Add MS 40851

ORDINARY and Roll of Arms: an early example (second half of the 15th cent.) of the collection known as Jenyns' Ordinary, so called because other copies of a similar armorial derive from a transcript stated to have been made by Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, certificated 12 Feb. 157 from an old paper copy in the possession of Thomas Jenyns (cf., for transcripts deriving from the Glover MS., Stowe MS. 696, f. 1; Cotton MS. Tiberius E. ix, ff. 236, 133). Other copies in the Museum are in Harley MSS. 1068, f. 79; 6589, f. 21; Add. MS. 12224. The present copy is in close agreement with the Stowe and Add. MSS. For other copies and an account of the collection see J. Greenstreet and C. Russell, Reference List of the Rolls of Arms, etc. (reprinted from The Genealogist, v, pp. 1, 94, 168). Quoted as Y and X in Papworth's Ordinary. The occurrence of a large shield of arms of Margaret of Anjou, Queen consort of Henry VI (1445-1482), alone on f. 5 (probably added by a later hand) may indicate some connection with that queen. A retrospective collection, the Ordinary of about 1200 coats, the Roll of about 380. A marked Yorkshire element, possibly from the neighbourhood of Richmond, is to be noted. The Yorkshire connection is further suggested by two later inscriptions under the shields of Robert Hilton de Swyne ("vnius fundatoris de Swyne") and Piers de la Hay ("vnius fundatoris de Swyne Abbey postea Melton modo Dacy"). This is Swine Priory in Holderness. These additions, with others, are incorporated in the text of the Stowe MS. The shields are in colours, arranged normally 12 to a page, the bearers' names and the blazon being written, in French, in four lines above each row of shields. The Ordinary beg. "Le Roy de Espayne port," etc. (f. 5 b) and ends "William Malbys port," etc. (f. 55 b). The charges are arranged in the following order:-

Lions. f. 5 b; Leopards. f . 12 b; Eagles. f. 14; Bends. f. 15; Saltires. f. 19 b; Fesses. f. 21 b; Bars and Barry. f. 25; Baruly. f. 29 b; Nebuly. f. 30; Vairy. f. 30 b; Fess fusily. f . 31 b; Chevrons. f . 32 b; Fretty. f. 36 b; Chiefe. f. 37 b; Crones. f. 40; Water bougets. f . 44 ;Quarterly. f. 44 b Annulets. f. 45 b ; Rows. f. 46 b Crescents. ib.; Cinquefoils and Sexfoils. f. 47 Brooches. f. 47 b; Lozenges. f. 48; Maunches. f . 48 b; Piles and Paly. f. 49 b; Gyronny. ib.; Escutcheons. f. 50; Chequy. f. 51 b; Cups. f. 52 b; Trumpets. ib.; Bezants. f. 53; Mullets. f. 53b; Garbs. f. 54; Fleurs-de-lys. f. 54 b; Luces. f. 55; Escallops. f. 55 b ; Leverets. ib.

The Roll, beg. (f. 56) "Le Conte de Leycestre port," etc., ending (f . 71 b) "Robert Amondeuile de Wotton en Wardale port," etc., is printed by J. Greenstreet, The Antiquary, 1880, i, p. 205 ; ii, pp. 97, 238, from Cotton MS. Tib. E. ix. In this Cotton copy, as in Harley MS. 6589, which belonged to John Anstis the elder (1669-1744), there are 23 other coats after Amondevile. Anstis notes in the present MS. (f. 72): "I have a copy of this book new placed N. d. 2. taken as I suppose when it had one leafe more, for in this copy after the Arms of Amondevile are the following blazonings," i.e., the first nine of the additional coats. This other copy may have been lot 353 in the Anstis sale, 13 Dec. 1768. There seems no justification for the statement that a leaf is lost after f. 71. Other notes by Anstis are on ff. 1, 2. There are two indexes, one (f. 77) incomplete, in the hand which appears associated with the initials R. P. on ff. 72, 77 (in this case with the date 1575). In Tib. E. ix, f. 134, is the note: "following is taken out of Mr. Poole's copy," but it is doubtful whether the reference is to the present MS. The other index (f. 85) is in an early 17th cent. hand. On f. 75 is the shield of arms, in tincture, of Norton of Norton Conyers, co. York, 15th-16th cent., with the inscription "John Norton" (there were three Sir John Nortons in this period, father, d. 1489, son, d. 1520, and grandson, d. 1557, cf. Vict. County Hist., Yorkshire, North Riding, i, p. 393). Paper; ff. 116. 141 in. x 81 in. xv cent. Binding of brown calf, 17th cent., with stamp of the arms of Sir Edward Walker (1612-1677), Garter (cf. Stowe MSS. 440, 580 and C. Davenport, English Heraldic Book Stamps, p. 384). On f. 116 is the name "Thomas Houghton," with scribbles, early 16th cent. Belonged circ. 1575 to R. P. (see above) ; 17th cent. to Sir Edward Walker (see above) ; 18th cent. to John Anstis, Garter (sale-cat., 13 Dec. 1768, lot 354). Sotheby's sale-cat., 26 July 1923, lot 357.