Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2994

Legal manuscript

Contents

Introduction: Cambridge University Library, MS Add. 2994 (hereafter MS Add. 2994) is one of many predominantly non-medical manuscripts in the Curious Cures project that nevertheless have medical recipes recorded in their peripheries. In such cases, the medical recipes are often miscellaneous, so, although these manuscripts might bear witness to the many ways in which this knowledge was recorded and transmitted in the medieval period, the books themselves may have served as little more than convenient sources of writing material. Here, however, the copying of recipes seems to have been the result of a more concerted attempt to gather and preserve numerous different treatments for one complaint in particular: gout. The main part of the manuscript comprises standard legal texts: the Novel Tenures, the Natura brevium, and various other treatises, statutes, ordinances, and copies of legal documents. MS Add. 2994 was made in the 15th century, for the most part in the earlier decades, with additions being made at various stages thereafter, and by more than one hand. Some of those additions may be datable, insofar as the date or year in which a document was originally prepared provides a 'terminus ante quem non' - a date before which they could not have been copied - as in the example of the will of William Chapman, a tailor, dated 12 July 1444 on ff. 198r-202v. On ff. 205v-206v, meanwhile, recipes for gout (sometimes termed 'bone ache') were copied by the same hand, though a change in ink after the eleventh recipe suggests that this was not done at one time as a single campaign. The treatments typically involve preparing some sort of plaster, unguent or oil and covering the sore area with it. Formulations include simple one-line instructions as well as more detailed herbal preparations (including one using rue, celandine, black soap and sea salt). They conclude with one on f. 206v that is bizarrely elaborate and frankly improbable (though not unique: similar examples have been found elsewhere). It directs the reader in the month of May to disembowel a puppy, stuff it with sage, 'blake due snayllez' (i.e. slugs) and pig fat, roast it on a spit over a fire, collect the fat rendered off the carcass, chop up what is left and fry it in order to catch the very last remnants, and place this in a glass bottle. Apparently, 'it will look like a green salve', and, the reader is instructed, 'therewith anoint the patient any time of year when it is needed'. Medical recipes often feature alongside culinary recipes, due at least in part to the role that diet was thought to play in regulating the body's humours, but also probably as a consequence of the domestic contexts in which both types of recipe were made. The same hand that copied the gout remedies also copied three very similar culinary preparations on f. 208v, to conserve quinces or oranges 'to last through the whole year without rotting'. While quinces can be grown in northern Europe, oranges must have been imported and were likely a luxury foodstuff – and in the days before refrigeration or canning, there was an imperative to make a harvest last. The basic principles are the same here as for modern-day preserving. The instructions for quince involve macerating the fruit and parboiling it in the lees of sweet white wine, placing the mixture in a sealable container, covering the top with more of the same wine and sealing the vessel with a cover of some sort. 'Take of them to bake when you desire it', the recipe concludes. It actually sounds quite delicious. Dr James Freeman| Medieval Manuscripts Specialist| Cambridge University Library

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: (2r) tenant in fee taill
Form: codex
Support: All leaves paper except for f. 212, a parchment fragment once used as the right pastedown.
Extent: Codex: i + 200 | 1 + i leaves.
Foliation:

20th-century foliation

[i] + 1-72, 74-113, 115-123, 125-130, 132-186, 191-195, 197-209 | 212 + [ii]

Foliated in pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto. The modern paper endleaves have been assigned the designations ff. [i] and [ii] in 2023 during the preparation of this online catalogue record.

