To view the last remaining manuscript of the Nostell Priory in person is awe-inspiring; from the crystal clear ink to its intact quires to its gorgeous beveled oak covers, one wonders how this remarkable piece of history survived its journey from Yorkshire England in 1200 to eventually live within the rare book vault of the Los Angeles Public Library. While its journey remains a mystery, one thing is for certain: this manuscript provides a rare and unique glimpse into the past. Although the manuscript is incomplete, the portions of the codex that remain say much about the monastic lifestyle present at the Nostell Priory where it was written. The unremarkable size, precise rulings, informal but flourished text, minimal decoration and illumination, as well as the religious content, all provide contemporary viewers a window into the solitary religious study performed by monks at the Nostell Priory in Yorkshire, England around 1200 C.E.
