FG/1/5

FG/1/5

File

Statutes and Other Documents Relating to Salisbury, 16th century

Miscellanea et Statuta quod Sarum

16th century

1 volume

An inscription on the inside front cover records its ownership in the 19th century and details of its original binding and also contains the note that the contents were first summarised in the 1870 First Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission 'but with several mistakes' [copy of report retained with the volume]. An ownership mark records that the volume was at one time in the possession of Bishop John Wordsworth. Information provided by June Effemey: This manuscript contains copies of some charters of the 11th century relating to St Osmund and the Cathedral at Old Sarum, including the Magna Carta Osmundi (folios 4,15,28, 29, 30), and copies of Royal, Papal and Episcopal charters of the 12th century, including charters of Matilda, King Stephen, Henry I (folios 16 and 19), the 13th century (folios 1, 3, 16-18, 20, 21, 22), and the 14th century (folios 13,14, 26, 27). 11th and 12th century material – statutes and charters – relates to the foundation of the Cathedral at Old Sarum, and reference to some land held there, and includes a list of bishops. Copies of 13th century and later material relates to the operation of New Sarum cathedral with its clergy and treasury, repair of properties in Salisbury Cathedral Close, the appointment of a janitor for the Cathedral Close, the Dean and Chapter, ordinations, and prebends. The majority of the text relates to the 15th century (including folios 2, 8-12, 23-25, 31-38), and material includes a long section of detailed information regarding visitations of the Dean to numerous churches within the diocese, including in various prebends, as well as in Hungerford, Woburn and Longleat, in 1480 (folios 41-49, 55-117). A will of a 15th century resident of Stratford appears on folios 106-7. The 16th century is represented on folio 39. The original manuscript seems to be written in the early 16th century, probably in the reign of Henry VIII, but in the 19th century it was re-arranged; original folios are interspersed with 19th century folios with annotations and partial transcriptions – also in Latin - which function to explain the original text. The 19th century annotations note when certain charters can be found in other sources, and if they have been published they give the references for those published works, which include: The Register of St Osmund, Hatcher and Benson’s History, Pierce’s Constitutions, and Statutes of Salisbury Cathedral. There is a section where extracts from an article from The Gentleman’s Magazine, on the Magna Carta of Bishop Osmund, which were reprinted in the 1852 Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine, and which include translation of the 11th century text, have been pasted opposite the relevant folios of this 16th century copy of St Osmund’s charter (folios 15, 28-30). The 19th century insertions include a schematic chronological contents list at the beginning, and a (geographical) index at the end, which is very useful for navigating through the assembled miscellaneous material. There are 13 loose item mostly letters concerning the volume including a number from Neil Kerr. Translations by Miss Pamela Stewart of folios 41-48 (visitation of John Bostok, 1483) and folios 60-106 (visitation by Dean John Davyson, 1480) are available.

Latin
English

Material: paper Binding: calf on boards

Wordsworth, John
Kerr, Neil