Ranulphi Higden Polychronicon

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Vellum, 9³/₄ x 7, ff. 192, double columns of 46 lines.

Cent. xiv late, in two clear but ugly hands. 2 fo. ciores animo.
At the top of f. 1 partly cut off: Roberti Hare 1586.

Collation:

1¹² 2¹² 3¹⁰ 4¹²-15¹² 16¹⁴.

Contents:

Ranulphi Higden Polychronicon.

Intrabo in agros priscorum.

In seven books ending in 1327 :

paruo post tempore superstites fera (?) morte interrierunt.

Verses. Desine do ueniam. dic culpam. retraho penam. / Cessa condono. pugna iuuo. wince corono. /

Sors maris. ira fere. dolus anguis agunt, miserere. / Hanc fuge. pelle tere. certum dabo sin feriere.

This is a short form of the Polychronicon. The opening words occur in the course of the longer Prologue (Rolls Series, vol. 1, p. 12). They are given by Bale as the first words of the Chronicle of Roger of Chester from whom Ranulph was supposed to have been plagiarized. But doubt has been thrown on the existence of Roger.

© N.J.R. James