Todesangst im Garten von BL Royal 15 D I, f. 340v

Miniature of the Agony in the Garden, with a partial border. Image taken from f. 340v of La Bible Historiale, part 4 (Bible Historiale of Edward IV). Written in French.

The Agony in the Garden refers to the event in the life of Jesus Christ when he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before his arrest and crucifixion. According to the New Testament, he was overwhelmed with sorrow and asked God to take the cup of suffering from him, yet he ultimately submitted to God's will, saying "Not my will, but yours be done." This event is considered one of the defining moments in the Passion of Jesus.

The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 manuscripts that were once owned by the British monarchs, including English and later British kings and queens from the late 12th to the 19th centuries. These manuscripts are notable for their historical and artistic value.

The collection was initially stored in various royal libraries and palaces, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Palace. During the English Civil War in the 17th century and the subsequent Interregnum, many royal treasures, including manuscripts, were dispersed and sold. Some manuscripts were lost, destroyed, or ended up in private hands.

In 1757, King George II donated the Old Royal Library to the British Museum (which later became the British Library), where the manuscripts were integrated into the museum's collections. This marked the formal establishment of the Royal Manuscript Collection within the British Museum.