• 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

• Detail of text page, Aeneis (index Aeneid) , with a verse preface (ff. 1-201); Extract from Servius on Aeneis 6 (f. 202)

Detail of text page f. I is a paper flyleaf.Marginal commentary (ff. 87v to 97). 18 large initials in gold on red and blue grounds with red, blue, and brown penwork decoration (ff. 1, 1v, 2, 16, 16v, 32v,

• Pen-flourished initials, Meditations on the Life of Christ

Pen-flourished initials Vertical catchwords. Alternating initials in blue with red pen-flourishing or in red with violet pen-flourishing. Rubrics in red (now faded). Meditations on the Life of Christ Written in 1454 by Jacobus de Parma in Bologna for Frater

• Historiated initial 'Q'(ui) of the Resurrected Christ, with foliate extensions and gold besants., Various religious texts, including De imitatione Christi, capitula (ff. 1-4)

Historiated initial 'Q'(ui) of the Resurrected Christ, with foliate extensions and gold besants. Written by several scribes, one of whom wrote the lists of ~capitula~ (ff. 1-4) and the text on ff. 5-106v. Several others wrote ff. 107-199 (see

• 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