But not only was the vellum finer and more durable in the earliest days of our era than at a comparatively recent date, but the ink was better, and the colours used in illuminating were far more beautiful.  The ancients laid on the gold very thickly, and the ink which they prepared is still black, so that the text can be easily read, while the ink used in the Middle Ages is now generally of a greyish brown.  Red ink is very ancient, and often seen in early Egyptian papyri.  The instrument for writing on papyrus was the reed growing in the marshes formed by the Tigris and the Euphrates, and on the banks of the Nile.  It was also used for writing on vellum, but quills, admirably adapted for this kind of material, came gradually into use with parchment.  By degrees the roll form was abandoned for the codex or book form, as being more convenient, the leaves being stitched into gatherings or quires; but for a long time both forms were used together.

It is uncertain when the custom of staining the most precious MSS. purple came into vogue, but it did not obtain after the tenth century.  St. Jerome and his contemporaries practised it, using letters stamped rather than written, in silver and gold.  Writing in gold ceased to be common in the thirteenth century, and in silver when the fashion of staining the vellum died out.  The value of a manuscript does not depend on its purple colour, but this is chiefly interesting as serving to show one phase of the reverence paid to the Scriptures.  It may also help to fix the date of a Ms.*

* Scrivener, A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, p. 23.

One of the most beautiful specimens of early paleographic art in the Royal library is the Latin Ms. of the gospels, known as the Evangelia of King Canute (1 D 9).  Westwood indeed considers that it will not bear comparison with the Gospels of Trinity College, Cambridge, though he admits that it exceeds them in interest owing to the Anglo-Saxon entries relating to Canute at the beginning of St. Mark’s Gospel.* Wanley has described these entries as a certificate or testimonial of Canute’s reception into the family or society of the Church of Christ at Canterbury.  One leaf bears this inscription:  “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Here is written Canute the King’s name.  He is our beloved Lord worldwards, and our spiritual brother Godwards; and Harold, this King’s brother; Thorth, our brother; Kartoca, our brother; Thuri, our brother.”  On the next leaf is a charter by the same king, confirming the privileges of Christ Church, Canterbury.  The book was probably the gift of Canute to the monks of that house.  There are no miniatures, but an illuminated page with a grand border, heavily gilt, contains small figures of the evangelists in medallions.  Written in ink at the bottom of the illuminated page is the name Lumley, showing that the Ms. formed part of that collection acquired by Prince Henry.