• 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') (external link no longer available)

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') (external link no longer available)

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') (external link no longer available)

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

• Text page with large initials; Latin and Anglo-Saxon script., Grammar (external link no longer available)

Text page with large initials; Latin and Anglo-Saxon script. Greek numerals and alphabets (ff. 2v-3)'Excerptiones de arte grammatica Anglice': the Latin Grammar, in Anglo-Saxon, of Ælfric, Abbot of Ensham based on Priscian's Excerptiones. Imperfect at the end, breaking off

• Zoomorphic initial 'S'(eptemtrionalis) of a dragon., Historia Langobardorum, in six books, each preceded by a table of contents, added hymn on the preservation of St. Bertin's abbey at St. Omer from destruction by fire (ff. 71v-72) (index Historia Longobardorum) (external link no longer available)

is said to have occurred in the time of abbot Odbert (1000-1012); see also the Chronicle of S. Bertin by John of Ypres, cap. 34 (Edmund Martène and Ursin Durand, ~Thesaurus novus anecdotorum~, 5 vols (Paris, 1717), III, p. 569).Incipit:

• Detail of a decorated initial 'P'., Theological texts (external link no longer available)

Detail of a decorated initial 'P'. Includes Ambrose, Commentary on Luke (ff. 2-105v), Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermones, attributed here to Anselm of Canterbury, imperfect (ff. 105-108), Honorius Augustodunensis, Gemme animae sive De divinis officiis (ff. 109-173v) and Tractatus de

• Initial 'M' with penwork decoration in leaf patterns and capitals on coloured grounds., Symbolum fidei, Registrum; Recantation of 1079 (external link no longer available)

Initial 'M' with penwork decoration in leaf patterns and capitals on coloured grounds. An addition in a later hand of the mid-12th century contains a narrative of the schism in the papacy, 1159, and the peace of Venice by

• Text page., Symbolum fidei, Registrum; Recantation of 1079 (external link no longer available)

Text page. An addition in a later hand of the mid-12th century contains a narrative of the schism in the papacy, 1159, and the peace of Venice by which Pope Alexander III and the Emperor Frederick I were reconciled

• Large initial 'V' with penwork decoration (incomplete)., Symbolum fidei, Registrum; Recantation of 1079 (external link no longer available)

Large initial 'V' with penwork decoration (incomplete). An addition in a later hand of the mid-12th century contains a narrative of the schism in the papacy, 1159, and the peace of Venice by which Pope Alexander III and the

• Decorated initial with animal heads and interlace., The Pauline and Catholic Epistles (except III John and Jude), and Revelation, imperfect (external link no longer available)

on red or yellow backgrounds. Text in red, sometimes with a yellow wash. The Pauline and Catholic Epistles (except III John and Jude), and Revelation, imperfect Inscribed in runes 'Ego Iusueus Hac/si indignus diacon[us]/ [h]anc librum quem / ad opus

• Illuminated initial 'Q'(uoniam) with interlace decoration, at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke., Gospels, with capitula (ff. 163-175) (external link no longer available)

with interlace patterns within full-page rectangular frames of gold and red or colours at the beginning of Gospels, that for John on a purple background (ff. 15, 57, 86, 132). Initials and text entirely in gold. Numbers in red. Gospels,

• Coloured initial., Homilies on the Evangelists, books 1 and 2 (external link no longer available)

rubrics in display uncial capitals in red. Initials occasionally highlighted in red. Homilies on the Evangelists, books 1 and 2 John Gibson (fl. 1720-1726), dealer: sold to Edward Harley on 13 February 1723/4 (Wright and Wright 1966; Wright 1972; Wright

• Decorated initial 'C'(onticuere)., Opera (Works) (external link no longer available)

93v, 105v, 116v, 126v, 137v, 149v, 161v). Large plain initials in red or blue. Capitals marked in red. Opera (Works) John Chamberlayne (b. 1666, d. 1723), son of Edward Chamberlayne (b. 1616, d. 1703): his sale, conducted by Daniel Browne,

• Text page of the beginning of Gregory the Great' 'De cura pastoral'.i, De cura pastorali, Libellus de dignitate sacerdotali, De Helia et ieiunio and other texts (external link no longer available)

Text page of the beginning of Gregory the Great' 'De cura pastoral'.i The manuscript includes:Gregory the Great, De cura pastorali (ff. 1-97);Ambrose, Libellus de dignitate sacerdotali (ff. 97v-106);Ambrose, De Helia et ieiunio (ff. 106v-13);Augustine, 'Sermo ad episcopos' (ff. 132-134);The

• Designs for initials and borders, including a bird., Pattern, sketch, or model book (external link no longer available)

15th-century: 'Young' and monogram 'I H' with effaced text (f. 29v). Inscribed several names, 16th-century: 'William Brome' (f. 3), 'Johannes', 'John & framyng', 'Richarde' (f. 4), 'Richardus Bowle' (ff. 8, 26v, 29), 'Thomas / Henry / William / Johannes /

• Designs for initials and borders., Pattern, sketch, or model book (external link no longer available)

15th-century: 'Young' and monogram 'I H' with effaced text (f. 29v). Inscribed several names, 16th-century: 'William Brome' (f. 3), 'Johannes', 'John & framyng', 'Richarde' (f. 4), 'Richardus Bowle' (ff. 8, 26v, 29), 'Thomas / Henry / William / Johannes /

• Designs for initials (letters A-M)., Pattern, sketch, or model book (external link no longer available)

15th-century: 'Young' and monogram 'I H' with effaced text (f. 29v). Inscribed several names, 16th-century: 'William Brome' (f. 3), 'Johannes', 'John & framyng', 'Richarde' (f. 4), 'Richardus Bowle' (ff. 8, 26v, 29), 'Thomas / Henry / William / Johannes /

• Designs for letters of the alphabet (letters H-Y)., Pattern, sketch, or model book (external link no longer available)

15th-century: 'Young' and monogram 'I H' with effaced text (f. 29v). Inscribed several names, 16th-century: 'William Brome' (f. 3), 'Johannes', 'John & framyng', 'Richarde' (f. 4), 'Richardus Bowle' (ff. 8, 26v, 29), 'Thomas / Henry / William / Johannes /

• Detail of a historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) with Augustine in a bishop's mitre holding a bishop's staff and a heart, Manuale (ff. 2-46v), Retractiones (extract), De beata vita (ff. 47-86v); and Psalms, Prayers, Litanies (external link no longer available)

Detail of a historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) with Augustine in a bishop's mitre holding a bishop's staff and a heart The litany including saints Swithin, Dunstan, Edith, and Etheldreda.Watermark, f. 1, of a quartered coat of arms, similar to ~Monumenta

• Coloured initials 'Q'(uanta) and I(ordmare), with geometric line-fillers in red., Vita S. Gregorii Papae; Versus S. Gregorii (external link no longer available)

(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. Coloured initials John the Deacon (index: Johannis Levitae, Hymonides) England