Egerton MS 3031

Catalogue of Additions to the Manuscripts 1921-1925 (London: British Museum, 1950), pp. 302-03 (no. Eg. 3031):

'CHARTULARY of Reading Abbey, including also lists of the libraries at Reading and its cell Leominster, and of relics and vestments at Reading. Compiled originally, and provided with a table of contents, early in the reign of Richard I (1189-1199) and added to at various dates till towards the end of the reign of Henry III. Perhaps rather earlier, but not before 1253, another chartulary, somewhat more topographical in arrangement, was begun (now Harley MS. 1708), and a third edition was made in the 14th. century (now Cotton MS. Vespasian E. xxv). These contain many of the same charters, but give very few witnesses' names, whereas here all are usually, though not invariably, given. Certain charters are also transcribed in Cotton MSS. Domitian iii, a Leominster chartulary, and Vespasian E. v, perhaps an almoner's book; and some fragments are prefixed to Harley MS. 82. A valuable series of the original Reading charters is in Add. Ch. 19571-19659, presented by the then Marquess of Westminster in 1873. Contents:- 1. Preliminary matter, viz.-(a) "Abbreuiatio cartarum que habentur in Radingensi ecclesia": table of the original contents (a few later inserted). f. 3;-(b) "He sunt reliquie que continentur in ecclesia sancte Marie de Radingia": a long list ending "Multe etiam alie reliquie quarum scripta desunt." Of one relic, of singular nature, it is added "creditur case cum cruce de ligno domini in textu quem imperator Constantin[opolitanus] misit Henrico regi Anglorum primo," but no other mention of such a MS. seems to occur. At the end of the section of Apostles' relics is a tooth of St. Luke, "sed nescitur ubi sit," to which a 14th century hand has added "nisi fu[e]rit Leomistrie Iohannes rex Anglie dedit nobis caput Philippi apostoli uenerandum. Et nobis Nundinas ipso die concessit habere." f. 6 b;-(c) "Hii sunt libri qui continentur in Radingensi ecclesia": catalogue of the monastic library, printed by S. Barfield in The English Historical Review (Jan. 1888), iii, p. 117. Beg. "Bibliotece. iiii. prima in duobus uoluminibus." The entry near the end, beginning "Hii libri uenerunt de Burdegalia," and the succeeding entry of books given by Ralph, priest of Whitchurch, are additions, as are also a few (entered in the margin) of the preceding entries, but none are much later. f.8b;-(d) "Hii libri habentur in Leonensi ecclesia": the library of Leominster, printed ib., p. 123. In more than one hand, but all nearly contemporary. Beg. "Biblioteca ex integro per ordinem." f. 12 b. Between (c) and (d) are additions in later hands, viz. (a) an addition to the table of contents referring to two charters transcribed on f. 76 b. f. 11;-(ß) "Hec sunt sub manu Custodis Capparum": list of the Abbey's vestments, printed ib., p. 116. Beg. "Cappe; centuim.et nouem.ex quibus ; xiiiicim. sunt brudate." f. 11;-(y) Confirmation by H[ugh] Foliot, Bishop of Hereford (1219-1234), of the taxation of the vicarages of Leominster and Hop[e under Dinmore, co. Heref.]. f. 11 b. The foregoing in 13th century hands;-(8) "Pro leprosis": note about Abbot Ancherius's provision for the leper-house of St. Mary Magdalen at Reading. f. 11 b;-(e) "Ordinacio pro leprosis delinquentibus." f. 12. These two in a 14th century hand. 2. The chartulary proper, in the original hand, classified somewhat as follows, but nearly every section has later entries, sometimes a whole gathering, added:-(a) Royal charters (Henry I-Richard I). f. 13;-(b) Charters of the lay nobility (beginning with one of David, King of Scotland, though most of his occur later), all apparently of the 12th century so far (to f. 46 b) as the original hand extends. f. 36;-(c) Charters from other monasteries and from bishops. The latest appear to be Hubert [Fitzwalter], as Bishop of Salisbury (1189-1193), and William [de Vere], Bishop of Hereford (1186-1199). The appendix to this section occurs after section (e). f. 47;-(d) Scottish charters (David-William the Lion). Followed (f. 63) by two English royal charters omitted in their proper sequence, and so noted, "post cartas de Scotia," in the table of contents. f. 60 b;-(e) Papal charters (Calixtus Clement III). f. 63. From f. 73 b onwards there is practically no systematic arrangement, though some traces of grouping appear, especially at the beginnings of gatherings. Vellum (except f. i); ff. i + 114. 11¼ in. x 8¼ in. Tempp. Rich. I [1189-1199]-Hen. III [1216-1272]. Gatherings of 8 leaves (i^10?, iv^3+4?, xiii^4, xiv^4 two fly-leaves at beginning and end). F. i is a paper note of the discovery of the MS. in a bricked-up chamber at [Arthur James Plunkett, 7th] Earl of Fingall's house at Shinfield, co. Berks, in the 18th century (cf. also Add. MS. 37130, f. 37 b, and English Historical Review, iii, p. 113). Binding (13th century?) of oak boards covered with white leather. Strap-fastening.'.