Another fine MS. of the same period (c. 780) is the Golden Ada-Codex of
St. Mesmin or Maximin, of Tr?ves. In 1794 this MS. was taken from Tr?ves
to Mainz; in 1815 it was transferred to Aix-la-Chapelle, and is now back
again at Tr?ves. The externals of the Ada-Codex are very costly, its
binding being a late Gothic pendant to the cover of the Echternach
Evangeliary at Gotha. In the centre of the fore-cover there is a
magnificent topaz,[15] with several imperial figures. Inside, the work is
a handsome example of the early Carolingian.[16] It contains the four
Gospels written by order of the "Mother and Lady Ada," sister of Charles
the Great, Abbess of St. Mesmin. Next we have in the British Museum
another grand example of the style as modified by English or Saxon
influence. Also the Zurich Bible, of the same date, executed at
Tours--and the Bamberg Bible, said to be a copy of the Alcuin Bible of
the same school. Then follow the Drogo Sacramentary, presented by the
Emperor to his natural son Drogo, Archbishop of Metz (826-855), perhaps
illuminated at Metz, but of the same school as those above mentioned.
[15] Or sardonyx (Lamprecht says topaz.)
[16] A photograph of the cover is sold by F. Linz of Tr?ves.
In our own National Library, again, we have the Athelstan Gospels (Harl.
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