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The compilation of a late fourteenth-century precedent book—Register Brian 2
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016
Extract
Among the episcopal registers housed at the county record office in St Helen’s, Worcester, is a neatly written paper book, which though it bears no medieval title, has often been described as the second volume of bishop Brian’s register. As has been pointed out recently, it was taken to be such by the county historian, Treadway Nash, and also by Reginald Lane Poole when he examined the Worcester records for the Historical Manuscripts Commission. On the other hand, it is now common knowledge among those acquainted with the registers that this is a misnomer. My intention here is to examine me manuscript in more detail and to suggest the manner of its composition and the sources from which it is derived.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Studies in Church History , Volume 11: The Materials Sources and Methods of Ecclesiastical History , 1975 , pp. 173 - 185
- Copyright
- Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1975
References
1 I am grateful to Miss Margaret Henderson, the deputy archivist, and her assistants for their courtesy during the preparation of this paper. My thanks are also due to Mrs B. E. Johnston who made me so welcome at the cathedral library.
2 II° Domini Reginaldi Brien is written on folio 4 (arabic). This is the blank leaf before the primo fol. which precedes the initial quire. The same (?) post-medieval (seventeenth century?) hand prefaces the index (fol 1) with the title II° Domini Reginaldi Brien, to which has been added Hen. Wakefield et Simon. de Monteacuto.
3 Marett, W.P., [A] Calendar of [the] Register [of Henry] Wakefeld [Bishop of Worcester 1375-95,] Worcs. Hist. Soc. (Worcester 1972) p xiii.Google Scholar
4 Nash, T., Collections for the History of Worcestershire, 2 vols (1781-2) II, p xcv Google Scholar HMC I4th Rept, App pt viii, p 204: ‘There is some confusion in the registers of bishops Montacute, Bryan, and Wakefield, portions of the first and third being inserted in the register of bishop Bryan, part ii’.
5 It measures approximately 11¼ X 15¾ inches, as against the 9¼X13¾ inches of Register Brian 1.
6 In arabic numerals.
7 Index and preliminaries, 4 fols and 4 stubs; 1 (fols ii-xvii); 2 (fols xviii-xxxiii); 3 (fols xxxiiii-xlvii) plus one blank folio, 52); 4 (fols 54-69: 60-9 written on). Quire 4 probably comprises 7 sheets plus 2 fols at end (the binding is too tight for close examination); ‘.ii.’ at foot of fol 68 is in the usual place for the quire signature. There are only two entries on fol ir (primo fol) and one on the dorse.
8 Arabic foliation runs 1-69, 53 being missed between the third and fourth quires. The acta, dating from 1354/5,are atfols 60-9: compare Register Brian 1, fols 8V, 112r.
9 Including the index and marginal rubrics. Compare Marett, Calendar of Register Wakefeld, pp xiii-xiv.
10 Against this it could be urged that the entries from Registers Reynolds and Montacute are consistently not ascribed to Wakefield. But these really form an appendix, as it were.
11 Fol xvr.
12 Fol xxxvv.
13 ï
14 Register Tideman, fols 1-12v. The register proper begins at fol 15.
15 Fols 67r et seq.
16 This is the editor’s ‘hand A’, but much of the writing ascribed by him to ‘hand D’ is in fact by the same man, whose hand thus emerges as the principal one in Register Wakefield. See Marett, Calendar of Register WakefeU, p xii; Register Wakefield, fols 1-9r and, for instance, fols 42r et seq, 60r et seq, 128v, 156r et seq.
17 The arabic foliatiion is in considerable disarray.
18 For example, pope Clement VI’s bull concerning the use of the mitre by the prior of Worcester. This is in the Liber Pensionum (fol 51r), from which it is printed by Thomas, W., A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Worcester (London 1737) App. 110, p 125.Google Scholar Other items on this topic are in the Liber Albus.
19 Even in the registers heavily drawn upon by the compiler there are crosses against items which were not copied.
20 For example, fols xxvv, 61v.
21 During discussion of this paper it was pointed out that a York ‘formulary’ (Register Neville 2, 1374-88) has features in common with Register Brian 2. Smith, David M. has noted it in A Guide to the Archive Collections in the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research (York 1973) p 10, no 13Google Scholar, but I have not had an opportunity to examine the manuscript.
22 A ‘d’ subsequently interlined here and below to make redintegracio.
23 This is the rubric from, the text. The index omits the reference.
24 See n 22 above.
25 Clement. 2, 6, c. 1.
26 Heading: Diverse littere exeuntes de registro episcopi. This and the first three entries are in darker ink.
27 ‘John Dunclent’ is substituted for ‘John de Swyneshed’ in the copy.
28 MS ‘xla’.
29 Correctly a sentencia excommunkacionis.
30 ‘John Wyshangre of Gloucester’ becomes ‘John Broun of Gloucester’ in the copy.
31 Bull of Innocent [VI] reciting that of Clement [VI]. See Liber Albus, fols ccxlir/v
32 Liber Pensionům, fol 51r Liber Albus, fol ccxhv. Compare Register Wittlesey, fol 2r: bull of Urban [V] recapitulating the concession of Clement [VI] inter alia.
33 Liber Albus, fol ccxliv.
34 Heading: Indulgencie.
35 Rubrics have not been added to the text, making it difficult to disentangle these entries.
36 Heading: Sentencie generales. The five subsequent entries are in a lighter shade of ink and interrupt the previous one, which is continued below them against a sign corresponding to that at the foot of fol xxxiiiiv (with the injunction vadas ad hoc signum).
37 Correctly certificado.
38 Sancti Andree de Wyche added.
39 Domus sancti Marci Bristoll added.