• Text page with 2 decorated initials at the beginning of the preface and the first chapter of the chronicle of Ralph Niger., Chronica (to 1199), Chronicon anglicanum (to 1213)

Text page with 2 decorated initials at the beginning of the preface and the first chapter of the chronicle of Ralph Niger. The two texts are amalgamated to form a continuous chronicle to 1213.Cotton MS. Vespasian D. X contains

• Puzzle initial 'D'(omino), and in the upper margin, the ownership inscription of the Benedictine abbey of Bury St. Edmunds ('Liber sancti Aedmundi regis & martyris'), and the abbey library press-mark: '.C. 49.' The letters in Bury press-marks refer to the name of the author, or to the subject-matter, so the 'C' probably refers to 'Chronicle'., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

'C' probably refers to 'Chronicle'. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• Decorated initials, and in the right-hand margin, a 13th-century annotator has written 'De sancto Aedmundo' (Concerning St. Edmund), drawing attention to a reference to St. Edmund in the text immediately to the left., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

text immediately to the left. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• Decorated initials at the beginning of the preface and text of Book III., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f. 103, paraphs in red or blue,

• Two references to abbots of Bury St. Edmunds are signalled by a later reader by annotations in the margin. The first records the death of Abbot Hugh in 1180, and the second the appointment of his successor, Samson, in 1181. The last annal for 1180, in the middle of the page, is a reference to a new kind of coin being made in England: this was worthy of mention because there was a mint at Bury St. Edmunds., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

mint at Bury St. Edmunds. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• The first line on this page records the death of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, 'sacrificed before the altar of St. Benedict'. The following lines record the dramatic events that ensued, including the beginnings of miracles at Thomas's shrine, and his subsequent canonisation. Among the annals for 1173 it is recorded that the count of Leicester was arrested at Bury St. Edmunds., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

arrested at Bury St. Edmunds. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• The first entry on this page, the annal for 399, records that Rufinus of Aquileia wrote his history of the Church in that year. Other annals include the discovery of the body of the first martyr, Stephen (410), Augustine's publication his book 'The City of God' (414, in red) and the deaths of Jerome (420) and Augustine (424)., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

Jerome (420) and Augustine (424). Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• The two entries in red on this page refer to Bede: the annal for the year 714 records that he wrote a history of the English, down to Coelwulf, King of Northumbria, who became a monk of Lindisfarne in 738, and died in 764. The annal for 723 records Bede's Chronicle from Creation to 734, the year before his death., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

the year before his death. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• Half way down this page, the annal for 946 records that Agapitus became pope in that year. On the same line is an addition in larger, less formal script, in paler ink, which records the death of the 'glorious king Edmund, brother of Aethelstan' ., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

Edmund, brother of Aethelstan' . Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.

• The first annal on this page is for the year 1066, recording that William, duke of the Normans, obtained England and became king on Christmas day in London and that King Harold was killed in battle. The annal for the following year records the building of Battle Abbey by King William., Gesta Regum Anglorum; Annals to 1212 (ff. 103-33), imperfect (the B version)

Battle Abbey by King William. Crossed tironian ets. Catchwords. Large puzzle initial in red and blue with penwork decoration (f. 1). Initials in red with blue penwork decoration, or in blue with red penwork decoration. Initials in red. From f.