Marginal additions (ranging from one word to several lines) by several contemporary and later medieval hands, as well as manicules and other marks. The additions consist of titles and summaries, corrections, glosses and short commentaries on the text. The manuscript also contains comprehensive editorial notes regarding the correct order of the books. The notes seem to be mainly written by one hand and is probably of a later date than the main text. The main editorial notes are found on: , , , , , , , , , (extensive), , , , (extensive).
Upper margin in brown ink by a later hand: Prologus Magistri Matthiae de suetia.
There are numerous ink drawings in the margins. These are drawn with the same type of ink as the main text and are similar in style to the heads and figures that decorate the initials. They are often filled in with one or several colours. These figures sometimes seem to give emphasis to different passages in the text. Motives: Monk's head
; Bishop's head , ; Money bag ; Lion ; Agnus Dei ; Four arrows ; Man's head , ; Animal head ; Bell ; Sword .
The images and historiated initials are discussed in
Aili (2003)
and
Nordenfalk (1961)
(the motif description of the historiated initials below are based on these works).The visual programme of the images is most recently discussed by
Oen (2019)
(A 70b is briefly mentioned).
Main text written in dark brown ink. Rubrics in red and capitals touched with red or yellow.
Highly stylized historiated initials placed above or next to the text. The initials are shaped into a frame, the letter shape is often so abstract that it is difficult to identify. Besides the historiated feature the initials are also contain vegetative ornaments. Main colours: Yellow, red, blue, green, and black, sometimes also pink, purple, and gold. The initial is repeated as a plain initial in the actual text. : reversed S over 14 lines. The upper part of the S shows Birgitta receiving her revelations from heaven and the lower part shows Master Mathias lecturing to his students. Repeated initial in yellow and red over 12 lines. : F over 20 lines. In the lower counter space Birgitta and the Devil, in the upper Christ. Repeated initial in red over 8 lines. : I over 10 lines. The initial shows Christ giving a book to
Birgitta, who hands it to a bishop. Repeated initial in red over 7 lines with flourishing and a human face in brown ink (perhaps later addition). : V over 13 lines. The counter space shows Birgitta kneeling and above her Christ and Mary. Repeated initial is found on and is a penwork initial in black and yellow over 4 lines (+ extending above the line). : O over 13 lines. The counterspace is divided into four panels. Top left shows Christ handing a book to Birgitta sitting at her desk. Birgitta then hands the book down to the bottom left panel to Alfonso who hands a letter to a kneeling messenger. In the bottom right panel the same messenger is walking and then handing the letter to a king in the top right panel. The king is sitting next to another king and a queen. This initial is not repeated. : V over 13 lines. The counter space shows Christ and Mary handing a book to Birgitta, beneath whom five kings and queens are sitting. Repeated initial in red over 4 lines. : A over 12 lines. The upper counter space shows John the Evangelist next to a cauldron surrounded by flames. The lower space shows Birgitta kneeling and looking towards the upper space. The initial is placed in the text and not repeated. : M over 13 lines. The counter space shows Mary and Christ in Heaven and below Mary Birgitta kneeling in prayer. Repeated inital in red and yellow over 3 lines. : C over 16 lines. The counter space shows Mary carried by angels and beneath her Birgitta kneeling in prayer. Repeated initial in red and yellow over 3 lines. : C over 16
lines. This initial is similar in style to the historiated initials but only has foliate decoration. Repeated initial in red over 3 lines. , start of Book 1: Flourished initial in red, yellow and brown ink over 7 lines (+ extending above the line). : Paragraph or chapter initials in red over 2-3 lines (+ extending above and below the line). Counter space often filled in with yellow. Many of these initials are further elaborated with flourshing and/or pen drawings of human faces, grotesques and animals, e.g. . The descenders of letters on the bottom line are sometimes extended and flourished, e.g. and . These are sometimes further elaborated with drawings of figures, e.g. . Some of these
features may be later additions.
Full page images in watercolour and ink. Main colours: red, green, blue, yellow, brown, grey, and black. The three images are complex compositions. For a detailed discussion of them and their relationship to other Birgitta manuscripts see the literature mentioned above. The following are the central motives: : St Birgitta revealing her revelations in the monastery at Alvastra; : St Birgitta on horseback receives a vision; : St Birgitta passes on her revelations. The lower right corner of this image is damaged and has been replaced by a sketch in pencil.