An Altus partbook. A book of service settings, the main corpus is organised as a collection of morning canticles (Venite-Te Deum-Jubilate-Benedictus) from various services; followed by a collection of Kyrie-Creeds, and then of the evening canticles (Magnificat-Nunc dimittis), mostly from the same services and in the same sequence. Whole services in later copies, and two litanies, follow at the back of the book.

Main layer copied by John Todd; later additions by Toby Brookinge, Matthew Owen, Robert Softley, Cuthbert Brass, one unidentified scribe whose hand appears only in this source, and two other unidentified scribes, as follows:(1) also wrote most of DurC C1 and made additions in DurC C2 and DurC C4; (2) also made additions in DurC C2, DurC C4, DurC C15, and DurC C16 (Brian Crosby). Copied in Durham, for use by cathedral choir.

Some folios fragmentary or in poor condition; restored and repaired. Original folios now missing at various places.

Rebound in modern covers of dark brown leather over boards, gold stamped with ornamental designs and 'CONTRATENOR. / SERVICES' on spine; portions of original leather covers incorporated into modern binding

not indicated

Staff height 20 in main layer, 13-14 in later additions

Original ink and new pencil pagination, 1-550, with many errors, omissions, and inconsistencies: ii + II + 428 (1-2, 5-102, 107-120, 139-160, f. (1)-(8), p. 161-162, 165-170, 173-202, 207-236, 241-314, 316-329, 400-405, 407-408, 424-432, 434-510, 515-550)

Other numberings: Original ink numbering of pieces in main corpus, 1-11 + 1-5; 10-12 + 1-14 (a few numbers now missing due to lost pages).

Some plain inked initials.

Modern index on loose sheet at beginning lists pieces in order of appearance.

paper

52 Services (5 incomplete), 3 Service sections (2 incomplete), 1 anthem (fragmentary), 2 English litanies = 58

Blow-4, Byrd-3, Child-2, Coste-2, Derrick-2, R. Farrant [Mr: Farrant]-3, Foster-3, Gibbons-3, Goldwin-1, Hooper-1, Hughes-1, Humfrey-2, W. King-1, Loosemore-1, J. or W.? Mundy [Mr: Mundie]-1, W. Mundy [Mr: Mundy]-3, Palmer-1, Parsley-1, R. Parsons II [Parsons of Exeter]-1, W. Parsons [Mr: Parsons]-1, Patrick-2, Read-1, W. Smith-2, Stevenson-3, Strogers-3, Tallis-4, Tomkins-3, Trevor-1, Tye-1, Wanless-1

1 paper partbook (A-i + ii + 219 + i' + i folios), 292 x 176. Some folios fragmentary or in poor condition; restored and repaired. Original folios now missing at various places. Original ink and new pencil pagination, 1-550, with many errors, omissions, and inconsistencies. Original ink numbering of pieces in main corpus, 1-11 + 1-5; 10-12 + 1-14 (a few numbers now missing due to lost pages). Rebound in modern covers of dark brown leather over boards, gold stamped with ornamental designs and "CONTRATENOR. / SERVICES" on spine; portions of original leather covers incorporated into modern binding. Modern index on loose sheet at beginning lists pieces in order of appearance.

Main layer copied by John Todd; later additions by Toby Brookinge, Matthew Owen, Robert Softley, Cuthbert Brass, one unidentified scribe whose hand appears only in this source, and two other unidentified scribes, as follows:(1) also wrote most of DurC Cl and made additions in DurC C2 and DurC C4; (2) also made additions in DurC C2, DurC C4, DurC C15, and DurC C16 (Brian Crosby). (See general index for other manuscripts copied by Todd, Brookinge, Owen, and Softley). Staff height 20 in main layer, 13-14 in later additions. Some plain inked initials.

Ca. 1625 (DanS), with additions until 1739. Copied in Durham, for use by cathedral choir.