Lansdowne MS 204

This manuscript contains the only surviving copy of the first version of the Chronicle of John Hardyng (b. 1378, d. 1465), a former soldier and spy for King Henry V (r. 1413-1422). It was produced in Lincolnshire or the East Midlands in the middle of the 15th century and was probably commissioned by Hardyng as a presentation copy of the text for King Henry VI (r. 1422-1461, 1470-1471). A second, later version of the Chronicle survives in at least 16 copies.

The Chronicle is one of only a very small number of texts written towards the end of the king's reign and at the height of the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487). It covers the history of Britain and England, beginning with its mythical foundation by the Greek princess Albina and her 29 sisters, and ending with the final years of Henry VI's minority. This copy of the text also includes a unique coloured map of Scotland, the earliest independent cartographic representation of the realm.

For a further discussion of the manuscript and an edition of the text, see James Simpson and Sarah Peverley, eds., John Hardyng, Chronicle: Edited from British Library MS Lansdowne 204 (Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, 2015).

Contents:

f. 1r: Blank.

f. 2r: Notes by Sir Robert Cotton (b. 1570/1, d. 1631) and a summary list of contents in Latin, written by Cotton's librarian Richard James (b. 1592, d. 1638), added in the 17th century.

f. 2v: John Hardyng's dedication of the work to Henry VI, beginning, 'O soverayne lord, be it youre plesance', and ending, 'To byde forever undir hirs hool proteccioun'.

ff. 3r-4r: A prologue in Middle English, addressing Hardyng's grievance and the king's sovereignty over Scotland, beginning 'Who hath an hurte and wille it nough diskure', and ending, 'Me to rewarde as pleseth youre excellence'.

f. 4v: An incomplete table of contents, beginning, 'Of the sustirs of Grece how thai came to his londle and called it Albion' and ending, 'Of Seynt Edward Confessor and Harolde, son of Godwyn',

ff. 5r-230v: The Chronicle of John Hardyng, Books 1-7, written in Middle English, beginning, 'The while that Troy was regnyng in his myghte', and ending, 'Ne chaungen hew for thayre inequyté'.

ff. 227v-230r: A Latin prose letter sent from Edward I (r. 1272-1307) to Pope Boniface VIII (r. 1294-1303), detailing his right to the sovereignty of Scotland, beginning, 'Sanctissimo in Christo Patri domino Bonifacio', and ending, 'datur apud Westminster septimo die Maii anno domini M CCCI et regni nostril vicesimo nono'.

f. 230r-v: A Latin prose letter from the lords and barons to Pope Boniface VIII regarding English sovereignty over Scotland, beginning, 'Sanctissimo in Christo Patri, domino Bonifacio', and ending, 'inquietudine pacifice possidere ac illibata percipere benignius permittatis'.

Decoration:

The illumination of the manuscript has been linked stylistically to a group of 15th-century manuscripts originating from eastern England, most likely Lincolnshire or East Anglia. These include: New York Library, MS Spencer 19; British Library, Egerton MS 615; London, Wellcome Medical Library, MS 8004; Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 740; and British Library, Harley MS 2885 (see Scott, Later Gothic Manuscripts (1996), II, pp. 217-19). The illuminated pedigree of the claim of Edward III (r. 1327-1377) to the throne of France (f. 196r) is attributed to an artist known as the 'Egerton Master'.

1 illuminated map of Scotland in colours and gold, depicting the main fortifications and towns with an array of castles, walled towns, gatehouses, churches and bridges (ff. 226v-227r).

1 full-page illuminated pedigree of the claim of Edward III to the throne of France, with portraits of royal figures in colours and gold (f. 196r).

The added coat of arms of Gerard Charles (b. c. 1618, d. 1694), 1st Earl of Macclesfield, and Gerard Charles (b. c. 1659, d. 1701), 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, in colours and gold (f. 1v).

Small coats of arms in colours and gold, painted in the margins beside the main text. They are as follows: the arms of Constantine (f. 46v); the arms of King Arthur (f. 67v); the arms of Edward the Confessor (f. 129v); and the arms of Sir Robert Umfraville (f. 220r). The arms of Margaret of Anjou, entitled 'The Quene', have been erased, but the outline can still be seen (f. 217v). A second coat of arms, possibly belonging to Henry VI, may also have existed on the same page, in the small section cut away from the margin.

1 large initial in gold with blue and red leaf forms extending to form a 2-sided border with gold balls and green leaves (f. 5r).

Large initials in gold on blue and red grounds with foliate sprays with gold balls. Large and small initials in red.

Elaborate cadels in brown and sometimes red ink in the first lines of text and descenders in the last.

Catchwords decorated in brown or red ink.