Decorated initials G'(od) and 'I'(n). Image taken from f. 17v of The Cloud of Unknowing, with marginal gloss. Written in English and Latin gloss. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval m More
Initials with foliate decoration and title in display capitals. Image taken from f. 1 of Batrachomyomachia (ff. 1-6) and Iliad (ff. 13-281), including Proclus's Life of Homer (ff. 7v-8) and 'De Cypris carminibu More
Decorated initials 'H'(ere) and 'I'(s) at the beginning of a medical treatise. Image taken from f. 3 of Medical miscellany, including a treatise on non-surgical ailments; recipes; and the Canutus (ff. 191-199). More
Detail of a miniature of a king in the outer margin, next to the paragraph mentioning the death of Pharaoh, two decorated initials, and ~carmina figurata~ of a dog biting a deer. Image taken from f. 14 of Hagga More
Decorated initials. Image taken from f. 19 of Livre de Sydrac (index Book of Sydrac; Book of Sidrac; La Fontaine de toutes sciences; Le Tresor des sciences; Le Roman du philosophe Sydrac). Written in French. T More
Image taken from f. 4 of The History of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord. Written in English and Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540 More
Four-line musical notation with decorated initials. Image taken from f. 91 of Sidrak and Bokkus. Written in English. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who assembled th More
Detail of a miniature of a bishop, administering the consecrated wafer to the first of five newly ordained priests who kneel before him; behind, a chaplain holding the cup for purifying the communicants, with a More
Flourished initials. Image taken from f. 2 of La Cronica de Espana abreviada por mandado de Dona Isabel, Reyna de Castilla por Mossen Diego de Valera. Written in Spanish. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is n More
Drawing of the Sacred Heart with the Five wounds of Christ, on the left, and on the right, decorated initials in an alphabet. Image taken from ff. 26v-27 of Medical and religious miscellany, including 'Walter M More
Initials with pen-flourished decoration at the beginning of 'The Chasting of God's Children'. Image taken from f. 1 of A collection of devotional treatises, including 'The Chasting of God's Children' (ff. 1-100 More
Pen drawing of Nikostratis, Lord of Macedonia, and decorated initials. Image taken from f. 67v of Erotokritos, romance in 15-syllable rhymed couplets, prededed by a table of contents (ff. 1-8). Written in Greek More
Decorated initials. Image taken from f. 3 of Medical miscellany, including treatises on diet and bloodletting (f. 72v); a leechbook; Agnus castus (ff. 249-251); Gallen's dietary (ff. 72v-73); Liber medicinarum More
Initials with pen-flourished decoration. Image taken from f. 1 of Lanterne of Light, a Lollard text, imperfect. Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts hel More
Detail of decorated initials. Image taken from f. 38v of Register of possessions and rents of the Pirckheimer family of Nuremberg, beginning in 1398. Written in German. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was am More
Decorated initials in Manuel Chyrsoloras's Erotemata. Image taken from f. 41 of Erotemata. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the More
Coloured initials in blue with pen-flourished decoration in red and blue. Image taken from f. 34 of Fragment of a leaf from a second half of the 13th century English Troper-Proser containing ‘Gloria’ trope and More
Initials with foliate decoration and pen drawing of a war machine. Image taken from f. 8 of Illustrated miscellany of military treatises, including Athenaeus's 'De machinis' (ff. 1-8), Biton's 'De constructione More
Decorated initials, in the Maister of Game. Image taken from f. 39v of Maister of Game (index Maistir of Game). Written in English. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a cruci More
Decorated initials 'L' and 'E'. Image taken from f. 59v of Carta executoria de Hidalguia (begins imperfectly). Written in Spanish. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egert More
Decorated initials 'T'(he) with pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 119v of Summary of the Old Testament, imperfect. Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscrip More
Decorated initials from a 13th-century leaf. Image taken from f. 133 of Leaf from a Missal(?) with part of the mass for one martyr. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist More
Decorated initials, including with a hand blessing. Image taken from f. 32 of Evangelistarium, imperfect, beginning in the Gospel for the 5th day of the 5th week of John, and ending in the menology at the 6th J More
Woodcut of the Flagellation of Christ and decorated initials. Image taken from ff. 5v-6 of Collection of Scottish poetry. Written in English, Scots, some headings in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection wa More
Detail of decorated initials with pen-flourishing in book 7. Image taken from f. 131 of Confessio amantis, imperfect. Written in English and Latin (rubrics only). The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collect More
Drawing of John Chrysostom, a fFather of the Greek church, and decorated initials. Image taken from f. 18v of Hymns and prayers, preceded by extracts from the Fathers, and followed by other prayers, imperfect. More
Decorated initials in a leaf from a 13th-century Missal. Image taken from f. 135 of Fragment of a leaf from a noted Missal, with part of the feast of Peter. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a More
Detail of a decorated initial 'B'(eatus) at the beginning of Ecclesiasticus 14:22, in a 13th-century leaf. Image taken from f. 133 of Leaf from a Missal(?) with part of the mass for one martyr. Written in Latin More
Foliate decoration connected to two decorated initials and inhabited by animals, in the outer margin of the folio. Image taken from f. 13v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Ashkenazi Haggadah'), German rite with t More
Decorated initials, in the Register of possessions and rents of the Pirckheimer family of Nuremberg, with additions by the hand of Hans Pirckheimer dated from 1381 to 1463. Image taken from ff. 38v-39 of Regist More
Decorated initials. Image taken from f. 56 of Medical miscellany, including treatises on diet and bloodletting (f. 72v); a leechbook; Agnus castus (ff. 249-251); Gallen's dietary (ff. 72v-73); Liber medicinarum More
Initials with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 87 of The Canterbury Tales, including the spurious Tale of Gamelyn (ff. 46-55), imperfect. Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a colle More
Illuminated and decorated initials with penwork flourishing. Image taken from f. 37 of Book of Hours. Written in Dutch. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the Bri More
Decorated initials. Image taken from ff. 1v-2 of Collection of alchemical secrets. Written in English and Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the deve More
Drawing of a standing Father of the Greek church, and decorated initials. Image taken from f. 21v of Hymns and prayers, preceded by extracts from the Fathers, and followed by other prayers, imperfect. Written i More
Decorated initials 'M'(olte) and 'E'. Image taken from f. 1 of Lucidarium Philosophi eximii (A tract on divinity in the form of a dialogue between a master and his scholar), imperfect at the end. Written in Ita More
Coloured initials in red, blue, and green, with foliate decoration. Image taken from f. 81 of Fragment of a leaf from an early 13th century English Missal containing the Masses for St Chrysostom, St Catherin, S More
Detail of a text page with decorated initials. Image taken from f. 3v of Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (index Memorabilia, index Facta et Dicta Memorabilia) (part 1, vol. 1). Written in Fren More
Initials 'B'(e) and 'A'(fter) in blue with red pen-flourishing. Image taken from ff. 41v-42 of Scale of Perfection (Books 1 and 2). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medi More
Decorated initials with pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 110 of Livre de Sydrac (index Book of Sydrac; Book of Sidrac; La Fontaine de toutes sciences; Le Tresor des sciences; Le Roman du philosophe Sydrac), More
Text page with small decorated initials. Image taken from f. 36v of The Regiment of Princes (De Regimine Principum) (index Regement of Princes, The Government of Princes). Written in English with Latin glosses More
Decorated initials 'T'(RACTADO) and 'R'(ogaron) at the beginning of the text. Image taken from f. 1 of Moralia, book 5 (extract (imperfect): Ad principem ineruditum; Spanish translation: 'De la necessidad que t More
Partial border with decorated initials 'Y' and 'T'. Image taken from f. 4 of New Testament: Romans to Jude. Written in Greek. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in t More
Decorated initials with borders, in the Golden Legend. Image taken from f. 167 of Golden Legend (index Legenda aurea; Legendae sanctorum; Legends of the saints) (begins and ends imperfectly). Written in English More
Text page with four decorated initials. Image taken from f. 20v of Collection of charms and remedies ( 'Bald's Leechbook'). Written in English and Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the R More
Decorated initials in a leaf from a 13th-century Missal. Image taken from f. 132 of Fragment of a leaf with readings for the feast for Laurence. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician an More
Decorated initials and headpiece. Image taken from f. 94 of Collection of Greek ecclesiastical hymns: kekragaria, anastasima, hexapsalmi, megalynaria, cherubica, and eothina of the emperor Leo. Written in Greek More
Decorated initials with pen-flourishing at the beginning of the text, the first with a dragon. Image taken from f. 1 of The Brut Chronicle, in French. Written in French and Latin (only marginal rubrics). The " More
