Add MS 48976

The Rous Roll.

An illustrated armorial roll-chronicle by John Rous (d. 1491), chantry priest of Guy''s Cliffe, in the county of Warwick , commemorating the benefactors of the town of Warwick and celebrating the deeds of holders of the Warwick earldom. Inscription on the dorse, ''This rol was laburd & finishid by Master John Rows of Warrewyk''.

The English roll is one of two versions of the roll-chronicle made by Rous; the other, in Latin, has been held at the College of Arms since 1786.

The roll contains 65 approximately half-page unframed pen drawings: above them are the coats of arms of the individuals depicted; and below are brief biographies.

The drawings are interspersed in several places by genealogical diagrams, written by a different hand to the biographical text.

Membrane 1:

The arms of Warwick on a painted shield suspended by straps from the branches of a tree; the words ''Arma Warrewici'' are on a scroll above the shield and at the foot of the tree lies a bear.

(1) Guthelinus, founder of Warwick, holding a walled town in his left hand, with his helm and crest alongside.

(2) Gwiderius, second founder of Warwick, holding an orb in his right hand and a walled town in his left hand.

(3) St Caradocus, restorer of Warwick, in long chain-mail, holding a church in his right hand and a sword and spear in his left hand, with two towns alongside.

(4) Constantinus, benefactor, holding a sceptre in his right hand and a walled town in his left hand, with two walled towns alongside.

(5) Gwayr, benefactor, holding a ragged staff in his right hand and a walled town in his left hand, and trampling his defeated foes underfoot.

(6) St Dubricus, Archbishop of Warwick, making a blessing with his right hand and holding two crosiers and crossed staff in his left hand, standing before a church adorned with the Virgin of Mercy (Schutzmantelmadonna) on a shield.

(7) Arthgallus, Earl of Warwick, in long chain-mail, holding a shield bearing a ragged staff in his right hand and a ragged staff in his left hand, and a bear at his feet.

(8) Morvidius, Earl of Warwick, in long chain-mail, holding a shield bearing a ragged staff on his right arm and clasping a ragged staff with both hands, and a bear at his feet.

(9) Marthrudus, Earl of Warwick, in long chain-mail, holding a shield bearing a ragged staff and a ragged staff, and a bear at his feet.

Membrane 2:

(10) Warremundus, name-sake of Warwick, holding a walled town in his right hand.

(11) Elfleda, benefactress, holding a walled town in her right hand.

(12) St Edward the Confessor, holding a sceptre in his right hand, with charters looped over his wrist, and a ring in his left hand.

(13) William the Conqueror, in chain-mail, holding a sword in his right hand and an orb in his left hand, with charters looped over his wrist, and trampling the defeated Harold under his feet. Harold''s left eye is pierced by an arrow.

(14) Maud, Empress of Rome, holding a sceptre in her right hand and an orb in her left hand, with charters looped over her wrist.

(15) King John, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand and an orb in his left hand, with charters looped over his wrist, and a lion at his feet.

(16) Edward IV, in armour, holding a sword in his right hand and a charter in his left hand, and a lion at his feet.

(17) Richard III, in armour, holding a sword in his right hand and Warwick Castle in his left hand, with a charter looped over his wrist, and a boar at his feet.

(18) Eneas, ancestor of the Earls of Warwick, in chain mail, holding a cup in his right hand, with chains looped over his wrist, and a shield in his left hand, which he is receiving from an angel. He is trampling an enemy, an accusor of his mother, under his feet.

Membrane 3:

(19) Rohand, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a shield, sword and lance.

(20) Felice, daughter of Rohand, wife of Sir Guy, Earl of Warwick, holding half a ring in her right hand and receiving the other half with her left hand from a kneeling herdsman.

(21) Guy, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a battle-axe in his right hand and a shield in his left, and a lion rampant pawing at his shield, and trampling three defeated enemies and a dragon underfoot.

(22) Gur, Earl of Warwick, in pilgrim''s dress, holding a staff in his right hand and a string of scallop shells in his left hand (symbolising pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela), in a garland and radiance around his head, and his helm and crest alongside, chained to his coat of arms above. He is trampling the Danish giant Colbrond under his feet; Colbrond''s shield bears an owl on a red field.

(23) Raiburn, Earl of Warwick, son of Felice and Guy, in chain-mail, holding a curved sword (chained to a head-piece) in both hands, trampling a decapitated giant under his feet.

(24) Wegeat, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a staff in his right hand, upon which is resting a helmet chained to his belt, and a charter in his left hand.

(25) Ufa, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a staff in his right hand, upon which is resting a helmet chained to his belt, and a charter in his left hand.

(26) Wolgeat, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a staff in his right hand, upon which is resting a helmet chained to his belt, and a charter in his left hand.

(27) Wygod, in chain-mail, holding a sword (chained to a head-piece) in his right hand and shield in his left hand.

Membrane 4

(28) Alwin, in chain-mail, holding a sword (chained to a head-pieve) in his right hand and a shield in his left hand.

(29) Thurkill, in chain-mail, holding a battle-axe in his right hand and a tower in his left hand, with a bow, arrows and a club at his feet.

(30) Margaret, daughter of Thurkill, with a building alongside.

(31) Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, husband of Margaret, in chain-mail and spurs, holding a lance in his right hand and a church in his left hand, with a sheild slung on his back, and a lion at his feet.

(32) Roger de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a sword in his right hand and a church in his left hand, with two other churches alongside, and a lion at his feet.

(33) William de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, holding a sword in his right hand and a church in his left hand, and a lion at his feet.

(34) Waleran de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword and a charter in his right hand and a panel on which a genealogical diagram is drawn in his left hand, and a lion at his feet.

(35) Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a shield in his right hand and a lance in his left-hand.

(36) Thomas de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and spurs and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand, his helm alongside.

Membrane 5:

(37) Margery, Countess of Warwick, in long cloak and gown, holding a charter in her left hand.

(38) John Mareschal, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand a shield in his left hand.

(39) John de Plessetis, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand, and a lion at his feet.

(40) Alician, daughter of Waleran (no attributes).

(41) William Maudit, Baron of Hanslope, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a lance in his left hand and a shield in his right, and a griffin at his feet.

(42) William Maudit, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand, and a griffin at his feet.

(43) Isabell Maudit, wife of William Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, holding a rosary in her right hand and a panel on which a genealogical diagram is drawn in her left hand, and a griffin at her feet.

(44) William de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a panel on which a genealogical diagram is drawn in his right hand and a lance in his left hand, and a lion at his feet.

(45) William Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a banner in his right hand and a church in his left hand, and a lion alongside.

Membrance 6:

(46) Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail, armour and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a church in his right hand and a banner in his left hand, trampling the decapitated Piers Gaveston under his feet.

(47) Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a castle and charter in his right hand and a verge (baton) in his left hand, and a muzzled bear at his feet, with a crowned child in a baptismal font alongside.

(48) Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in chain-mail and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a sword in his right hand and a chapel in his left hand, and a bear at his feet, with a church alongside.

(49) Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey, in armour and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a verge (baton) in his right hand and a sword in his left hand, and a hart gorged with ducal coronet at his feet (the device of Richard II).

(50) Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in armour and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a chapel in his right hand and the young King Henry VI in his left hand, together with a mace and Lancastrian collar, and a muzzled bear at his feet.

(51) Margaret, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, wife of John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, in a long-sleeved gown, veiled headdress and necklace.

(52) Eleanor, second daughter of Richard Beauchamp, wife of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, in a long-sleeved gown, veiled headdress and necklace.

(53) Elizabeth, third daughter of Richard Beauchamp, wife of George Neville, Lord Latimer, in a long-sleeved gown, veiled headdress and neckalce.

Membrane 7:

(54) Henry Beauchmp, Earl of Warwick, in armour and a tabard bearing his coat of arms, holding a verge (baton) in his right hand, with Lancastrian collar looped over his arm, and a lance in his left hand, and a chained bear at his feet.

(55) Anne Beauchamp, daughter of Henry, in a long-sleeved gown and necklace, and a bear at her feet.

(56) Anne Beauchamp, sister of Henry, in a long-sleeved gown, veiled headdress and necklace, and a bear at her feet.

(57) Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick in Anne''s right, the ''Kingmaker'', in armour, holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand, a bull and eagle at his feet, with two helms and crests alongside.

(58) Isabel, daughter of Neville, wife of George, Duke of Clarence, in a long-sleeved gown, veiled headdress and necklace, and a bear at her feet.

(59) George, Duke of Clarence, in armour, holding a sword in his right hand and a tower/castle in his left hand with a collar of suns and flowers looped over his wrist, and a dun cow at his feet.

(60) Edward, Earl of Warwick, son of Clarence, holding a sword in his right hand, and a dun cow and bear at his feet.

Membrane 8:

(61) Margaret, daughter of Clarence, in a long-sleeved gown, a dun cow and bear at her feet.

(62) Anne Neville, queen of Richard III, in a long-sleeved gown trimmed with ermine and wearing a crown, holding a sceptre in her right hand and an orb in her left hand, with heavenly hands offering two crowns, and a chained and muzzled bear at her feet.

(64) Richard III, in armour, holding a sword in his right hand and an orb in his left hand, a boar at his feet, and six helms and crests alongside.

(64) Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Richard III, in armour, holding a sceptre in his right hand, and a boar at his feet.

After the drawings, there is a large genealogical diagram, displaying the descent of Anglo-Saxon and English kings from Charlemagne.

At the end of the roll, the are three groupings of numerous roundels arranged in rows, displaying, in turn:

- ''The namys of certeyne seyntys and Statys of the Saxon or englysch blode'';

- ''The namys of certeyne seyntis and statis of the Brutens blode'';

- ''The namys of certeyn seyntis and statis of þe ...''.

The dorse contains ninety-four painted coats of arms, arranged as a continuous frieze on each margin (membranes 5-8) with the name of the holder inscribed twice against each. Begins: ''The armys of J hu for owr Redemcion''. Ends: with the arms of ''The Prynce of Walys'' (for a full list with blazons, see: Courthope, Thys rol was laburd & finished by Master John Rows of Warrewyk (1859)).

Beneath the two friezes appears a contemporary blazon of twenty-four of these ninety-four coats, now mostly legible only under ultra-violet light and omitted altogether from Courthope''s edition. Begins: ''The armys of the Emperor he berith an eggil (eagle) of sabill splayed? (displayed) on a feld of gold''. Ends: ''Seint Edward ber. a crosse of gold flory in al (?) feld asur.... IIII (sic) ifitlets (martiets) of gold''. Then follows, in a large Gothic script the inscription given above, ''This rol was laburd & finishid by Master John Rows of Warrewyk''.