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parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
The Parker Library
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
5.2K followers 160 following 120 posts
Special collections library at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge
https://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/parker-library

Parker Library On the Web - our medieval and early modern MSS digitised
https://parker.stanford.edu/parker
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parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
The Parker Library @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social · Jan 24
Remember the early years?

We didn't want to lose sight of them & asked our colleague @suzpaul.bsky.social (now @theul.bsky.social) how it was to work on a large-scale digitisation project back in the day

Give her a listen!
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/ear...
#ParkerLibrary #PLOW
The Early Years
As we celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the Parker Library On the Web going live, we wanted to get a sense on how it was to work on a multi-year multi-team project between the Parker Library at Cor...
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk
Reposted by The Parker Library
tainonen.bsky.social
Trilingualism in action: Latin book on herbs & their uses gets translation annotations of some head words to French & English

Things I learned: 'haus' (Middle French) is a (rare) plural form of 'allia' (Latin), aka 'garlec' (Middle English)

CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
Excerpt of a page in medieval manuscript containing information about herbs and their uses. Right hand column contains the text in brownish-black ink, with a capital S in red with blue pen-flourishes that starts the paragraph on 'allia' / garlic. Left hand column contains summary of main medical uses of garlic, written in red ink by the same hand has the main text. Left column is occasionally intersperced with translation glosses of the main headword, added by a later hand. Black ink reads 'Haus .Garlec.' to indicate the Middle French and Middle English words for 'allia'. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 438, f. 21v
January 26, 2026 at 10:50 AM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
The most elaborate Pontifical (liturgical handbook for bishops) to survive from medieval England contains gilt images of bishops at work & careful notation.
The playful initials could so easily be missed! 😛🎵🐇

CCCC MS 079, ff. 134v, 214v (c.1400-25)
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#medievalmss
Gothic letter U with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue and two rabbits on red background inside the bow of the U The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 134v (c. 1400-1425) Gothic letter O with penwork decoration depicting a face on the right, sticking out a red tongue, two rabbits on red background inside the circle of the O and one (parrot-like) bird sitting on top. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 214v (c. 1400-1425) Luxurious miniature of a seated bishop in blue chasuble lined in red, red and gold mitre, holding a red book in his lap. Bishops throne is gold, background patterned with pink and white, framed in golden border, golden corner decorations linked with blue bars decorted with delicate white penwork. Another gold, blue and pink decorative border visible at the edges of this image. The Parker Library, CCCC MS 079, f. 25r (c. 1400-1425)
January 20, 2026 at 11:02 AM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Exciting news for fans of Richard Rolle of the 'The Fire of Love' fame ❤️‍🔥

Dr Timothy Glover, recently Parker Library Early-Career Research Fellow, has made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery that brings us closer to the beloved mystic, hermit and author Richard Rolle (d.1349)

tinyurl.com/e3266str
Screenshot with a banner text 'The hermit's best-seller' in pink and 'The only surviving original version of one of late medieval England's most popular works of literature reveals its secrets' in white on black background and a medieval painting of two men. Below the banner is an image of Dr Glover on the right and text 'Parker Library Research Fellow reveals the secrets of one of England's most popular works of medieval literature' on the left.
January 14, 2026 at 1:51 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Perfect day for stirring soups and stews in front of roaring fireplace - watch out those toes!

CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...

#medievalmss
A circle drawn with black, red and white ink and gold-filled background presents a person in green shirt and hooded red cloak who sits in front of a large pot on a fire, while hooking a slab of meat(?) out of the pot with a claw-like tool. The toes of their left feet are uncomfortably close to the fire. Image copied from Parker Library manuscript CCCC MS 53, f. 1v
January 14, 2026 at 12:02 PM
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enniusredloeb.bsky.social
Good night all! 😴

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 004: The Dover Bible, Volume 2; 12th century; f.277r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 10:21 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
It is time to feast!

Our annual winter closure is here. We will return back for our regular hours on Monday 5 January, 2026

Parker Library On the Web will continue to fullfil your medieval manuscript desires: parker.stanford.edu/parker

CCCC MS 053, f.65r
tinyurl.com/vuyr92pt

Happy holidays!
Medieval Calendar image for January, roundel with black-blue-white frame and gilded background portrays a crowned three-faced person dressed in green robe and red cape, at table, drinking and eating. Table covered in white cloth holds drink and food, including a boar's head. The Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary, early 14th century, now CCCC MS 053, f. 1r https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/gs233db8425
December 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
bartelds.bsky.social
Image: Medicinal prayers for sore eyes, sore ears and illness, in Old English, written in the margin (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 41, p. 326)
November 7, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by The Parker Library
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
"Amantissimo domino et patri B(artholomeo)
dei gratia exoniensi frater B(aldewinus)
fordensis monasterii"

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 200; Baldwin of Ford OCist, De sacramento altaris; ca. 1175 - 1199; Christ Church, Canterbury; p.1 @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
December 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
'Karolus magnus
pippini filius'

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.24r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
'Pippinus rex francorum
pater karoli magni'

