Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/300

 210 THE LAilBETH MAZARI>'E TESTAMENT. the printed iniittcr of llie paper and velluni copies, such dittcrence being due to cunti'action of the latter substance, but identity of print not rendered questionable thereby : and facts warranting; the conclusion that at least a considei-able portion of the three coj)ies beloni:; to same edition.) ''Whilst the three copies of the Testament maybe considered identical so far as the black or printed portion is concerned, the illuminations and rubrications (which ai'e hand work) differ widely. The King's cop}' has the name of each book rubricated at tlic head of the pages, the numerous unprinted capitals are inserted in red, and the pi'inted capitals liavc the usual red vertical dash put on them. The " Incipit "and "Ex- plicit ' sentences to all the prologues and books are likewise rubricated. In the Old Testament portion, the headings arc omitted from the Psalms, the large initials arc ornamented, and three pages are boldly and not very elaborately illuminated with floreated scrolls, birds, &c., (the human form being in two instances introduced), the work, probably of a more religious than accomplished illuminator, judging from the fact of the illuminations to S. Jerome's prologues being far less imposing than those to the .Sacred Books themselves. " The Grenville cojiy lias the same portions rubricated as the King's, save that there are no head-lines, neither are there any illuminations throughout the book, fui'thcr than the substi- tution of blue for red in some of the ca})itals, and the largo initials being j)ut in in ver}' simple devices of blue and red. " The Lambeth copy, likewise, has the same portions rubricated as the King's ; the head-lines have blue initials, and the illuminations, which are veiy numerous, are executed with great care and taste. There is no attem})t at the human foiin, but the scroll-work, flowers, birds, &c., are well drawn, the gilding is brilliant and judiciously introduced, and the minute details arc elaborati'ly manij)ulated. ^loreover, there are perpendicular and horizontal lines bounding the text or j)rinted matter, and fme lines between the lines of comparison of the hand-work in the three C(jpies. In tho other two Testaments tin le lias been no artistic efTect attempted, whilst in this, 1 ventuie to think, every leaf hIiows the artist's work. These luled lines have not im- reasonably been supposed to indicate that the vellum having been prepared for the scribe, was afteiwards used (or tho new art i4' printing, and iipon this hypothesis it would follow
 * )rint, ju.st as in old MSS. And here is the gist of a