Bible Historiale

It translates from the Latin Vulgate significant portions from the Bible accompanied by selections from the Historia Scholastica by Peter Comestor (d. c. 1178), a literal-historical commentary that summarizes and interprets episodes from the historical books of the Bible and situates them chronologically with respect to events from pagan history and mythology.

Later scribes and compilers further revised and modified the work according to the changing priorities of readers, patrons, and the church.

[5][4][3][6] One manuscript, London, British Library Royal MS 19 D III, includes some apocryphal stories whose translation is also attributed to Guyart.

Some of the most lavish 14th- and early 15th-century manuscripts are luxury copies commissioned by bibliophile magnates or royalty; John, Duke of Berry owned at least eight, with other notable patrons including Mahaut, Countess of Artois, Joan III, Countess of Burgundy, and several kings of France, including Charles V and John II, whose first copy was captured with him at the Battle of Poitiers.

It was also widely owned, in manuscript and print, in England, Flanders and modern-day Belgium, and today one may find copies in libraries around the world.

Folio 1 du Ms Ars. 5057: A preacher preaches to old ladies. " Pource que le Deable qui chascun jour destourbe et enordut le coeur des hommes par oyseuse (ie: "paresse") et par mille lacs (i.e. "lacets, cordes") qu'il a tendus... "( Because the devil, who every day troubles and soils men's hearts with sloth and by a thousand traps... )
The different types of the Historical Bible is clearly shown here (aqui ms fr 155). Above the red rubric , a translation of the Historia Scholastica by Comestor, and below, in larger script, Genesis.