Ranulf Higden, Thomas Walsingham — 1394 × 1397; English, Norwich

Title

Ranulf Higden, Thomas Walsingham — 1394 × 1397; English, Norwich

Shelfmark

MS. Bodl. 316

Place of origin

English, Norwich

Date

1394 × 1397

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

185 fols.

Decoration

Fine historiated border.

Fine initial (partly damaged).

Miniature of the Trinity and a kneeling monk, fol. 8.

Illuminated border with historiated initial and coat of arms (on a field argent a cross sable)

Illuminated initials.

Acquisition

Bibliothecase Bodleianae liber ex dono magistri Thomae Hughes, probably mr. Thomas Hughes of Wadham and St Mary Hall, M.A. 1639; donated before c. 1646 (Summary Catalogue I, pp. 112–13).

Provenance

Written after 1394 (internal evidence in Walsingham's chronicle) and before the death of its owner Thomas, duke of Gloucester, in 1397. For the volume's production by a professional, probably in Norwich, see J. Willoughby, Libaries of the Secular Colleges, pp. pp. 388–9, 394–5.

Originally produced for Norwich Cathedral Priory (?): arms of the priory, fol. 8, and Norwich Cathedral pressmark in BL, Harley MS. 3634 fols. 137–163r (Sandler, Gothic Manuscripts 1285–1385 II, p. 166).

Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloucester (d. 1397)

Given by him to the collegiate church of the Holy Trinity, Pleshey: fol. 2r, Orate pro Thoma duce Gloucestrie qui me dedit huic Cantarie Siue Collegie Sancte trinitatis infra Castrum de Plecy.

Pleshey College inventory of 1528, SC283.22

Fol. 1v, W.R., with ram's head and quatrefoils, 16th century.