Add MS 46411

The West Dereham Mortuary Roll was made to mark the death of John Wygenhale (alias Saresson), who was abbot of the Premonstratensian Abbey of West Dereham, Norfolk, from 1429 until his death in 1455. Erasures and rewritings indicate that this part of the roll, which comprises the ornamental heading and encyclical letter of the original, with only a few endorsed tituli (responsive prayers added by various houses), was reused until the beginning of the 16th century for a number of Wygenhale's successors, most notably John Lynn (fl. 1455-1482) and John Martyn Wysbech (fl. 1488-1503).

A statement at the end of the roll's encyclical letter records that there were two successive rotuliferi, or roll-bearers, whose responsibility it was to take the roll to each monastic house: Johannes Foster (who died in the course of his mission) and Nicholaus Scrop (see Dufour, Recueil des Rouleaux (2005), IV, p. 95).

Other mortuary rolls now housed at the British Library include Cotton Rolls II 17 and II 18, Harley MS 491, ff. 47-48, Egerton MSS 2849/1 and 2849/2, and Royal MS 15 A X*.

Contents:

An encyclical letter in Latin, announcing the abbot's death and inviting prayers for his soul (Membrane 2). The names of the dead abbot, the issuing abbot, and the carrier of the letter, with all accompanying dates, have been erased throughout, and replaced with others (now largely illegible) when the roll was reused for Wygenhale's successors.

Endorsed tituli, most only partially legible, record ten of the monastic houses to which the roll was taken (Membranes 1d-2d). These are as follows: Christchurch Priory, Dorset (formerly Hampshire); Titchfield Abbey, Hampshire; Drax Priory, Yorkshire; St James Abbey, Northamptonshire; Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Suffolk; Louth Park Abbey, Lincolnshire; Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire; Merevale Abbey, Warwickshire; and Worcester Cathedral Priory.

Decoration:

A picture section, 790 mm in height, comprising three registers within an architectural frame, in tinted blue and pink (Membrane 1). A historiated initial 'U' in colours and gold depicting a deer recumbent by a wooded stream, the word 'ham' inscribed on its flank, forming a rebus for 'Dereham', beneath the Abbey's arms (az, a crozier between three stags' heads or). The text of the letter enclosed within a decorative border of flowers and foliage in colours and gold (Membrane 2).

The subjects of the three registers in the picture section (from top to bottom) are:

1: Abbot John Wygenhale kneeling before the Throne of Mercy (God the Father enthroned, supporting the crucified Christ). On a scroll issuing from his mouth is inscribed, 'O deitas trina pastorem cum grege ovina'. Beside him is inscribed, 'dirige protégé me john lyn abbot sine fine', added by a later hand, apparently in connection with the roll's reuse for the abbot's successor John Lynn.

2: The Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

3: The burial of Abbot Wygenhale, with his body and pastoral staff in a tomb in the foreground, behind which appear a group of 11 onlookers, members of the community of the Abbey of West Dereham. They include Wygenhale's successor John Lynn and three officiants in mourning ornaments and seven monks in white vestments.