DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14721#0012
2
REGAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
We shall not wonder at seeing Edgar, who was indeed a man of loose
character, represented as a particular favourite of Christ and the departed saints,
when we recollect that he did greater things for the clergy in general, and built
more monasteries and religious houses, than any of his predecessors ; therefore
the least which the monks of that day could do, was to pay him this pleasing
compliment. For the same cause may those two saints be portrayed beside
him, as being the most famous for their holiness, and love of a monastic life,
of any recorded in the Saxon annals. On the opposite page is written, in capital
letters of gold,
Sic celjro j-iepbet solio qui conbibrc Ayzyia,
Rex Venetians Eabgaji pjionus abojaat eum.
" Thus sits that god alone, who made the heavens, whilst humbly Edgar the king pays his
adoration."
As there has been extraordinary pains taken in the writing and ornaments
of this book, and as it was written (which appears by the date) in the very time
of Edgar, it is more than barely probable that this is not only an exact delinea-
tion of the habit of that monarch, but also (to the best of the illuminator's
power) a true portrait of him.
Because some of the purchasers may choose to amuse themselves in colouring
of the plates, the author has carefully1 described the colours of the original.
—The garment of our Saviour is a dark blue, and the lighter robe is gold ; so
also is the oval he sits in, the book he holds, and the doors under his feet.
The angels are dressed in white, and the shadowed part is gold, as well on the
habit as on the wings. The king's cloak is a dark blue, edged with gold; his
coat2 a deepish crimson, and his hose a dark brown ;3 his book and crown are
gold. The saints, on each side of him, are in blue, and the lighter coloured
part of their garments is gold, as well as the ornaments4 they hold, and the glory
over their heads.
1 [Not very carefully, although the description of the present subject is more correct than many of
those which follow.—Ed. 2 [Tunic.—Ed.]
3 [A dull pink, as is also the back ground of the whole painting.—Ed.]
4 [The ornaments borne, are a pastoral staff of the earliest or Tau form by the male, and a palm
branch by the female saint ; but the latter is so badly engraved that it could not even be guessed
at. It has been remedied in our illuminated copies.—Ed.]
REGAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
We shall not wonder at seeing Edgar, who was indeed a man of loose
character, represented as a particular favourite of Christ and the departed saints,
when we recollect that he did greater things for the clergy in general, and built
more monasteries and religious houses, than any of his predecessors ; therefore
the least which the monks of that day could do, was to pay him this pleasing
compliment. For the same cause may those two saints be portrayed beside
him, as being the most famous for their holiness, and love of a monastic life,
of any recorded in the Saxon annals. On the opposite page is written, in capital
letters of gold,
Sic celjro j-iepbet solio qui conbibrc Ayzyia,
Rex Venetians Eabgaji pjionus abojaat eum.
" Thus sits that god alone, who made the heavens, whilst humbly Edgar the king pays his
adoration."
As there has been extraordinary pains taken in the writing and ornaments
of this book, and as it was written (which appears by the date) in the very time
of Edgar, it is more than barely probable that this is not only an exact delinea-
tion of the habit of that monarch, but also (to the best of the illuminator's
power) a true portrait of him.
Because some of the purchasers may choose to amuse themselves in colouring
of the plates, the author has carefully1 described the colours of the original.
—The garment of our Saviour is a dark blue, and the lighter robe is gold ; so
also is the oval he sits in, the book he holds, and the doors under his feet.
The angels are dressed in white, and the shadowed part is gold, as well on the
habit as on the wings. The king's cloak is a dark blue, edged with gold; his
coat2 a deepish crimson, and his hose a dark brown ;3 his book and crown are
gold. The saints, on each side of him, are in blue, and the lighter coloured
part of their garments is gold, as well as the ornaments4 they hold, and the glory
over their heads.
1 [Not very carefully, although the description of the present subject is more correct than many of
those which follow.—Ed. 2 [Tunic.—Ed.]
3 [A dull pink, as is also the back ground of the whole painting.—Ed.]
4 [The ornaments borne, are a pastoral staff of the earliest or Tau form by the male, and a palm
branch by the female saint ; but the latter is so badly engraved that it could not even be guessed
at. It has been remedied in our illuminated copies.—Ed.]