Harley Roll C 10

Contents:

A genealogical chronicle with commentary in Latin, preceded by the title, 'Thopographie insule anglicane lic[et] comis eius fit oblong[us]. Oriens. Regnum orientalis anglorum'.

Membrane 1: A diagram of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy with an introduction on either side, based on a Brut chronicle, beginning 'Nota in cronica que vocatur albyon'; a commentary on the diagram, beginning 'Per hanc figuram superius circulatam'; a poem from Henry of Huntingdon, Historia Anglorum, in Latin, also found in Add MS 30079.

Membranes 1-6: A genealogical diagram of the kings of England from Egbert (r. 802-839, here named 'Athelbricth') to Richard II (r. 1377-1399), accompanied by a commentary in Latin. The diagram, consisting of roundels containing names and attributes joined by lines of descent, includes the dukes of Normandy from Rollo to William the Conqueror, which is characteristic of Anglo-Norman rolls, but is only found in two rolls with Latin commentary. Both are of late origin; the other is London, College of Arms, MS 20/9). The diagram ends on membrane 5, but the commentary continues to the sixth membrane, concluding with the deposition of Richard II .

The commentary derives from the same source as that of the earlier Add MS 30079, completed in the reign of Edward I (r. 1272-1307), but with additions, some attributed to Peter of Poitiers (see Laborderie, 'Ligne des reis' (2002), p. 1397). The events surrounding deposition of Richard II by Henry IV are described in some detail in the commentary, written not long after they occurred in 1399, possibly by someone close to the court in London (Laborderie (Histoire, memoire et pouvoir (2013), pp. 152-53).

There is a change of scribe near the beginning of the account of the reign of Richard II (membrane 5).

The verso or dorse is blank (dorse abbreviated as d).

Decoration:

A non-circular diagram of the Heptarchy and a genealogical diagram with roundels and lines in red (membranes 1-5). Text in red in one of the roundels, for Richard I (membrane 4). An initial in red at the beginning of the commentary and lines in red separating paragraphs in the commentary. Cadels (membrane 1). Highlighting in red.