Folio numbers ff. 73, 114, 124, 131, 187-190, 196, 210-211 assigned to leaves no longer present in the volume (as per historic foliation practice at Cambridge University Library). The manuscript contains three loose insertions (see Accompanying Material for further details), which have been foliated as follows for the purpose of this record:
  • Notes by F.W. Maitland = f. [68a]
  • Notes by Henry Bradshaw = f. [186a]
  • Notes by Jayne Ringrose = not photographed
  • Notes by Francis Jenkinson = f. [iii]
 The sheet of paper bearing notes by F.W. Maitland (see Accompanying Material) inserted after between ff. 68 and 69 has been foliated as f. [68a] for the purposes of this record

Collation

Irregular quires of between 14 and 26 leaves arranged as follows:
  • 1 modern paper endleaf +
  • Quire 126-1 (1st leaf excised, probably blank; ff. 1-25)
  • Quire 224 (ff. 26-49)
  • Quire 324-1 (24th leaf excised, probably blank; ff. 50-72)
  • Quires 4-520 (ff. 74-113)
  • Quire 618-3 (1st, 11th and 18th leaves missing; ff. 115-123, 125-130)
  • Quires 7-822 (ff. 132-175)
  • Quire 922-5 (12th-15th and 21st leaves excised, probably blank; ff. 176-186, 191-195, 197)
  • Quire 1014-2 (10th and 11th leaf missing; ff. 198-209) |
  • Fragment (formerly a bifolium used as a pastedown, now lifted and flattened; f. 212

126-1 (1st leaf excised) 224 324-1 (24th leaf excised) 4-520 618-3 (1st, 11th and 18th missing) 7-822 922-5 (12th-15th and 21st leaf excised)

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Additions

Quire signatures (a-i, k) in the bottom right-hand corner of the first recto of each quire, and '+' in the same position on the first leaf after the centre of the quire, written in pencil by H.L. Pink . Further notes by Pink concerning missing leaves on ff. 72v, 113v, 123v, 130v, 195v and 209v. Notes on f. 191r are by one or more earlier hands (including Charles Sayle (1864-1924) Sayle, Charles, 1864-1924 ), and have been partly overwritten by Pink.

Binding

Early 16th-century binding, style reminiscent of late-15th century work; stamped leather covers over bevelled oak boards. Rebacked and repaired by J.S. Wilson and Son in 1889. The front cover is decorated with two concentric double-fillet frames with Oxford corners, the inner panel within the central frame divided in half horizontally with a double fillet, and each half-panel divided per saltire with a double fillet. A circular 'ihs' stamp impressed in each quarter-compartment and at the corners of the centre panel. The rear cover is decorated with two concentric double-fillet frames with Oxford corners, the centre panel divided per saltire with a triple fillet. A square-matrix stamp of a stag lodged (seated with legs tucked under body) in each quarter-compartment of the central panel, each stamp decorated with a small dotted cross [⁜] tool in a round matrix at each corner. The stag tool is similar to but not the same as the two lodged stag tools used by the so-called 'Demon binder' on Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 3022, as the MS Add. 2994 stag stamp presents the head in a different attitude and includes a small piece of foliage underneath the stag.

Remains of two hook-and-bar fastenings on each cover. The front cover retains two strap ends, the lower one tangible as a stub between the leather and the boards, the upper one visible and (?unusually) made of tawed skin stained red. The rear cover retains a metal bar-fastening plate in the upper position, the lower one is gone. It should be noted that the strap ends and the fastening plates are not perfectly aligned.

Spine rebacked in a light brown polished leather decorated with geometric blind tooling. Three raised bands on spine. Spine capped at head and tail with no head or tail tabs or bands visible. Label of green leather tooled in gold affixed to spine: 'LYTTLETON'S TENURES | NATURA BREVIUM | M.S.S'. Two small printed paper labels affixed to spine: 'ADD' and '2994' for the present shelfmark.

Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. The left pastedown contains:

  • A stamp 'BOUND BY WILSON' and underneath a price and date '6£9. 1989' i.e., bound for 6 pounds and 9 shillings in 1889.
  • A 'D' in pencil reflecting a CUL size-classification in use in the Department of Manuscripts at CUL.
  • A brief handwritten record of the purchase of the volume by CUL: 'J. E. Cornish 1889 £2.2.0'.

The right pastedown contains a textual and codicological summary of the contents of the volume in pencil, perhaps in the hand of Francis Jenkinson , Cambridge University Librarian from 1889-1923.

The volume is stored in a green slipcase with 'LYTTLETON' and 'Add 2994' tooled in gold on the face opposite the opening.

Dimensions (L x W x D) not including slipcase: 294 x 208 x 45

It should be noted that Dr David Pearson kindly offered a brief assessment of this binding during the preparation of this record, but any mistakes or inaccuracies herein remain the responsibility of the author.

Accompanying Material

A loose leaf of light blue paper with light blue horizontal lines and pink margin lines, inserted between ff. 68 and 69. The leaf contains a note in ink in the hand of Frederic William Maitland (1850-1906) , Downing Professor of the Laws of England: 'The Littleton seems to want the last two chapters of the printed book. But I think the MS. is worth 2 guineas F.W.M.'

A small strip of torn paper, inserted between ff. 186 and 191. It bears notes relating to the collation of the manuscript, by Henry Bradshaw (1831-1886) , University Librarian 1867-1886.

A folded bifolium of cream paper containing schematic diagrams in ink and pencil of the distribution of watermarks in each quire of the volume and also notes towards a collation. This leaf may be at least in part the work of University Librarian Francis Jenkinson (1853-1923) .

Small strip of torn paper with note in pencil: 'The 2 leaves missing from this quire are more likely to be between 206 & 207 rather than 211 & 212. JSR' (i.e. Jayne Ringrose , Medieval Manuscripts Specialist at Cambridge University Library until 2013. This has not been photographed.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned and partially written by Edward Cushyn (fl. 1512) a lawyer, and perhaps a relative of the Norfolk lawyer John Cushyn (fl. 1500) . According to Baker and Ringrose Edward Cushyn was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1512 and called to the Bar in 1518. Edward Cushyn's annotations can be found on ff. 72r, 197r, 208r, 209v.

John Baker and Jayne Ringrose, Catalogue of English Legal Manuscripts in Cambridge University Library (1996)

Perhaps owned by the Henry Gray (fl. 1545) who was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1545. A note on f. 191r, 'Henry Gray per me'.

Owned by Sir Francis Palgrave (1788-1861) , historian and Deputy Keeper of Public Records. Palgrave's signature is present in ink in the lower portion of 1r: 'Francis Palgrave'.

Owned by the bookseller J. E. Cornish of Manchester.

Purchased by Cambridge University Library from the bookseller J. E. Cornish of Manchester in 1889 for £2.2.0 (see note on front pastedown.

Part 1 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2994, ff. 1-209]

Contents

Language(s): Medieval French and Latin

1. 1r-68v
Novel Tenures Sir Thomas Littleton (d. 1481)
Language(s): Medieval French (Medieval Legal French)
Incipit: 1r Tenant en fee simple est celuy qe ad terrez ou tenementez a tener a luy et a ces heirez a toutez jours
Explicit: 68v purceo que cestui en le remaynder que fist le feoffement ne fuist unques seisi en le taille par force de mesme le remaynder etc ||

Ends in s. 658.

T. Littleton, Tenores novelli (London, [1481]) / subsequent editions
2. 71v-130v
Natura brevium with table of contents
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French and Middle English
2.1. 71v-72r
Table of contents for the Natura brevium Edward Cushyn
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
Incipit: || 71v Assisa ultime presentaconis[sic]
Final rubric: 72r Here endith the table of Natura brevium scripta per me Edwardum Cushyn de Lyncolns Inne

Cushyn joined Lincoln's Inn in 1512, so the note was written in or after that year.

73v is blank.

2.2. 74r-130v
Natura brevium
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French and Middle English
Incipit: 74r Dicitur qu est breffe de droit patent et breffe de droit cloos
Explicit: 130v in ipsius Willelmi Founten de Wyng in comitatu Buk senioris wolman dampnum non modicum et grauamen. Unde nobis supplicauit ||

The final leaf of this text has been lost.

Printed in French by Richard Pynson (1494) (S.T.C. 18385)
Translated into English and printed by William Rastell (1534) (S.T.C. 18400)
3. 132r
A note on the procedure for abjuring the realm
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 132r Officium coronatoris
Incipit: 132r Notandum est de officio cuiusdam coronatoris morantis infra uillam uel extra ciuitatem . et sciendum est quod coronator non nisi in causa aliqua tangenti officium suum inquirere potest
Explicit: 132r et datus fuit ei portus Sow⟨t⟩hampton et nihil habuit in bonis etc

Followed by the abjuration f. 132rv: Abiuratio latronum . Hoc audis domine coranator[sic] ... et sic Deus me adiuuet.

The text is incorrectly titled Officium coronatoris, but it is actually a note on and the text for the procedure for abjuring the realm.

4. 133r-136r
Treatise on judicial writs
Language(s): Medieval legal French and some Latin
Incipit: 133r Rex vicecomiti etc . precipimus tibi quod de terris et catallis
Final rubric: 136r Explicit natura breuium

A writ of nisi prius on f. 135r is attested by Thomas Bryan (d. 1500) Chief Justice of the Common Pleas c. 1471-1500.

The explicit to this text seems to be misplaced, and should properly belong at the end of Natura brevium.

5. 136v
Table of the process appropriate in various forms of action
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 136v Hic incipiunt processus nature breuium
Incipit: 136v In breui de recto precipe quod reddat associato fit processus per summonitionem cape magnum et cape paruum
Explicit: 136v peto testem

Similar text in:

6. 137r
Modus calumpniandi essonia
Language(s): Latin
Statues of the Realm I.217
7. 137r-138v
Writ of 6 Edward III (1332) (abridged)
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
8. 138v-144r
Statute of 27 Edward III
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French

Baker and Ringrose say that this text (Statues of the Realm I.332) is followed by an abridged version of chs 13-15 of a Statute of 28 Edward III on the same subject (Statues of the Realm I.348), but they do not indicate where one ends and the other begins and the numbered capitula in the margins do not appear to have been interrupted.

Statutes of the Realm I.332 and I.348
9. 144r-144v
The Ordinance of the Fees of the Mayors and Constables of the Staple (abridged)
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.343
10. 144v-146r
Statute of 28 Edward III (chs. 1-3, abridged)and the Ordinance Concerning the Sale of Herring (abridged)
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.345
Statutes of the Realm I.353
11. 146r-147r
1349 Ordinance of Labourers (abridged)
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.307
12. 147r-148r
1351 Statute of Labourers (abridged)
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.311
13. 148r-150v
Statute of Merchants and a writ on the same

Writ begins f. 150r

Statutes of the Realm I.98
14. 150v-151r
Statute on Bigamy
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.42
15. 151r-152v
Statute on Fines
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French
Statutes of the Realm I.126
16. 152v-153r
On Wards and Reliefs
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French

Not a Statute, but described as such in the manuscript: 'Incipit statutum de wardis et releviis'.

Statutes of the Realm I.228
17. 153rv
Copy of a distringas at the suit of William Robyns against John Newebery
Language(s): Latin

A copy of a distringas at the suit of William Robyns, an informer on the statute of 23 Henry VI, c.8, against John Newebery, keeper of St Albans gaol, for taking 2s. 4d. to release John Stepneth. Stepneth was an attorney by c. 1480 and was at one point a bailiff of St Albans (see Journal of Legal History I, p. 201. William Robyns (d. 1482) was clerk of the signet and was buried at St Albans (see J. Weever, Ancient Funeral Monuments (2nd ed., 1767), p. 345).

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

18. 154r-155r
Tract on the Composition of Deeds
Language(s): Latin

Ends with a mnemonic for the regnal order of the kings of England from William the Conquerer to Henry VI.

