Add MS 5948

REGISTER OF LANGLEY ABBEY: a register of the Premonstratensian abbey of Langley, co. Norf.; 13th cent. Latin. Origin: England. Fragmentary. The register has as its basis sections from a mid-13th-cent. register (art. 1) composed after 1240 (f. 48v), with an associated topographical contents list (art. 3). Further material has been inserted on blank leaves and as odd folios and sections: there are a few 14th-15th cent. insertions (ff. 17, 50v, 55). For the history of the abbey and notices of this manuscript and other records, see: Monasticon, vi, pp. 929-930; Davis, Cartularies, nos. 528, 529; Collectanea Anglo-Premonstratensia 1281-1505, ed. F. A. Gasquet, 3 vols., Camden 3rd Series, vi (1904), x (1906), xii (1906); H. M. Colvin, The White Canons in England (1951). For rentals, etc., of the abbey, see Add. 6275. Contemporary, later medieval and 16th cent. marginals to most sections of the text, some in drypoint. Owned, 18th cent., by A. Hobart, whose autograph appears (f. 1). and who also owned Add. 5947 and 5949. Purchased, July 1806.

Vellum (f. 1 paper); ff. 58. 330 x 220mm approx. Gatherings irregular. Single columns. Various 13th cent. documentary cursive scripts. Red and blue initials and numerals, art. 1. Some red initials, art. 2. Red and green initials, headings and penwork, art. 3. Red and blue initials and penwork, art. 6.

Contents:

1. f. 2. Topographical index of XLIII chapters. Apparently written as a contents list for the register to which it refers, of which chs. II-VI and XVII-XXXI survive (see art. 3). The properties are chiefly in Norfolk, principally in the south-east of the county and the Norwich area, with a few items in the Lowestoft area of Suffolk. The index is printed in Monasticon, vi, p. 930 n.b.

2. ff. 3-11v. Register of grants by abbots of Langley; circa 1239 - circa 1275. Imperfect at beginning. A fair copy of grants of abbot Hugh (fl. 1239-1249), and abbot Simon of Milham (fl. 1251-1269) occupies ff. 3-7. The earliest document is dated 20 Nov. 1239 (f. 3) and the latest 11 Feb. 1255

(3 Id. Feb. 1254), indicating a date for this section in or soon after 1255. Entries for abbot Simon follow in various hands, and on f. 11v are two items for abbot Richer (fl. 1269-1275). An item for abbot Hugh is added at the foot of f. 11.

3. ff. 12-12v, 24-27v, 37-37v, 45-48v, 49-54v, 56-58v. Sections from the mid-13th-cent. register whose topographical contents list occurs as art. 1 above; aft. 1240 (f. 48v). As follows: (a) Bull of Pope Innocent III (d.1216), confirming the foundation of Langley. Imperfect. ff. 12-12v;- (b) Ch. II.

ff. 24-27v;- (c) Ch. III. ff. 37-37v;- (d) Chs. IV-VI. ff. 45-48v;- (e) Chs. XVII-XXXI. Chs. XXX-XXXI are imperfect. ff. 49-54v, 56-58v.

4. f. 13. Leaf of register of grants, etc., to the abbey; mid 13th cent. Imperfect at the beginning.

5. f. 14-14v. Mandate from Pope Gregory X to the Bishops of London and Ely, ordering them to judge a claim by the prior of Norwich against the Norwich citizens; winter 1274-1275. Imperfect. f. 14v. Two items occur on the recto in different hands: (a) a quitclaim to the abbey;- (b) memoranda of tenures and rents temp. abbot William (circa 1275-1289). f. 14.

6. ff. 15-19v. Leaves from a register of abstracts and copies of grants, etc., relating to Langley and Hardley, co. Norf.; 13th cent., aft. 15 Sept. 1268

(f. 18v). No abbot later than Simon (d. 1269) is mentioned. Leaves are non-consecutive except ff. 15v-16. Davis, op. cit., suggests it is part of Oxford Bodleian MS. Bodley 242 (Davis, no. 529).

7. ff. 20-23v. Abstract of court rolls of the abbey; 13th cent., aft. 29 Oct. 1265 (f. 21). Abbot Simon (d.1269) is the only abbot mentioned. The item for abbot Richer (f. 23v) is apparently an addition.

8. ff. 28-36, 38-44v. General register entries in various hands. A section beginning at f. 32 is imperfect at the beginning. ff. 32-35v and 42v-43v are apparently in the same hand.