Administrative compilations made by University officers

William Buckenham (d.1540) DD, was Master of Gonville Hall 1513-36 and Vice-Chancellor 1508-9.

This volume contains copies of charters, statutes and decrees, together with memoranda of elections. It is listed for many years as part of the Vice-Chancellor's tradita and was the standard reference work before Hare. Contents as follows, pagination is that provided by Registrary Romilly in 1858:

Pasted inside front board: note [? by Charles Ashton, Vice-Chancellor 1702] on volume's origins and use made of it by antiquaries

Tipped in at beginning: index of subjects by Registrary Romilly, 2 July 1858

Flyleaves: note on book's origins by Thomas Baker [and ? Charles Ashton] and partial list of contents, late 17th century

Pastedown: motto of Anthony Harison, notary public

p.1: notes, in mid 16th century hand, of confirmations of charter of 14 Richard II permitting Chancellor to choose what scholars he wishes, and of charter of 25 Henry VIII re cognizance of pleas where one party is a scholar; note, in italic hand, of entries temp. Edward VI on pp.8, 17, 112

p.2: list of Vice-Chancellor's tradita beginning 'The black parchment boke, the black papre boke, the boke of accowntes ...'; list of Proctors' tradita, blank; list of Taxors' tradita

pp.3-4: table for assize of bread in accordance with Statute of Winchester, 51 Henry III [1267]

pp.5-7: Statute of Pillory and Tumbrel (for breach of assize in Statute of Winchester) with historiated initial and marginal drawings

pp.8-9: decree of Court of Augmentations for continued payment of stipend of £13 6s 8d formerly paid to Lady Margaret Reader by Abbot and Convent of Westminster, 26 June 1542

pp.10-12: inspeximus of Henry VIII of a similar decree for stipend of Lady Margaret Preacher, 16 June 1542 (see UA Luard 165 for original)

pp.13-15: incomplete copy of decree of Court of Augmentations, 29 June 1544, confirming composition between Vice-Chancellor and Prior of Barnwell re Midsummer Fair

p.16: blank

p.17: copy of start of St John's Gospel

pp.18-23: calendar of non dis and non le days drawn up by Matthew Stokys, 1562

pp.24-26: list of fees payable by graduands to Vice-Chancellor, Proctors and Bedells, by M. Stokys

p.26: list of fees payable by University and Colleges to Bedells, by M. Stokys

p.27: blank

pp.28-39: bulls of Popes Honorius and Sergius, followed by confirmation of Pope John XXII (11 July 1317) (see also UA Luard 115), followed by mythical narrative of University's origins

pp.40-41: appointment by Edward VI as visitors for the University of Bishops of Ely and Rochester, Sir William Paget, Sir Thomas Smith, John Cheke, William Maye, Dean of St Paul's and Thomas Wendie, 8 Apr. 1549

pp.42-55: Leges sive statuta Cantabrigienses academiae, ends with names of Earl of Somerset, William St John, Lord John Russell, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Southampton, Sir William Paget, Sir Anthony Wingfield, Sir Thomas Smith

p.56: blank

p.57: proctorial cycle for 1557-1600, order drawn up and agreed 3 July 1559

p.58: blank, except for names of several heads of Colleges ejected by Mary and 'now restored'

p.59: memorandum about a bull of Pope Martin V laying down origin of personal tithes in divine law (? See also UA Luard 107)

pp.60-65: injunctions of the Edwardian visitors, 2 July 1549; solutions of several doubtful questions submitted to the visitors: i) restriction of sums paid by bachelors at their disputations to 50s ii) requirement of a bond for faithful conduct of duty of opponency iii) restriction of loans from chests to ten a year until debts are paid off iv) Bedells' stipends to be paid by those responsible for College finances

pp.66-68: mandate from Edward VI resolving doubtful questions arising from statutes

p.69: statutes of Andrew Perne's first Vice-Chancellorship, entered in his hand: i) imposing fines on bachelors refusing to oppose in philosophy, 18 May 1552 ii) imposing fines on sophisters refusing to oppose in dialectic, 10 Sept. 1552 iii) those coopted into order for incepting in arts to be considered bachelors, 10 Sept. 1552

