Part of a chronicle of the abbey of Robertsbridge (1308-1333), where the codex originated (f. 1-6v); reports of suits in regard to the claims of abbeys at Salherst, Brithling, etc. (f. 7-30v); and 'liber communis de Apeldre' (Appledore, Kent) (f. 31-41). The 6 unique instrumental compositions, the earliest keyboard works known, appear on f. 43 and 44. There are frequent accidentals, and minims are already in use. 3 pieces are estampies, the other 3 ornamented arrangements of motets (2 from the Roman de Fauvel).

dark brown morocco with black spine and corners bears a gilt title on the spine; 19th century.

Petronian or early Italian style, in brown; lower part in letters like the later German organ tablatures; occasional third part in the middle is indicated by a long thick horizontal stroke joined to the upper voice by a vertical stroke of the pen. The length of the longer notes in the upper part is indicated by hollow notes following the main note at the unison (for example, a triple breve will be designated by one black breve followed by two hollow ones).

10 brown five-line staves per page

43-44v

modern pencil foliation at t.r.r. The paper flyleaves at the front and back are unnumbered

iii paper + 44 parchment + iii paper

RISM B/IV 2 A parchment manuscript of the 14th century meas. 236 x 163 mm. at most, though page sizes vary. Altogether there are 44 folios + 3 modern blank unnumbered paper flyleaves at the front and three at the back. The 19th century binding of dark brown morocco with black spine and corners bears a gilt title on the spine. The only foliation is in modern pencil at t.r.r. The corpus of the ms contains part of a chronicle of the abbey of Robertsbridge (1308-1333), where the codex originated (f. 1-6v); reports of suits in regard to the claims of abbeys at Salherst, Brithling, etc. (f. 7-30v); and "liber communis de Apeldre" (Appledore, Kent) (f. 31-41). The 6 unique instrumental compositions, the earliest keyboard works known, appear on f. 43 and 44, meas. respectively 223 x 168 and 195 x 170 mm. The brown notation, as far as the upper part goes, resembles Petronian or early Italian notation of the 14th century, though the lowest part is notated in letters like the later German organ tablatures, while an occasional third part in the middle is indicated by a long thick horizontal stroke joined to the upper voice by a vertical stroke of the pen. The length of the longer notes in the upper part is indicated by hollow notes following the main note at the unison. For example, a triple breve will be designated by one black breve followed by two hollow ones. There are 10 brown five-line staves per page, frequent accidentals, and minims are already in use. A date in the 1330s seems likely. 3 pieces are estampies, the other 3 ornamented arrangements of motets (2 from the Roman de Fauvel).

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