RECORDS OF PARLIAMENT

Sion L40.2/E45

RECORDS OF PARLIAMENT

Early 17th century

An abridgment of the records of Parliament during the reigns of Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. Begins with the Parliament at Coventry on 6 October 6 Henry IV [1404] and ends incomplete with the Parliament at Westminster on 20 October 2 Henry VI [1423]. The text appears to correspond to the abridgment of the records of Parliament collected by Sir Robert Cotton. (See British Library, Cotton MS. Titus E 1, an abridgment in Cotton's possession covering 1 Edward III to 22 Edward IV, and Titus E2 - E9, copies of Parliament rolls covering 1 Richard II to 1 Richard III). Cotton's abridgment was later published as 'An exact abridgement of the records in the Tower of London from the reign of King Edward the Second unto [the first year of] King Richard the Third, of all the Parliaments ... collected by Sir Robert Cotton. Revised by William Prynne' (London, 1657).

94 ff.

Open

Pasted on a flyleaf preceding f. 1 is a printed sale catalogue description: '145. Parliament. Copy of documents relative to summons to the Parliament of England during the reigns of Henry IV, V and VI, with petitions to parliament and answers. Manuscript, written in the reign of James I'. On this is written 'From Sir W. Betham's collection'. However this manuscript is not lot 145 in Sotheby's sale of the collection of Sir William Betham (1779-1853), Ulster King of Arms: 'Catalogue of the very important & valuable collection of genealogical and heraldic manuscripts, and a few printed books, the property of the late Sir William Betham ... which will be sold by auction ... on ... 10th ... May, 1860'. Transferred from Sion College to Lambeth Palace Library, 1996.

Binding of blind-tooled leather over wooden boards, 288 x 198 mm., late 19th century. Paper leaves