This text is associated with part of the Oxford course on conveyancing associated with William Kingsmill (fl. 1420-1440).

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

19. 155r-186r
Copies of miscellaneous charters

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

20. 192r
Partial text of a Presentment of 1427
Language(s): Latin

The text breaks off abruptly.

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

21. 192v-195r
Notes on pleas of the crown
Language(s): Latin and Medieval Legal French

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

22. 197r
Memorandum by Edward Cushyn Edward Cushyn
Language(s): Middle English

Note by Edward Cushyn recording his admission to Lincoln's Inn.

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

23. 198r-204v
Documents relating to the foundation of two chantries
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
23.1. 198r-202v
Copy of the Will of William Chapman, a tailor, dated 12 July 1444
Language(s): Latin

The will mentions the rental of a tenement whose records are provided next. The income of the tenement was left in support of a chantry. Chapman was Master of the Tailor's Fraternity of London in 1428.

See M. P. Davies, 'The Tailors of London and their Guild 1300-1500' (unpublished DPhil thesis, Oxford, 1994) esp. Appendix I.
23.2. 203rv
Copy of a rental agreement and list of tenants of 'Chapman's Place'
Language(s): Middle English

This is the tenement mentioned in William Chapman's will; Chapman appears to have bequeathed (?some of) the income from the tenement in support of a chantry.

23.3. 204rv
Copy of a deed of foundation of a chantry by Robert de Bardleby
Language(s): Latin

Copy of a deed of foundation of a chantry by Robert de Bardelby . de Bardelby was an English judge who was active in the 3rd decade of the 14th century and died c. 1332/3. See https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1357.

All three texts seem to refer to the foundation of two chantries (one by Chapman, the other by de Bardleby) in St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street, London.

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

24. 205r-209v
Miscellaneous notes probably all in the hand of Edward Cushyn Edward Cushyn
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
24.1. 205r
Note on remitter
Language(s): Latin

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

24.2. 205v-206v
Fifteen medical recipes for gout and bone ache
Language(s): Middle English

Full transcription:| (f. 205v)| A Medecyne for the Gowte | Take oyle of bays whete flore and house lyke and make therof a plaister and \ley/ it to the sore by a day and a nyght | Another Medecyne for the same | Take the mylke of a Cow of ouer colour and small wte [i.e. whete] mele and boyle it to geder till it be thik and make therof a plaister and then sprynge it with a litell venyger and ley it to the sore as hote as ye may suffre it| Another fore the same | Take blak sope the whyte of an egge and a litell whete flore and swyng them well to geder and make therof a playster and lay it to the sore cold . | Another Medecyne for the same | Take safourn rede netell Croppis and Comyng and stampe them to geder and ley it rounde aboute the sore | Another Medecyne for the same . that swellith | Take the lyes of whyte wyne and the Cromys of soer berde and the Cakys of rosis stylled and boill them all to geder and make therof a playster and ley it to the sore all hote . and lete it lye styll iiij day or v day | An Oyle for the Gowte | Geder blak dew snayllis in May and fursshe them with bay salt and a quantite of raw hony and then put it yn a streyner and hang it in the sonne and put a vessell vnder to receyue the droppyng therof and with the same noynt the sore by the fyre | (Folio 206r)| Another Medacyne for the same| Take cley iij eggis white and all . Salt venygar and oyle de bay of eche of them a quantite and stere them to gider and make therof a playster and ley it aboute the sore | Another for the same| Take Ocoer croxion and make therof a plaister and ley aboute the sore | Another for the same | Take a plaister of Galbanum and ley it to the sore and let it ley styll | Another for the same | Take Rue salendyne blak sope and bay salt and stampe them to gider and make therof a plaister and ley it to the sore | Another for the same | Take the lyes of a pisse bolle and put therto a quantite of alam and boyle them to gider and wete a lynnen cloth therin and ley it aboute the sore | Another for the same | Take soute of a Chymney blake sope and the white and the yoilke of an egge and sweligell them to gider and make therof a plaister and ley it aboute the sore | Another for the same | Take a quantite of Ry flore and mell it with vynegar so that it be thykke like patte and make therof a plaister and ley it to the sore luke warme | (Folio 206v) | A medecyne for the bone ache | Take Rasyn wex and shepes Talough and fry them to gider and put therto a quantite of the pouder of Clowys powder of Macis and a quantite of powder of Saferun and make therof a plaister vppon white lether and ley it to pacyent hote and lett yt lye still | Another for the same | Gider in the moneth of May a handfull or ij of Sage Roiall and a grete quantite of blake due snaylles and a quantite of berowez grese then take a fatte dogge whelpe that is sokyng vppon his damme and stryppe out of his skynne and take his guttis longgis and lyver out of his bely and make his bely clene as ye can and then put the sage the snayllis and the beroweis grece into the bely of the whelpe and pryk the bely fast then put the whelpe vppon a spytte and lette hym be rost as long as he will droppe and receyue the droppyng in clene vessell and when he will droppe no more take hym of the spytte and choppe hym all in pecis and then with a litill more beroweis grese fry hym as dry as ye can and as moche moist as ye can gete of that put it to the droppyng and then put them in a glasse it will loke like a grene salf and therwith noyte the pacyent any tyme of the yeere when it is nede

