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Photographs, accompanied by notes and correspondence of manuscripts, collected by Cyril Ernest Wright c1933-1972. The first section of the collection contains papers, plates, photocopies, photographs, translations and notebooks containing notes of certain Middle English manuscripts held in The British Library, Oxford Bodleian Library, Durham Cathedral and Cambridge University Library. There are also some items of correspondence concerning Middle English Manuscripts (1948-1977). The second section contains photographs taken from Italian Renaissance manuscripts, notebooks of notes concerning manuscripts in various Dutch, Italian and English libraries and museums. Section 3 contains photographs of manuscripts, plates and proofs for Fontes Harleiani: a Study of the Sources of the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum. In the final section of the collection is a list of Harley Manuscripts in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Library.

Letter from Joseph Rayner Stephens of Stalybridge, Lancashire to an unspecified recipient, 6 Aug 1853. 'I am afraid it will not be in my power to comply with your request [to sell or give away some of his father's letters]. Continuing that he will try to obtain an autograph of his father's [John Stephens].

Autograph, with signature.

Papers of Seymour Montefiore Robert Rosso de Ricci (1881-1942) comprising: Volume of letters from various correspondents and notes concerning the compilation of de Ricci's Bibliotecha Britannica Manuscripta, a proposed comprehensive work on manuscript material in Great Britain, which was never completed, 1934-1955; thirty-four boxes containing over 64,000 index cards giving bibliographic references to archive and manuscript collections in the United Kingdom, listed alphabetically by town, institution and/or college, along with cards giving details of manuscripts held by collectors and dated sales, arranged alphabetically and chronologically.

Eleven miniatures, probably cut from the first leaves of a psalter, illustrating scenes from the life of Christ. The subject of each is as follows: Annunciation, Nativity, Annunciation to the Shepherds, Adoration of the Magi, the Last Supper, Flagellation of Christ, Christ Crucified, Women at the Sepulchre, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Death of the Virgin.

Papers of Robert G Philip, [c1930-1950], comprising an unpublished work titled A ninth century view of Christ, based on the Anglo-Saxon poem Heliand. The manuscript comprises analysis followed by a translation of the poem.

Correspondence of John Henry Pyle Pafford with Dr. Hunt re MS Ashmore 208 and related matters, with facsimiles, transcripts and newscuttings.

Notebook containing a list of books, chiefly on the subject of mediaeval illuminated manuscripts, and notes on individual manuscripts, compiled ?1950.

Signature of Sir Francis George Newbolt, in pencil, on a printed dinner menu of the Norwegian Club. The dinner was held on 3 Dec 1930 at which time Newbolt was Vice-President of the Club, and took the chair.

Letter from William Frend De Morgan of 1 The Vale, Kings Road, [Chelsea], London to [R A Rye], the Goldsmith's Librarian, University of London, [Nov 1911]. Covering letter for 2 boxes and a parcel of miscellaneous manuscripts of Professor Augustus De Morgan.

Autograph, with signature.

Five fragments of Latin mediaeval manuscripts, formerly pastedowns, details as follows:

1. Fragment of a leaf containing part of a legal tract entitled Judicium Essoniorum relating to the procedure at assizes, dating from the 13th century. The text has variants and is in places abbreviated from that printed in G.E. Woodbine Four thirteenth century law tracts (New Haven, 1910). The text corresponds to the pp 119-20 of Woodbine's edition, where the composition of the work is attributed to Ralf de Hengham and the date of the composition put at 1267-1275.
2. and 3. Two consecutive leaves containing extracts from Part II of Gratian's Decretum, comprising Causa XXVI, quest. VII 16, to Causa XXVII, quest. I 19, on penance and the marriage of those who had sworn chastity. There is a glossary in a different hand and ink, with each section preceded by a symbol corresponding to one in the text. The leaves are possibly Italian and 14th century.
3. Leaf, foliated 109, in a late 14th century hand, containing part of Lib. XLII, 8, 1-10, of the Digestum Novum, relating to restitution to deceived creditors. With a glossary and marginal and interlineal annotations in several 13th-14th century hands. The fragment is probably English.
4. Fragment from the head of a bifolium, containing part of a commentary on Aristotle's De Anima Book III, heavily glossed and annotated in several 13th century hands. The fragment is probably English and early 13th century.

