MS 156: Statuta Anglie (List of English Statutes), 14th century
Contents
This manuscript contains a list of medieval statutes and other laws issued by the Kingdom of England before the development of the English Parliament, and a Registrum Brevium, which is collection of writs used by legal practitioners, especially in the late Middle Ages.
Contents
Statutes: start on f. 1r and ends on f. 29v, and contains the following statutes: Magna Carta, Carta Foreste, Provisiones de Mertoun, Statuta de Marlebergh, Statuta de Westmonast prima (French), Statutum Gloucestrie (French), Statuta Westmonast secunda, Statuta Westmonast III 'Quia emptores', Discricciones Scaccarii (French), Statutum de Religiosis, Statuta de Finibus, Statuta de Vocatis ad Warrantum, Statuta de vasto, Statutum de Coniunctione Feoffatis, Dies communes in banco, Dies Dotis, Statuta de Militibus, Statuta de Quo Warranto, Visus franci plegii (French), Statuta de Bigamis, Statutum de Conspiratoribus, Statutum de Chaumpart, Statuta de Ponendis Massis, Quot modi calumpniandi Essonia, Prerogativa Regis, Placita Corone, Statuta de turnis vicecom, Cons. de Simplicis Cartis, Posiciones Vocabulorum (French).
Registrum Brevium: starts on f. 30r with the following words: Edwardus D. G. Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie et Dux Aquitanie Ballivis suis de Beverlaco salutem. And ends on f. 123r with the following words: et etiam bona villanorum predicte persone ad vicesimam praedictam taxentur iuxta ordinationem inde factam et vobis ex parte nostra liberatam, etc.
Written by a variety of 14th century Court hands. There are a few filigree initials, but most of the capitals are left unfinished.
Dates
- Creation: 14th century
Language of Materials
Latin and Middle French
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
There are several inscriptions. At the end, Iste liber constat Thome Bathe ad reversionem ad Thomam Blerweye inde spectante (14th century). On a fly-leaf at the beginning, Liber Johannis Whyte per Johanne Welbek (15th century). On the verso of the last leaf some fragmentary notes remain, possibly of the 14th century: (1) . . . et Johanni Greyne de Presteleigh de parochia de Doulty[ng]. . . . Johanni Drynkewater de Hoyningesham octo libras quas . . . (2) ... ne Som[er]cotes uno commissionario domini Henrici Ducis Lancastrie Comitis Derbie et Leicestrie. The first probably refers to the parish of Doulting in Somerset, which includes the hamlet of Prestleigh.
One fly-leaf at the end has some contemporary shipping accounts. The end papers are taken from an Italian paper Service-book of the late 15th century, showing a Table of Golden Numbers and part of an Ordinale containing rules for Festa Duplicia and Semi-duplicia, Officium beate Virginis, etc. Prominence is given to feasts of Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Louis (Franciscan), and Saint Francis, and the probability is that it was a Franciscan book. Laing inserts the title and sale number, No. 343 London Sale.
Previous reference
Laing 188.
Physical Facet
Material: Vellum
Binding: Oak boards covered plain brown leather, lettered 'STATUTA ET BREVIA ANTIQUA. M. S.'
Collation: a12, b16, c1, d12-k12, l10=123.
Dimensions
25.40 cm x 17.14 cm
General
Secundo folio: suum et secundum
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 123, c. 49 lines to a page.
Source
- Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library) (Former owner, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk