• Illuminated initial 'C'(um) with floral decoration in gold and colours at the beginning of the prologue, with foliate tendrils extending from the initial into the upper and left margin., Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi

or red ink. Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi Inscribed colophon: 'Explicit feliciter. Anno dominj m^o^cccc Lj die vij Septembris' (f. 84). John Gibson (fl. 1720-1726), dealer; sold on 17 June 1721 to Edward Harley (~Diary~ 1966).The Harley Collection, formed by Robert

• Detail of text at the beginning of Book XVI., Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi

or red ink. Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi Inscribed colophon: 'Explicit feliciter. Anno dominj m^o^cccc Lj die vij Septembris' (f. 84). John Gibson (fl. 1720-1726), dealer; sold on 17 June 1721 to Edward Harley (~Diary~ 1966).The Harley Collection, formed by Robert

• Circular diagram against lightning; below, a diagram connected with solar and lunar cycles., Medical recipes and charms

Circular diagram against lightning; below, a diagram connected with solar and lunar cycles. ff. 23-27 are paper leaves from another manuscript containing recipes in a cursive script. Bound with British Library, Royal 17 B XLIX and Royal 17 B

• Decorated initial 'E'(t)., The Historia Aseneth (ff. 53-64v) and Testamenta xii. Patriarcharum filiorum Jacob (ff. 65-96v)

'Chr' Towneley' ( f. 1). Richard Towneley, in 1702: his book-plate with the date (f. 2v); inscriptions 'T.283' (f. 3). John Hirst of Ladcastle, Dobcross, purchased at his sale at Sotheby's 14 December 1887 by the British Museum, using the

• Miniature of Nebuchadnezzar, lying in bed, telling Daniel his dream, while Moses, John the Evangelist, and John the Baptist sit enclosed in a circle of seraphs, and the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael stand below, in illustration of Paradiso, Canto IV., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

Miniature of Nebuchadnezzar, lying in bed, telling Daniel his dream, while Moses, John the Evangelist, and John the Baptist sit enclosed in a circle of seraphs, and the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael stand below, in illustration of Paradiso, Canto

• Miniature of Dante being examined by James and John, with Christ and angels looking on., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

examined by James and John, with Christ and angels looking on. Pope-Hennessy 1993 proposed a date after 1444, partly depending on the representations of the dome and cupola of Florence Cathedral, in building during these years. 3 large historiated initials,

• Miniature of Beatrice watching as Dante is examined by John the Evangelist, who stands within a circle of golden stars with five naked souls., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

as Dante is examined by John the Evangelist, who stands within a circle of golden stars with five naked souls. Pope-Hennessy 1993 proposed a date after 1444, partly depending on the representations of the dome and cupola of Florence Cathedral,

• Detail of a miniature of Nebuchadnezzar, lying in bed, telling Daniel his dream, while Moses, John the Evangelist, and John the Baptist sit enclosed in a circle of seraphs, and the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael stand below, in illustration of Paradiso, Canto IV., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

Detail of a miniature of Nebuchadnezzar, lying in bed, telling Daniel his dream, while Moses, John the Evangelist, and John the Baptist sit enclosed in a circle of seraphs, and the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael stand below, in illustration

• Detail of a miniature of Dante being examined by James and John, with Christ and angels looking on., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

Dante being examined by James and John, with Christ and angels looking on. Pope-Hennessy 1993 proposed a date after 1444, partly depending on the representations of the dome and cupola of Florence Cathedral, in building during these years. 3 large

• Detail of a miniature of Beatrice watching as Dante is examined by John the Evangelist, who stands within a circle of golden stars with five naked souls., Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy)

watching as Dante is examined by John the Evangelist, who stands within a circle of golden stars with five naked souls. Pope-Hennessy 1993 proposed a date after 1444, partly depending on the representations of the dome and cupola of Florence

• Large white vine initial 'O'(mnes) enclosing a putto, with a butterfly in the margin, at the beginning of the text., Catilina (ff. 1-16), Jugurtha (ff. 16-46), Epitome historiarum Trogi Pompeii (ff. 46-137v), Epitoma de Tito Livio (index Epitome of Livy) (ff. 138-176v)

Large white vine initial 'O'(mnes) enclosing a putto, with a butterfly in the margin, at the beginning of the text. Giovanni di Stia was a Florentine notary.Explicit followed by 4 verses 'Roma vetus veteres […] Quorum consilio precipitata ruis'

