Mac Durnan Gospels
Encyclopedia
The Mac Durnan Gospels or Book of Mac Durnan (London, Lambeth Palace MS 1370) is an early medieval Irish illuminated manuscript
containing the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), now in the collection of the Lambeth Palace
Library in London.
(d. 957/8), later bishop of Worcester. It suggests that the manuscript was written or commissioned by Máel Brigte mac Tornáin (d. 927), known as Mac Durnan, abbot of Armagh since 888, who is said to have dedicated the book to God. Rearranged in regular metre, the inscription reads:
The manuscript must have left the scriptorium of Armagh soon after, since it passed into the possession of King Æthelstan of England (r. 924-939), presumably as a diplomatic gift. According to the same inscription, Æthelstan presented the book to Christ Church, Canterbury. The Mac Durnan Gospels offer a unique glimpse on the Irish connections of Æthelstan's court, which is known to have been attended by at least one Irish abbot, Dubinsi, abbot of Bangor.
During the 11th century, six Anglo-Saxon charters
were copied into the gospel-book, including writ
s and records of agreements, the latest being no later than AD 1050.
script. The prefatory folio presents the animal symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Three Gospels are introduced by Evangelist portraits at their opening pages. Related manuscripts associated with Armagh are the Echternach Gospels
(MS BNF
Lat. 9389), the Máel Brigte Gospels
(MS Harley 1802), MS Harley 1023, and the Book of Armagh
.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
containing the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), now in the collection of the Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
Library in London.
Manuscript history
Vital information concerning the provenance and history of the manuscript comes from an alliterative Latin inscription which was addded on folio 3v, possibly by KoenwaldKoenwald
Koenwald was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Worcester of Mercian origins.-Life:Koenwald succeeded Bishop Wilferth at some time between 16 April 928, when Wilferth is last known to have witnessed a charter, and 15 October 929, when Koenwald is known to been at the Abbey of St...
(d. 957/8), later bishop of Worcester. It suggests that the manuscript was written or commissioned by Máel Brigte mac Tornáin (d. 927), known as Mac Durnan, abbot of Armagh since 888, who is said to have dedicated the book to God. Rearranged in regular metre, the inscription reads:
| Mæielbriðus | MacDurnani | |
| istum textum | per triquadrum | |
| Deo digne | dogmatizat | |
| ast | ||
| Æthelstanus | Anglosæxna | |
| rex et rector | Doruernensi | |
| metropoli | dat per æuum |
The manuscript must have left the scriptorium of Armagh soon after, since it passed into the possession of King Æthelstan of England (r. 924-939), presumably as a diplomatic gift. According to the same inscription, Æthelstan presented the book to Christ Church, Canterbury. The Mac Durnan Gospels offer a unique glimpse on the Irish connections of Æthelstan's court, which is known to have been attended by at least one Irish abbot, Dubinsi, abbot of Bangor.
During the 11th century, six Anglo-Saxon charters
Anglo-Saxon Charters
Anglo-Saxon charters are documents from the early medieval period in Britain which typically make a grant of land or record a privilege. The earliest surviving charters were drawn up in the 670s; the oldest surviving charters granted land to the Church, but from the eighth century surviving...
were copied into the gospel-book, including writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
s and records of agreements, the latest being no later than AD 1050.
Contents
The text contains the four Gospels of the Latin Vulgate written in Irish minusculeMinuscule
Minuscule may refer to:* Lower case letter* Minuscule script, a group of writing styles in ancient and medieval Greek or Latin manuscripts:** Minuscule cursive or new Roman cursive, used in Latin manuscripts...
script. The prefatory folio presents the animal symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Three Gospels are introduced by Evangelist portraits at their opening pages. Related manuscripts associated with Armagh are the Echternach Gospels
Echternach Gospels
The Echternach Gospels is an 8th-century insular Gospel Book from the library of the monastery of Echternach, Luxembourg. It is now in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris . The manuscript was written by the same scribe that wrote the Durham Gospels.-References:* De Hamel, Christopher. A History...
(MS BNF
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
Lat. 9389), the Máel Brigte Gospels
Gospels of Mael Brigte
The Gospels of Mael brigte is an illuminated Gospel Book, with glosses....
(MS Harley 1802), MS Harley 1023, and the Book of Armagh
Book of Armagh
The Book of Armagh or Codex Ardmachanus , also known as the Canon of Patrick and the Liber Armachanus, is a 9th-century Irish manuscript written mainly in Latin. It is held by the Library of Trinity College, Dublin...
.
Secondary sources
- Dodwell, C.R. The Pictorial Arts of the West 800-1200. New Haven: Yale UP, 1993.
- Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí. Early Medieval Ireland, 400-1200. Longman History of Ireland. London, 1995.
Further reading
- Alexander, J.J.G. Insular manuscripts 6th to the 9th century. Survey of manuscripts illuminated in the British Isles 1. London, 1978. No. 70, plate 325.
- McNamara, Martin. "The Echternach and Mac Durnan Gospels: some common readings and their significance." PeritiaPeritiaPeritia: Journal of the Medieval Academy of Ireland is an annual Irish academic journal "devoted to Irish and Insular medieval studies as seen in the context of the European middle ages and the heritage from antiquity, and to European medieval studies generally." The editors are Donnchadh Ó Corráin...
6-7 (1987-88): 217-22. - Robinson, J. Armitage. The Times of St. Dunstan. Oxford, 1933. 55-9.