• Initial 'R' with the arms of Henry Despenser, bishop of Norwich, in the upper margin the signature of 'William Howarde 1579', in the right margin an ink drawing of a lion rampant, and in the lower margin the ink stamp of the Royal Society of London., Historia ecclesiastica (ff. 1-99), De muliere forti, Epistola Cuthberti

an ink drawing of a lion rampant, and in the lower margin the ink stamp of the Royal Society of London. 1 full foliate bar border and large initial in colours and gold, with a quadruped (dragon) on the border

• Detail of a miniature of the three estates (Church, Nobles, and Labour) in debate before Theology, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry and Music, at the beginning of Book 2., Débat de félicité

Royal Society, London (its ink stamp: 'Soc. Reg. Lond / ex dono HENR. HOWARD / Norfolciensis.', f. 1v; its book-plate with the pencil inscription: ‘XV.6.5’, inside upper cover).Purchased by the British Museum from the Royal Society of London together with

• Detail of a miniature of the three estates (Church, Nobles, and Labour) in debate before Theology, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry and Music, at the beginning of Book 3., Débat de félicité

Royal Society, London (its ink stamp: 'Soc. Reg. Lond / ex dono HENR. HOWARD / Norfolciensis.', f. 1v; its book-plate with the pencil inscription: ‘XV.6.5’, inside upper cover).Purchased by the British Museum from the Royal Society of London together with

• Illuminated white vine initial 'S'(i), at the beginning of Book 7 of Cicero's Epistolae ad familiares., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• Illuminated white vine initials 'E'(t) at the last letter of Book 13, and the beginning of Book 14 of Cicero's Epistolae ad familiares., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• lluminated white vine initial 'Q'(uod) in Cicero's Epistolae ad familiares., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• Detail of illuminated initial., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• Detail of illuminated initial., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• Detail of illuminated initial., Epistolae ad familiares

notes of A. C. de la Mare at the Bodleian Library.? John Shirwood (d. 1493), bishop of Durham, bought in London in 1464: inscribed '‘Liber [rest of line erased, perhaps including ‘sacre’] / empt(us) Londoni circiter xiij kalendas januarias a^o^

• Decorated initial 'P'(ost) with foliate decoration including acanthus leaves combined with a three-sided border at the beginning of the prologue., Polychronicon to c. 1400 (imperfect)

fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Decorated initial Ranulf Higden (index Ranulph Higden) England, ?S. E. (London)

• Initial 'P'(ost) with white vine decoration, at the beginning of Pliny 's Epistola 2., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Illuminated white vine initial 'F'(requenter) at the beginning of Pliny's Epistolae., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Illuminated border and Initial 'N'(octiam) with an unfinished drawing of a seated man (possibly Bede) writing at the desk holding a quill and a knife, and on the bar border, a quadruped (dragon?)., Historia ecclesiastica (ff. 1-99), De muliere forti, Epistola Cuthberti

and politician.Henry Howard (b. 1628, d. 1684), 6th duke of Norfolk, presented to the Royal Society in 1667.The Royal Society, London (its ink stamp: 'Soc. Reg. Lond / ex dono HENR. HOWARD / Norfolciensis.', f. 1).Purchased by the British Museum

• Illuminated white vine initial 'C'(upis) at the beginning of Pliny's Epistola 4., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Detail of illluminated initial., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Detail of illluminated initial., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Detail of illluminated initial., Epistolae 1-7 and 9

J. G. Alexander and A. C. De la Mare, ~The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey~ (London: Faber, 1969), p. 98 n. 4).Perhaps in the anonymous sale, ‘Importation from Sicily’, 19 April, 1817, lot 53, bought

• Miniature of the Baptism of Christ, decorated initial 'I'(n) and foliate borders including hybrid figures, heraldic arms and the motto 'Vous et non plus'., Life of Christ (books 6-10)

supporters two lions [argent]; a couronne de marquis surmounting the shield (inside upper cover).Thomas Ballard, bookseller and book auctioneer in London: included in auction at Paul's Coffee House, 20 February 1720/1, lot 8; bought through Nathaniel Noel, bookseller, by Humfrey

• Miniature of the Crucifixion, decorated initial 'Q'(uis) and foliate borders including hybrid figures and coat of arms of Charles de Melun., Life of Christ (books 6-10)

supporters two lions [argent]; a couronne de marquis surmounting the shield (inside upper cover).Thomas Ballard, bookseller and book auctioneer in London: included in auction at Paul's Coffee House, 20 February 1720/1, lot 8; bought through Nathaniel Noel, bookseller, by Humfrey

• Miniature of the Resurrection, decorated initial 'E'(n) and foliate borders including hybrid figures, heraldic arms and the motto 'Vous et non plus'., Life of Christ (books 6-10)

supporters two lions [argent]; a couronne de marquis surmounting the shield (inside upper cover).Thomas Ballard, bookseller and book auctioneer in London: included in auction at Paul's Coffee House, 20 February 1720/1, lot 8; bought through Nathaniel Noel, bookseller, by Humfrey