Harley MS 79, ff 2r-26r

The volume comprises the texts of Magna Carta and of the Charter of Forest as reissued by Henry III in 1225, followed by a number of Statutes of England; imperfect, incipit (f. 2r): 'Henricus Dei gratia Rex Anglie dominus Hibernie Dux Normannie et Aquitanie / Archiepiscopis … salutem. Sciatis quod nos intuitu dei ... dedimus et concessimus Archiepiscopis ... et omnibus aliis de regno / nostro has libertates subscriptas tenendas in regno Anglie in perpetuum', explicit (f. 4r): 'decimam omni bonorum suorum mobilium / Require sententiam latam super istis libertatibus que sit incipit Anno domini Mo cco Liijo in maiori / aula Westminsteri post vetera capitula foreste', followed by erasure. For the 1225 texts of Magna Carta and the Charter of Forest see C. Bémont, Chartes des libertés anglaises (1100-1305) (Paris, 1892), pp. 45-70.

These are followed by:

• ff. 4r-5r: Statute of Merton [1236];
• ff. 5r-7v: Statute of Marlborough, 1267;
• ff. 7v-12r: First Statute of Westminster [1275];
• ff. 12r-13r, Statute of Jews;
• ff. 13r-14r, 'Statuta scaccarii';
• ff. 14r-14v, Statute de Rageman;
• ff. 14v-15r, 'Quo Warranto', 1278;
• ff. 15r-16v, Statute of Gloucester, [1278];
• ff. 16v-26r, Second Statute of Westminster, [1285]
• Last leaf of text (f. 26r) is a later addition substituting a missing portion of the text. Few marginal notes in contemporary hand.

Decoration:

Two puzzle initials (12 lines; ff. 2r, 3v) in red and blue, with foliate penwork decoration in red including a bird and two monster faces and marginal pen-flourishing in red and blue. Other initials (2-5 lines; ff. 4r-16v) in blue with foliate penwork and marginal pen-flourishing in red. Chapter initials (1-2 lines; ff. 17r-25v) alternately blue or red. Paragraph marks alternately red or blue. Running headings and marginal chapter numbers in brown ink. Titles (f. 12r between texts, f. 16v in margin) added in plummet, faint.