Add MS 50754

THE PONTEFRACT CHARTULARY Chartulary of the Cluniac Priory of Pontefract, W.R., co. York, founded circa 1090; mid 13th cent. (after 1251, see f. 89b), with additions to 15th cent. Latin and French. Contains copies of charters grouped partly by grantor, viz., founder's and founder's family, ecclesiastical, royal and private, and partly topographically, concluding with leases of the priory to its tenants, 11th-13th cent. Subsequent additions on leaves left blank between the groups for this purpose, mostly 14th-early 15th cent. Index of the charters to which folio numbers were added later, on ff. 1-1b, 13th cent., continued on ff. 1b-2b, 17th cent., and followed (ff. 3-6) by an index of places, 17th cent. See G. R. C. Davis, Medieval Cartularies, 1958, no. 782, and B.M.Q., xxiv, 1961, pp. 67-70. Edited by Richard Holmes, Yorkshire Archaeological Soc., Record Series, xxv, xxx, 1899, 1902, omitting almost all the additions, or about a quarter of the whole. Extracts by John Harrison for Gervase Holles, 17th cent., are Lansdowne MS. 207 A, ff. 276-337b. Belonged probably to John Hall of Carlton, a receipt by whom to

J. Turner is entered on f. 25b, temp. Philip and Mary [between 1553 – 1554] ('In the xth [sic] yeare of or sufferant lorde and ladye . . .'). Thereafter to Thomas Levet of Melton who gave it to Roger Dodsworth, 1627 (his initials, f. 96). According to Dugdale, Dodsworth pawned it to Sir Thomas Widdrington (d. 1664), in whose possession it was when extracts were made for the Monasticon. Evidently redeemed, however, as it passed by Dodsworth's will of 1654 to his patron, Thomas, 3rd Lord Fairfax, who before his death in 1671 parted with it to his relations, the Wentworth family of Woolley, in whose possession it remained until 1961. See armorial bookplate (f. i) of G. W. Wentworth (d. 1865). See letter, with draft, (ff. ii, iii) of R. Holmes to – Nickalls, outlining the history of the MS., 1898. See also Sotheby's sale-cat., 11 Apr. 1961, lot 142. Presented through the Friends of the National Libraries.

Vellum and (ff. 3-6) paper; ff. iv+96. 290 x 200mm. Mid XIII-XV, XVII cent. Ink foliation, 1-89, on ff. 8-96, 17th cent. Charters numbered 1-558, in mixed roman and arabic, 17th cent. Gatherings mostly of 10 leaves, most with catchwords (viii12; ix4; x4, 4 cancelled). The 13th cent. portions are written in double columns mostly in one fine hand, with rubrication and red, blue and green initials and flourishes. Ff. 3-6 are insertions, 17th cent. Scribbles and marginal notes in post-medieval hands, including (f. 1) an attested note of the production of the MS. in an Exchequer suit, 1750. Binding of brown leather, gilt-edged, early 19th cent.