@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Special collections library at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge https://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/parker-library Parker Library On the Web - our medieval and early modern MSS digitised https://parker.stanford.edu/parker
Making of the Bible: Texts and Languages
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/mak...
Lent '26 exhibition offers a number of medieval MSS & early-print treasures from our shelves
A wonderful chance to see various English bible translations: Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale & Matthew Parker's Bishops' Bible
Medieval Worlds Residential 9-10 April 2026 Nominations by teachers of Year 12 (Y13/S5) students; includes free accommodation and food. Deadline for nominations 2 March 2026 (midday)
We're looking forward to the Medieval Worlds Residential, hosted here by @corpuscambridge.bsky.social on 9-10 April for Year 12 (Y13/S5) students
What is it? Check College Outreach's Instagram: tinyurl.com/5n94vtk3
or
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/medieval-wor...
DL for nominations: Monday 2 March at noon!
Excerpt of a page in medieval manuscript containing information about herbs and their uses. Right hand column contains the text in brownish-black ink, with a capital S in red with blue pen-flourishes that starts the paragraph on 'allia' / garlic. Left hand column contains summary of main medical uses of garlic, written in red ink by the same hand has the main text. Left column is occasionally intersperced with translation glosses of the main headword, added by a later hand. Black ink reads 'Haus .Garlec.' to indicate the Middle French and Middle English words for 'allia'. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
Trilingualism in action: Latin book on herbs & their uses gets translation annotations of some head words to French & English
Things I learned: 'haus' (Middle French) is a (rare) plural form of 'allia' (Latin), aka 'garlec' (Middle English)
CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Gothic letter U with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue and two rabbits on red background inside the bow of the U The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 134v (c. 1400-1425)
Gothic letter O with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue, two rabbits on red background inside the circle of the O and one (parrot-like) bird sitting on top. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 214v (c. 1400-1425)
Luxurious miniature of a seated bishop in blue chasuble lined in red, red and gold mitre, holding a red book in his lap. Bishops throne is gold, background patterned with pink and white, framed in golden border, golden corner decorations linked with blue bars decorted with delicate white penwork. Another gold, blue and pink decorative border visible at the edges of this image. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 25r (c. 1400-1425)
The most elaborate Pontifical (liturgical handbook for bishops) to survive from medieval England contains gilt images of bishops at work & careful notation.
The playful initials could so easily be missed! 😛🎵🐇
CCCC MS 079, ff. 134v, 214v (c.1400-25)
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalmss
Screenshot with a banner text 'The hermit's best-seller' in pink and 'The only surviving original version of one of late medieval England's most popular works of literature reveals its secrets' in white on black background and a medieval painting of two men. Below the banner is an image of Dr Glover on the right and text 'Parker Library Research Fellow reveals the secrets of one of England's most popular works of medieval literature' on the left.
Exciting news for fans of Richard Rolle of the 'The Fire of Love' fame ❤️🔥
Dr Timothy Glover, recently Parker Library Early-Career Research Fellow, has made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery that brings us closer to the beloved mystic, hermit and author Richard Rolle (d.1349)
tinyurl.com/e3266str
A circle drawn with black, red and white ink and gold-filled background presents a person in green shirt and hooded red cloak who sits in front of a large pot on a fire, while hooking a slab of meat(?) out of the pot with a claw-like tool. The toes of their left feet are uncomfortably close to the fire. Image copied from Parker Library manuscript CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
Perfect day for stirring soups and stews in front of roaring fireplace - watch out those toes!
CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalmss
Good night all! 😴
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 004: The Dover Bible, Volume 2; 12th century; f.277r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Medieval Calendar image for January, roundel with black-blue-white frame and gilded background portrays a crowned three-faced person dressed in green robe and red cape, at table, drinking and eating. Table covered in white cloth holds drink and food, including a boar's head. The Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary, early 14th century, now CCCC MS 053, f. 1r https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/gs233db8425
It is time to feast!
Our annual winter closure is here. We will return back for our regular hours on Monday 5 January, 2026
Parker Library On the Web will continue to fullfil your medieval manuscript desires: parker.stanford.edu/parker
CCCC MS 053, f.65r
tinyurl.com/vuyr92pt
Happy holidays!
Image: Medicinal prayers for sore eyes, sore ears and illness, in Old English, written in the margin (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 41, p. 326)
07.11.2025 09:40 — 👍 8 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
"Amantissimo domino et patri B(artholomeo)
dei gratia exoniensi frater B(aldewinus)
fordensis monasterii"
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 200; Baldwin of Ford OCist, De sacramento altaris; ca. 1175 - 1199; Christ Church, Canterbury; p.1 @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
'Karolus magnus
pippini filius'
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.24r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
'Pippinus rex francorum
pater karoli magni'
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.14r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
A few words from MS Corpus Christi College Cambridge 198 with MATHEUS twice in rustic capital letters.
