A fragile 13th century manuscript fragment, hidden in plain sight as the binding of a 16th-century archival register, has been discovered and deciphered in Cambridge and revealed to contain thrilling medieval stories of Merlin and King Arthur from an exceptionally rare work of literature.
The manuscript, first discovered at Cambridge University Library in 2019, has now been identified as part of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin, a French-language sequel to the legend of King Arthur. The story was part of the Lancelot-Grail cycle, a medieval best seller (but precious few copies now remain). There are less than 40 surviving manuscripts of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin, with each one unique since they were individually handwritten by medieval scribes. This latest discovery has been identified as having been written between 1275 and 1315.
The manuscript had survived the centuries after being recycled and repurposed in the 1500s as the cover for a property record from Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk, owned by the Vanneck family of Heveningham. It meant the remarkable discovery was folded, torn, and even stitched into the binding of the book - making it almost impossible for Cambridge experts to access it, read it, or confirm its origins.
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What followed the discovery has been a ground-breaking collaborative project, showcasing the work of the University Library’s Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory (CHIL) and combining historical scholarship with cutting-edge digital techniques, to unlock the manuscript's long-held secrets - without damaging the unique document.
Inner front cover and some of the folded-over pages of the manuscript. (University of Cambridge).
A Delicate Discovery
“It was first though to be a 14th century story about Sir Gawain but further examination revealed it to be part of the Old French vulgate Merlin sequel, a different and extremely significant Arthurian text,” said Dr Irène Fabry-Tehranchi, French Specialist in Collections and Academic Liaison at Cambridge University Library.
As every manuscript of the period was copied by hand, it means each one is distinctive and reflects the variations introduced by medieval scribes.
This one is believed to belong to the short version of the Vulgate Merlin, and small errors—such as the mistaken use of the name "Dorilas" instead of "Dodalis"— will help Dr Fabry-Tehranchi and her colleague Nathalie Koble (ENS Paris), to trace its lineage among surviving manuscripts. The way the manuscript has been carefully executed, with decorated initials in red and blue, gave further clues to its origins and helped indicate that it was produced between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century.
The medieval fragment was discovered in 2019 in this box of court rolls during the re-cataloguing of the manorial and estate records. (University of Cambridge).
The text is written in Old French, the language of the court and aristocracy in medieval England following the Norman Conquest and this particular fragment belongs to the genre of Arthurian romances which were intended for a noble audience, including women.
The fragment tells two key episodes from the end of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin. The first part recounts the victory of the Christians against the Saxons at the Battle of Cambénic. It tells of the fight of Gauvain (with his sword Excalibur, his horse Gringalet and his supernatural powers), his brothers, and his father King Loth, against the Saxon Kings Dodalis, Moydas, Oriancés, and Brandalus.
The second passage presents a more courtly scene, set on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with Merlin appearing at Arthur’s court disguised as a harpist—a moment that highlights his magical abilities and his importance as an advisor to the king.
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“While they were rejoicing in the feast, and Kay the seneschal brought the first dish to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, there arrived the most handsome man ever seen in Christian lands. He was wearing a silk tunic girded by a silk harness woven with gold and precious stones which glittered with such brightness that it illuminated the whole room."
A translation from the Suite Vulgate du Merlin manuscript found at Cambridge University Library.
Innovative Digitization Techniques
The fragment’s condition posed a significant challenge. It was fragile, with tears and folds that made it difficult to handle. Traditional methods of conservation might have involved physically removing the binding to unfold the fragment, but this risked causing irreparable damage.
Badly faded section of manuscript. (University of Cambridge).
Instead, the team decided to preserve the fragment in situ, keeping it as an example of 16th-century archival binding practices while using cutting-edge technology to virtually unfold and digitize it. A multidisciplinary team comprising curators, conservators, and imaging specialists from across the University of Cambridge, including departments such as Archives and Modern Manuscripts, Conservation & Heritage, and Collections and Academic Liaison, all worked together with CHIL to complete this mission.
To achieve this, the team undertook:
Multispectral Imaging (MSI)
This technique involved capturing the fragment in various wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to infrared.
The high-resolution images produced by MSI allowed the team to enhance the readability of the text. Images processed using geospatial software revealed details that were invisible to the naked eye. The fragment had been heavily rubbed and worn from its use as a cover, but MSI helped to bring out the text and highlighted annotations in the margins.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning
Conducted with equipment and expertise from the University’s Zoology department, the team used a powerful X-ray scanner—typically used for scanning fossils or skeletons—to virtually penetrate the layers of parchment and uncover hidden structures in the binding. This provided a 3D model of the fragment and its binding and allows researchers to examine the structure of the binding without physically dismantling it.
3D Modellng
Industrial scanning techniques created highly detailed virtual models of the fragment, allowing researchers to study its creases, stitching, and folds in remarkable detail.
Virtual Unfolding
The fragment’s text was not in a straightforward sequence; parts of it were hidden under folds or stitched into the binding. Using mirrors, prisms, magnets, and other tools, the team at CHIL carefully photographed each section of the fragment. The hundreds of resulting images were then painstakingly reassembled digitally, much like a jigsaw, to create a coherent image of the text. By manipulating the digital images, the team could simulate what the document might look like if it were physically opened.
Dr Irène Fabry-Tehranchi holding the rare manuscript before inserting it into the Micro CT scanner in the Department of Zoology. (University of Cambridge).
Dr. Fabry-Tehranchi described the process as “like solving a puzzle.” "If this had been done 30 years ago, the fragment might have been cut, unfolded, and flattened. But today, preserving it in situ gives us a crucial insight into 16th-century archival practices, as well as access to the medieval story itself."
A Model For the Future
Beyond revealing the fragment’s story of Merlin, this project has established a new benchmark for the conservation and digitization of medieval fragments. The discovery has already sparked interest among researchers and conservators, including those at the UK’s National Archives, who are keen to explore how these techniques might be applied to their own collections. The team hopes the project will inspire further research into medieval manuscripts hidden in unexpected places.
The story of King Arthur and Merlin has been told and retold for centuries, but thanks to modern technology, we are still able to uncover new chapters in this epic saga.
Top image: AI-generated image of the mythical wizard Merlin, of the Arthurian legends.
Source: Wall2000/Goodfon.com/CC BY-SA 4.0.
This is an edited version originally published by the University of Cambridge, entitled ‘Modern Magic Unlocks Merlin’s Medieval Secrets.’
