Ranulph Higden — 15th century, beginning; English

Title

Ranulph Higden — 15th century, beginning; English

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 545

Place of origin

English

Date

15th century, beginning

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Binding

19th-century calf binding.

Acquisition

Part of his second donation to the Bodleian, 1636.

Provenance

Thomas Crofts of Westhall, Suffolk, -1474 (for whom see W. Copinger, Manors of Suffolk (1905-11), II.154): see below.

Given by him to Richard Mutford of the Cistercian abbey of St Mary the Virgin, Sibton, Suffolk, and afterwards to the abbey. (Erased): '? Hunc librum Thomas Crofftis de Westhale [MLGB3 'Drosthale'] armiger ob sinceram devocionem dedit deo et beate Marie virginis et monasterio de Sybeton ita quod dominus Ricardus Muttforde monachus dicti monasterii de Sybeton istum librum ad placitum habeat in usum et occupacionem tempore vite sue et tandem remancipetur monasterio beate Marie de Sybeton' (fol. 8r, as transcribed MLGB3) (MLGB3: evidence from an ex-libris inscription or note of gift to an institution).

London, Franciscan convent (?): 'fratris Ambrosii Kelle' (fol. 8v). For Kelle, student at Oxford, 1507, cursor at the London Franciscans c. 1514, see Emden, BRUO 1501-1540, p. 326. He also owned Oxford, Bodleian MSS Bodley 429, Douce 329, and Oxford, Corpus Christi College, MS 182. (MLGB3: evidence from an inscription of ownership by an individual member of a religious house (which may not, however, be evidence for institutional ownership)).

'Petrus Hobard de Donington' (16th century, struck through, fol. ii verso)

Richard St George, -1635 (ex libris, struck through, fol. ii verso). (MLGB3)

William Laud, 1636 (fol. 1r)

Title

Ranulph Higden, Polichronicon

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 545

Date

15th century, beginning

Language

Latin

Physical facet

19th century calf binding

Physical extent

209 Leaves

Custodial history

On f. 8 an erased inscription, approximately thus: 'Hunc librum Thomas | Crofftis de Drosthale Armiger | ob sinceram devocionem dedit | Deo et beate marie virgini et | monasterio de Sybeton ita quod dns Ricardus Muttforde monachus dicti monasterii de Sybeton istum | librum ad placitum habeat in vsum | et occupacionem tempore vite sue | et tandem remancipetur monasterio | beate marie de Sybeton.' Once belonged to sir Richard St. George. Manuscript 2254 acquired by the Bodleian Library