Stowe MS 312

1. DIALOGUS de Scaccario [by Richard Fitz-Nigel, Bishop of London, 1189-1198]. Copied under the direction of Sir Roger Twysden in 1636 from a MS. on vellum, " optimae notae," in the possession of Sir Henry Spelman. The supposed authorship of Gervase of Tilbury is mentioned in the title; but in a note on f. 1 Twysden expresses his doubt of this, and quotes the reference to the dialogue as the work of Richard, Bishop of London, by Alexander [de Swereford], Archdeacon of Salop [Treasurer of St. Paul's 1231, Baron of the Exchequer 1234, ob. 1246], in the Red Book of the Exchequer. The table of chapters in the first book follows the prologue; but the original division in the text was into 35 chapters instead of 18, the sections of chapters 5, 6, and 7 being numbered as separate chapters. Similarly in book ii. the table contains 28 chapters, the text 31, chapters 1 and 2 of the table being each divided into two chapters, while the author's preface is also numbered as a chapter. f. 4.

2. A table of the times allowed for the issue of summonitions to the various counties of England, with a note by Twysden stating that it is found (though with different arrangement) in the Red Book (f. 82 b), and certified by Twysden's signature. f. 89.

3. Collections " de Scutagiis," from the time of Henry II. to the death of John, made by the above-mentioned Alexander de Swereford in 1230, and placed by him next after the Dialogus de Scaccario in the Red Book. Certified by Twysden's signature, with the note at the end " Examinat. 8 Septembris, 1644." ff. 90, 95 b. Paper; ff. 96. Folio.

Richard Fitz-Nigel, Bishop of London: Dialogus de Scaccario: 16th-17th centt.

Exchequer: Dialogus de Scaccario: 16th cent., 1636, 17th cent.

includes:

• f. 89 Exchequer: Table of times allowed for the issue of summonitions to various counties: 1636.
• f. 90 Scutage: Collections "de Scutagiis" ante 1216: 1673.