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Full red leather over wooden boards (but uncertain whether these were retained from the 16th-century binding, given the form of binding described by M.R. James - see below). Douglas Cockerell and Son, Grantchester, December 1966 (inscription on the front pastedown<\/a> by H.L. Pink and device blind-tooled in bottom right-hand corner of turn-in on the inside of the rear cover). <\/p>

'Binding of s. xviii' (i.e. 18th-century) when seen by Ker in 1957. Described further by M.R. James between 1926 and 1930: 'marbled paper boards; an oldish title shows through the paper' (see Data Source(s) for further details). <\/p>

Endleaves added to the front and rear of the manuscript (ff. 1-2, 100-102), for an alphabetical index (see Additions for further details). <\/p>

Evidence preserved within the manuscript (endleaves bearing four friction-holes and rust stains, suggesting the presence formerly of two clasps, four corner-bosses and a chain staple) indicates that the manuscript was previously bound in similar style to that of the binding on other manuscripts donated to the University Library by Matthew Parker (for an example, see: MS Ii.2.4<\/a>). (See Acquisition for further details).<\/p>

Prior to the manuscript's possession by Matthew Parker, it may have been in the hands of Robert Talbot (1505/06-1558), antiquary, and it may be the manuscript referred to him as 'my old saxonice bede de historia ecclesia gentis Anglorum that is with owt bordes...' (i.e. unbound or in a limp parchment cover) in a note in London, British Library, Cotton MS Domitian A.ix (f. 11r). (See Provenance and Additions in Part 2 for further details). <\/p>" }, { "label": "Physical Location", "value": "Cambridge University Library" }, { "label": "Extent", "value": "Codex: iii + 97 + iv leaves. Leaf height: 315-320 mm, width: 220-230 mm." }, { "label": "Funding", "value": "" }, { "label": "Abstract", "value": "

Cambridge, University Library, MS Kk.3.18 (hereafter, MS Kk.3.18) is the youngest surviving copy of the Old English translation of Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum<\/i>. Copied during the second half of the eleventh century at Worcester Cathedral Priory, MS Kk.3.18 played an important role in the use of English for pastoral care and preaching in Anglo-Norman England and beyond, as well as in the 'recovery' of Old English in the early modern period. <\/p>

Bede (673-735), a monk at Wearmouth-Jarrow, completed his Historia ecclesiastica<\/i> in 731. It is the earliest surviving history of early England, from its mythic origins to the arrival and conversion of the Germanic tribes that eventually became the English, and the development of the early English Church. The Old English version of Bede's text was translated anonymously sometime around or before 900. This translation abridges its Latin source by about a third, cutting much of Bede's accounts of Roman Britain, various heresies and controversies, and most of the papal correspondence. Overall, the main translator alters Book I and V the most, but transmits books II-IV almost in their entirety. The end result focuses more on local history, along with key early English saints, kings, and bishops. <\/p>

As we have it, the Old English Historia<\/i> is the work of at least three translators: the bulk of the main text is the work of the main translator, a divergent section in Book III in three manuscripts is the work of another, and the Preface is the work of yet another, slightly later translator. The chapter headings may also be by another translator; if so, possibly one from the same centre as the main translator. The text survives in five manuscripts (and three brief excerpts) dating from c. 883-930 to c. 1062-95. These are: