• Detail of a miniature of a chessboard., Moral treatises, poems, prayers and hymns, including the Moralised Game of Chess (ff. 1-51), the tale of Melibeus (ff. 52-65v), a French translation of the Moralis Philosophia of Guillaume de Conches (ff. 66-78), a poem by Jean Chapuis (but attributed to Jehan de Meun) beginning 'O glorieuse Trinite' (ff. 79-88v), a poem by Philippe de Vitry, beginning, 'Par maniere desbatement' (ff. 89-95), a poem by Jean Bruyant beginning, 'On dit souvent en reprochier' (ff. 95v-113v), Elucidaires (a French translation of the Elucidarius) (ff. 114-147v), the Penitential Psalms (ff. 148-151v), prayers (ff. 152-155v)

(ff. 152-155v) William Noy: inscribed, ' 5 Maii 1623, ex dono Willelmi Noy armigeri, ' (f. i verso).John Shearley and John Hawes: inscribed with their names and the date, 1639 (f. 156).Edmund Thorold, marshal of the Exchequer: inscribed, 'Give my

• Detail of a miniature of Melibee and Prudence., Moral treatises, poems, prayers and hymns, including the Moralised Game of Chess (ff. 1-51), the tale of Melibeus (ff. 52-65v), a French translation of the Moralis Philosophia of Guillaume de Conches (ff. 66-78), a poem by Jean Chapuis (but attributed to Jehan de Meun) beginning 'O glorieuse Trinite' (ff. 79-88v), a poem by Philippe de Vitry, beginning, 'Par maniere desbatement' (ff. 89-95), a poem by Jean Bruyant beginning, 'On dit souvent en reprochier' (ff. 95v-113v), Elucidaires (a French translation of the Elucidarius) (ff. 114-147v), the Penitential Psalms (ff. 148-151v), prayers (ff. 152-155v)

(ff. 152-155v) William Noy: inscribed, ' 5 Maii 1623, ex dono Willelmi Noy armigeri, ' (f. i verso).John Shearley and John Hawes: inscribed with their names and the date, 1639 (f. 156).Edmund Thorold, marshal of the Exchequer: inscribed, 'Give my

• Detail of a miniature of the Valois kings, starting with Charles of Valois, son of Philippe le Bel, his son, Philip VI (1328-1350), the first Valois king, followed by John the Good (1350-1364), and Charles V the Wise (1364-1380)., Poems and Romances (the 'Talbot Shrewsbury book')

of Philippe le Bel, his son, Philip VI (1328-1350), the first Valois king, followed by John the Good (1350-1364), and Charles V the Wise (1364-1380). The volume includes:List of contents (f. 1v);Dedicatory verses (f. 2v);Genealogical table of descendants of Saint

• Detail of a miniature of the genealogical table of descendants of Louis IX in the form of a fleur-de-lys, with portraits of English kings from Edward I to Edward III and Edward, the Black Prince and John of Gaunt in medallions., Poems and Romances (the 'Talbot Shrewsbury book')

fleur-de-lys, with portraits of English kings from Edward I to Edward III and Edward, the Black Prince and John of Gaunt in medallions. The volume includes:List of contents (f. 1v);Dedicatory verses (f. 2v);Genealogical table of descendants of Saint Louis (f.

• Detail of a miniature of John Talbot, identified by his Talbot dog, presenting the book to queen Margaret, seated in a palace beside king Henry VI, and surrounded by the court., Poems and Romances (the 'Talbot Shrewsbury book')

a miniature of John Talbot, identified by his Talbot dog, presenting the book to queen Margaret, seated in a palace beside king Henry VI, and surrounded by the court. The volume includes:List of contents (f. 1v);Dedicatory verses (f. 2v);Genealogical table

• Detail of a coloured drawing of hardship and horrors in the land of the Tartars., Travels (index Itinerarium)

their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Land of the Tartars Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Detail of a coloured drawing depicting idol worship and blood-sacrifice at the church of Calamye., Travels (index Itinerarium)

fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Idol worship Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the King of Ind giving blessing to vessels of ox urine, to be further used in rites., Travels (index Itinerarium)

of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. King of Ind Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the Island of Crues near the Kingdom of Ind, where the heat is so great that men suffer from genital inflammation., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Inflammation Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• The large blank space at the left of the page was meant to have a large, decorated letter 'C' to begin the name, Cornelius. Further down the page, the history itself begins with another blank space, this time for the first letter of the name of the Greek king, Peleus. In the lower margin, an inscription identifies the book as belonging to the library of the monastery of St Augustine in Canterbury., Dares's 'De bello troiano' (ff. 1-8), and Bever's 'Flores historiarum' (ff. 8v-115v)

Thomas Moyleus of Eastwell, Kent (b. before 1500, d. 1560), lawyer and speaker of the House of Commons: acquired from John Twyne (see Watson 1986).Matthew Parker (b. 1504, d. 1575), archbishop of Canterbury and patron of scholarship: his red chalk

• Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the death rites of Rybothe Island., Travels (index Itinerarium)

fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Death rites Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing depicting the dragon-daughter of King Ypocras, and the knights who tried to break the spell enchanting her., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Dragon Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawings of the monstrous races in the kingdom of Dondun, including cyclops, cannibalistic giants and blemmyae., Travels (index Itinerarium)

fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Monstrous races Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing of the Annunciation to the Shepherds., Travels (index Itinerarium)

their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Annunciation to the Shepherds Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing depicting the holy site of Sardenak, near Damascus, where a miraculous image of the Virgin is housed., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Sardenak Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawings of Noah's Ark, resting on the mountain of Taneez, and the story of a monk that brought one plank down to house in a church at the foot of the mountain., Travels (index Itinerarium)

fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. The Ark Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing depicting mythical people of Ethiopia born with only one foot (a sciopod), to shade them from the sun., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Sciopod Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing depicting the Island of Crues near the Kingdom of Ind, where the heat is so great that men suffer from genital inflammation., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Inflammation Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawings depicting the bearded women of Ind and the tomb of Thomas ("Doubting Thomas"), with the relic of his hand., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Thomas Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)

• Coloured drawing depicting cannibals near the Isle of Java; and the men of Milke Island, who fight for sport., Travels (index Itinerarium)

(a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Cannibals Sir John Mandeville England, E. England, E. (East Anglia)