Oxford Preservation Trust views medieval manuscripts

Over twenty members of the Oxford Preservation Trust were welcomed to New College Library on 6th September to view a display of some of the Library’s most celebrated illuminated medieval manuscripts.  These include the “New College Apocalypse” (1300-1310), a sumptuously illustrated Anglo-Norman prose translation of the Apocalypse of St John, given to the Library in the 16th century by one of the College’s own Fellows, Thomas Martin.

This illustration depicts the rider of the white horse and his angelic army slaying the mailed knights of the army of the beast and kings; down the right-hand edge, dismembered body parts and corpses are pecked by birds (a seagull, raven, and kestrel); below, the beast and the false prophet are being pushed down by an angel into the lake of fire.

Did you know, more manuscripts survive from the medieval library of New College than from that of any other Oxford or Cambridge college? Explore the Library’s Manuscripts Gallery to view more of our remarkable manuscript treasures!