Marston MS 280     France, s. XV 2
Chroniques depuis le commencement du monde

1. f. 1r blank; f. 1v [Title:] Cest le liure des croniques depuis le
commancement du monde et des Roys de france.  ff. 2r-5r Sensuiuent Les
noms des Roys qui ont regne en france Premierement.  Pharamon eleue
premier Roy des francois Regna paien xi. ans et trespassa l'an iiii.#o et
xxx...Charles VI e filx de charles le quint tresaine et de bonnaire regna
xlij#z ans et trespassa l'an mil iiij#o xxij#z.

List of Kings of France from Pharamond to the death of Charles VI in 1422.

2. ff. 5r-81r [Space for rubric left unfilled].  Au commencement.  Du
monde puis que dieu eut fait ciel et terre tenebres et lumiere et
les. iiii. elemens diuisez l'un de l'autre.  Si fist diuerses creatures
herbes et arbres poissons oiseaux et bestes...Apres liij sint l'empire
gracien .vi. ans Cils ama moult dieu et moult fut a saincte eglise propice. 
Si estoit plain de toutes bonnes meurs et de cheualerie alosez durement.
Cy finent les croniques Sainct Jherome/ ccc[c crossed out] iiij xx. 
/ccc iiii xx. I.

History of the world from the creation to 38O/ 381 A.D.

3. ff. 81r-207v Au premier.  An Gracien l'empereure Commaince ses
Croniques Sigibers qui fut moyne de gemblois...En cest an mesme [1307] le
Iour de la conuersion Saint pol furent les noces faites en l'eiglise nostre
dame en Bouloigne du roy d'angleterre et de madame ysabel fille du roy de
france...li quens Robert de flandres.  Et li quens de haynau.  Et sic est
finis huius presentis operis. 

Chronicle of France from 381 A.D. to 1308 (the imprisonment of the
Templars and the marriage of Edward II of England to Isabel, daughter of
Philip the Fair).

Paper (watermarks obscured by text: similar in general design to
Briquet Boeuf 2782-86 and Briquet Main 11493-505) with parchment outer bifolia,
ff. i (paper) + ii (contemporary parchment, i with modern paper pasted to
recto, ii = f. 1) + 207 + i (contemporary parchment with modern paper
pasted to verso) + i (paper), 272 x 200 (203 x 133) mm. ca. 28 long lines.
Frame-ruled in hard point or lead; generally four prickings at outer
corners of written space. 
I 2 (ff. i and 1, bifolium), II 16, III 18, IV 16, V 18, VI 20, VII 16,
VIII-X 20, XI 18, XII 20, XIII 4 [structure uncertain].  Horizontal
catchwords often enclosed by red rectangles in lower margin near inner
bounding line, verso.
Written in batarde script; first words of each section written in large
gothic bookhand.
Crude decorative initials, outlined in red and sometimes with red dots
within the outline, at major text divisions.  Headings, 1-line initials,
Roman numerals to designate years, initial strokes, and some punctuation, 
all in red.
Ink has bled through paper leaves with minor loss of text.
Bindings:  France, s. xviii.  Tan calf with a gold-tooled spine and a
red leather label "Regne des Rois de France."  Red edges and gold-tooled
turn-ins.  Discoloration from turn-ins and fastenings of early binding 
visible on front and rear flyleaves.

Written in France in the second half of the 15th century; early provenance
unknown.  Belonged to Sir Thomas Phillipps (no. 14882; inscription in
lower margin, f. 2r), who acquired it from Quaritch in 1859.  Clipping
from an unidentified French sale catalogue, no. 1770, on front pastedown. 
Bookplate of the Bibliotheca Richteriana on front pastedown.  White oval
tag with scalloped edge on spine, in ink "29[?]10," in pencil below "H3." 
Miscellaneous modern pencil notes on f. i verso, many erased, include: 
"MS. 201," "No. 12," "MHC"; in ink:  "13 o cit 6 H 12."  Purchased from
B. M. Rosenthal at an unknown date by Thomas E. Marston (bookplate).

secundo folio: Clouis

Barbara A. Shailor