pp.70-3: blank

pp.74-96: copy of 'Barnwell Process' (that is, papal confirmation of 18 Sept. 1433, see also UA Luard 114)

p.97: statutes copied from Proctor's Book(s): i) de electione procuratorum ii) tempora et modus legendi iii) cum non nulli versipelles et fallaces viri

pp.99-102: privilegia oppidi Cantabrigiensis anno 1 Ricardi II: inspeximus of town charters, 8 Dec. 1377

p.103: writ of Richard II addressed to official of Court of Canterbury recording grant to Chancellor of cognizance of all pleas re masters, scholars or scholars' servants, with exception of mayhem or felony, 16 Dec. 1385 (see UA Luard 67 for original)

p.104: blank

p105: mandate of 9 Edward III protecting liberties and privileges of masters and scholars of University of Cambridge, 4 Dec. 1335 (see UA Luard 28 for original)

pp.106-123: inspeximus by Richard II of various royal charters of Henry III, confirmed by intervening monarchs, 4 July 1378 (see UA Luard 34 for original)

pp.124-126: inspeximus and confirmation by Edward IV, 12 May 1463 (see UA Luard 125 for original)

pp.126-129: grant by Richard II to Chancellor and successors, 17 Feb. 1381/2 (see UA Luard 57 for original)

pp.129-131: grant by same fixing at 4d delivery of bushel, half bushel and peck anywhere in fairs, markets, port, or any other place in town; excluding Mayor etc. from any participation or profit and empowering Chancellor to summon representatives of towns people to appear and present on oath forestallers etc. and sellers of rotten meat and fish. Those in breach of this regulation to be fined or punished as University of Oxford has done, 10 Dec. 1384

pp.131-133: mandate of Richard II addressed to Mayor etc. ordering them to obey mandates of 10 Dec., 12 Dec. 1384 (see UA Luard 66 for original)

pp.133-134: mandate of Richard II addressed to Mayor forbidding town authorities to take any fines from victuallers, brewers etc. who are selling bread, wine, ale and other victuals in Cambridge and are not free men, 12 Dec. 1384

pp.134-137: grant by Richard II to Chancellor re cognizance of pleas, 10 Dec. 1383 (see UA Luard 64 for original)

pp.137-138: grant by Richard II to Chancellor etc. of custody of assize and assay of weights and measures in Sturbridge Fair, 3 Sept. 1382

pp.138-144: mandate of Henry VII to Chancellor on barrelling of fish, 26 Aug. 1495 (see UA Luard 138 for original)

pp.145-151: statute of Chancellor regulating obit of Thomas Barowe, 21 Jan. 1494/5 (see UA Luard 136 for original)

pp.151-152: statutes of Christ's College, mid 16th century, re Visitor and mode of visiting

p.153: blank

pp.154-169: charter of Elizabeth I to Chancellor etc., 26 Apr. 1562 (see UA Luard 185 for original)

pp.170-171: charter of Henry VIII to Chancellor etc. granting right to have three stationers, or printers or sellers of books, approved by Chancellor and three doctors (see UA Luard 162 for original)

pp.172-178: statute of Philip and Mary re three public lecturers in Theology, Greek and Hebrew

pp.179-180: agreement between Chancellor etc. and executors of John Mere, late Esquire Bedell, re disposition of his two tenements in Bene't Street and use of rents to fund an annual sermon, 1 Mar. 1559

pp.181-187: Act of Parliament (in form of a royal inspeximus) incorporating two Universities and confirming their privileges granted by royal charter, 7 June 1571

pp.188-189: blank

pp.190-201: agreement re three lecturers of Sir Robert Rede (see UA Luard 159 for original)

pp.202-220: charter of Elizabeth I to University, 30 Aug. 1589, copied in Anthony Harison's hand (see UA Luard 190 for original)

pp.221-228: charter of Elizabeth I to town (pen portrait in initial, work of A. Harison as before) repeats and confirms charter of 30 Henry VIII recognising right to hold fair at Sturbridge for fourteen days after feast of St Batholomew, saving liberties of University, 15 Aug. 1589

p.229: blank

pp.230-244: indenture of agreement for commemoration of Henry VII, 20 Nov. 1504 (see UA Luard 147* for original)

pp.244-245: royal inspeximus of a decree in Court of Augmentations, 12 Oct. 1544 (see UA Luard 167 for original)

pp.246-255: letters patent of foundation with ordinance of Divinity lectureship now founded by the Lady Margaret, 8 Sept. 1502 (see UA Luard 144 for original)

pp.256-260: blank

pp.261-269: ordinances of the Lady Margaret for office of University Preacher, nominating Mr Fawne as first holder, 30 Oct. 1504 (see UA Luard 148 for original)

p.270: record of the oaths of preachers, beginning with Thomas Astley, 15 Mar. 1519/20 and continuing to 1528. List continues to 1679 on pp.279-82

pp.271-278: charter of Henry VI ratifying composition of 14 Feb. 1456/7 between Chancellor etc. and Provost and Scholars of King's College re jurisdiction over all offences committed within precincts of College, gardens and orchards of same, and probate of wills of all dying there, which belong to Provost; all other cases involving members of King's belong to Chancellor. Precincts of College are defined, 18 Feb. 1456/7

p.278: arbitration by Bishop of Ely in dispute between Chancellor etc. and Rector of St Bene't's who has refused to allow bells of church to be rung to call scholars to extraordinary lectures. The rector has agreed to permit bell-ringing in return for customary payment of 6s 8d, 14 Mar. 1273/4

pp.279-282: see above, under p.270

pp.283-285: memoranda of elections to Regius Chair of Divinity, attested some by Vice-Chancellor and Heads, some by Registrary, 1561-1717

pp.286-300: composition between University and town, 12 May 1503 (see UA Luard 145 for original)

pp.301-303: mandate of Henry VI to Chancellor, 12 Apr. 1459 (see UA Luard 124 for original)

pp.304-306: indult of Pope Urban addressed to Abbot of Thorney, Prior of Barnwell and Chancellor of Lincoln permitting scholars obtaining benefices with or without cure of souls to receive their profits for next three years without residing in them, Rome 30 Dec. 1367

p.307: brief of Cardinal Pileus permitting non-residence of Cambridge scholars holding benefices with cure of souls for period of years, London 6 May 1381

p.308: petition of University to Pope Boniface IX for renewal of indult of predecessor of 2 May 1386 re three year non-residence

pp.309-312: indult of Pope Urban VI to University addressed to Abbots of Westminster and Waltham and John de Donewich, Chancellor, recounting next document, 2 May 1386

pp.313-315: indult of Urban VI to scholars for five years, 2 May 1386

pp.316-317: notarial instrument of penitential request of Mayor for pardon from Vice-Chancellor for offences against liberty and jurisdiction of University, Austin Friars 24 Aug. 1524

pp.318-319: memoranda of elections and oaths of preachers, 1734/5-44; and of Regius Professors of Divinity, 1742-49

pp.320-321: royal inhibition to official of the Court of Canterbury, 16 Dec. 1385 (see UA Luard 67 for original, as p.103 above)

pp.322-333: royal inspeximus and confirmation of certificate of Clerk of Parliament, 21 Feb. 1536/7 (see UA Luard 163 for original)

pp.334-341: royal charter recording grant to Chancellor etc. of advowson and rectory of Burwell St Mary, 28 Nov. 1544 (see UA Luard 168 for original)

p.341: memorandum of election of Regius Professor of Divinity, 1756

pp.342-347: cry of Sturbridge Fair, shield drawn in margin

pp.347-349: table of fees payable at admission and tabling of scholars of all faculties

pp.350: memorandum that on petition of Churchwardens of St Bene't, the Consistory of Heads and Presidents of University agreed on 7 May 1655 to make a free gift of 30s towards repair of bell-frame because bells are used to ring to acts and congregations and that on this day money was paid to them by Vice-Chancellor, 31 May 1655; memorandum of election of Regius Professor of Divinity, 1771

pp.351-353: memoranda of elections of preachers (with oath and form of admission in 1752), 1752-1841; and of Regius Professors of Divinity, 1816-27; note by Registrary Romilly that new statues of 1858 made the preachership annual

The volume was sent to the Registry by Vice-Chancellor Henry Philpot on 11 June 1858.