A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Bodl. 454

Summary Catalogue no.: 2409

Contents

Documents (copies) relating to the suppression of the order of Knights Templars in England, Ireland, and Scotland, 1307–1310

Full edition and translation: The Proceedings Against the Templars in the British Isles, 2 vols, ed. and tr. Helen J. Nicholson (Farnham: Ashgate, 2011)

The chief contents are:

(fol. 1, which is torn) Proceedings at a Court held at London, October 20 1309-March 18 1309/10, in which are recited the bull of Pope Clement V, Aug. 12, 1307

(fol. 4) A letter of Robert Winchelsey, archbishop of Canterbury, September 22 1309, again reciting the bull

(fol. 7) 88 articles against the Templars

(fols. 9r-9v) A citation to the archdeacon of London, Oct. 8, 1309, with its acknowledgement

(fols. 12, 59v) The detailed examination of accused and witnesses, etc.

(fol. 58) 'Nomina Templariorum missorum ad Turrim Londoniensem de diuersis comitatibus'

(fols. 63v, 160) 28 new articles against the Templars, with further examinations of individuals at London, Jan., March, and June 1310:

(fol. 103) Similar proceedings at Lincoln, June 1310, with a further examination in London of the Lincoln Templars:

(fol. 125) Similar proceedings at York, May 1310:

(fol. 134) Similar proceedings in Ireland, March 1309/10:

(fol. 155) Similar proceedings in Scotland, Dec. 1309.

Language(s): Latin

Nicholson, p. xvi, points out that fol. 159* contains extracts from an Anglo-Norman version of the Templars' rule.

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: iv + 176 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 11.125 × 7.75 in.

History

Origin: c. 1310 ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Norwich, Norfolk, Benedictine cathedral priory of Holy Trinity (?) : "L.XLIII" (top of fol. 1r in centre); not like any other Norwich pressmark. M. R. James, Norfolk Archaeol. 19, no. 99. (MLGB3: inferred evidence).

"Academiae Oxon. Jo. Brydgeman D. D. 30 July 1614."

Record Sources

Description adapted (Oct. 2022) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1922), with additional reference to secondary literature as cited.

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2022-10-16: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1922)