The Courtenay Compendium (now Copenhagen, Royal Danish Library, Acc. 2011/5) is a medieval English manuscript containing a miscellany of historical texts. It contains three blocks of texts. The first concerns British and English history. The second has an oriental focus and contains accounts of Europeans in China , the Crusades , Islam and the rise of the Mongols . The third contains prophecies.
7-619: The manuscript is of the late 14th century. It was probably created at Breamore Priory in Hampshire . It was acquired by the Earls of Devon of the House of Courtenay , whence its name. It was rediscovered in the archives of Powderham Castle in Devon during the time of the 18th earl, Hugh Courtenay . On 3 December 2008, it was auctioned by Sotheby's to a private dealer, who sold it at auction to
14-532: The Royal Danish Library in March 2010. The compendium consists of 230 parchment leaves bound as a codex and measuring 272 by 190 millimetres (10.7 in × 7.5 in). Its contents are written entirely in the same hand, in cursive Anglicana script. The main text is dark brown, but there are initials and paragraph markers in red ink by a different scribe. The manuscript was paginated in
21-475: The early modern period , by which time some pages were out of order. Catchwords allow the proper order to be established. In the 18th century, the compendium was rebound. The cover is decorated with the Courtenay arms and the spine labelled VARIÆ TRACTATI MSS . The contents of the manuscript are grouped into three sections, with three blank pages separating the first two and a single blank page between
28-531: The annual value of the priory was £200 5s. 1½d., together with two pounds of pepper. Less alms and other obligatory outgoings of £45 11s. the annual value was only £154 14s. 1½d. and the pepper. This brought the house well below the limit for the first series of dissolutions, and it was surrendered on 10 July 1536. The site of the priory and all its possessions was granted in November 1536 to Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter , and his wife Gertrude. Several of
35-455: The manors of Breamore and Southwick Priory were included in the dower lands of Anne of Cleves in January 1540. A large manor house, Breamore House , was built on the site in 1583. No above ground remains of the priory survive, although cropmarks can be seen on satellite imagery of the site. This article about a British Christian monastery, abbey, priory or other religious house
42-664: The second and third. The first section concerns the history of Troy and Britain, the second concerns the Orient and the third is prophecies. The contents are: The compendium contains the only extant copy of the recension of the Encomium Emmae Reginae prepared for Edward the Confessor . Breamore Priory Breamore Priory was a priory of Austin canons in Breamore , Hampshire, England. The priory
49-540: Was founded some time towards the end of the reign of Henry I by Baldwin de Redvers and his uncle Hugh de Redvers. In the 14th century, the Courtenay Compendium was created at Breamore. The last prior, Prior Finch, wrote at least twice to Thomas Cromwell proffering his service and that of his house, and desiring Cromwell's favour. But according to the Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1535
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