Decorated initials'V'(e) and 'M'(ille) by Matteo Contugi of Volterral; interlinear corrections and variants added by Bartolomeo Sanvito. Image taken from f. 14 of Rime and Trionfi (index Triumphs). Written in I More
Pen drawing of the author, decorated initials and title in display capitals. Image taken from f. 10 of Erotokritos, romance in 15-syllable rhymed couplets, prededed by a table of contents (ff. 1-8). Written in More
Headpiece with geometric decoration and small decorated initials. Image taken from f. 1 of Catena on the Psalms, imperfect. Written in Greek. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manus More
Coloured initials with penwork decoration, developing into a rampant lion and a bird in the upper margin of the page. Image taken from f. 40v of Psalter in Anglo-Norman verse. Written in French and Latin. The More
Coloured initials with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 41v of Samson's 'Les proverbes de Salemon' (ff. 1-86v), Guichard's 'Sermon' (ff. 87-99v), 'Disciplina clericalis', in Anglo-Norman translation, imp More
Decorated initials. Image taken from f. 8 of Glossed Liber Sextus Decretalium. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2nd Earl of More
Detail of decorated initials. Image taken from f. 8 of Glossed Liber Sextus Decretalium. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2n More
Decorated initial-word panel and foliate scroll between the two text columns. Image taken from f. 167 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimonides in Samuel ibn More
Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel and foliate scroll between the two text columns. Image taken from f. 167 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimoni More
Table of contents, for the Decretals, with five decorated initial 'D's, with decorated borders, including mermaids and mermen. Image taken from f. 3 of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithf More
Five decorated initial 'D's, with figurative borders and a bas-de-page scene of a castle flanked by grotesques. Image taken from f. 2v of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals More
Champ' initial (added later) and smaller initials with pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 44 of Bible historiale. Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts More
Decorated initial and border at the beginning of the cartulary of the Benedictine priory of St Neot's, with a list of places mentioned on the facing folio. Image taken from ff. 3v-4 of Cartulary of the Benedict More
Decorated initial 'I'(sti) with an animal head, and a bird in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 110 of Antiphoner (index antiphonal, antiphonary), Winter season. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Co More
Decorated initial 'Q'(ui) with two birds. Image taken from f. 159v of Antiphoner (index antiphonal, antiphonary), Winter season. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, More
Decorated initial 'P'(ace). Image taken from f. 20 of Ab Urbe condita (index Codex Aginnensis). Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British L More
Detail: decorated initial-word panel ~Bereshit~ (In the beginning), at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 3 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and ~Haftarot~ with ~masorah~ and Rash's co More
First page of a martyrology fragment with a decorated initial. Image taken from f. 2 of Fragments containing West Saxon and East Saxon royal genealogies (f. 1), Latin verses for calculating Easter (f. 1v) and a More
Decorated initial-word panel, ~Amar~ (Said) with gold letters and a miniature in the outer margin depicting Rabbi Eleazar ben Azaryah seated at a reading desk with an open book. Image taken from f. 34v of Hagga More
Initials 'D'(a) and 'P'(rima) at the beginning of an anonymous treatise. Image taken from f. 19v of Iudica me deus (ff. 1-19); 'Tractatus de xii utilitatibus tribulacionis' (ff. 19v-31v); Theologia mystica (ff. More
Title page and decorated initial at the beginning of the 'Office de la Conception de la Vierge Marie'. Image taken from f. 1 of Office de la Conception de la Vierge Marie (index Hours of the Conception) and oth More
Decorated initial 'D'(ominus) and words 'dixit in evangelio' in a collection of homilies. Image taken from f. 14v of Homilies and other theological texts. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection wa More
Decorated initials 'P'(rima) and 'S'(oror) with acanthus leaves combined with a 3-sided foliate border including an erased coat of arms; notarial inscription and pressmark '9. I.' (in the library of Sozomeno of More
Decorated initial 'A'(bsolucio) with pen-flourishing including foliate motifs at the beginning of the alphabetical index. Image taken from f. 1 of 'Veritas theologie', a theological treatise. Written in Latin. More
Decorated initial 'A'(t) with foliate decoration at the beginning of Apuleius's Metamorphoses. Image taken from f. 2 of Metamorphoses (index Metamorphoseon libri). Written in Latin.
