'Matthew of Westminster' — 14th century, second quarter (before 1352); English, Norwich

Title

'Matthew of Westminster' — 14th century, second quarter (before 1352); English, Norwich

Shelfmark

MS. Fairfax 20

Date

14th century, second quarter (before 1352)

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Provenance

Norwich, Norfolk, Benedictine cathedral priory of Holy Trinity: "Liber fratris Symonis Bozoun prioris [1344–1352] Norwic'" (fol. 13r). (MLGB3: evidence from an inscription of ownership by an individual member of a religious house (which may not, however, be evidence for institutional ownership)).

Title

A fragment of the Flores Historiarum

Shelfmark

MS. Fairfax 20

Summary

A fragment of the Flores Historiarum, formerly attributed to Matthew of Westminster, from the Creation to 635, based on the Chetham original (Rolls Series, Flor. Hist. i, p. xxix), and written at Norwich before 1352.

The chronicle is preceded, as in the Royal MS. 14 C. VI and Cott. MS. Claud. E. viii in the British Museum, by miscellaneous matter including:

Fol. 1. a description of Rome: beg. 'Habet autem urbs Roma'

Fol. 3. a description of England, enumerating the shires, dioceses, archdeaconries, roads, languages, and kingdoms: beg. 'Anglia habet in longitudine'

Fol. 4. a short description of an inexpugnable castle in Armenia, and (ib.) an account of the seven marvels of the world: beg. 'Primum miraculum fuit Rome sic'

Fol. 4v. the well-known 'De mirabilibus Anglie': beg. 'Ventus egreditur de cauernis'

Fol. 5v. 'De viris illustribus quo tempore scripserunt', derived (as) from Ralph de Diceto

Fol. 6v. 'De denario sancti Petri que Romescot dicitur': beg. 'Gregorius episcopus seruus seruorum dei'

Fol. 7. an explanation of weights and measures, followed by interpretations of Old English legal terms

Fol. 7v. 'De modo coronacionis regis Ricardi': beg. 'In primis venerunt episcopi', as in Hoveden (Rolls Series, iii. 9)

Fol. 8. the prophecy of the Norman Conquest from Henry of Huntingdon (bk. vi, cap. I): beg. 'Anno gratie [et tempore added later] predixit gentibus'

Fol. 8v. letter of Hugh bishop of Coventry concerning the election of William bishop of Ely: beg. 'Que litterarum apicibus annotantur'

Fol. 10. 'De primo adventu in Yberniam', a composite narrative from Giraldus Cambrensis and Hoveden, as in the Royal MS. 14 C. VI

The chronicle is followed by:

Fol. 71. letters patent of Edward iii to Yarmouth, dated July 10 [1333], calendared in Calendar of Patent Rolls (1330-4), p. 316

Fol. 72. an extract from Domesday Book relating to Yarmouth, with notes on the liberties of the town to the time of Edward iii

Fol. 73. a fragment from Roger of Wendover (Rolls Series, ii. 188-9)

Fol. 73v. list of the priors of Norwich to 1344

Fol. 74. an index of persons and things, beginning at the letter E, with the years under which they are to be found

Fol. 81. a passage on early English history, 'Cur tanto furore dei iusticia in Anglos exarsit', and some historical prophecies in rhyming Latin verse (fol. 81v)

A table of contents by Charles Fairfax is on fol. 12v.

Date

Written about the 2nd quarter of the 14th century at Norwich

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment

Physical extent

82 Leaves

Custodial history

Fol. 13 has 'Liber fratris Symonis Bozoun prioris [1344-52] Norwic".