Medieval manuscript fragments formerly used as pastedowns, as follows:

1. Fragment of a leaf containing part of an abridgement of Seneca's De Beneficiis. Contains a complete paragraph beginning 'Iam vero transeamus' and ending 'deinde benficium' (corresponding to Book II, 18-19, p.36, line 26, to p.39, line 12 of the Teubner 1900 edition). The manuscript was written in the mid-12th century, and there are corrections and additional punctuation in a 12th-13th century hand.
2. Fragment of a leaf containing part of St Jerome's Epistola ad Paulum, headed LIII (53), from halfway through paragraph 7 'mundum ad poenitentiam' to the end, and the first few words of the Prologue to the Pentateuch (ending 'Latratibus patens'). The manuscript was probably written in France during the second half of the 13th century.
3. Fragment of a leaf containing Book III, 6 and 7, of the Clementinae, on testaments and burials. With gloss and annotations in a 14th century hand. The manuscript was probably written in Germany in the 14th century, and is also inscribed in a 16th century hand 'Francoise de Pont femme a Monsieur Jehan George Pipon faict avec Madame Monet Perrot sa femme'.
4. Fragment of a leaf containing part of the sanctorale from a Missal of Roman use, from the epistle of the Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) to the introit for the feast of St Agapitus (18 Aug), only the mass for St Laurence (17 Aug) being complete. The manuscript was probably written in Italy during the 14th century.

Box of medieval manuscript fragments.

Letter to Lord Carlisle, 1911, regarding work on the Lanercost Chronicle, a medieval chronicle on the history of Scotland.

Letter from Walter de la Mare to J H P Pafford, Goldsmiths' Librarian, University of London

(1) Letter from Walter de la Mare of 4 South End House, Montpelier Row, Twickenham to J H P Pafford, Goldsmiths' Librarian, University of London, 12 Dec 1948. Offering to inscribe any books sent to his daughter and son-in-law's home in Buckinghamshire.

(2) Letter from Walter de la Mare of The Old Park, Penn, Buckinghamshire to J H P Pafford, Goldsmiths' Librarian, University of London, 18 Dec 1948. 'I am returning separately the six books you sent me, & it has been a pleasure to put my name in them'.

Both letters are autograph, with signatures.

The collection contains diaries, account books, correspondence, watercolours, photographs, genealogical notes, legal papers, printed material and other miscellaneous items of Thomas Herbert Lewin and his immediate family, accumulated between 1788-1926, notably official papers relating to his military and administrative work in India, diaries, scrapbooks and philological and literary manuscripts, correspondence, articles and reviews on his publications, photographs and sketches by him, genealogical papers collected by him, notebooks and journals and miscellaneous other items. There are also papers of other members of the Lewin family.

Documents relating to land tenure in Calais, 1420-1499, as follows:

1. Conveyance, dated 9 March 1420, between Henry Morton of Calais and John Baxter, burgher of Calais, and Richard Newerk, of a cottage in Hemp Street, St Mary's parish, Calais, which Morton had inherited from Robert Clyderowe by the latter's will of 2 Oct 1419. Abuttals given. Seal of Morton, on a parchment tag cut from a deed relating to Calais mentioning the following names: John Basing and Thomas Mysterton; fragment of the seal of the Mayoralty of Calais.
2. Two halves of an indenture, dated 22 June 1435, by which Henry Bywell, also known as Topclyf, burgher of Calais, sold to Hugh Wychard, baker of Calais, a tenement in the parish of St Mary, Calais. The terms of the sale were recorded in another document; this indenture recorded the right of the vendor to occupy the property until the buyer should require it. Seals of the parties do not survive. The indenture was cut through the words 'Thomas Rygon'.
3. Conveyance, dated 21 Jan 1499, between Richard Walden and Jacob Yerford, merchant of the staple of Calais, of a tenement in the parish of St Nicholas, Calais. Walden appointed Thomas Barton, merchant of the staple of Calais, his attorney in the transaction. Seals of Walden and the Mayoralty of London, on a parchment tag cut from a deed drawn up in the name of George Nevill, knight, 'dominus Berge[vaun?]y'.

Manuscript legal commonplace book compiled c 1708 as an index to cases, with headings arranged alphabetically. Probably compiled by Henry Jacomb of the Inner Temple, whose name is inscribed on the first leaf.

Manuscript legal commonplace book compiled between the Hilary term 1683 and September 1684, with additions up to c 1698, and a printed index added in 1680, entitled A brief method of the law. Being an exact alphabetical disposition of all the heads necessary for a perfect common-place useful to all students and professors of the law. A pencilled note on the first leaf suggests that the manuscript was 'probably the property of Mr Serjeant Baynes - if not made by him', on the basis of a letter, wanting, addressed to Baynes and dated 1 Jan 1706. It could not, in fact, have been compiled by John Baynes, serjeant-at-law of the Inner Temple, but could perhaps have been the work of his father of the same name and inn of court.

Letter from Sir Osbert Lancaster of Flat 2, 12 Eaton Square, London to [Dr John Henry Pyle Pafford], 22 Jun [1945-1967]. Agreeing to autograph a book for the University of London Library.

5 letters from Montague James Rhodes of The Lodge, Eton College to Dr [Charles] Singer, Mar-Apr 1929. On topics connected with medieval manuscript studies. Referring to the Aberdeen University Library Bestiary, saying: 'I don't supposed I shall pay much heed to bestiaries now' [i.e. since the publication of his edition of The Bestiary (1928)].

All letters are autograph, with signatures.

Documents, mostly British but including Spanish, French, Italian, Imperial and Papal documents, of 13th-20th centuries, acquired chiefly for their seals. There are some detached seals, proofs and casts.

Two fragments of a medieval Dutch manuscript, subsequently used to re-inforce a binding, and containing part of a treatise on the Mass. The manuscript dates from the 14th century and is written in Flemish.

Formulary book containing drafts of documents recited in the forms of (i) subscribers' agreement for the Cork, Middleton and Gongle Railway, (ii) deed of settlement for the National Endowment and Assurance Society, and (iii) deed of regulation of the Liverpool and Manchester Fish Company of 1836. Probably dating from 1841.

Manuscript volume containing part of a formulary (items numbered 17-42) of private deeds, [1600], including the following types: Bargain & Sale, Lease, Agreement, Recognisance, Award, Gift and Inquisition Post Mortem (the last two types in Latin).

1. A miscellaneous collection of orders, receipts and warrants for payment issued by various departments of the Exchequer, with letters of assignment and attorney relating to those who had financial dealings with the Exchequer, 1670-1774. From the mutilated state of some items, the documents appear to have been collected for their autograph interest. Signatories mainly comprise senior politicians and statesmen connected with the Exchequer, notably Prime Ministers, Chancellors and Lord Treasurers.
2. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1728-1846, also collected for its autograph interest. They comprise:
   a) An Ordnance Office Order of 21 May, 1728, to issue from the Tower powder and shot for six months' exercise to the first Regiment of Foot Guards, signed by John Armstrong, George Gregory, Leonard Smelt, T. White and Charles Wills. It is accompanied by a note of delivery, 24 May, 1728, signed by Leonard Welsted. (2 leaves. 12½" x 8").
   b) Letter from Commodore Thomas Collingwood, written from Grafton Gros, Islet Bay in St Lucia on 27 January, 1780, to Thomas Shirley announcing the delivery by James Gordon of 34 puncheons of rum to be supplied to the ships. (Single sheet, 13" x 8").
   c) Late 18th century notes on the church of Bowers Gifford and Bowers Hall Manor, Essex, with particular reference to the Boughton family. The final leaf bears a postmark and is addressed to 'Mr. Thorne, senr., at Mistress Spenloves, Silk Mercer, Cornhill, London'. (4 leaves. 14½" x 9").
   d) Letter of 19 Oct 1800, written at Mount Juliet, Thomastown, from Somerset Lowry-Corry, Viscount Corry, later 2nd Earl Belmore, to William Leader of Liquor Pond Street, London, concerning the acquisition of a carriage. The letter requires him to 'put in hands for me immediately a chaise with a box to take on and off so that it may be either used as a street carriage or for travelling. I should wish it to be very complete and finished in the highest manner - The Butler arms must be quartered with mine on...it'. This letter was written on the eve of Lord Corry's marriage, by special licence, at Mount Juliet, to Juliana, daughter of Henry Thomas Butler, 2nd Earl of Carrick. (2 leaves. 9¼" x 7¼").
   e) Letter from Samuel Whitbread, dated 18 Jan 1801, to Mr. Lucas, coachmaker, Liquor Pond Street, [perhaps concerning the coach mentioned above]. (Single sheet. 4½ x 7½").
   f) Letter from Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne, 26 Apr 1802, ordering 'One pair of riding breeches [from] Joseph Porter'. (Single sheet. 4½ x 6").
   g) Letter from Edmund Boyle, 8th Earl of Cork, written in St. Albans on 18 Jul 1803, to Mr. Lucas, coachmaker, Liquor Pond Street, arranging for him to call. There are some pencilled notes below. (2 leaves. 9" x 7¼").
   h) Agreement, made 16 Feb 1811, between Ron[ald] Campbell, Major in the 72nd regiment, Charles Decoetlogon, H. Irwin, John Moody, Joseph Reed and Thomas Stones, prize agents, to share equally in the 'emoluments and advantages arising from the prize agency for the capture of the Isle of France. (2 leaves. 13" x 7¾").
   i) Letter from Joseph Coppock, written at Sandfords Library, Plymouth Dock, on 17 Sep 1817, to Messrs. Clarksons, solicitors, Essex Street, Strand, London, mentioning the affairs of Mr. A.N. Earl(e), and arranging for a call to be made on 'Mr. Holt, the accountant for stores at the Victualling Office...to sign your name to a letter of application I made to the Board in your name for duplicate certificates some time ago...'. (2 leaves. 9" x 7½").
   j) Weekly return of coals, candles and brooms issued to the 71st Regiment from 12-18 February, 1821, at the New Infantry Barracks, Canterbury. Lists names of officers supplied. Signed Joseph William Dutie, 'D.M.' and A. Jones, Major commanding the 71st Regiment. (Single sheet. 12½" x 8").
   k) Printed broker's receipt of 28 May, 1846, for Consolidated 3% Annuities sold on behalf of Miss Eliza Wardell and John Froggatt, esq., executors of J.A. Wardell, esq. Signed by John Bull, broker. (Single sheet. 3" x 8").

Manuscript volume containing a metrical chronicle composed by the Chandos Herald in French verse, commemorating the life and feats of arms of Edward the Black Prince, [1385]. The poem is a valuable authority for certain events of the Hundred Years War, and gives a brief description of Edward III's French campaign of 1346, culminating in the Battle of Crecy, and followed by the Battle of Calais, with some details of the plot for the recovery of the latter at the end of 1349. Next comes a very detailed description of the Battle of Poitiers (1356), and an eyewitness account of the Spanish Campaign of the Black Prince on behalf of Don Pedro (Peter) of Castile, culminating in the Battle of Nejera (1367). A brief overview is given of the end of the Black Prince's government in Gascony, and of the war which led to the loss of almost all the possessions gained at Brétigny, followed by a comprehensive account of the last years of the Prince's life. After the poem, the author also gives a list of the chief officers of the Black Prince in Aquitaine, and copy of the epitaph on his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral.

The manuscript contains a full-page miniature illuminated in gold and colours, which is divided into two compartments. The upper compartment contains a representation of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity; God the Father is here portrayed in a blue robe on a background of gold. He is seated on a throne and holds in His extended arms a crucifix, above which a dove is introduced to symbolise the Holy Ghost. In the lower compartment the Black Prince is depicted kneeling in adoration on a red cushion. His hands are joined in prayer, and his special devotion to the Holy Trinity is indicated by a scroll proceeding from his mouth bearing the words 'Et hec tres unum sunt' (1 John v.7). The Prince is clad in armour, covered by a tight-fitting leather jupon without sleeves, finished along the bottom edge with a border of escallops, and emblazoned with the arms of England and France. He wears a sword and dagger, golden elbow and knee cops, and golden spurs. On each side of the kneeling Prince, standing in a golden socket, is a large ostrich feather in silver, his personal badge assumed after the Battle of Crecy, with the motto 'Ich dene' on a scroll below. The text of the poem commences on the next page with a large illuminated initial O, containing the Royal Arms emblazoned, and this leaf is surrounded by a border of strap work and flowers in gold and colours. There are also a number of small initial letters in gold on a coloured background.

Diurnal (Winter part only), created in Bavaria in 1428, and including the Temporale from the first Sunday in Advent to Easter Sunday; the Sanctorale from St Andrew to Saint Ambrose; the Communale; psalms, hymns and prayers for the day hours; hymns for Advent and to named saints; and prayers in a later hand. A later paper quire added at the end of the volume contains Psalm 4 and prayers.
Folio 70 is inscribed 'Explicit diurnale partis vernalis in vigili Sancte Barbare sub anno domini MCCCCXXVIII per manus Tedrici...capellani in Lype...'.
The diurnal was written in 3 separate hands; there are notes in the margins, flyleaves and endpapers, probably added at the same time as the paper quire by an early owner.

Bifolium containing descriptions of libelli and sentences relating to marriage, with a discussion of possessio implicata. The manuscript was probably written in Italy in the first half of the 14th century.

Six illustrated manuscripts by the artist Walter Crane, including three notebooks produced for his children - 'Beatrice Crane Her Book', 'Beatrice's Painting Book' and 'Lancelot His Book'. Also includes the manuscripts for two published works 'The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde' and 'Thoughts in a Hammock' and 'A Herald of Spring', and drawings for an unpublished version of the traditional ballard 'The Blind Beggar's Daughter'.

