A collection of charters, annals, notes and property records relating to Worcester city and Cathedral all neatly copied out in one hand, some in English, mostly in Latin. The compiler was George Atkinson, who gives his name and the date, 1691, in the heading to the catalogue of early gifts to the church at Worcester, 679-1093, near the back of the volume. The sources of the historical notes are generally not given but presumably they derive from Bishop's Registers and Worcester chronicles.
The volume includes a list of the names of people of note buried in Worcester Cathedral 1160-1301, a copy of Bishop Giffard's will, a list of bailiffs from 1428 onwards and a calendar of events local to Worcester and of national events which had repercussions for the town between 1485 and 1620. Margins of the pages used are ruled in red ink; the 'Carta Edwardi Regis de iiior foeda milit' has larger red ink capital letters at the beginning of each copied deed
The volume contains useful information relating to the early history of Worcester and its compilation reflects the growing interest in the past which was gathering momentum in the 17th century, with the writing and researches of antiquarians such as William Camden, William Dugdale and Elias Ashmole.
Investigation into the genealogical records of Worcestershire may well reveal more about George Atkinson who possibly died between 1691 and 1699.
Nathaniel Tomkins, late prebendary of Worcester Cathedral whose local history notes are included, was the son of Thomas Tomkins, the well known Cathdral organist. He died in 1681.
Formerly Phillipps MS 26135