Historiated Initial With Isidore, In Isidore's 'Etymologies'

Isidore of Seville (599-636) wrote probably the most famous and important encyclopaedia of the Middle Ages, the 'Etymologies', named after one of its constituent chapters. It is a compilation of all the knowledge that was available to Isidore, from a wide variety of sources. This manuscript has a 13th- or 14th-century flyleaf inscription stating that it belonged to the priory at Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk. The opening initial 'D' shows a seated bishop, with mitre and crosier, holding an open book: it is presumably intended to represent Isidore holding this work.