Folio 207rv blank.

Translation of sixth remedy for gout on f. 205v: Gather black dew snails [i.e. slugs] in May and freshen them with bay, salt and a quantity of raw honey and then put this in a strainer and hang it in the sun and put a vessel underneath to receive the droppings thereof - and with the same anoint the sore by the fire.

24.3. 208r
Note on the serjeants' feast in 1521
Language(s): Latin

Note in Latin on the serjeants' feast in Trin 13 Hen. VIII (1521) which Cushyn attended as a server

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

24.4. 208v
Culinary recipes for conserving quinces and oranges
Language(s): Middle English
24.5. 209r
Record of a fine levied at Thetford assizes
Language(s): Latin

Pas. 9 Hen. VIII (1517) concerning a(n unidentified) place in Norfolk called Lysters

24.6. 209r
A record of the menu at a Christmas banquet at Furnivall's Inn in 1518
Language(s): Middle English and Latin

Full transcription: 'Dysshys at the bankett in Furnyvallys Inne tempore Nativitatis anno decimo Henrici octavi . Clerk jun. de Lyncolns Inne tunc lector ibidem . In primis alman butter . rostyd appullys with byskettis cast uppon theym . stewyd wardons with cynemom uppon theym . baken wardons . tarte prune . oryngis with suger . scraped chese with suger . sokett and grene gynger . and comfettis . red wyne . clarett wyne . and custerd and spysed cakys'

'Clerk jun' may refer to 'Clerke junior' who appears in the records for Lincoln's Inn in 1519 where he was elected 'butler', and whose father, 'Clerke senior' held a number of offices at Lincoln's Inn, including the position of 'Autumn reader' (see Black Book, vol. 1, pp. 187, 192).

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

Black Books of Lincoln's Inn printed in The Records of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn: The Black Books Vol. 1. From A.D. 1422 to A.D. 1586 (1887)
24.7. 209r
A note on another Christmas banquet at Lincoln's Inn in 1518
Language(s): Middle English and Latin

Full transcription: 'Dysshys at the bankett in Lyncolns Inne tempore Nativitatis anno supradicto Bowys R hawkeyns and wode jun⟨ior⟩ tunc senescallis In primis creme of almayns . Jelys . tarte prune . wardons and oryngis baken . and marche payne redde wyne claret wyne and whyte wyne treheroun tunc marschall

The names in this account of the Christmas feast seem to correspond to members of Lincoln's Inn described in the Black Books of Lincoln's Inn in the years 1517-1520:

  • 'Bowys' is probably the 'Bowes' who was called to the Bar in 1518 (see Black Book, vol. 1, p. 188)
  • 'R hawkeyns' may be the Richard Hawkyns who with a Henry Parker was awarded in 1520 'the chamber Master Goodman' after Goodman's death (see Black Book, vol. 1, p.193)
  • 'wode' is probably the 'Wode' who was elected a govenor of Lincoln's Inn on All Saints Day 1518 (see Black Book, vol. 1, p. 187)
  • 'treheroun' is almost certainly the 'Treheyron' who was elected Marshall on All Saints Day 1518 (see Black Book, vol. 1, p. 187)

See Baker and Ringrose for further information.

Black Books of Lincoln's Inn printed in The Records of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn: The Black Books Vol. 1. From A.D. 1422 to A.D. 1586 (1887)
24.8. 209v
Note on the delivery of some court rolls in 1519
Language(s): Middle English

Note on the 1519 delivery of some court rolls of Standlake and East Claydon written by Edward Cushyn to a Harry Chauncy , auditor to Henry Parker, Lord (10th Baron Morley) .

24.9. 209v
Notes on two fines
Language(s): Latin

Notes on two fines levied in 1520.

24.10. 209v
Note on a common recovery
Language(s): Latin

Note on a common recovery of 1513 concerning various lands in which Cushyn was acting as a trustee.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r tenant in fee taill
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in folio . Folios 1-25: watermark unclear, perhaps 'ihs' enclosed in a circular frame ( 45 × 40 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Folios 26-72 and 132-153: bull's head with a star on an antenna between the horns ( 65 × 25 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Folios 74-93: unicorn at bay ( 100 × 35 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Closest in style to Briquet nos. 10013-10050; Baker and Ringrose draw attention to Briquet nos. 10013-10017 in particular. Folios 115-130: shield ( 76 × 34 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Closest in style to Briquet no. 1748 according to Baker and Ringrose. Folios 94-113: unicorn at bay ( 100 × 35 mm. ) Closest in style to Briquet nos. 10013-10050; Baker and Ringrose draw attention to Briquet nos. 10013-10017 in particular and shield ( 76 × 34 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Closest in style to Briquet no. 1748 according to Baker and Ringrose. This quire is comprised of leaves from two separate paper stocks. Folios 154-175: hand and cuff ( 75 × 30 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Baker and Ringrose note that this particular example is not in Briquet. Folios 176r-197v: anchor ( 72 × 45 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Closest in style to Briquet no. 357 according to Baker and Ringrose and jug with cross above ( 75 × 30 mm. ), in the centre of the folio and nimbed lamb and flag ( 45 × 45 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Closest in style to Briquet nos. 14-18. Also unidentified mark, in the centre of the folio. Folios 198-209: shield with two bends ?potent and a ?t below ( 72 × 40 mm. ), in the centre of the folio. Similar to Briquet no. 1044
Extent: Codex: 200 leaves. 280 × 200 mm.
Foliation:

16th-century foliation (first half)

i-lxii (for ff. 74-136)

A section of the manuscript has a contempary foliation sequence in ink in Roman minuscules in the upper margin of ff. 74-136; these leaves are foliated as i-lxii.

Collation

Irregular quires of between 14 and 26 leaves arranged as follows:

  • Quire 126-1 (1st leaf excised, probably blank; ff. 1-25)
  • Quire 224 (ff. 26-49)
  • Quire 324-1 (24th leaf excised, probably blank; ff. 50-72)
  • Quires 4-520 (ff. 74-113)
  • Quire 618-3 (1st, 11th and 18th leaves missing; ff. 115-123, 125-130)
  • Quires 7-822 (ff. 132-175)
  • Quire 922-5 (12th-15th and 21st leaves excised, probably blank; ff. 176-186, 191-195, 197)
  • Quire 1014-2 (10th and 11th leaf missing; ff. 198-209)

Leaf signatures (Roman numerals only), written in ink in the bottom left-hand corner of the verso side of leaves in the first halves of each quire (Quires 1-7); some lost to trimming or damage to the leaves. Leaf signatures ('f/s' and Roman numerals) in ink in Roman minuscules in the lower outer corner of the rectos in the first halves of each quire, written in ink (Quires 8-9).

