An Altus partbook from a set originally of six volumes. Some pieces are in table-book format, with all voices in one book, arranged to be readable by singers around a table. The main scribe was John Merro (WillettsM); probably copied in western England, perhaps at Gloucester (WillettsM). Later owned by Dr. Matthew Hutton (1638-1711), an Oxford antiquary, who made some corrections and annotations, supplied some attributions, and added a few pieces. Purchased by British Museum at a Puttick's sale in 1849.

Original brown leather bindings now glued inside modern covers; original covers bear gold-tooled ornaments: center piece with flower and leaf motifs, thistles at corners, voice designations, and initials 'I M' [= John Merro].

black void; ff. 47'-48 and 54'-64 in the Quintus volume are in viol tablature

Original ink foliation 1-214 (133' and '134' used twice). New pencil foliation 1-183 (omits folios with blank staves).

Edges of leaves are gilded; no other decoration

paper

DIAMM inventory lists only the vocal pieces: in addition there are 38 pieces for 3 viols (Cantus ff,1v-18), 25 pieces for 4 viols (ff. 22-45v), 47 pieces for 5 viols (Cantus ff.50v-92v), and 14 for 6 viols (Cantus ff. 93v-105v & 176v) - folio numbers vary in other partbooks. Additionally Add ms 17795 contains 29 viol duets & trios.

2 Lamentations, 13 motets, 1 Service, 1 Service section, 44 anthems, 14 English secular pieces, 156 instrumental pieces (Fantasias, In nomines, dances, etc.) = 231

Amner-7, Bateson-1, Byrd-16, (Byrd/Ford)-1, (Byrd/T. Mudd II)-1, Carlton/Tomkins-1, Coperario-3, (H. Davies)-2, Deering-9, (Donato)-1, M. East-2, M. East/(Simmes)-1, A. Ferrabosco II-25, (Ford)-5, Gibbons-10, (N. Giles)-1, Hooper-1, Ives-6, M. Jeffries-1, Jenkins-3, Jenkins/(A. Ferrabosco II)-1, J. Lugge-1, T. Lupo-10, MicoS, Mico/Weelkes-1, J. Mundy-1, (W. Mundy)-3, Okeover-1, Palmer/(Peerson)-1, (R. Parsons I)-1, W. Randall-1, (Shepherd)-1, Tallis-4, Tomkins-25, (E. Tucker)-1, Ward-7, Ward/(Cranford)-1, Weelkes-3 + 1?, (W. White)-9, anon-58

5 paper partbooks of an original 6 (D-ii + ii + 192 + i + iv folios, A-iii + ii + 216 + ii + iv, T-iii + ii + 188 + ii + iii, B-iii + ii + 189 + i + iv, Q-iii + ii + 190 + i + iii), 150 x 195. Original ink foliation (D: 1-175; A: 1-214; T: 1-189; B: 1-174; Q: 1-192); new pencil foliation (D: 1-177; A: 1-183; T: 1-181; B: 1-172; Q: 1-170). Modern foliation omits folios with blank staves only. Errors or inconsistencies in original foliation - D: "175" used twice, last two gatherings not numbered; A: "133" and "134" used twice; T: "120" omitted; Q: "59" and "178" omitted. Blank staves only (original foliation) - D: 1, 16'-21', 26'-29', 97, 167'-172', one opening before and two openings after last fantasia; A: 1, 18'-20', 25'-29, 166-171', 190, 191'-214'; T: 1, 18'-20', 27'-29, one opening following f. 67, 165'-170', 188'; B: 15'-21', 26'-29', 73'-74, 164'-168'; Q: 1, 18-27', 45'-47, 48'-54, 73'-74.

Original brown leather bindings now glued inside modern covers; original covers bear gold-tooled ornaments: center piece with flower and leaf motifs, thistles at corners, voice designations, and initials "I M" [= John Merro]. No index. Black void mensural notation, except for Q ff. 47'-48 and 54'-64, in viol tablature; some pieces have all voices in one book, arranged to be readable by singers around a table. The main scribe was John Merro (WillettsM), who also copied NYorkP 4180-5; later additions by Matthew Hutton (see below). Edges of leaves are gilded; no other decoration.

First half of 17th century. Probably copied in western England, perhaps at Gloucester (WillettsM). The original owner (and main scribe) was John Merro, whose initials appear on the covers. Later owned by Dr. Matthew Hutton (1638-1711), an Oxford antiquary, who made some corrections and annotations, supplied some attributions, and added a few pieces. Purchased by British Museum at a Puttick's sale in 1849.

Vol 4

Contents: Change "14 English secular pieces" to "11 English secular pieces"; change "156 instrumental pieces" to "157 instrumental pieces"; add "2 Italian secular pieces."

Composers: Add "(Lassus)-2"; add "(J. Mundy/W. Mundy/Tallis)-1 "; change "(W. Mundy)-3" to "(W. Mundy)-2"; add "R. White-2"; change "(W. White) -9" to "W. White-8"; change "anon-58" to "anon-55."