Harley MS 651

This composite manuscript consists of three parts that were separately produced in England. The first part (ff. 4-177) was produced in the third quarter of the 12th century, most likely at the Benedictine abbey of St Mary the Virgin, Reading (Berkshire). It contains a collection of chronicles assembled and edited by Robert de Torigni (b. c. 1110, d. 1186), Norman chronicler, prior of Bec Abbey, and abbot of Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy.

The second part (ff. 178-191) was produced in the 15th century at the Benedictine abbey of St Mary the Virgin, Glastonbury (Somerset). It mainly contains lists related to ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

The third part (ff. 192r-196v), produced in the 15th century in England, contains a chronicle, lists of kings, and a Middle English account of a miracle at the shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Ipswich dated to 1516.

ff. 4r–57v: Eusebius of Caesarea (b. c. 260, d. 339), Bishop of Caesarea, Chronici Canones (Chronological Canons), translated by St Jerome (b. 347, d. 420), with his prologue; ending ‘Huc usque historiam scribit eusebius pamphili martiris contubermalis [sic]; cui nos ista subiecimus’ [see Patrologia Latina, 27, 233-508, 677-702].

ff. 57v–61r: St Jerome, Continuation of Eusebius; ending ‘Huc usque ieronimus presbyter ordinem procedentium digessit annorum . Que secuntur prosper digessit’ [see Patrologia Latina, 27, 233-508, 677-702].

ff. 61r–63v: Prosper of Aquitaine (b. c. 390, d. c. 463), Epitoma chronicorum (Epitome of the Chronicles); ending ‘Huc usque prosperi chronogaphia . in qua dominicae incarnationis annos non annotavimus quia in subsequenti chronographia eadem pene & eo amplius quam a prospero a sigisberto monacho sub annis domini recitantur a trecentesimo octogesimo primo dominice incarnationis incepta . quo iheronimus presbiter chronicorum finem fecerat’; with revisions made by Robert de Torigni (b. c. 1110, d. 1186) [see Patrologia Latina, 27, 703-24].

ff. 64r–147r: Sigebert of Gembloux (b. c. 1030, d. 1112), Chronica (Chronicles), beginning ‘Incipit Chronographia Sigeberti monachi gemblacensis’ [see Patrologia Latina, 160, 57-240].

ff. 147r–177v: Robert de Torigni, Chronica (Chronicles); with standard appendix to the prologue, the Epistola ad Warinum (Letter to Warin) by Henry of Huntingdon (b. c. 1088, d. c. 1157), historian and poet.

f. 185r: A note concerning Pope Alexander IV (r. 1254-1261) praying for the soul of Innocent IV (r. 1243-1254) in the papal city of Viterbo at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December).

ff. 185r–191v: Lists of the ecclesiastical provinces, dioceses and their cities, the churches of Rome, offices for cardinals, cardinal deacons, (arch)bishops, and patriarchs.

ff. 192r–193v: A chronicle from Creation to 1384.

ff. 193v–194r: Series of kings of England from Alfred to Richard II, continued up to Edward VI by a different hand, writing in Middle English (lower margin of f. 194r).

f. 194v: Names of the kings of Britain and of the Anglo-Saxons in the time of the Heptarchy, with ‘Reges cristiani’ added later in the 15th century.

ff. 194v–196v: A letter, perhaps addressed to Cardinal Wolsey, concerning ‘A meracle off owre Blessid Lady of grace at Eppeswiche’ said to have occurred for the daughter of Sir Roger Wentford of Essex, 15 April 1515.

The manuscript contains a number of later additions:

ff. 1v, 2r, 3r, 3v: Medieval and early modern titles, shelfmarks and ownership inscriptions.

ff. 177v–184v: Anonymous continuation of Robert de Torigni, Chronica, copied from Royal MS 13 C XI by Sir Simonds D'Ewes (b.1602, d. 1650).

[ff. 1r, [2a]recto, [2a]verso, [2b]recto, [2b]verso are blank].

Decoration:

Part 1 (ff. 4-181):

1 large puzzle initial in blue and red in a yellow frame, with penwork decoration in blue and red (f. 7r); 4 large initials in blue or pink-brown with penwork decoration in a combination of the colours blue, green, red or yellow (ff. 4r, 5r, 64r, 148v; the latter in a yellow frame); medium and smaller initials in blue, green, ochre, purple or red, often with penwork decoration in one or more of the alternate colours (including yellow), or with a reserved design; one medium ochre initial in a yellow frame (f. 121v); several medium initials in two colours: 3 in blue and red (ff. 22v, 105, 140v); 3 in green and red (ff. 102v, 136r, 138v); 2 in blue and ochre (ff. 114v, 176v); 1 in in ochre and red (f. 140v); and 1 in ochre and purple (f. 137r); medium or small puzzle initials in blue and red or blue and purple (ff. 8r, 45r, 47r, 107v, 110v, 117v, 118v, 125v, 128r, 129v, 146v, 156v, 157r, 159r, 159v, 170v), ochre and red (ff. 110r, 128v, 174v), or green and red (f. 132v), with penwork decoration in the same colours, sometimes with reserved lines in blue or red; small plain initials in blue, green, ochre, purple or red (one with yellow infill on f. 55r) throughout the manuscript. Rubrics and running headers in red. Roman numerals in red. Paraphs in red. Underlining in red. No decoration on ff. 178r-184v.

Part 2 (ff. 185-191):

Numerous initials in blue with red pen-flourishing. 1 small initial in red with violet pen-flourishing (f. 191r).

Part 3 (ff. 192-196):

Lines and underlining in red. (ff. 192r, 193v, 194r).