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

 Catchwords present in most quires, in the lower right-hand corner of the verso side of the last leaf; mostly cropped away, sometimes only ascenders now visible.

Condition

In good condition. Modern repairs with conservation silk and tissue to some particularly ragged fore edges. Some leaves have minor staining and tearing but text is mostly legible. Some marginal annotations, particularly structural signs (e.g., leaf signatures, catchwords, etc) lost to cropping.

Layout

195 × 130 mm. Ruled in hardpoint, frame and lines. Ruled and written almost entirely in single-column format, 25-42 lines to the leaf, written below top-line.

Hand(s)

Written in the anglicana style of cursiva antiquior by several different scribes.

Folios 205-209 written by Edward Cushyn in the anglicana style of cursiva antiquior.

Decoration

Decorative embellishment for the opening initial and ascenders on the top line of most leaves ff. 1-68, and occasonally for the topmost lines on a leaf, and the opening lines of subdivisions of the texts thereafter.

History

Origin: 15th century (probably the first quarter). ; England.

Part 2 - Fragment of preaching material reused as a pastedown [Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2994, f. 212]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 212r
Scriptural quotations and paraphrases
Language(s): Latin

Leftmost column of text, and first 11 lines of the second column

2. 212r-212v
De miseria condicionis humanae Pope Innocent III
Language(s): Latin

Book I, chs 7-10, 15-17 visible, but the text of chs 15-17 appears to be arranged in a nontypical order.

Second column of text on f. 212, from ll. 12 seq to bottom of second column on 212v.

3. 212v
Notes for preaching including quotations about the organisation of monastic hierarchies
Language(s): Latin

Third and fourth columns on f. 212v

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Fragment, comprising a flattened bifolium from a 14th century manuscript reused as the right pastedown and subsequently lifted. 1 leaf 272 × 195 mm.

Collation

A flattened bifolium, positioned as a single leaf rotated 90° in its present situation in this manuscript

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

 No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

Former right pastedown, now lifted and situated as a free leaf (f. 212) at the end of the volume. Significant adhesive staining on what is now the verso of the flattened bifolium; legibility of some text compromised.

Layout

168 × 105 mm. Note that this description refers to one half of the now flattened bifolium (i.e., what would have been a single page in the original manuscript context of the leaf). Ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in two-column format, 40 visible lines to the column. Dimensions of written space are approximate and based on the remaining visible text as text has been lost from the leaf.

Hand(s)

Written in a northern textualis libraria; 'main' text and 'commentary' differentiated by the use of a thicker pen and a darker ink for the 'main' text.

Decoration

No significant decorative features.

Additions

Minor scribbles and pen trials on f. 212r.

History

Origin: 14th century. ; ?England.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws extensively on the description provided by John Baker and Jayne Ringrose, Catalogue of English Legal Manuscripts in Cambridge University Library (1996) (used here by kind permission of the Boydell Press). Readers of this catalogue record are strongly encouraged to consult Baker and Ringrose for further information about this item.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Custodial History

The manuscript was displayed as part of the exhibition Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World (Cambridge University Library, 29 March-6 December 2025) (ff. 205v-206r, displayed until 21 July only).

Bibliography

    A catalogue of English legal manuscripts in Cambridge University Library, with codicological descriptions of the early manuscripts, Baker, J.H.Ringrose, J.S. (Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 1996) Summary catalogue of the additional medieval manuscripts in Cambridge University Library acquired before 1940 Summary catalogue, Ringrose, Jayne (Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 2009)

Funding of Cataloguing

Wellcome

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

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