The flyleaves at beginning and end have been strengthened with slips from an early xivth cent. Latin Psalter, very finely written (by an English scribe). [Other parts of this MS = B.L. Royal 13.D.1.] Over this has been pasted a xvith cent. paper writing in English, of which there is a set-off on the flyleaf.
The presence of the Psalter fragment may indicate that the book was in England in medieval times.
The first two vellum flyleaves are blank. The next three are also blank, but have been closely ruled with lead; the next two are blank. At the end are 4 blank vellum flyleaves.
The MS. was transcribed by Porson, in two volumes 4to, in 1822, at Cambridge. His estimate of the lacunae is as follows:
After f.1 between Ἀᾶσαι and Ἀγχίνοια 4 leaves wanting.
(This would make α a quire of 6 leaves.)
After f.2 Αδιακριτος -- Ἐπώνυμοι 1OO leaves wanting.
(Probably 97: 12 quires of 8 and the first leaf of the next quire.)
After f.42 Κοικύλλειν -- Κρατηρίζων 4 leaves gone.
After f.148 Φορητώς -- Ψιλεύς about 8 leaves.
After f.149 about three.
It should be added that a leaf is lost after f.8.
The scribes are thus distinguished:
A wrote ff.1, 2.
B write ff.3-24.
(I believe these to be the work of one scribe only. It is a fine delicate sloping minuscule of cent. xi.)
C wrote ff.25-52.
This is a bold upright round hand of cent. xi, xii?.
D wrote ff.53-69b, l.11.
E wrote f.69b, 1. 12-end of leaf.
F " f.70-f.84.
E2 " f.85-f.92.
Gi " f.93-f.100.
E3 " f.101-f.102a.
Gi " f.102b, 1.1-f.116.
H " f.117-end.
This, though much smaller than C, resembles it more nearly than any of the others. The distinction between E and G is rather doubtful to my mind.
The writing of all the scribes depends from lines ruled with a dry point.
At the top of f.1 in a hand of cent. xii? is:
χω̅ τὸ δω̑ρον ἐκ νικήτα του̑ λύχνου.
In the lower margin was written:
Ἐκοιμήθη ὁ δου̑λος του̑ θεου̑ νικήτας ἄεδρος καὶ ἀνστάριος ὁ λύχνος.
Below was a date cut by the binder, which Porson read as Ϛψζ (6707=A.D. 1199).
The whole of the first page is so blackened with galls that this second inscription is now illegible.