Text in a small neat gothic hand; calligraphic initials in gold on reddish-brown background; alternating smaller initials in red and blue; red and blue decorative line fillers. Seven full-page illuminated borders of leafy sprays, fruit, animals, insects, grotesques, and sacred monograms in red, blue, green, ocher, brown, gray, and white on gilt backgrounds. Illuminated miniatures, executed in the style of Jacques Besancon, a leading painter of the time in Paris, depict the Annunciation; the celebration of the Mass of the Dead by the abbot and canons of St. Victor; King David; St. George; and the symbols of the Four Evangelists, with the Christ Child in center. Arms of Louis XI, and his wife, Charlotte of Savoy, both of whom died in 1483, on rectos of leaves [1] and [39]; arms of St. Victor on rectos of leaves [52] and [130]; and a heraldic shield with two skulls on verso of leaf [51]. Cf. Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts from the library of Sir Sydney Cockerell. British Library journal 13 (1978): 186-210; reference to this ms. on p. 202, no. 66. Ownership inscription of Sydney C. Cockerell of Cambridge, dated July 13, 1911 on front endpaper, with his provenance note: "Obtained by exchange from Maggs Bros. ... It was lot 247 in a sale at Sotheby's July 13-14, 1909. The seller was Laurence Kirby of Enfield, whose wife's father, James Turle M.D. of North Finchley, obtained it from Samuel Dennis."
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