Manuscript Commonplace Book of English poetry and prose, dating from the 19th century, containing the second half of a long poem on early biblical history 'continued from the book in white forrel', and other items. Inserted is a folded leaf containing two poems, one dated 1834, by W. C. Yonge, who may have been the compiler of the volume.

Commonplace book, written in the early 19th century, containing copies of poems by various authors, including Mrs. R. Wilmot, the Reverend John Chetwood, and Eward Wilmot. The poems include 'To Miss Wilmot, now Mrs. Bradford, on her arrival from Russia' by F.S.I. (p.135), and 'Prologue written for the opening of the Lyceum at Madras 1782, spoken by Major Maule, by Eyles Irwin, Esq.' (p.245). A few poems are dated, 1782, 1788, 1802-1816.

Commonplace book.

Notes, papers, drawings and slides, mainly c1956-c1977, concerning medieval manuscripts with particular reference to the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Book of Hours written in the early 15th century in northern France, possibly Paris, and including a Calendar with additions in a late 15th century hand of Saints Nectan, Urith and a translation of Richard of Chichester, as well as 'dedicacio ecclesie de Towstock' (ff.1-6v); fifteen Hours, beginning abruptly 'memoriam harum ante crucem tuam passionem' (ff.7-9v, 15r-v, 10r-v); Commemoracio Georgi martyris (ff.11-11v); Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Use of Sarum), with the beginning of each Hour lost (ff.12-40v); Penitential psalms, beginning abruptly in Psalm 31, v. 5 'meam a domino et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei' (ff.41-46v); the fifteen Gradual Psalms (ff.46v-48v); Litany, ending abruptly (f.48v); prayers, beginning abruptly 'pretende super famulos tuos et super cunctas congregaciones' (ff.49-49v); the Office of the Dead, beginning abruptly in Vespers, Psalm 137 v. 2 'misericordia tua et ueritate' (ff.51-69v); commendatio animae, beginning abruptly in Psalm 118, v. 20 '...re justificaciones tuas in omni tempore' (ff.70-80v); and psalms of the Passion, beginning abruptly in Psalm 21, v. 17 '...as et pedes meos' (ff.81-84v). There are also medical recipes (ff.50, 50v, 84) and prayers (ff.37v, 84v) all in English added by several hands of the late 15th and 16th century.

Two consecutive vellum leaves from a Book of Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Roman use, containing part of the office of Lauds. Perhaps written in France in the 15th century.

Leaf, foliated LXX in a late 16th century hand, from an Antiphoner, containing part of the office for the Commemoration of St Paul (30 Jun). Written in Spain (or possibly Italy) in the late 16th century.

Fragment of a leaf from an antiphoner, formerly a fly-leaf in a binding, containing part of the common of a martyr. The fragment was written in north-east France in the 13th or 14th century.

Three vellum leaves, formerly paste-downs in the binding of of Omnia Opera by Angelo Ambrogini, called Poliziano (Venice, 1498), which was rebound in the twentieth century (Ref: Incunabula 1498 Strongroom), details as follows:

1. Leaf from a noted Missal, of Hereford Use, with part of the epistle, gradual, gospel, offertory, secret, communion and post-communion of the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, and the introit, epistle, gospel and secret of the 4th Sunday. The antiphons 'Timebunt gentes', 'Dextem domini' and 'Mirabantur omnes' have their musical notation. The fragment was written in Hereford, England, in the late 12th century. It is inscibed and extensively annotated by Maurice Birchinshaw (d 1564), and inscibed by Nathaniel Evans in the 17th century. It was later used as a cover for a manorial extent, and inscibed in a 16th-17th century hand 'A court of [surve]igh for the mannour of Much Markl (i.e. Much Marcle, Herefordshire], 35 of Eliz [1592/3]', and 'Extent of survey de Man. de Mark[le]'.
2. Bi-folium from an Antiphoner, with responds and versicles for the following feasts: St Mary Magdalene (22 Jul), St Peter ad vincula (1 Aug), St Laurence (10 Aug), Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) and Octave of the Assumption (22 Aug>). The fragment was written in the late 13th century.

Album inscribed 'To Blanche in loving memory of Nettie', 30 Sep 1900. The front cover is stamped with the initials J.C.B. and B.M.B. in the upper left and lower right corners respectively. Blue, pink or white pages with poems, watercolours and sketches; one oil painting on cardboard inserted (f.56). The dates range from 1899 to 1915, the majority of entries being of 1900-1905.