Decorated Initial, In A Volume Of Theological Treatises And Martin of Troppau's 'Chronicle Of Popes And Emperors'

Martin of Troppau (d. 1278) began his career as a Dominican in Prague, later becoming papal chaplain to three successive popes in Rome. His Chronicle became very popular: in its original form popes were arranged on one page, and the corresponding emperors on the facing page, with 50 lines per page, making it easy to compare papal and imperial history. This manuscript was owned by Bardney Abbey, between Lincoln and Horncastle, and was probably written there.

The Chronicle starts on this page. In the lower margin of the facing page is the ownership inscription of St. Oswald's Abbey, Bardney: 'Liber sancti Oswaldi de Bardenay'.