Manuscript legal text, undated, probably compiled between 1660 and 1700

The manuscript book, soft bound in vellum, contains what appears to be the copy of a legal text. It bears its original foliation, and each page also identifies the book and folio number of the original source. It is prefaced by two indices, which may be original to this copy. The first is an index of names referring to relevant entries throughout the volume. The second is an alphabetical list of legal terms and concepts, again referenced to the following text.

The main text, written in Latin, law French and English, provides details of legal cases and precedents with marginal references to other cases and legal authorities.

The cases concern individuals, institutions and types of legal action. Persons referred to include: Sir William Shelley (c.1480-1549); Sir Rowland Hayward (c.1520-1594, Sheriff and Lord Mayor of London); Sir Hugh Cholmley (1600-1657, Yorkshire landowner, or his son, Sir Hugh Cholmley, 1632-1689); 'Mr Cromwell' (probably Oliver Cromwell, 1599-1658); the Abbott of Strata Marcella and the Rector of Cheddington. There are references to commissions of sewers; the counties of Salop (now Shropshire), Bedfordshire, Rutland, Pembrokeshire, Northumberland (now Northumbria) and Cumberland (now Cumbria); Thetford School; the City of London; the College of Physicians of London and Trinity College Cambridge. Other actions at law are examined, including bankruptcy, libel, leases, slander, and copyhold.

The writer of this legal reference text is not identified, and the title of the original source is not given. The volume is undated but seems to have been compiled in the mid-17th century in England, presumably by somebody engaged in the study or practice of law. It seems to have formed part of a library, and bears the numbers '3-5' on the spine.

No archival arrangement has been necessary.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

LANGUAGE: English, French, Latin

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of the volume must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

Details of the volume's provenance or acquisition by the University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections are not certain, but is appears to have formed part of the library collections by 1948.