Ms. codex.
Title from opening rubric (f. 1v); a faded spine title in ink refers to the Earle of Leycestre and another faded title on
the upper cover refers to the Earls of Leycester and Chester with a later addition specifically naming John Dudley, Duke of
Northumberland, father of Robert Dudley.
A copy of Barbara McGeoch's 1974 MA thesis, including an edition of the manuscript, is shelved with the manuscript.
Collation: Paper, 20; 1¹ 2⁵⁺¹ 3⁸ 4⁴⁺¹; modern foliation in pencil, [1-20], lower right recto.
Layout: Written in 25 long lines, ruled in lead; double vertical and single horizontal bounding lines in pale red ink.
Script: Written in a hybrid secretary script, probably in the hand of Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms (by comparison
to MS King's 396, British Library; Megan Cook, Colby College)
Decoration: Miniature of two knights bearing shields with the emblems of Leicester and Chester (f. 2r); 25 small and 2 large
(f. 14v, f. 17v) heraldic shields of the descendants of the earls of Leicester and Chester; and an illuminated border throughout
formed by the family tree that passes through the heraldic shields and roundels with the names of principal family members,
painted in a naturalistic style with leaves resembling elm and oak foliage.
Watermark: Briquet Lettre B 8077-8079 (1566-1580).
Binding: Contemporary stiff vellum with five cords sewn through and visible on spine and one cord now gone at tail of spine;
holes for two missing ties on fore-edge of covers.
Origin: Written in England, circa 1572-1573.
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