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 373; Anonymous Chronicle (to 1114 CE, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle); ca. 1114 CE - 1125 CE; Germany; f.14r @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
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florencebourgne.bsky.social
Prepping some Blickling XIX for tomorrow's Old English ms reading session from @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social CCCC 198 and just cannot get over how adorable this scribe's rustic capitals look.
His elongated Hs make me weak at the knees. 🫣
A few words from MS Corpus Christi College Cambridge 198 with MATHEUS twice in rustic capital letters.
December 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
We all need some good and proper boundaries

Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church

CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations. now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 181r Medieval manuscript page with central text area surrounded by gilded red and blue border with frilly floral and leaf decorations now Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 257, f. 9r
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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enniusredloeb.bsky.social
What a life!
#ElephantonFriday
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 016II; Matthew Paris OSB, Chronica maiora II; 13th century; f.152v
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
tainonen.bsky.social
So, you're a medievalist? What do you do? Study dragons and stuff?

Well....

(check the alt text for links to the source manuscripts held @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social)
Dragons interlaced with vines inside a stylised capital O CCCC MS 253, f. 65r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/dy778wn8940 Green angry dragon ith red wings surrounded by red and blue flowers and green foliage and a random gold decorative drop. CCCC MS 91, f. 1r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sf288jz3772 Mother and baby sleeping with a seven headed dragon beast of apocalypse watching over them CCCC MS 394, f. 36r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/yc646yt3082 Stylised dragon screaming with tongue out CCCC MS 158, f. 3r Fully digitised: https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/sp902vq7011
November 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
15 and + years 🎉
Our teenage years online are all about unrestricted screentime

Go and explore Parker Library On the Web and find our 560 medieval and early modern manuscripts

www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/cel...
Celebrating 15 years of Parker Library On the Web
The Parker Library guards the legacy of Matthew Parker: a remarkable heritage that is safe, unharmed and yet accessible to all through Parker Library On the Web
www.corpus.cam.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
juliawalworth.bsky.social
There is still time to apply for the position of Fellow Librarian at All Souls College Oxford (deadline is 5 December).

Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Fellow Librarian | All Souls College
www.asc.ox.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
tainonen.bsky.social
Monday mood

Baldwin of Ford (d. 1190) focused on writing his text On the sacrament of the altar (De sacramento altaris)

CCCC MS 200, f. 1r (c. 1184-1190s) - fully digitised and online:
tinyurl.com/4s9v9j9t
Bearded man sitting at a sloping desk, under an arch that forms part of the capital letter A. He is dressed in an archbishop's mitre, light pink chasuble with pall, green dalmatic, and alb. Background is decorated with gold. Image taken from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 200, f. 1r that contains Baldwin of Ford's text on the Sacrament of the altar (De sacramento altaris).
November 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by The Parker Library
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
20th November is the feast of St Edmund King and Martyr. Here his severed head crying 'hic,hic,hic' adorns the vellum repairing f.322r.

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 002III; 'The Bury Bible'; 12th c; Bury St Edmunds Abbey; f.322r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
A table of the Hebrew alphabet at the beginning of Lamentations

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 048; Bible; c.1170 CE; England (St Albans); f.121r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by The Parker Library
siobhanconvery.bsky.social
📢 Delighted to announce that our Visiting Research Fellowships scheme for 2026 is now open for applications. Wonderful collections, world-class library & a brilliant @uofglasgow.bsky.social team to support you. Find out more 👇
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
We're delighted to digitally contribute to @theul.bsky.social Curious Cures project

Curator James Freeman highlights some of way Middle English medical writings have survived to us:
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=30906

One more month to catch the physcial exhibition, do not miss it!
In their own words: medical writings in Middle English – Cambridge University Library Special Collections
specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by The Parker Library
amarc.bsky.social
🗞️Newsletter alert🗞️

Issue 85 of the AMARC newsletter is en route to our members, which means Issue 84 is now available online - take a look!

amarcsite.wordpress.com/newsletters-...
Newsletters 81-90
AMARC Newsletter No. 81: Newsletter81 AMARC Newsletter No. 82: Newsletter82 AMARC Newsletter No. 83: Newsletter83 AMARC Newsletter No. 84: Newsletter84
amarcsite.wordpress.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
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enniusredloeb.bsky.social
Compare and contrast with the exquisite initial 'F'(rater) at the beginning of Jerome's letter to Paulinus in 'The Bury Bible', which is the work of Master Hugo.

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 002I; The Bury Bible; 12th century; f.1v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 8:46 PM
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enniusredloeb.bsky.social
Initial 'V'(erbum) at the beginning of the prophet Jeremiah:

"A A A, Dominus Deus, ecce nescio loqui,
Qui puer ego sum."
#lostforwords
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 003; The Dover Bible, Volume I; 12th century; f.195r
@parkerlibcccc.bsky.social @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Our most famous manuscript, available on Parker Library On the Web: tinyurl.com/4a62s8s6

In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖

We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
October 23, 2025 at 9:06 AM