Prepping some Blickling XIX for tomorrow's Old English ms reading session from @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social CCCC 198 and just cannot get over how adorable this scribe's rustic capitals look.
His elongated Hs make me weak at the knees. 🫣
Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations. now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 181r
Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 9r
We all need some good and proper boundaries
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
What a life!
#ElephantonFriday
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 016II; Matthew Paris OSB, Chronica maiora II; 13th century; f.152v
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Dragons interlaced with vines inside a stylised capital O CCCC MS 253, f. 65r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/dy778wn8940
Green angry dragon ith red wings surrounded by red and blue flowers and green foliage and a random gold decorative drop. CCCC MS 91, f. 1r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sf288jz3772
Mother and baby sleeping with a seven headed dragon beast of apocalypse watching over them CCCC MS 394, f. 36r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/yc646yt3082
Stylised dragon screaming with tongue out CCCC MS 158, f. 3r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sp902vq7011
So, you're a medievalist? What do you do? Study dragons and stuff?
Well....
(check the alt text for links to the source manuscripts held @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social)
15 and + years 🎉
Our teenage years online are all about unrestricted screentime
Go and explore Parker Library On the Web and find our 560 medieval and early modern manuscripts
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/cel...
There is still time to apply for the position of Fellow Librarian at All Souls College Oxford (deadline is 5 December).
Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Bearded man sitting at a sloping desk, under an arch that forms part of the capital letter A. He is dressed in an archbishop's mitre, light pink chasuble with pall, green dalmatic, and alb. Background is decorated with gold. Image taken from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 200, f. 1r that contains Baldwin of Ford's text on the Sacrament of the altar (De sacramento altaris).
Monday mood
Baldwin of Ford (d. 1190) focused on writing his text On the sacrament of the altar (De sacramento altaris)
CCCC MS 200, f. 1r (c. 1184-1190s) - fully digitised and online:
tinyurl.com/4s9v9j9t
20th November is the feast of St Edmund King and Martyr. Here his severed head crying 'hic,hic,hic' adorns the vellum repairing f.322r.
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 002III; 'The Bury Bible'; 12th c; Bury St Edmunds Abbey; f.322r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
A table of the Hebrew alphabet at the beginning of Lamentations
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 048; Bible; c.1170 CE; England (St Albans); f.121r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
📢 Delighted to announce that our Visiting Research Fellowships scheme for 2026 is now open for applications. Wonderful collections, world-class library & a brilliant @uofglasgow.bsky.social team to support you. Find out more 👇
13.11.2025 14:35 — 👍 24 🔁 15 💬 0 📌 0
We're delighted to digitally contribute to @theul.bsky.social Curious Cures project
Curator James Freeman highlights some of way Middle English medical writings have survived to us:
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30906
One more month to catch the physcial exhibition, do not miss it!
🗞️Newsletter alert🗞️
Issue 85 of the AMARC newsletter is en route to our members, which means Issue 84 is now available online - take a look!
amarcsite.wordpress.com/newsletters-...
Compare and contrast with the exquisite initial 'F'(rater) at the beginning of Jerome's letter to Paulinus in 'The Bury Bible', which is the work of Master Hugo.
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 002I; The Bury Bible; 12th century; f.1v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Oh, and the Wren Library @trincolllibcam.bsky.social is surely not to be missed by anyone interested in libraries of Cambridge!
www.trin.cam.ac.uk/library/visi...
Welcome! We have one happening tomorrow, Wed 29 Oct at 2pm.
Tickets available at Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/parker-lib..., or get them on the day of the tour at the Porters' Lodge.
You should check the free Curious Cures exhibition @theul.bsky.social too! www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitioncu...
Initial 'V'(erbum) at the beginning of the prophet Jeremiah:
"A A A, Dominus Deus, ecce nescio loqui,
Qui puer ego sum."
#lostforwords
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 003; The Dover Bible, Volume I; 12th century; f.195r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
Our most famous manuscript, available on Parker Library On the Web: tinyurl.com/4a62s8s6
In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖
We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
I'm excited to speak at this week's instalment of the 'Staging the Middle Ages' project in Cambridge - Fri 24th Oct 5:30pm - reflecting on what I learned from the reading of 'The Conversion of the Harlot Thais' which I hosted last year @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/session-2-...
21.10.2025 08:18 — 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0