• White vine initial 'H'(erbarum) with a butterfly., De viribus herbarum

White vine initial 'H'(erbarum) with a butterfly. ff. 1 and 2 are parchment flyleaves.ff. 1 and [46] are former pastedowns.Marginal notes list ailments for which the various herbs are recommended. 1 large white vine initial in gold, purple, blue

• Decorated initial 'S'(icut) at the beginning of the first text, and birds, oak leaves, acorns and crowned knight in armour in the margins., Various religious and historical tracts (also known as 'Codex ruber' and 'Waltham Abbey Miscellany') including the 'Vita Haroldi' (ff. 1-24v); 'De inventione sancte crucis de Waltham' (also known as the 'Waltham Chronicle', ff. 43-62v), part 1; the Voyage of St Brendan (ff. 67-75v)

owned at least ff. 63-66 in 1565, inscribed 'Sn Guiliel Bowyer. 1565' (f. 63).Inscribed 'An Olde Calender belonginge to me John Prim[...?] ?servaunt to M. George h[...] chamberlaine of the cittie of London. 1568' (f. 128): owned probably only ff.

• Decorated initial 'D'(e) with pen-flourishing including an oak leaf, at the beginning of a list of the relics given to Waltham abbey by Harold and others., Various religious and historical tracts (also known as 'Codex ruber' and 'Waltham Abbey Miscellany') including the 'Vita Haroldi' (ff. 1-24v); 'De inventione sancte crucis de Waltham' (also known as the 'Waltham Chronicle', ff. 43-62v), part 1; the Voyage of St Brendan (ff. 67-75v)

owned at least ff. 63-66 in 1565, inscribed 'Sn Guiliel Bowyer. 1565' (f. 63).Inscribed 'An Olde Calender belonginge to me John Prim[...?] ?servaunt to M. George h[...] chamberlaine of the cittie of London. 1568' (f. 128): owned probably only ff.

• Decorated initials with pen-flourishing in the 'Waltham Chronicle'., Various religious and historical tracts (also known as 'Codex ruber' and 'Waltham Abbey Miscellany') including the 'Vita Haroldi' (ff. 1-24v); 'De inventione sancte crucis de Waltham' (also known as the 'Waltham Chronicle', ff. 43-62v), part 1; the Voyage of St Brendan (ff. 67-75v)

owned at least ff. 63-66 in 1565, inscribed 'Sn Guiliel Bowyer. 1565' (f. 63).Inscribed 'An Olde Calender belonginge to me John Prim[...?] ?servaunt to M. George h[...] chamberlaine of the cittie of London. 1568' (f. 128): owned probably only ff.

• Decorated initial 'C'(um) with pen-flourishing. Arches drawn in the margin, possibly by William Howard in the early 17th century., Various religious and historical tracts (also known as 'Codex ruber' and 'Waltham Abbey Miscellany') including the 'Vita Haroldi' (ff. 1-24v); 'De inventione sancte crucis de Waltham' (also known as the 'Waltham Chronicle', ff. 43-62v), part 1; the Voyage of St Brendan (ff. 67-75v)

owned at least ff. 63-66 in 1565, inscribed 'Sn Guiliel Bowyer. 1565' (f. 63).Inscribed 'An Olde Calender belonginge to me John Prim[...?] ?servaunt to M. George h[...] chamberlaine of the cittie of London. 1568' (f. 128): owned probably only ff.

• Text page with pen drawing of a surgical instrument., Medical miscellany, including Bradmore's 'Philomena' in Middle English translation (ff. 6-184v)

nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Drawing of surgical instrument John Bradmore England

• Detail of the drawing of a surgical instrument., Medical miscellany, including Bradmore's 'Philomena' in Middle English translation (ff. 6-184v)

to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Surgical instrument John Bradmore England

• Full-page miniature of Michael III of Wallachia on horseback. The text in the border reads: 'The figure is without soul, but it has the eyesight of a living person, and if anybody wants to know the effigy of this one, it is of the akoutsos (or famous) Master (Afthentis) Michalis of whom all Turks, both young and old, were scared'., Life of Michael III, Voivod of Wallachia (Mihai Viteazul)

Full-page miniature of Michael III of Wallachia on horseback. The text in the border reads: 'The figure is without soul, but it has the eyesight of a living person, and if anybody wants to know the effigy of this

• Headpiece and decorated initial., Life of Michael III, Voivod of Wallachia (Mihai Viteazul)

Headpiece and decorated initial. Spaces left for other miniatures.f. 1 is a paper fragment with notes by Covel pasted to f. [iiv] (see Wright 1972).For the text, see Emile Legrand, ~Bibliothèque grecque vulgaire~ (Paris: H. Welter, 1881), II, pp.