Volume / Number: 5 / 681

• Paris France Bibliothèque Nationale de France Nouv. Acq. Lat. 1203

Written doubtless in the Palace School at the order of Charlemagne by the scribe Godescalc between 781 and 783, as is shown by the dedicatory verses at the end of the volume (foll. 126v–127). The scribe also tells us how he went to Rome in 781 to assist at the baptism of Carloman, son of Charlemagne, by Pope Hadrian I (772–795). In the Paschal Table a note in gold Rustic capital mentions that event opposite the year 781 (fol. 125). The manuscript was in the treasury of St Sernin of Toulouse before the Revolution, according to a note on fol. 1, dated April 1794; that it belonged to that cathedral as early as the twelfth century is suggested by the addition of St Saturninus in the calendar, saec. XII (fol. 124). Sent from the cathedral to the Museum of Toulouse. Was given to Napoleon in 1811. Brought to the Louvre, and became part of the Musée des Souverains in 1852. Entered the Bibliothèque Nationale in 1872.

Script is a late type of uncial: artificial serifs decorate the shafts of many letters. The dedicatory verses on foll. 126v–127 and a few lines at the foot of foll. 104v and 119 are in elegant Caroline minuscule of the Palace School, to be compared with the Gospel Book at the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal (CLA 5.517) and the first hand of the Ada Gospels. This is doubtless the script of Godescalc himself, who tells us, 'Ultimus hoc famulus studuit complere Godescalc': it has both open a and a; e is frequently open; n often has the uncial form; the et ligature, even in mid-word, is rather frequent.

☛Gamber, CLLA 1120. ☛Steffens, Paléographie latine, Pl. 45.

• http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000718s

• Text: MSS containing biblical text (including Gospels)
• Text: MSS containing Gospel text
• Script: MSS with named scribes (John 1995 with additions)