawn with black, red and white ink and gold-filled background presents a person in green shirt and hooded red cloak who sits in front of a large pot on a fire, while hooking a slab of meat(?) out of the pot with a claw-like tool. The toes of their left feet are uncomfortably close to the fire. Image copied from Parker Library manuscript CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
Perfect day for stirring soups and stews in front of roaring fireplace - watch out those toes!
CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalmss
Good night all! 😴
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 004: The Dover Bible, Volume 2; 12th century; f.277r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Medieval Calendar image for January, roundel with black-blue-white frame and gilded background portrays a crowned three-faced person dressed in green robe and red cape, at table, drinking and eating. Table covered in white cloth holds drink and food, including a boar's head. The Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary, early 14th century, now CCCC MS 053, f. 1r https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/gs233db8425
It is time to feast!
Our annual winter closure is here. We will return back for our regular hours on Monday 5 January, 2026
Parker Library On the Web will continue to fullfil your medieval manuscript desires: parker.stanford.edu/parker
CCCC MS 053, f.65r
tinyurl.com/vuyr92pt
Happy holidays!
Image: Medicinal prayers for sore eyes, sore ears and illness, in Old English, written in the margin (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 41, p. 326)
"Amantissimo domino et patri B(artholomeo)
dei gratia exoniensi frater B(aldewinus)
fordensis monasterii"
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 200; Baldwin of Ford OCist, De sacramento altaris; ca. 1175 - 1199; Christ Church, Canterbury; p.1 @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
'Karolus magnus
pippini filius'
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.24r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
'Pippinus rex francorum
pater karoli magni'
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.14r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
A few words from MS Corpus Christi College Cambridge 198 with MATHEUS twice in rustic capital letters.
Prepping some Blickling XIX for tomorrow's Old English ms reading session from @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social CCCC 198 and just cannot get over how adorable this scribe's rustic capitals look.
His elongated Hs make me weak at the knees. 🫣
Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations. now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 181r
Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 9r
We all need some good and proper boundaries
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
What a life!
#ElephantonFriday
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 016II; Matthew Paris OSB, Chronica maiora II; 13th century; f.152v
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Dragons interlaced with vines inside a stylised capital O CCCC MS 253, f. 65r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/dy778wn8940
Green angry dragon ith red wings surrounded by red and blue flowers and green foliage and a random gold decorative drop. CCCC MS 91, f. 1r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sf288jz3772
Mother and baby sleeping with a seven headed dragon beast of apocalypse watching over them CCCC MS 394, f. 36r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/yc646yt3082
Stylised dragon screaming with tongue out CCCC MS 158, f. 3r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sp902vq7011
So, you're a medievalist? What do you do? Study dragons and stuff?
Well....
(check the alt text for links to the source manuscripts held @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social)
