Welsh Journals

THE DATING AND STRUCTURE OF THE CHRONICLE OF ADAM USK THE unique manuscript of Adam Usk's continuation of Higden's Polychronicon from 1377 to 1421 is divided between British Library, Additional Manuscript 10104 (henceforward MS. A) and an unnumbered manuscript of six folios in the possession of the duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle (henceforward MS. B).1 That they were originally one, there is no doubt. The text of the Polychronicon itself, which was Usk's personal copy, and which he bequeathed in his will to his kinsman, Edward ap Adam,2 occupies fos. 9r-154v of MS. A, following an index and a world map. After this come a few notes-biblical references and such like-revolving around the name Adam, and a letter addressed to Lewis de St. Melano, treasurer of Llandaff, which jointly occupy a little more than a side, on fos. 154v-155r. Usk's continuation, which starts with Richard II's accession in 1377, begins fifteen lines from the foot of fo. 155r and continues to the foot of fo. 1761, where it breaks off in the middle of a sentence, the narrative having reached the year 1404. The sentence is completed at the top of fo. I of MS. B, and the chronicle then runs on without interruption for nearly eleven sides, ending somewhat abruptly near the foot of fo. 6r, in the middle of the year 1421. How and why MSS. A and B became separated are mysteries. They were still together around 1600, for a number of marginal notes in a hand of that time figure in both manuscripts, but by 1836, when the British Library acquired MS. A at the sale of the library of Richard Heber, MS. B had become detached. Not until 1885 was it rediscovered, 'carelessly folded up among a number of neglected documents in a loft at Belvoir castle', where it has since remained. Usk's authorship of the conti nation-which is beyond doubt-was first identi- fied by Sir Edward Maunde Thompson when he edited the 1377-1404 (MS. A) section of it for the Royal Society of Literature in 1876.4 In 1904, following the discovery of MS. B, he produced a second edition, this time of the entire text from 1377 to 1421. This remains the only printed edition of Usk's chronicle, and Thompson's conclusions regarding the manuscript remain unchallenged. He believed that the text was not in Usk's handwriting, but 'written by several scribes, none of them good writers, and some of them illiterate'. It was possible, I am grateful to the duke for allowing me to consult this manuscript, and to his secretary, Mrs. Dorothy Stavetey. for her kindness and assistance during my visit to Belvoir. 2 E. M. Thompson (ed.). Chronicon Adae de Usk A.D. 1377-1421 (London. 1904). pp. xxix-xxx. where the text of Usk's will is given in full. All references to the Chronicon are to the 1904 edition unless otherwise stated. 1 Chronicon, p. v. 4 E. M. Thompson (ed.). Chronicon Adae de Usk A.D. 1377-1404 (London. 1876).