Our own English Bible : its translators and their work : the manuscript period . on calHgraphy, as Mr. Astle calls it. TheRoman-Saxon writing was very similar to the Romanuncial. Towards the middle of the eighth century Set-Saxon came in, and was not entirely disused till the begin-ning of the tenth century. About the end of the ninthcentury, when learning was diffused under the auspicesof King Alfred, the characters became loose and free, andabbreviations were numerous. Lastly, after the Mixedcame the Elegant Saxon writing, which became commonin England early in the tenth century, lasted till
Our own English Bible : its translators and their work : the manuscript period . on calHgraphy, as Mr. Astle calls it. TheRoman-Saxon writing was very similar to the Romanuncial. Towards the middle of the eighth century Set-Saxon came in, and was not entirely disused till the begin-ning of the tenth century. About the end of the ninthcentury, when learning was diffused under the auspicesof King Alfred, the characters became loose and free, andabbreviations were numerous. Lastly, after the Mixedcame the Elegant Saxon writing, which became commonin England early in the tenth century, lasted till theNorman Conquest, and was not entirely disused till themiddle of the twelfth. Mr. Astle says this is more beau-tiful than the writing in France, Italy, and Germanyduring the same period. Here is Mark, chapter i.:— Godspelles fruma Hoelendes Crist Godes suna, suoeawritten is in Esaia done witgo Heonu ic asendi minengel befora onsione den sede foregearwas wegden. The Latin letters are very large, and the Saxon small,as if they scarcely dare find themselves in such ST. JOHX THE EVANGELIST. FE05I THE LISDISFAKXE GOSPKL-BOOK. 720. {Reproduced by kind pennission of Mevifrs. MacmiUan tt Co, Ltd.) 169 LINDISFARNE GOSPELS, OR DURHAM BOOK 167 We see what were the traditional ideas of the Evangelistswhen we turn over such a book. St. Matthew has anangel above him with a trumpet in his mouth, and a manwatching him as he writes. Then comes Mark, with alion above him; he also is writing, and wears a purplerobe striped with blue. Luke has a winged animal abovehim, which could only be called an ox by courtesy. Hehas a dress similar to Marks, which opens and showsa lilac undervest, with light green stripes. St. John hashis hand to his heart, and an eagle for his ancestors were evidently fond of rich and brighteffects, whether the Evangelists had such coats of manycolours or not. The same taste rules in the other orna-mentation of the book. At the beginning of S
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