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

MS. Bodl. Rolls 6

Summary Catalogue no.: 2987

Contents

1.
Genealogy of the kings of England to Henry V

A genealogical history of the Kings of England, deducing their descent from Adam to Henry V

Incipit: (preface) Considerans historie Britonum Pictorum Scotorum Anglorum ... prolixitatem
Incipit: (text) In agro Damasceno formatus & in Paradisum '

In the margin occur short poems in praise of England:

Incipit: Anglia terra ferax
Incipit: Libera gens cui libera mens
Incipit: Insula prediues

The notices are fuller from the time of Egbert (membrane '9'), when the archbishops of Canterbury are given a separate column, and the families of the kings are noticed

The date '1424' of the compilation of this 'tabula' is on membrane '14'

At membrane '15', after the account of Edward I, is intercalated a French piece, and the kings of France are given in genealogical line, with notes of them from Philip III to Charles V

Rubric: Cest table monstre coment Roy Edward de Wyndesore deuoit de droit eistre Roy de France ...
Incipit: Pur declaracion auoir de cest table

With Edward III (membrane '16') the hand changes, the heraldry is more elaborate, and the biographical and historical notes longer, while some of the notes extend to c. 1440

Language(s): Latin and Anglo-Norman
2. (back of membranes '2'-'5')
Gervase of Canterbury, Mappa mundi

Notes on the religious houses of England and Scotland, preceded by a short account of the settling of England.

Incipit: Anglicane insule situs & temperies
Incipit: (text) Britannia igitur insularum optima

Under each county is given a list of abbeys, priories, and castles, in two 15th century hands

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: roll
Support: parchment
Extent: A roll of twenty-six membranes (one modern)
Dimensions (roll): 503 × c. 13.75 in.

Hand(s)

Written in several hands

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander iii. 926, Pl. LXXXIX

Good miniatures, e.g. Adam and Eve

Summary Catalogue: There are some illuminated medallions, and many coats of arms in colour, from Brutus onward

Summary Catalogue: a circular diagram of England divided among eight nations

Binding

In a cloth box 16.25 in. x 4.125 x 4.25 in.

History

Origin: 15th century, second quarter ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Very faintly visible: '⟨Ex dono⟩ Henrici S⟨avilii de⟩ Banke prope ⟨Halifax⟩ ' by bequest in 1617 (see p. 165 of no. 8620 Langbaine's Adversaria)

Record Sources

Description adapted (September 2023) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973)

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (26 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2023-09-06: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1922)