University of London Archives | Details | Robert of Gloucester chronicle

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Actions Help FAQs Can't find what you're looking for? Browse Collections A-Z University of London	Robert of Gloucester chronicle Remove from selection Add to selection Request this item TitleRobert of Gloucester chronicle Held atSenate House Library, University of London Reference codeMS278 Date1440 Creator UnknownMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator Details of the creator were unknown at the time of the compilation of this finding aid. Scope and ContentRobert of Gloucester (fl 1260-1300) is only known through his vernacular chronicle of English history. It is thought that he may have been a monk of Gloucester. Manuscript volume containing a verse chronicle of the history of England from the legendary Brut up to 1272, [1440], most notably focusing on the barons' rebellion led by Simon de Montfort during the reign of King Henry III. The chronicle is written in rhymed couplets in a south-west Midland dialect, and was copied in a good semi-cursive hand by two, or possibly three, scribes. The chronicle is known in two versions, of which this is the shorter; in the longer version there is a reference to the darkness which fell on the surrounding country following the Battle of Evesham (Aug 1265), and this, as well as local knowledge of the area, has led to the author being traditionally named 'Robert of Gloucester'. On the verso of the second fly-leaf there is a 'Precepts in -ly' (moral or religious counsels) entitled 'A spesiall glasse to loke in daily', which is dated at Holy Rode on 14 Sep 1516. It was possibly written by Richard Whitford (1476-1542), who was chaplain to William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, and later to Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards becoming a monk at Syon Monastery, Isleworth, until the Dissolution. It is unclear if Whitford also undertook the copying of the Richard of Gloucester chronicle. Folio 147 contains 25 lines of miscellaneous Latin, including a section relating to the prophecies of Merlin. Conditions governing accessOpen for research. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits. Extent1 volume containing 149 leaves Physical descriptionManuscript folio. Written on vellum. Rubricated initials, with decoration including ink drawings in the margins, mainly grotesque heads, animals and fish. The capital letter beginning every other line of verse is filled with yellow. The vellum binding dates from the mid-nineteenth century. The manuscript has late medieval foliation on ff 1-146, with f 16 missed out. System of ArrangementSingle item Finding aidsCollection level description. See also N. R. Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries: I, London (1969). There are known to exist eleven more or less complete manuscripts of the chronicle, three fragments and one garbled version. Aside from the University of London manuscript, the other complete versions are held by the Huntington Library in California; the British Museum, London; the Bodleian Library, Oxford University; Cambridge University Library; Trinity College, Cambridge University; and Glasgow University. Level of descriptionfonds

TitleRobert of Gloucester chronicle

Held atSenate House Library, University of London

Reference codeMS278

Date1440

Creator
- UnknownMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
  Details of the creator were unknown at the time of the compilation of this finding aid.

Scope and ContentRobert of Gloucester (fl 1260-1300) is only known through his vernacular chronicle of English history. It is thought that he may have been a monk of Gloucester.

Manuscript volume containing a verse chronicle of the history of England from the legendary Brut up to 1272, [1440], most notably focusing on the barons' rebellion led by Simon de Montfort during the reign of King Henry III. The chronicle is written in rhymed couplets in a south-west Midland dialect, and was copied in a good semi-cursive hand by two, or possibly three, scribes. The chronicle is known in two versions, of which this is the shorter; in the longer version there is a reference to the darkness which fell on the surrounding country following the Battle of Evesham (Aug 1265), and this, as well as local knowledge of the area, has led to the author being traditionally named 'Robert of Gloucester'. On the verso of the second fly-leaf there is a 'Precepts in -ly' (moral or religious counsels) entitled 'A spesiall glasse to loke in daily', which is dated at Holy Rode on 14 Sep 1516. It was possibly written by Richard Whitford (1476-1542), who was chaplain to William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, and later to Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards becoming a monk at Syon Monastery, Isleworth, until the Dissolution. It is unclear if Whitford also undertook the copying of the Richard of Gloucester chronicle. Folio 147 contains 25 lines of miscellaneous Latin, including a section relating to the prophecies of Merlin.

Conditions governing accessOpen for research. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Extent1 volume containing 149 leaves

Physical descriptionManuscript folio. Written on vellum. Rubricated initials, with decoration including ink drawings in the margins, mainly grotesque heads, animals and fish. The capital letter beginning every other line of verse is filled with yellow. The vellum binding dates from the mid-nineteenth century. The manuscript has late medieval foliation on ff 1-146, with f 16 missed out.

System of ArrangementSingle item

Finding aidsCollection level description. See also N. R. Ker, Medieval manuscripts in British libraries: I, London (1969).

There are known to exist eleven more or less complete manuscripts of the chronicle, three fragments and one garbled version. Aside from the University of London manuscript, the other complete versions are held by the Huntington Library in California; the British Museum, London; the Bodleian Library, Oxford University; Cambridge University Library; Trinity College, Cambridge University; and Glasgow University.

Level of descriptionfonds

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