Cotton MS Nero D VII

This manuscript contains the names and portraits of benefactors to the Abbey of St Albans with details of their gifts. The preface states that the register was established as part of the grant of confraternity set up by Abbot Thomas and was to be kept on the Abbey's high altar (f. 2r-v).

The manuscript is dated based on a rubric for a list of ‘the names of monks living in our monastery at the time of the compilation of this book, namely in 1380’ (‘nomina monachorum in monasterio nostro viventium tempore compilationis huius libri videlicet anno domini millesimo cccmo octogesimo’, f. 81v). Entries in the list identify the current abbot as Thomas de la Mare (incumbent 1350-96), the compiler as Thomas Walsingham, precentor of the abbey (‘Thomas de Walsingham precentor qui istum librum compilauit’, f. 82v), and the scribe as William de Wyllum, a monk of the abbey (‘Willelmus de Wylum qui scripsit istum librum’, f. 82v). The lay illuminator, Alan Strayler, also included his name and portrait (‘Nomine pictoris Alanus Strailer habetur/ Qui sine fine choris celestibus associatur’, f. 108r).

After the original campaign, the manuscript was continually augmented with records of benefactors into the 16th century. The last dated entry is for ?1512 (f. 157v). The original portion of the manuscript probably spans ff. 1r-24r, 49r-72r, 80r-108r, 118r-128r and 129r-132v (Clark, 'Monastic Confraternity', 317, n. 6).

ff. 1r-3r: preface, followed by prayers in commemoration of the Abbey's benefactors.

ff. 3v-7r: list of kings and princes from Offa to Richard II.

ff. 7r-7v: list of queens and princesses from Matilda to Joan of Kent.

ff. 7v-11r: list of popes from Adrian I to Benedict XII.

ff. 11v-48r: list of abbots of St Albans from Willegodus to Thomas de la Mare, with additions to Thomas Ramryge (d. 1521).

ff. 49r-50v: list of priors of St Albans.

ff. 50v-51v: list of monks.

ff. 52r-72v, 80r-81r: lists of members of the Church who died in each month, ordered according to ecclesiastical grade (monks, deacons, subdeacons, acolytes etc).

ff. 73r-74v: description of King Henry VI's visit to the Abbey and his admission into the confraternity.

ff. 75v-79v: list of illustrious men and others who were admitted into the confraternity at the time of King Henry VI's visit.

ff. 81v-83v: list of monks living at St Albans at the time of the compilation of the book.

ff. 83v-85v: list of monastic donors.

ff. 86r-89r: list of bishops.

ff. 89r-91r: list of those who gave tenements, land and other gifts.

ff. 91v-92r: list of founders of cells of St Albans.

ff. 92r-117r, 133v-157v: list of benefactors.

ff. 117v-133r: list of laypeople received into the confraternity.

Decoration:

The Benefactors’ Book contains approximately 234 pictures in gold and colours, many of which depict contemporary or near contemporary persons. These were accomplished in several campaigns of work.

The original campaign, illuminated by Alan Strayler in 1380, probably consists of:

Numerous framed miniatures of benefactors and members of the confraternity, many shown with their gifts (ff. 3v-17r, 18r-21r, 49r, 49v, 50v, 51v, 83r, 83v, 85r, 86r-88r, 89r-107r, 108r).

Decorated initials in colours and gold, with plants, dragons and/or human faces (ff. 1r, 2v, 3r, 3v, 6r, 7r, 8r-9r, 10r).

Initials in gold on a blue, red and/or green ground (ff. 4r-6r, 7r-v).

Pen-work initials in red, blue and/or occasionally green (ff. 6v, 9v, 10v and at the beginning of most entries thereafter).

Line fillers in colours and gold or pen-work, in the form of plants, animals and abstract designs, throughout.

Partial borders (ff. 1r, 2v, 3r, 7r-8r, 8v, 25r, 27r).

Additions dating from the end of the 14th to the end of the 15th century probably consist of:

Numerous miniatures of benefactors and members of the confraternity, many shown with their gifts, including: John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (f. 7r); 4 abbots, from Johannes Moot (d. 1400) to John of Wheathampstead (d. 1465) (ff. 24r, 25r, 27r, 35r, 37r); King Henry VI (f. 73r); and many others (f. 108v-111r, 112r-113r, 114r, 115r, 133v, 138r, 140v, 142v, 145v, 146v, 154r, 155v).

4 historiated initials of abbots from William Albone (d. 1476) to Thomas Ramryge (d. 1521), as well as an unidentified abbot without accompanying text (f. 43v, 44v, 47v, 81r).

9 preparatory pen sketches of benefactors dating from 1402-1422 (ff. 134v, 138r-139r,141r, 141v, 147v, 156r).

4 marginal drawings (ff. 135r, 136v, 138v, 156r).

Decorated initials in colours and gold, with foliate decoration (f. 25r, 27r, 37r).