Add MS 40625

Nos. 40625-40632, with Add. Ch. 64919-66125, were Presented with Add. Ch. 64919-66125 by Adela, Countess of Essex.

40625. CASSIOBURY PAPERS. Vol. I. Court-book of the halimote of the manor of Park (al. Parkbury, in St. Stephen's, co. Hertf.), 1237- 1537, extracted from the original court-rolls, some of which appear still to exist (see Hist. MSS. Comm., Rep. on various Collections, vii, pp. 304, 306): a similar volume to 40167 (q.v., and cf. Miss Levett's paper on the St. Albans Courts, there quoted). Beg. Mon. after St. Ethelburga, 21 Hen. III [12 Oct. ? 1237], but there are gaps noted, especially in the Hen. III rolls (e.g. "nichil inueni de anno xxv^to"). The hands of the extracts made in Mote's cellarership seem to be partly the same as in 40167. The first series, as in 40167, is carried to the end of Edw. III, and a second (on smaller vellum) begins with 1 Ric. II (f. 121), ending 3 Hen. VI. A third beg. with 1 Hen. VI (f. 185), the first three years being duplicated, with slight differences, and ends 38 Hen. VI. There are no extracts for Edw. IV-Hen. VII. The fourth series beg. (on still smaller vellum) with 23 Hen. VIII (f. 214 b) and ends Tues. after Low Sunday ("Dom. in Albis "), 28 Hen. VIII [10 Apr. 1537]. The tallage for 5 Edw. I (f. 21) contains 83 names, with sums from 6d. to I3s. 4d. There are several probates of wills, the cellarer acting as commisary of the archdeacon, as on ff. 140, 154, 158 b, 162 b, 172 b, 175 (on f. 124, by the accidental omission of "commissario," Robert de Chestan is made to appear as himself the archdeacon), or having a commissary with him, as on ff. 144 b, 145, 157, 157 b. Not all the wills are recited. Vellum; ff. 229 (f. 120 blank). 20 in. x 13.1/2 in. xiv-xvi centt. Gatherings normally of 8 leaves (for temp. Hen. VI 2 gatherings of 12, with 4 extra leaves); catchwords to the end of Hen. V. The binding (17th-18th cent.) was plain rough calf. The MS. doubtless passed with the manor to Sir Anthony Denny in 1547, and in 1608 to Sir Charles Morison; see Vict. C. Hist., Herts., ii, p. 424, and cf. 40626.