Manuscripts

Pictures from medieval manuscripts, captioned on Twitter: the Romance of Alexander, the Smithfield Decretals, the Taymouth Hours and others, each with its library and shelfmark.

Fourteenth century

That moment when you storm a castle and realize you only have one sword.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Medieval psychoanalysis got a little weird.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

King George makes the final preparations for Medieval Festivus.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

What would Jesus do? Apparently, bong hits with Wise Men.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

For Earl, “beating a dead horse” didn’t go far enough.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Clothed king, naked king. Whatever. You can both SUCK IT.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

WUT.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Let the wild rumpus start!

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Melvin thought his Trojan Unicorn disguise was sure to work this time.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Sweet hair, bro.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Janice really could do it all.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Just spotted this rare, multi-colored, bipedal #NotALion. #ManuscriptSafari

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Out, vile jelly!

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

No joke here. I'm just happy to find non-racist representations of black faces in a medieval manuscript.

From: The Romance of Alexander
Image from: Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264

Fourteenth century

Be a model, they said. It will be fun, they said.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Talkst thou to the hande.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Bianca disapproved of Bonnie’s VERY plunging neck line.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Do or doest not. There ist no trie. #MedievalYoda

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

That moment when you realize someone has taken a dump in your hat.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Not sure that this disguise will work, cat, but you get an A for effort.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Just a rabbit beheading a guy.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

Snail slaying like a boss.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

What Christmas elves really look like.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV

Fourteenth century

The classic distract them with a hug while you boil their cat behind their back move.

From: The Smithfield Decretals
Image from: British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV