The Harvard Law School’s Collection
of Medieval English Statute Books and
Registers of Writs

Ames Projects

Click on image for more information

 

HLS MS No. 36

England. Statutes [Magna Carta] to 21 Edward 1
Tracts; Registrum brevium

ca. 1293

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HLS.LIBR:12795529

 

 

<Preliminary introduction>

The HOLLIS cataloguing may be found here. The following items are worth repeating:

“Description: 106 leaves : vellum ; 22 cm.

“Summary: Contains statuta vetera, tracts, and registrum brevium. Includes Opinio Anderi de Ripon (i.e. De Antiquo Dominico Corone); Hengham Magna and Parva; Judicium Essoniorum; and Cadit Assisa. The register lacks the beginning. On two fly-leaves at the end is a fragment of statutes 13-14 Richard II.

“Written in Latin by an English scribe, long lines, 30 to a full page, and rubricated.”

The cataloguing in Baker’s English Legal Manuscripts, 1, no. 62 reads as follows:

“STATUTA VETERA; TRACTS; REGISTRUM BREVIUM

“MS. 36.

“Early C.xiv, 106 ff. Includes Opinio Angeri de Ripon (i.e. De antiquo dominico corone); Hengham Magna and Parva; Judicium essoniorum; Cadit assisa. The register lacks the beginning. On two fly-leaves at the end is a fragment of statutes 13-14 Richard II.

“Belonged to Alfred John Horwood (d. 1881); his sale, S. 8 June 1883, no. 1302, to John Hirst; his sale, S. 14 Dec. 1887, no. 976, to Reader; bought by George Dunn in Jan. 1888; his sale, S. 11 Feb. 1913, no. 161; bought privately by HLS.

Census, I, 1029, no. 36; Hengham, lxxvi, no. 40; Early Registers, xxvi.”

As will be noted below, we disagree with both HOLLIS and Baker on the dating of this manuscript, which we are inclined to date ca. 1293. In the HOLLIS entry ‘Anderi’ should be ‘Angeri’.

The manuscript measures approximately 220 X 150 mm.

The plain leather binding with knotted clasps is modern and in good condition. It was probably done after HLS acquired the manuscript, because it has none of the characteristics that are normally associated with 19th-century bindings, certainly not those that were added by George Dunn. In the process of rebinding the original endpapers seem to have been lost. All of Baker's notes of provenance could have been obtained from auction catalogues. There is evidence that the manuscript was trimmed at the top and bottom for binding. One hopes that this was done by previous binders. The blank modern endpapers at the front and back were probably added when the manuscript was most recently bound.

The manuscript now contains 106 folios less the endpapers and is foliated in a consistent early modern hand. The foliation does not account for any of several missing leaves, so it may be inferred that it was added after they were lost. In a few places, the handwritten foliation either repeats one number or skips one folio, deviating slightly from our digital foliation. We have indicated these deviations with ‘male’ in the Detailed Contents, ‘sic’ in the online display.

The signature marks were probably added when the manuscript was most recently bound. The script suggests as much.

There are no decorated capitals, though space has been left for them. The manuscript does, however, have a substantial amount of decoration in red ink, filling in the loops in the letters and the ascenders that rise above the first lines of most of the pages. The headers are usually written in red ink, and some of the text is underlined in red ink.

Some of the folios have pricks in the margin to guide the scribe in filling in the lines. Others have pencilled layout.

The script is a semi-cursive English legal hand of the late 13th century. There are probably a number of hands at work, but none of them writes a script that requires a date from the 14th century, with the exception of the two statutes of Richard II that are added at the end and are clearly extraneous to the main collection.

The script, if one might make the distinction, is more that of a clerk than that of a professional scribe. It is small and quite heavily abbreviated. The layout of the text is somewhat jammed. The quality of the parchment varies.

There are some marginalia in a contemporary script in the statutes, many of which, unfortunately, have been trimmed or disappear in the gutters. There may be such marginalia elsewhere; we did not search for them systematically.

In addition to what is missing (see below), the manuscript is damaged in a number of places. The damage is indicated in the Detailed Contents. Most of this damage does not affect the text; some of it does.

The manuscript has 13 regular quaternions, a final bifolium, and four incomplete quires. Two of these now contain only two folios, but were clearly originally larger than bifolia. The other two now contain seven folios.

One of the two-folio quires begins the manuscript (our quire 1, sig. ‘a’). An error in the photography (which will be corrected) has omitted the recto of the fol. 1 (the image in its place duplicates the recto of fol. 2). It is clear, however, that the manuscript starts in the middle of the Forest Charter, which typically follows the Magna Carta. Magna Carta probably, and some of the Forest Charter definitely, have been lost.

Quire 1 ends toward the end of c. 4 of the Provisions of Merton. Quire 2 (sig. ‘b’), a regular quaternion, begins in the middle of c. 9 of the Statute of Marlborough. A whole quire may be missing before it.

The other two-folio quire (our quire 3, sig. ‘c’) carries over regularly from quire 2. The first folio (our fol. 11) ends in the middle of c. 37 of Westminster I. The next folio begins at the end of c. 2 of Westminster II.

The amount of missing text and the regularity of the extant quiring lead us to suspect that both two-folio quires were originally quaternions. In the case of quire 1, six folios are missing from before what we have (and what was left would have had to have been resewn). In the case of quire 3, the six missing folios were in the middle of the quire.

The seven-folio quires are more complicated. Our quire 5 (sig. ‘e’) breaks off at fol. 26. Fol. 27 does not carryover from fol. 26, nor does it carryover to fol. 28. Whether fol. 27 is all that is left of what was once a quaternion, or whether quire 5 was orginally longer than a quaternion, but lost all but one of its folios at the end, we cannot tell. The modern binder seems to have tipped fol. 27 into what was left of quire 5.

Quires 12 and 13 (sig. ‘l’ and ‘m’) are both regular quaternions, but something is missing between them. Cadit assisa ends quire 12 in mid-text, and the register of writs, which begins with quire 13, lacks the writ of right and begins in the middle of the ecclesiastical writs. Hence, probably, a full quire, perhaps more, is missing after fol. 67.

Our quire 15 (sig. ‘q’), the other seven-folio quire, is clearly missing something at the end; our fol. 106 ends in mid-sentence. It may not be missing much. Assuming that the organization of the register was similar to those of the same period, we are approaching, if we have not quite reached, the end of the register.

The final bifolium contains extracts (beginning and ending in mid-sentence) from statutes of 13 and 14 Richard II (1390). The bifolium was excised, it would seem, from a statute book that contained statutes of that king’s reign in chronological order. It probably was orginally the endpapers in our manuscript (‘fly-leaves’ in Baker’s catalogue), and is clearly extraneous to the basic collection.

What are now the freestanding endpapers at front and back are probably bifolia, but we have left them out of our foliation. That gives us the following suggested collation:

18 (f. 1–2, lacks 6 before 1, lacks ?1 quire after 2), 28 (f. 3–10), 38 (f. 11–12, lacks 6 after 11) 48 (f. 13–20), 58 (f. 21–26, lacks 2 after 26, 1 [f. 27] tipped in after 26), 6–148 (f. 28–99, lacks ?1 quire after 67), 158 (f. 100–106, lacks 1 after 106), 162 (f. 107–108).

The last datable item in the statutes is Statutum de illis qui debent poni in iuratis et assisis, 21 Edw. 1 (1293). Lacking the incipit, we cannot tell whether the version of the Forest Charter given here is the one confirmed by Edward I in 1297. The inclusion of the Opinio Angeri de Ripon (i.e. De antiquo dominico corone) suggests a date in the early 1290s, though that text continued to be included in statute books of a later date.

We have yet to find anything in the register that would require a date later than the early 1290s. We have found no formedon writs, though it is possible that they were included after our text breaks off. The writs of entry seem to be struggling with entry in the cui, without quite having reached entry in the post.

With due consideration being given to the fact that we do not have the full text, this seems to be a manuscript designed for someone who who wanted the basics and not much more. The statutes and the register are both quite skimpy. The treatises, except for the Opinio Angeri de Ripon, are all fundamental and well known: Hengham Magna and Parva, Judicium essoniorum, Cadit assisa. This is a `starter’ book for an aspiring lawyer of the 1290s.

We might note in closing that the provenance of this manuscript is quite distinguished. It was not only owned by George Dunn, who accurately noted in pencil many of problems with the manuscript as it now stands, but also by Alfred John Horwood, the first modern editor of Year Books. It is possible that the identifications of statutes pencilled in the margins of the manuscript, which are not by Dunn, are by him.

 

Summary Contents

Clicking on the item in question will open the first sequence for the item in the PDS in a new tab or window.

 

  Seq. Fol. No. Item  
7–8f. 1r–1v1Forest Charter, ?as confirmed 25 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:120–2) 
9–10f. 2r–2v2Provisions of Merton, 20 Hen. 3 (S.R. 1:1–4) 
11–15f. 3r–5r3Statute of Marlborough, 52 Hen. 3 (S.R. 1:19–25) 
15–28f. 5r–11v4Statute of Westminster I, 3 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:26–39) 
29–57f. 12r–26r5Statute of Westminster II, 13 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:71–95) 
57f. 26r6Statute of Conspirators, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:216) 
57–58f. 26r–26v7De antiquo dominico corone (Not in S.R.) 
58f. 26v8Districtiones scaccarii, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:197 [ter] – 198) 
59f. 27r9Statutum de quo warranto, 18 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:107) 
59–60f. 27r–27v10Statute of gavelet in London, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:222) 
60f. 27v11Articuli foreste. (Not in S.R.) 
61–62f. 28r–28v12Statute of merchants (Acton Burnell), 11 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:53–4) 
62f. 28v13Dies communes in banco, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:208) 
62–64f. 28v–29v14Capitula escaetarie, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:238–41) 
64f. 29v15Statutum de homagio et fidelitate faciendis, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:227–8) 
64–68f. 29v–31v16‘Statutes of the Exchequer’, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:197 [semel] – [ter]) 
68–69f. 31v–32r17Sentencia excommunicationis lata in transgressores cartarum, 37 Hen. 3 (S.R. 1:6–7) 
69–71f. 32r–33r18Statutum de quo warranto novum, 18 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:107) 
71f. 33r19Statutum de anno et die, 40 Hen. 3 (S.R. 1:7) 
71–76f. 33r–35v20Dictum of Kenilworth, 51 Hen. 3 (S.R. 1:12–18) 
76–77f. 35v–36r21View of frankpledge, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:246–7) 
77f. 36r22Modus calumpniandi essoniam, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:217–18) 
77–79f. 36r–37r23Extenta manerii, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:242–3) 
79–105f. 37r–50r24Hengham magna. (Not in S.R.) 
105–116f. 50r–55v25Judicium essoniorum. (Not in S.R.) 
116f. 55v26De viris religiosis, 7 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:51) 
116–117f. 55v–56r27Circumspecte agatis, 13 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:101–2) 
117–118f. 56r–56v28Statute of conspirators, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:216) 
118–119f. 56v–57r29Statutum de illis qui debent poni in iuratis et assisis, 21 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:113) 
119f. 57r30De presentibus vocatis ad warrantum, 20 Edw. 1 (S.R. 1:108–9) 
119–120f. 57r–57v31Statutum de vasto facto tempore alieno (Not in S.R.) 
120–132f. 57v–63v32Hengham parva. (Not in S.R.) 
132–140f. 63v–67v33Cadit assisa. (Not in S.R.) 
141–218f. 68r–106v34Registrum brevium. (Not in S.R.) 
141–143f. 68r–69r34a[De recto] 
143–145f. 69r–70r34bQuare incumbravit 
145–152f. 70r–73v34cDe prohibicionibus 
152–154f. 73v–74v34dDe vasto 
154–156f. 74v–75v34eDe excommunicato capiendo 
156–159f. 75v–77r34fDe averiis replegiandis 
159–163f. 77r–79r34gDe recordare de averiis 
163–166f. 79r–80v34hDe nativis habendis 
166–173f. 80v–84r34iDe transgressionibus 
174–183f. 84v–89r34jDe compoto reddendo 
183–185f. 89r–90r34kDe attornato pro secta faciendo 
185–187f. 90r–91r34lDe plegiis acquietandis 
187–189f. 91r–92r34mDe debito 
189–193f. 92r–94r34nRights in land 
193–195f. 94r–95r34oDe medio 
195–198f. 95r–96v34pDe annuo redditu 
198–199f. 96v–97r34qDe convencionibus; de finibus faciendis 
199–201f. 97r–98r34rDower 
201–205f. 98r–100r34sDe custodia terre et heredis habendis 
205–210f. 100r–102v34tEntry 
210–214f. 102v–104v34uDe morte antecessoris 
214–217f. 104v–106r34vDe avo et consanguinitate 
217–218f. 106r–106v34wDe escaetis 
219–222f. 107r–108v3513 Ric. 2, stat. 3 (S.R. 2:74–75) 
222f. 108v3614 Ric. 2 (S.R. 2:76–77) 

 

Detailed Contents

Clicking on the sequence number will open that sequence in the PDS in a new tab or window.

 

Seq. Fol. Label Header Sig.  
1no fol., no sig.Spine 
2no fol., no sig.Front cover 
3no fol., no sig.Foredge 
4no fol., no sig.Inside front cover, with bookplate, From the Library of George Dunn, Gift of the Alumni of the Harvard Law School 
5no fol., no sig.Blank 
6no fol., no sig.Blank 
71rForest Charter, ?as confirmed 25 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:120–2)a i (2) 
  Note: Fol. 2r was mistakenly photographed here in place of fol. 1r. Fol. 2r is also included in its proper place.
81v 
  Note: (1) The text begins in the middle of the Forest Charter. 6 fols. are probably missing before it. See the Introduction. (2) Folio torn at top and bottom; header and some text missing at top. (3) Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
92rProvisions of Merton, 20 Hen. 3. (S.R. 1:1–4)de foresta ff Merton’a 2 
  Heading: Explicit carta de Foresta. Incipit provisio de Merton’.
  Note: No decorated initial capital. The scribe has added a ‘p’ where it ought to go.
102vMerton’ 
  Note: The page ends in mid-sentence toward the end of c. 4 of the Provisions of Merton, 20 Hen. 3.
113rStatute of Marlborough, 52 Hen. 3. (S.R. 1:19–25)marleb’geb i (8) 
  Note: The page begins in the middle of c. 9 (apparently numbered 12) of the Statute of Marlborough, 52 Hen. 3. A whole quire may be missing before it. (2) Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
123vmarleberg’ 
134rmarleberge 
  Note: Corrections in a different ink.
144vmarleb’ge 
  Note: Footnotes or additions marked with crosses.
155rStatute of Westminster I, 3 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:26–39)marleb’g’ ff Westm’ primum 
  Heading: Explic’ stat’ de Marleberg’ Incipiunt statuta Westmonasterii prima.
165vWestm’ 
  Note: Addition in different ink.
176rPrimu’ 
186vWestm’ 
  Note: Corrections in a different ink.
197rPrimu’ 
207vWestm’ 
218rPrimum 
228vWestm’ 
239rPrimu’ 
249vWestm’ 
2510rPrimu’ 
2610vWestm’ 
2711rPrimu’c i (2.) 
2811vWestm’ 
  Note: The page ends in the middle of c. 37 (numbered 40) of the Statute of Westminster I, 3 Edw. 1.
2912rStatute of Westminster II, 13 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:71–95)c. 2 
  Note: (1) The page begins at the end of c. 2 of the Statute of Westminster II, 13 Edw. 1. 6 fols. are probably missing between our fol. 11 and 12. (2) The statute has bolded paragraph headings throughout.
3012vArticuli foreste, 18 Edw. 1 (incomplete). (S.R. )Westm’ 
  Note: (1) The ‘Articuli de foresta’, also known as the ‘Inquisitiones de foresta’, are the articles for the forest eyre. Of the several versions given in Baker, Cambridge Legal Manuscripts, the incipit of this one is closest to that found in CUL Ee.1.1, article 37: ‘Videnda sunt assarta facta in foresta post principium secundi anni coronacionis domini Henrici Regis tercii’. (2) The page ends in the middle of the Articuli foreste. A modern hand, probably Dunn’s, notes in the lower margin: ‘One quire (or more) lost after here’.
3113rsecundumd i (8)d i (8) 
3213vWestm’ 
3314rsecundu’ 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
3414vWestm’ 
3515rsecundum 
  Note: Folio torn at outer corner; text unaffected.
3615vWestm’ 
3716rsc’dm 
  Note: Folio torn at outer corner; text unaffected.
3816vWestm’ 
3917rsc’dm 
4017vWestm’ 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
4118rsc’dm 
4218vWestm’ 
4319rsecundum 
  Note: Line illustration in margin.
4419vWestm’ 
4520rsc’dm 
4620vWestm’ 
4721rSc’dme. i (7.) 
  Note: Small tear in folio; text unaffected.
4821vWestm’ 
4922rSecundum 
5022vWestm’ 
5123rsecundum 
5223vWestm’ 
5324rSc’dm 
5424vWestm’ 
5525rSc’dm 
5625vWestm’ 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
5726r(1) Statute of Conspirators, temp. incert. (2) De antiquo dominico corone (S.R. [1] 1:216 [2] Not in S.R)Sc’dm ¶ Opinio Angeri de Rypon’ 
  Heading: Explic’ stat’ Westm’ sc’di. Incipit opinio Angeri de Ripon.
  Note: (1) A marginal note, not in George Dunn’s hand, gives the statute as ‘Stat. Berwick anno 20.’ This is part of the Statute of Conspirators. (2) The tractatus or statutum de antiquo dominco seems to have had its origins as a counsel’s opinion. It is ed. Horwood in Y.B. 20 & 21 Edw. 1 (R.S. 31) p. xviii-xix, though not from this manuscript. That suggests that the manuscript did not belong to him in 1866, when he edited the opinion
5826vDistrictiones scaccarii, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:197 [ter] – 198)Oppinio Angeri de Rypon’ ¶ Districc’ones sc’c’ii 
  Heading: Explicit Oppinio Angerii de Rypon’. Incip’ districciones sc’carii.
  Note: The page ends in the middle of Districtiones scaccarii.
5927r(1) Statutum de quo warranto, 18 Edw. 1. (2) Statute of gavelet in London, temp. incert. (S.R. [1] 1:107 [2] 1:22)Quo ware’. de Hen’ci reddit in London’ 
  Heading: Explic’ statut’ de quo ware’ ?? ??. Incip’ statut’ De H’n’ci Reddit’ In Londoniis.
  Note: (1) The page begins in the middle of the Statutum De quo warranto, 18 Edw. 1. For what may be missing, see the Introduction. (2) The statutes are named in pencil, in what is probably not Dunn’s hand, in the margin.
6027vArticuli foreste. (Not in S.R.)de Hen’ci reddit in London’. articuli foreste 
  Heading: Explic’ stat’ de Hen’ci reddit in London’. Incipiunt Articuli Foreste.
  Note: (1) The ‘Articuli de foresta’, also known as the ‘Inquisitiones de foresta’ are the articles for the forest eyre. Of the several versions given in Baker, Cambridge Legal Manuscripts the incipit of this one is closest to that found in CUL Ee.1.1, article 37: ‘Videnda sunt assarta facta in foresta post principium secundi anni coronacionis domini Henrici Regis tercii’’. (2) The page ends in the middle of the Articuli foreste. A modern hand, probably Dunn’s, notes in the lower margin: ‘One quire (or more) lost after here’.
6128rStatute of merchants (Acton Burnell), 11 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:53–4)de m’catoribzf i (8) 
  Note: The page begins in the middle of the Statute of Merchants.
6228v(1) Dies communes in banco, temp. incert. (2) Capitula escaetarie, temp. incert. (S.R. [1] 1:208 [2] 1:238–41)de m’cator’. Dies co’es in banco. capitula de escaetaria 
  Heading: (1) Explic’ statut’ de mercatoribus facta apud Westm’. Incip’ dies communes in banco. (2) Explic’ dies communes in banco. Incip’ capitula escaetarie.
6329rcapit’ de escaetaria 
6429v(1) Statutum de homagio et fidelitate faciendis, temp. incert. (2) ‘Statutes of the Exchequer’, temp. incert. (S.R. [1] 1:227–8 [2] 1:197 [semel] – [ter])mod’ faciendi fidelitate et homag’. ? statut’ 
  Heading: (1) Explic’ capitula de escaetaria. Incipit modus faciendi fidelitate et homagium. (2) Explic’ mod’ faciendi fidelitate et homagium. Incipiun statuta de scaccario.
6530rde scaccario 
6630vStatuta 
6731rde Scaccario 
6831vSentencia exommunicationis lata in transgressores cartarum, 37 Hen. 3. (S.R. 1:6–7)Statuta de sc’cario. Statut’ de transgressoribz 
  Heading: Expliciunt statuta de scaccario Incipit statutum de transgressoribus.
6932rStatutum de quo warranto novum, 18 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:107)de transgressoribz. Quo Warento 
  Heading: Explic’ statut’ ad ??rend de transgressoribus. Incip’ statut’ de Quo Warento.
  Note: (1) A modern hand, probably not Dunn’s, identifies the statute in the margin. (2) Small hole in folio; text unaffected
7032vQuo Warre’ 
7133r(1) Statutum de anno et die, 40 Hen. 3. (2) Dictum of Kenilworth, 51 Hen. 3. (S.R. [1] 1:7 [2] 1:12–18) 
  Heading: (1) Explicit statutum de quo warrantum. Sequitur provisio de die crescenti in Anno Bisextili. (2) Explicit provisio de die crescent’ in anno bisextili. Sequitur dictum de Kenilworth’.
  Note: Folio torn at top; header and some text missing.
7233vQuo warren’ 
7334rde Kenill’ 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
7434v?? [blurred] 
7535rde Kenill’ 
  Note: Folio torn; significant damage to text.
7635vView of frankpledge, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:246–7)[cut off]. . .fra’pleg’ 
  Heading: [cut off]. . .Kenill’ e Incipiunt capitula visus franciplegii.
7736r(1) Modus calumpniandi essoniam, temp. incert. (2) Extenta manerii, temp. incert. (S.R. [1] 1:217–18 [2] 1:242–3). . .esson. . .g. i (8) 
  Heading: (1) Expliciunt capitula vis’ franciplegii. Sequitur in quibus ca’ibus esson’ non iacet. (2) Explic’ inqu’ibus ca’ibus non iac’z esson’. Sequitur extenta manerii.
  Note: (1) Folio torn at outer corner; slight damage to text. (2) Modus calumpniandi essonium lacks the first line of the text in S.R. but seems to follow from there on.
7836vExtenta man’ii 
7937rHengham magna. (Not in S.R.)magna Hengham 
  Heading: Expliciunt extenta manerii. Sequitur magna Hengham.
8037vMagna 
8138rHengham 
8238vMagna 
8339rHengham 
8439vMagna 
8540rHengham 
8640vMagna 
8741rHengham 
8841vMagna 
8942rHengham 
9042vMagna 
9143rHengham 
9243vMagna 
9344rMagna Henghamh. i (8) 
9444vmagna 
9545rHengham 
9645vmagna 
9746rHengham 
9846vmagna 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
9947rHengham 
10047vmagna 
10148rHengham 
10248vmagna 
10349rHengham 
10449vmagna 
10550rJudicium essoniorum. (Not in S.R.)Hengham 
  Heading: Explic’ summa de magna Hengham. Sequitur Judicium Essoniorum.
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
10650vJudicium 
10751rEssonior’ 
10851vJudicium 
10952rEssonior’k. i (8) 
11052vJudicium 
11153rEssonior’ 
11253vJudicium 
11354r (male 53r)Essonior’ 
11454v (male 53v)Jud[crossed out] Jud’m 
11555r (male 54r) 
  Note: Folio torn at top; header and some text missing. Folio imperfect in lower outer corner but text written around the imperfection.
11655v (male 54v)(1) De viris religiosis, 7 Edw. 1. (2) Circumspecte agatis, 13 Edw. 1. (S.R. [1] 1:51 [2] 1:101&ndash;)Iud[crossed out] Iud’m 
  Heading: (1) . . . Incipiunt statuta de Religiosis. (2) Explic’ statut’ de Relig’ seqitur articulis eiusdam contra Regia prohibicionem.
11756r (male 55r)Statute of conspirators, temp. incert. (S.R. 1:216) 
  Heading: Expliciunt articuli de regia prohibicionem. Sequitur statutum de conspiratoribus.
  Note: Folio torn at top; header and some text missing. Folio imperfect in lower outer corner but text written around the imperfection.
11856v (male 55v)Statutum de illis qui debent poni in iuratis et assisis, 21 Edw. 1. (S.R. 1:113) 
  Heading: Explicit statutum de conspiratoribus. Incip’ statut’ de recogn’ ??.
  Note: (1) Page torn at top and bottom; header and some text missing at top. (2) A modern hand, probably not Dunn’s, identifies the statute in the margin.
11957r (male 56r)(1) Statute De presentibus vocatis ad warrantum, 20 Edw. 1. (2) Statutum de vasto facto tempore alieno. (S.R. [1] 1:108–9 [2] Not in S.R.)De vocatis ad warrantum 
  Heading: (1) Explicit statutum de recogn’ et Jur’ Incipit statutum de presente vocat’ ad Warr’. (2) Explicit statutum de vocat’ ad Warrantum. Incip’ statut’ de vasto alieno tempore facto.
12057v (male 56v)Hengham parva. (Not in S.R.)de Vasto alieno tempore facto. Parva 
  Heading: Explicit statutum de vasto alieno tempore facto. Incipit parva Hengham.
12158r (male 57r)Hengham 
12258v (male 57v)Parva 
12359r (male 58r)Hengham 
12459v (male 58v)Parva 
12560r (male 59r)Henghaml. i (8) 
12660v (male 59v)Parva 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
12761r (male 60r)Hengham 
12861v (male 60v)Parva 
12962r (male 61r)Hengham 
13062v (male 61v)Parva 
13163r (male 62r)Hengham 
13263v (male 62v)Cadit assisa. (Not in S.R.)Parva Hengham. Cadit’ 
  Heading: (1) Explicit parva Hengham. Incipit cadit assisa. (2) Modo dicendi que raciones ex . . cassunt breve mortis antecessoris.
13364r (male 63r)Assisa 
13464v (male 63v)Cadit 
13565r (male 64r)Assisa 
13665v (male 64v)Cadit 
13766r (male 65r)Assisa 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
13866v (male 65v)Cadit 
13967r (male 66r)?? [blurred] 
14067v (male 66v) 
  Note: The page ends in the middle of Cadit Assisa. A modern hand, probably Dunn’s, notes in the lower margin: ‘one quire lost here: 2 leaves for the rest of Cadit Assisa: (?other subjects also) and beginning of Registrum Cancellar’.
14168r (male 67r)(1) Registrum brevium. (Not in S.R.); (2) Subsection: [De recto]m. i (8) 
  Note: (1) The signature mark has an arrow pointing backwards, probably to indicate the missing quire. (2) The page begins some way into the Registrum brevium.
14268v (male 67v) 
14369r (male 68r)Quare incumbravit 
  Note: Lines added above and below the main text.
14469v (male 68v) 
  Note: Small line illustration in margin.
14570r (male 69r)De prohibicionibus 
14670v (male 69v) 
14771r (male 70r) 
14871v (male 70v) 
14972r (male 71r) 
15072v (male 71v) 
  Note: Small line illustration in lower margin.
15173r (male 72r) 
  Note: Small line illustration in margin.
15273v (male 72v)De vasto 
15374r (male 73r) 
15474v (male 73v)De excommunicato capiendo 
  Note: Footnote or addition marked with a cross.
15575r (male 74r) 
15675v (male 74v)De averiis replegiandis 
15776r (male 75r)n i (8) 
  Note: Lines added below the main text.
15876v (male 75v) 
15977r (male 76r)De recordare de averiis 
16077v (male 76v) 
16178r (male 77r) 
16278v (male 77v) 
  Note: Line added below the main text.
16379r (male 78r)De nativis habendis 
  Note: Large semicircle missing at bottom of folio; text unaffected.
16479v (male 78v) 
16580r (male 79r) 
16680v (male 79v)De transgressionibus 
16781r 
  Note: Large tear in side of folio; significant damage to text.
16881v 
16982r (male 80r) 
17082v (male 80v) 
17183r (male 81r) 
  Note: Line illustrations in margin.
17283v (male 81v) 
  Note: Carryover indicating quire break (trimmed).
17384r (male 82r)o i (8) 
17484v (male 82v)De compoto reddendo 
17585r (male 83r) 
17685v (male 83v) 
17786r (male 84r) 
17886v (male 84v) 
17987r (male 85r) 
18087v (male 85v) 
18188r (male 86r) 
18288v (male 86v) 
18389r (male 87r)De attornato pro secta faciendo 
  Note: Rubbed-out text in a different hand at head of page, possibly the same hand as the foliation.
18489v (male 87v) 
18590r (male 88r)De plegiis acquietandis 
18690v (male 88v) 
18791r (male 89r)De debito 
18891v (male 89v) 
18992r (male 90r)Rights in landp i (8) 
  Note: Tear in folio; some damage to text.
19092v (male 90v) 
19193r (male 91r) 
19293v (male 91v) 
19394r (male 92r)De medio 
19494v (male 92v) 
19595r (male 93r)De annuo redditu 
19695v (male 93v) 
19796r (male 94r) 
19896v (male 94v)De convencionibus; de finibus faciendis 
19997r (male 95r)Dower 
20097v (male 95v) 
20198r (male 96r)De custodia terre et heredis habendis 
20298v (male 96v) 
20399r (male 97r) 
20499v (male 97v) 
205100r (male 98r)Entryq. i (7.) 
206100v (male 98v) 
207101r (male 99r) 
208101v (male 99v) 
209102r (male 100r) 
210102v (male 100v)De morte antecessoris 
211103r (male 101r) 
212103v (male 101v) 
213104r (male 102r) 
214104v (male 102v)De avo et consanguinitate 
215105r (male 103r) 
  Note: Folio torn along margin; minor damage to text.
216105v (male 103v) 
217106r (male 104r)De escaetis 
218106v (male 104v) 
  Note: A modern hand, probably Dunn’s, notes in the lower margin: ‘Leaf wanting to complete this gathering’.
219107r (male 105r)13 Ric. 2, stat. 3. (S.R. 2:74–75)Tercidecimor. i (2) 
  Note: A modern hand, probably not Dunn’s, has noted the statute name and ‘Fly leaves only’. The year is given as 1390.
220107v (male 105v)Anno 
221108r (male 106r)Tercidecimo 
  Note: A modern hand, probably not Dunn’s, notes: ‘13 Ric II’.
222108v (male 106v)14 Ric. 2. (S.R. 2:76–77)Anno 
  Heading: Statutum editum apud Westm’ anno xiiiimo.
  Note: Decorated initial ‘P’, unfinished.
223no fol., no sig.Blank 
224no fol., no sig.Blank 
225no fol., no sig.Inside back cover 
226no fol., no sig.Back cover 

 

Preliminary Analysis of the Register of Writs

 

 

Registrum

As noted in the Introduction, the register is deficient at both the beginning and the end. Hence, the question of its date is best treated after we examine its contents. We would only add here that the script of the register, which is quite similar to that of the statute-book, is not so regular as is that of the statute-book. Half of the marginalia (those on the versos) have been cut off in a later binding. Those on the rectos are more complete but, unlike the texts of the writs themselves, hard to read and not particularly helpful.

The following table gives the names of the writs as found in the marginalia and counts them. Two counts are given in the right-hand columns of the table. The first counts all the writs, excluding any marginalia marked ‘nota’ or ‘regula’. The second excludes from that total all the writs where the heading includes the words ‘eodem’ or ‘aliter’.

 

 

Seq.Fol.HeaderWrit(s)CountUniq
14168rRegistrumAttincta de eodem; Patens de associacione; Clausum de associacione.32
14268vRegistrumPatens de eodem; ...acio de ultima presentacione; Patens de eodem.31
14369rRegistrumInqui’; Regula; Quare incumbravit; Regula; Inhibicio ad Episcopum n’ admittat....33
14469vRegistrumDe eodem; ..i di...strum; Regula; Iustic’ de...trum; Patens inde.43
14570rRegistrumRegula; De attornato brevi de utr’; Prohibicio de notacione; Si Attachiamentum prohibicionis; Regula.33
14670vRegistrumIndicavit; Indicavit parti...soquitur; Prohibicion’ ctlic...ar pro clerico; De eodem parti.43
14771rRegistrumAttachiamentum inde; Prohibicio de caff et duhitis; Pro hiluco parti sequitur; Regula; Attachiamentum de mes’ veriis; Prohibicio de catalla dibit; pro Rege.66
14871vRegistrumEodem parti; prohibiciones di...polinco feod’; Pro eodem parti u sequitur; Attachiamentum inde; prohibicio’ pro clericis.54
14972rRegistrumDe eodem parti sequitur; Attachiamentum inde; Prohibicio de capella; Prohibicio formata.43
15072vRegistrumRegula; Alia prohibicio; Alia prohibicio; Prohibicio de separatis decimis.33
15173rRegistrumProhibicio de tu...; De eodem parti; fede die t’.32
15273vRegistrumVasto itinere...cto ad termidm...iti nf smmor’; De vasto de ten’ per legem Anglie; De vasto facto per custodem; Alia de eodem.43
15374rRegistrumDe vasto in dote; Aliter de eodem; De vasto de tenemento tento pro indiviso; Sta ? pac’ ? factum min racionabili fcemino partipi posset; Par quis fac’ vastum occum racionabil’; Esco.?; R’ eodem ad term? ? de anno etc’.75
15474vRegistrum...tenetur pro iudi...et ? fac’ vastum; ?facto et ten’ ad num viti per assig...com; ?t’ ad terminum a ’annet; ? excommunicata capienda.44
15575rRegistrumAliter episcopo ? recussu’ fuere; vodiu’ guo’; Regula.21
15675vRegistrumma harp ex’or pendente placito iniuncti non capiatur; Aliter de eodem; dexcincat’ pendente preflacione non capiatur; De averiis replegiandis.43
15776rRegistrumDe eodem sicut; Regula; De averiis no libertati r...; Ter etc’; ’ando vic’ repleg’ averi’ cano nalt in’plicatu; Ter etc’; Aliter non olp’ libertate.64
15876vRegistrumtherna; ...de averiis pro...tite; ’e pro defendem pro nucxa fct u’ causa; Regula; ’ndo vic’ non ’tornat b’i pro p loquela tagit...siam suam properam.44
15977rRegistrumRecordari pro tente in c’; Regula; Recodari pro d’ deti’ pnnp ru’ causa n’ neqz in c’; Regula; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter.62
16077vRegistrumRegula; Regula; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter; Regula; ’ide vic’ returnat n’ pot’ nover’ plure’ ...pror’ [different ink].51
16178rRegistrumCorando aliq’ notat averia...; De averiis fugatis de uno comitatu in alium replegiandis; De averiis rescussis; De recapcione averiorum in comitatu.44
16278vRegistrumAliter de averiis rescussis; Regula; De recapcione averiorum in ?? ipso vacacione; De moderata misericordia capienda.32
16379rRegistrumSummonicio moderata misericordia; Regula; De nativis habendis; Aliter de eodem; Regula; De eodem vicecomiti; Regula.42
16479vRegistrum...ne de na...us; ’bertate...nda; Regula; auxilio habenda...distingund’...samn; De tallagio habendo; breve de minis vad no catur de pace.55
16580rRegistrumAliter de eodem; Attachiamentum in...; Regula; Iustic cat’ in G...[could be text not marg]; De homine replegiando; Regula; De odio et ac....54
16680vRegistrumRegula; Regula; De ponendo ipus balliv’; De replegiando h’innem ap’tu pro forep’; Inquisicio de transgressione.33
16881vRegistrum...diu’ sic’....11
16982rRegistrumDe imprisonamento; De latrona; De parco depasto; De cistis fractis; De parco fracto; De domo combusta; De arbore succisa; De bladis asportatis; de catallis asportatis; De libera warenna; De piscaria; De cigno interfecto; De averiis iniuste fugatis.1313
17082vRegistrumproclir’ pastura...ibus ad terciu’...inu’; ’ornibus in protec’ existocibus; macremio; iniustis dis..cionibus; Aliter de piscaria; De distingetibus extra findu’; De ovibus abductis.76
17183rRegistrumDe transgres’ in Londonia; Aliter de libera warenna; De ?averiis; De domibus pro ? et arboribus ?succisis; Aliter de cancellariol interfecto; Quando non cl’ nati te?; De Eduro abducto; De arboribus in comitatu; Inquisicio’ de transgressione in London.97
17283vRegistrumdo habes se ’trusit; ’cuta iu?? London; parto facto; Inde defunct’ ’ogat exit’ clerc ’d termisiu’ cap’ ’toxu’ non pos ’it h’re admi’ istacione’; Pilloris facto; Auita q’reta on’ iustic’.66
17384rMargarita ??ologium [different hand]De averiis et ovibus...; Rege [different ink]; De eidem ca...iustat’ de li’ ut cur’ Re...; Inde aliquis fugat in p’ alicui’ cinerno in custod’ d’ R’purutis.44
17484vRegistrumata reddenda; ’am; ’dm ad; ’icu’; ’poto pro executoribus; ’poto secundum mercatoriam; Regula; Aliter de compoto; Aliter; Aliter; compot’ de terris...que tinetur rocap’.107
17585rRegistrumTer etc’; cum quis iu’ slt’ fug’; Ter’ etc’; De eodem in doniis; Regula; No’ [seen this elsewhere but not noted; could be nota].65
17685vRegistrumAttachiamentum ’s pro averag’ ’poti; ’nd aligers ’piatur pri averag’.22
17786rRegistrum[Faciend’ ter’--may not be a heading]; Fac’ cer’ etc’; Ne fiat s’to qui fun’ ni’ defiet; De eodem a alicui’; De eodem ad...Londium; De nota ad ma’dium fatu n’; Ne ampl’; Feodem ad in Londinu; Ne fiat p’ta qua forma f’ ves’ offanicuti.96
17886vRegistrumAttachiamentum inde; Aliter de fiasta?; Nita ad defendum; Aliter de eodem; Aliter duor’ diu’; Aliter de eodem; ...molendino...multunt’.73
17987rRegistrumAliter de...; Regula; Pro ?nta detta; Regula [red only, may not exist]; Attachiamentum inde; Regula.32
18087vRegistrumAccione; Aliter de contribucionem.21
18188rRegistrumNe exiga’ divers’ pro vi’; Attachiamentum; De stano’ p’ abrogatum; De trans’ Cur’ religiosis; Aliter pro mulier....54
18288vRegistrumDe trans’ vic’; Attachiamentum inde; ...visu sua...gu’; Attachiamentum inde; Aliter eodem quando; Aliter ballivis honoris alicuius; Aliter de visu ca?.73
18389rRegistrumAliter ad Inq’; Regula; De co’i attor’ faciendo; Pluso diu’ per P...piscorutes; fira spah etc’; De attornato secta’ Cur’; De eodem sicut alias.64
18489vRegistrum...per litteras pa’; ...ad com’; Regula; ...iu’ ad hundr’; Wapentag’; eodem ad Wa..ntag’ al ad...dingam; Regula; clalii psonigie.65
18590rRegistrumAttachiamentum iudiciu’ secta; Ne quis disting’ ad iurandit q’ statutum; Ne quis disting’ delicto de quo’ ...hitor in fidem’; Attachiamentum inde; De plegiis acquietandis.55
18690vRegistrumDe eodem; De eodem de pl?? iudis’; ’bitori com’; Aliter de eodem; ...in Londonia; it’ in Londonia; Aliter de eodem; Regula; de catallis reddendis.84
18791rRegistrumRegula; Pone; Regula; querno yilit’suliu de sram ’dite xls ut attingente; Attachiamentum; Regula; [different ink] XL relid’.44
18891vRegistrumDebito coram iustic’ ’ma assi??; ’diu’ ad bancum; De lana; Recognescat; Debito recogn? Cancellar’; ...dm’; ’bum super recognicione statuti y’...ator.77
18992rRegistrumDe vertiginam’ cancellar’; De debitis in ff...dis; De eodem in banco; De pone et per....43
19092vRegistrumNatis r...andis; Curia...andanda; Aqua hau..nda; ...com’; ?stoneria in...usto; ingeremus...ndo.66
19193rRegistrumTer’ etc’; De chim...bendo; Regula; Aliter; De ?? piscarie; Aliter de eodem; De homag’ racionabili...nio capitum; De commund...parti habend’; ?? de rod’; Regula.86
19293vRegistrum?m as tercii averior; Com’; Admensurac’o’; Pasture supero ...; ...da’ supero...cone; Pro defendante.66
19394rRegistrumRegula; ?Que ??; Regula; Regula; De perambulacione facienda; Regula; De medio co’iu’.33
19494vRegistrum?edis ad bancum; Aliter de eodem ad bancum; Aliter de medio; Pone de medio; Regula; ?? breve e’ de quam pro tenete.53
19595rRegistrumRegula; De annuo redditu; ? funnu’; De amnio redditu; aliter de eodem; De carcis reddendi; De eodem ad bancum.64
19695vRegistrumPone de cartis; Warantia; Nota[?]; Loquela non tenetur d?t parl’m Wa...tic terminetur; De vadu duo’.44
19796rRegistrumDe eodem in Londoniis; Regula; De cons’ uxor’ Bri?xum; Regula; Aliter de eodem infra burgum.31
19896vRegistrumVisu franciplegii; De libero passagio habendo; De convencionem in comitatu; Aliter ad bancum; Pone de convencione; De fine facto.65
19997rRegistrumAliter de fine; Aliter de fine; De eodem aliter; Aliter de eodem; De dote unde nichil habet.51
20097vRegistrumRegula; ...quando mili...aritatur; Regula; Assensu et va..ntate prius; Aliter de eodem; De eodem quando h’t virum; ? dotem denar’; ? dotem London’.64
20198rRegistrumAliter quando h’t...; ?dicti quo ...tur de Rege ...capite; Pone de dot’; De custodia ter’ ?dis habenda; De eodem in comitatu; Ponu de eodu’; De custodia racione den...?.75
20298vRegistrum..corpore heredis habendo; De custodia terre sine corpore heredis; De custodia socagium; De custodia terre ??; Regula; De corpore heredis reddendo executoribus.55
20399rRegistrumAliter de cus’; Pone de cust’ cum maritagium; Ecclesias etc’; Aliter de custo’; De hered’ rapto in custodia verstiti; De heredi’ raptibus non p??.64
20499vRegistrum?lla qui ??...custodia.11
205100rRegistrumDe ingressu’ ad term? pertinet? in primo gradu; De averii et du?; De ingressum non sedo’ grad’; De eodem in tercis gradu; De eodem in dimissione’; Aliter de eodem; Regula.63
206100vRegistrumDum non fuit compos mentis; Aliter de eodem; Regula; Aliter de eodem; Eodem post dimissione’; Regula; De ingressu’ per disseisina’; De eodem in fodo[?] gradu.63
207101rRegistrumDe eodem in tercio gradu; Post disseisinam; ?usint infra etatem; Aliter de eodem; Aliter; Post dimissione’; Aliter de eodem; De ingressu’ per custodem.84
208101vRegistrumAliter de eadem; Aliter de eidem; De ingressu per ?? qui ?? et dotem; Regula; Aliter post dimissione’ de eodem; De vir’ alienat’ ten’ uxores; Post dimissione’; De eodem ante de mortem; Regula; De eodem.82
209102rRegistrumDe ingressu’ per ??; De ingressu per predecessor’; Post dimissi averii de tode’; De ingressu per ballivum; Aliter pro religiosis; De ingressu per predecessor’ ?? alicuius Ecclesie; De ingressu per utlagariam.76
210102vRegistrumAliter de eodem; Regula; De ?xeru’ causa in attinctim; Aliter; De morte antecessoris ad ?m ass’m; Nota regula; Nota et regula.42
211103rRegistrumAliter infra et existent’; Breve tr’...; Nota...; Nota; Regula; Inde anteces’ sur percen’ proficissum; quando littera[?] iustu’ religi’...assignit’.43
212103vRegistrumRegula; coram iusticiariis assignatis; Regula.11
213104rRegistrumPatens de eodem; De morte antecessoris in com’ mid’; Aliter de eodem; Regula; Attincta de morte antecessoris.42
214104vRegistrumPatens de eodem; Regula; De avo et avia; Regula; De consanguinitate; Regula.32
215105rRegistrumNuper [obiit]; Regula; Aliter de eodem; Regula; Aliter de eodem; Regula.31
216105vRegistrum...?vicit; Aliter de eodem; Aliter de eodem.31
217106rRegistrumRegula; De escaeta; De eodem pro defen’ heredis; De eodem in liberum maritagium; De escaeta per filumam; Aliter de escaeta; Inquisicio de escaeta.63
218106vRegistrumDe escaeta alicui et facienda post inquisicionem; Alia inquisicio.22
Total:380275

 

 

 

The smaller total of writs is 275. Thus, this register, even in its lacunose state, already has more writs than the three that are probably earlier: MS 33 (220, leaving out the false start), 49 (237, estimate of the contents before the losses), 39 (217). If we estimate how much is missing (a quire of 8 fols. at the beginning and 2 fols. at the end) and multiply by the average number of writs per folio (7), we can estimate that the total number of writs in the original register was 345, which is moving toward, but does not reach the totals of MS 24 (471) and 52 (507), which may be about fifteen years later. From what we have we might doubt that much, if any, of the substance of this register postdates 1285. The material on writs of entry is still struggling with the degrees and does not seem to know writs in the post. (The writ on fol. 87r, which cites a statute without specificity, seems to be based on Marlborough c. 9. The case is a complicated one involving parceners, similar to Hall’s R637.) There is no formedon (though that may have been contained in the folios now missing at the end). The limitation period in De nativo habendo (fol. 79r) is the coronation of Henry III, which does correspond to the period in Westminster I, c. 39. On fol. 91v a statute of merchants is cited. That could be the statute of 1285, but it could also be Acton Burnell of 1283.

What we have can grouped in the way that we grouped the writs in previous manuscripts, though the grouping shows some peculiarities: Right is missing entirely, though there is no reason to doubt that it was in the missing initial quire. Ecclesiastical (incorporating about one folio [roughly 3% of total fols.] of waste writs) (20%), Replevin (with De minis and De odio et atia tucked in toward the end) (13%), Trespass (9%), Account (13%), Local courts (3%), Debt (5%), Rights in land (5%), Mesne, Annuity, Warranty of charter (7%), Covenant (1%), Dower (3%), Wardship (5%), Entry (6%), Mort d’ancestor (9%), Escheat (1%). We have seen waste awkwardly incorporated in the ecclesiastical writs before (MS 33). It will soon emerge as a proper category of its own (MS 24). Both trespass and account have emerged as categories in their own right, with a substantial amount of space devoted to them. The real surprises come at the end. Novel disseisin is no place to be found. Entry is before mort d’ancestor, whereas it usually follows it, and escheat is stuck in at the end, perhaps being thought of as the opposite of mort d’ancestor. In MS 33, escheat is buried in entry; it does not seem to be in MS 36 and 49. While the absence of anything clearly attributable to Westminster II makes us hesitate to date this register any time after 1285, the contents do show development in what they do with trespass and account. In this regard the register is more advanced than MS 49, though it may not be any later. (Recall, however, that because of what is missing from MS 49, we do not know what, if anything, it did with trespass and account.) Perhaps ca. 1285 would be the best way to date this register.

If this was, as we suggested in the Introduction, a starter book for an aspiring lawyer of the early 1290s, then he got cheated in the register of writs. Not only was it out-of-date, but the absence of novel disseisin would likely be fatal for any beginner. Perhaps, however, he did not get cheated, but made up the book himself from examples that he found scattered about, though he probably turned them over to a not-particularly-skilled clerk to do the copying. Our putative original owner may have been responsible for the marginalia, which are not necessarily in same hand as the main text.