Decorated initial-word panels: ~ilu~, ~dayyenu~, and ~al~, at the last section of ~Dayyenu~ (It would have been enough), a thanksgiving hymn for Passover. Image taken from f. 19v of Haggadah for Passover (the ' More
Miniature of the Raising of Souls to Heaven, decorated initial 'S'(ubvenite) and full foliate border, at the beginning of the Commendation of Souls. Image taken from f. 175 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome. Writte More
Initial words decorated with bands and foliate motifs, at the beginning of the passage, 'Next year in Jerusalem' and Joel ben Simeon's colophon in the outer margin. Image taken from f. 48v of Haggadah for Passo More
Miniature of the Triumph of Death, with a decorated initial 'Q'(uesta). Image taken from f. 166 of Rime and Trionfi (index Triumphs). Written in Italian. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of me More
Decorated initial 'P'(riam) and paraphs. Image taken from f. 9 of Hystoria Troianorum et Grecorum ; Roman de Brut; miscellany of Anglo-Norman verse ('Penrose' or 'Wakefield' manuscript). Written in Latin, Frenc More
Decorated initial 'A'(bdias), at the beginning of the prologue to Obadiah, and a historiated initial 'V'(isio) of Obadiah holding a scroll and communicating with God, at the beginning of Obadiah, both with marg More
Text page with decorated initial 'N'(ovum) and manumissions in lower margin. Image taken from f. 2 of Bodmin Gospels (St Petroc Gospels); records of grants of manumission in Old English and Latin added on blank More
Decorated initial. Image taken from f. 1 of Collationes; Epistolarum Dominicalium. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2nd Earl More
Decorated initials 'C'(um) and 'P'(rincipio) at the beginning of the prologue and first book of Justinus's Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi. Image taken from f. 2 of Epitome historiarum Pompeii Trogi (ff. 2-78 More
Initial 'F'(uit) and table of chapters at the beginning of a collection of the miracles of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 60 of Theological miscellany, including 31 miracles of the Virgin (ff. 60-73), various More
Decorated initial. Image taken from f. 212 of Orationes. Written in Latin.
Decorated initial-word panel accompanied with foliate scrolls. Image taken from f. 226 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.
Detail of decorated initial. Image taken from f. 35v of Miscellany, including a calendar and astrological texts, including Roger's Hereford tables (ff. 77-87); excerpts from William of Conches's Dragmaticon phi More
Detail of decorated initial. Image taken from f. 163 of Miscellaneous texts, including Epistolae. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howar More
Decorated initial and full foliate border, at the beginning of the Nova Statuta. Image taken from f. 1 of Nova Statuta (index Statutes of England, Statuta Angliae, Statute book), from 1 Edward III to 3 Henry V More
Two initial-word panels, the upper one is a historiated panel, ~We-im~ (and if) with a seated bearded man and a smaller naked figure wrestling with a lion (for the identification of the naked figure see Narkiss More
Decorated initial-word panel with foliate scroll spreading to the upper margin. Image taken from f. 29 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.
Detail of decorated initials. Image taken from f. 8 of Regula sancti Benedicti (ff. 1-26v), and other related works. Written in Latin.
Puzzle initial 'Q'(uoniam) at the beginning of Luke (often treated in manuscripts as a prologue rather than the start of the main text). Image taken from f. 1 of Glossed Gospel of Luke, followed (f. 110r-v) by More
Decorated initial-word panel, ~Bereshit~ (in the beginning), at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 1v of Pentateuch (the 'Coburg Pentateuch') with the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~), ~Haftarot~, an More
Initial 'E'(tsi) drawn in ink with white vine-stem decoration, incorporating a butterfly, at the beginning of the Pseudo-Cicero Ad Herennium, unfinished, and perhaps a later addition. Image taken from f. 107 of More
Decorated initial 'S'(unt) with pen-flourishing, in Cicero's De officiis. Image taken from f. 19v of De officiis. Written in Latin.
Decorated initial 'A'(lexander) with ivy leaves and a partial bar border. Image taken from f. 74v of Miscellaneous theological and other texts, including Secretum secretorum, Apollonius of Tyre (ff. 33-42v); an More
Decorated foliate initial 'U'(ndecimo) in Cicero's Epistolae ad Atticum. Image taken from f. 181v of Ad Brutum (ff. 7v-19), Ad Quintum, I-II (ff. 19-45v), Ad Octavianum (ff. 45v-47v), Ad Atticum (ff. 47v-236v). More
Decorated initial 'P'(rim[a]) at the beginning of Horace's Epistolae. Image taken from f. 42v of Odes (ff. 1-31v), Epodes (ff. 31v-36v), Carmen saeculare (ff. 36v-37), Ars poetica (ff. 37-42v), Epistolae (ff. 4 More