18 - Anglo-Saxon gospel-books, c. 900–1066

Summary

In this period Anglo-Saxon gospel-books are easily the most numerous of all surviving Latin biblical codices. Twenty volumes and one fragment survive. All save one have been dated to the last seventy years before the Norman Conquest, many of these being attributed to thirty or forty years c. 1000–40 (see list A at the end of this chapter). They are among the most luxurious of books with their use of gold, their generous layout, and extensive, innovative illustrations. Some are particularly close to each other, sharing scribes, a similar textual apparatus, and conventions in their ‘architecture’. This chapter will consider first their contents, their makeup and layout, their decoration and illustrations before examining where, when and why they were made.

A gospel-book at this period could have different accessory texts. It might open with a varied group of general prefaces and arcaded canon tables (Plate 18.5); each gospel could be introduced by a preface and chapter list; and the book could end with a capitulary or list of gospel readings for the year. Two of the general opening texts, the letter of Jerome to Pope Damasus, usually known by its first words Nouum opus, and the letter of Eusebius of Caesarea to Carpianus (Eusebius Carpiano), included an explanation of the concordance system, arranged in ten canons and devised by Eusebius for the gospels; these canon tables came at an early date to be enclosed under varied and beautiful arcades (Plate 18.5). The other two general introductory texts, known by their first words as Plures fuisse and Sciendum etiam, came from Jerome’s introduction to his commentary on Matthew, and discussed the four evangelists. The inclusion of these texts, and the order in which they appeared could differentiate the witnesses (see list B at the end of this chapter).