1. Bible, Latin; Joshua 24:21–Judges 1:24. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.41r
2. Bible, Latin; Job 41:16–Psalms 2:13, with historiated initial 'B' showing King David playing the lyre. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.158v
3. Bible, Latin; Prologue and Proverbs 1:1-1:33. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.182r
4. Bible, Latin; Matthew 1:1–2:3 with Matthew's symbol of a man. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.314r
5. Bible, Latin; Matthew 28:6–Mark 1:10 with the latter Evangelist's symbol of a winged lion. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.326r
6. Bible, Latin; John 1:1–1:39 with the Evangelist's symbol of an eagle. France or England, third quarter of the thirteenth century, f.347v

376 leaves. 163 by 120mm. Double column, 50 lines, ruled in leadpoint, written space 112 by 75mm; gothic bookhand.

Decoration: Two-line red and blue chapter initials throughout with contrasting penwork. Initials mostly 4-line in alternating red and blue, with penwork in blue and red, introduce the prologues. Decorated initials (6- and 7-line) introduce the biblical books up to the beginning of gathering 12. These are painted in blue, pink, orange and green with white tracery and black outlines, incorporating human, foliate and grotesque heads. The symbols of the Evangelists appear in the penwork (symbol for Luke missing).
Binding: Eighteenth-century pasteboards (front board lacking).
Provenance: Scribbles on folio 181 include the date 1617 twice. Purchased from Howes Bookshop, Hastings (England), in 1952.
References: Manion, Vines, de Hamel no. 58; Reed Early Bibles no. 3.
Shelfmark: RMM MS 3.

Description reproduced from Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections (London, 1989) by permission of the authors (Christopher de Hamel, Margaret Manion, and the family of Vera F. Vines).