Manuscript

London, British Library, MS Harley 2252

Date of originEarly 16th century
Place of originLondon
MaterialPaper
DimensionsWidth: 190mm | Height: 280mm
Notes

Known as John Colyns' Commonplace Book.

Contents

Folio Content item IMEV Details
1v

From John Lydgate's 'Dietary' (fragmentary, 24 lines)

824
1v

Against harbouring a friar or a fart

1148
2r

Proverbial rhymes on nowghte

1163
2r

On the difference of weights

Prose.

2r

Medical recipe for colic and 'the Stone'

Prose.

2r

On the properties of good wine

4175
2v

Of Edward, Duke of Buckingham

158.9
3r

Proverbs

432
3v-8v

Names of Mayors of London

Prose.

9r

The wards of London ('except occidentally')

Prose.

9r

The wards of London (except 'orientally')

Prose

9v

Guild Hall rates, 13th March 1473

Prose.

10r

Parish churches within the gates of the City of London

Prose.

11r

Monestaries and colleges within the gates of the City of London

Prose.

11r

Parishes without the gates and within the franchise

Prose.

11r

Monestaries without the gates and within the franchise

Prose.

11r

Parishes without the franchise in the suburbs

Prose.

11v

Monasteries in the suburbs

Prose.

12r-13v

A determination for appearance upon inquests devised by 25 Persons Elect by the 25 Aldermen in their wards.

Prose. Dated 1519.

14r

Act of King Edward IV against 'galymen'

Latin prose, with explanation in English.

14r

Ordinance in the City of London

Prose

14v

By Henry VII to the Mayor of London

English prose with the judgement of the magistrate in Latin

15

To the King, honorable Lords, Burgesses and Commons of Parliament

Prose.

16

The effect of another Statute

Prose.

17r

On the second son of Edward III

Prose.

17r

On the third son of Edward III

Prose.

17r

The title to the realm of France that Edward III had by Isabelle his mother, the wife of King Edward of Canarvan

Prose.

18r-21r

Petition to the Lords of the King's Council on the misuse of certain weights

Prose.

21v

Copy of an ordinance for the Good Rule of the Parish of Stocke in London

Prose. Dated 1457.

22

Legend

Prose.

23-24

Paraphrase of Psalm 130

2522
25-27

The Ruin of a Ream

28r-32r

The names of the knights, citizens, barons of the five ports and burgesses coming to parliament on 17th October 1478

Prose.

32v-33r

Indictment against Edmund Grey Clerke

Prose.

33v-34r

The complaint of North to Cardinal Wolsey

34r-35

The Acts of Parliament passed in February and March 1534

Prose.

36r

To the King, our Sovereign Lord

Prose. Two petitions.

36v-37

A brief chronicle of the Turkish reign and feats of war

Prose.

38r

Note on conducting a law suit

Prose.

38r

The progeny of the Earl of Arundel

Prose.

39r-41v

Letter from King James of Scotland to Henry VIII

Prose. Dated 1513.

42r-43r

Answer to the above letter

Prose.

43v-45r

The Lamentation of the King of the Scots

45v-48r

Frances Dyngley of Manston's 'The Battle of Flodden Field'

48v-50r

Composition of all the offerings within the City of London and suburbs

Prose.

50v-51r

A miracle of a knight called Sir Roger Wallysborow

Prose.

51v-53v

Chronicle

Prose.

54r-84r Lyfe of Ipomydon 2142

Unique manuscript copy. 2346 lines. 

84v

On an inconsistent mistress

2518
84v

Do not wait to marry a rich wife

3172
84v

Why English people eat more than those of other nations

Column 2, but also partially written in the inner margin from top to bottom.

85

Story about the testament of a wise fool

Prose.

86r-133v Stanzaic Morte Arthur 1994

Unique copy. 3969 lines.

133*

An enigma: the bond of love

3703.3

Leaf originally not counted.

134r-139v

Skelton Lawryat, 'Parot'

2263.5
140r

On the inconstancy of his mistress

141

Ezechyelys Prophete

4253
142r-146r

The Craft of Illumination

Prose.

146v

Reply to a petition of merchants

Prose.

147r-153r

Sceltonyus Lawreatus (John Skelton), 'Quis resurgat malyngnantes aut quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem nemo Domine'

3903.5
153v

John Skelton, Latin verse

153v

Prognostications from the day on which Christmas falls

1411
154

Prognostications

1989
155r

Conclusion of a Relation of the dying Speeches of certain who were executed in the time of K. Henry VIII, the preceding leaf being purposely torne-out

Prose.

155

On the inconstance of Fortune

156

On Cardinal Wolsey

157r, 160r-161r

Cosilium domini in eternam manet

Two versions, the first incomplete.

158r-159r

John Skelton on Cardinal Wolsey

159v

Prognostications of the weather

4040
159v

Prognostications on the change of the moon

Prose.

161v-162r

Ingens vero virtus mirabille tam in plantis etc

Prose.

162v

Memorandum

Dated 1570.

163-164

Order on payments for knolling bells

Prose.

165r

Order on payment of a priest

Dated 1526.

165r

From 'Vitas patrum'

Prose.

165v

Medical recipe

Prose.

166r

Note on the diameter of the globe

Prose.

166

Precepts in -ly

3087
166v

The Lotte of St. Thomas Caunterbery

A game.

166v

Note