• Detail of a decorated initial 'P'(rimo) with interlace, a human head and foliate decoration followed by display script at the beginning of the homily for Christmas day., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Decorated initial 'P'(rimo) with a fish at the beginning of a homily by Remigius., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Decorated initial 'N'(uper) with white intertwined tendrils at the beginning of a sermon by Augustine., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Decorated initial 'I'(n explanatione) at the beginning of an homily with interlace and foliate decoration., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Detail of a decorated initial 'I'(n explanatione) at the beginning of an homily with interlace and foliate decoration., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Zoomorphic initial 'S'(eipsu)., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Detail of a zoomorphic initial 'S'(eipsu)., Homiliary: sermons and homilies

bust-length (Gregory? (f. 25), Stephen? (f. 67), Remigius? (f. 111v), Augustine? (f. 242)), or with the head of a saint (John the Baptist (f. 106v)). 1 defaced historiated initial (f. 267). 1 very large decorated initial in colours and gold

• Decorated initial 'I'(f) containing 2 dragons, and with foliate feathering extending between the columns and into the margins at the beginning of book 3., Confessio amantis, imperfect

£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. Decorated initial John Gower London England, S. E. (?London)

• Decorated initial 'U'(pon) with foliate feathering including a male figure, extending between the columns and into the margins at the beginning of book 4., Confessio amantis, imperfect

£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. Decorated initial John Gower London England, S. E. (?London)

• Book plates, inscriptions and note about purchase of the manuscript by Sir Thomas Mostyn in 1692., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Later list of Anglo-Norman names entered in the Thorney Liber Vitae., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Canon tables with columns in colours and with foliate capitals., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• 12th-century list of relics at Thorney abbey with title: 'Hec sunt nomina sanctorum Thornensi cenobio requiescentium'., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Full page-length initial 'I'(nitium) at the beginning of Mark's Gospel., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Full page initial 'L'(iber) at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel with zig-zag pattern, geometric and foliate decoration., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Large decorated initial 'Q'(uoniam) at the beginning of Luke's Gospel., Gospel Book (the 'Thorney Gospels') with Eusebian canon tables (ff. 4v-9v); added Liber Vitae (ff. 1v-4, 9v-11,12) and list of relics (f. 11v) of Thorney Abbey

foundation of the abbey in 973. The earlier names concur with those in the 12th-century lists and entries extend to John Ramsey, abbot from 1450 to 1457. Full page-length or large initials with geometric and foliate decoration in colours (f.

• Drawing of Matthew the Evangelist and a musical sequence on 'Fulgens' in Anglo-Norman neums, with the opening showing metal clasps and part of a front flyleaf., Historum adversum paganos (the 'Tollemache, Helmingham, or Lauderdale Orosius')

Dee (b. 1527, d. 1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary: noted by Hickes in 1689.Inscribed 'Joan Davysun', 17th century (f. i). John Maitland, duke of Lauderdale (b. 1616–, d. 1682), politician, by 1676-78: noted by Hickes in 1689, as mansucript 167

• Zoomorphic initial 'U'(re) with 3 heads and interlaced bodies at the beginning of Book I, Chapter i., Historum adversum paganos (the 'Tollemache, Helmingham, or Lauderdale Orosius')

Dee (b. 1527, d. 1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary: noted by Hickes in 1689.Inscribed 'Joan Davysun', 17th century (f. i). John Maitland, duke of Lauderdale (b. 1616–, d. 1682), politician, by 1676-78: noted by Hickes in 1689, as mansucript 167

• Zoomorphic initial (A)'E'(ft) with four heads and interlaced bodies at the beginning of Book III, Chapter i., Historum adversum paganos (the 'Tollemache, Helmingham, or Lauderdale Orosius')

Dee (b. 1527, d. 1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary: noted by Hickes in 1689.Inscribed 'Joan Davysun', 17th century (f. i). John Maitland, duke of Lauderdale (b. 1616–, d. 1682), politician, by 1676-78: noted by Hickes in 1689, as mansucript 167

• Zoomorphic initial 'A'(eft) with two creatures and vine interlace patterns at the beginning of Book IV, Chapter i., Historum adversum paganos (the 'Tollemache, Helmingham, or Lauderdale Orosius')

Dee (b. 1527, d. 1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary: noted by Hickes in 1689.Inscribed 'Joan Davysun', 17th century (f. i). John Maitland, duke of Lauderdale (b. 1616–, d. 1682), politician, by 1676-78: noted by Hickes in 1689, as mansucript 167