In the Middle Ages, scribes often copied charters and other documents of legal importance into manuscripts known as cartularies. Cartularies essentially served as archives for specific institutions, documenting everything from land transfers to liberties. As sources for modern scholars, they provide invaluable information into the workings of individual medieval institutions. Michael Jones, Julia Barrow, David Crook, and Trevor Foulds, the editors of two-volume The White Book (Liber Albus) of Southwell, have provided scholars of the Middle Ages with another important cartulary to study.
Taking its name from its white vellum cover, the cartulary was created by multiple scribes (at least eight) at Southwell Minster in England throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. Containing over six hundred entries, the cartulary provides a plethora of information about Southwell throughout the medieval period. Its medieval scribes transcribed a large variety of documents, ranging from papal bulls concerning Southwell to land transfers from wealthy patrons. It is fitting that a medieval scribe wrote on the back cover of the White Book that “the voice perishes but the written letter remains” (2:590).
While excerpts from the White Book have been printed before, this is the first time that the cartulary has been printed in full. In the late 19th century, Arthur Francis Leach printed several extracts from the White Book in Visitations and Memorials of Southwell Minster (Westminster, 1891). Leach’s excerpts were a valuable resource for the scholarly community for over a century, but excerpts do not allow scholars to fully understand the organization and structure of the manuscript. The White Book (Liber Albus) of Southwell remedies this inadequacy by allowing scholars to see how Southwell’s scribes organized their sources. This version of the White Book will undoubtedly become the standard source, second only to the manuscript itself.
The editors have transcribed the manuscript in its original Latin while also providing English abstracts for each of the manuscript’s entries. They have also included valuable information on most of the entries contained in the White Book. Notes provide the context and identify key people mentioned in the entry. This allows readers to gain a better appreciation of some entries. Though the editors do not claim to have searched all other publications, many of their notes are still packed with biographical information. For example, the editors include a lengthy note spanning three pages discussing the people mentioned in a grant by Pavia, daughter of Nigel of Rampton, to Southwell (1:84–86). Citing many primary sources, the note provides great detail concerning the people mentioned in the grant. It demonstrates the great care the editors have in providing readers with a detailed understanding of the people involved. This is further expanded in appendix C, which contains references to information on the canons of Southwell.
The editors have provided a lengthy introduction in the first volume. This introduction provides a comprehensive description of the White Book, including discussions on the different scribes and the manuscript’s structure. It then launches into a discussion of the administrative aspects of the minster while referencing the relevant documents in contained in the White Book. Though the editors refrain from discussing the administrative history of the minster since Leach and Alexander Hamilton Thompson provided detailed accounts decades ago, they have still provided discussions of individual chantries mentioned in the White Book, along with discussions of the prebends and vicars choral. In particular, the discussion of the ten chantries (endowments for masses to commemorate founders) mentioned in the White Book is quite good. The editors discuss their foundations and endowments while referencing to the relevant documents in contained in the White Book. Overall, the introduction is quite detailed and well-researched.
Three appendices are included in the second volume. They are quite useful. Appendices A and B contain collections of additional documents pertaining to Southwell Minster not found in the White Book. Appendix C references the canons and prebendaries of Southwell. Each appendix helps provide a better picture of Southwell Minster. Indices of people, places, and topics facilitate the use of the White Book for scholarly research. The editors clearly spent a significant time creating indices that are usable and helpful.
The White Book has more than just the typical documents found in so many cartularies. While cartularies typically attract the attention of socioeconomic historians, the wide range of documents included in the White Book means that those interested in legal history and local history, as well as those interested in medieval religion, will find topics to pique their interest. For those interested in religious history, the White Book provides insight into how Southwell’s medieval minster administered its affairs. It also shows the generosity and medieval piety underpinning the creation and operation of chantries.
While this work is valuable to the work of scholars, it is hard to fathom that general readers would profit much from consulting this work. The lack of a general administrative history in the introduction undoubtedly makes it harder for a general audience to really grasp the context in which the manuscript was created. Yet it is admittedly difficult to imagine a general reader being interested in much of what is contained within any cartulary. The type of administrative and legal documents included in cartularies simply are not that interesting for the average person.
Nevertheless, the editors of The White Book (Liber Albus) of Southwell have provided a great service to medieval scholars. They have published yet another manuscript that sheds great light onto the practice of medieval religion. In editions of administrative manuscripts such as the White Book, much of their value is dependent on the decisions and competency of the editors. Fortunately, these editors made wise decisions. They have created an introduction, appendices, and indices that are quite helpful to navigating and using the White Book.
Justin S. Kirkland earned a PhD in history from the University of Iowa.
Justin S. Kirkland
Date Of Review:
January 29, 2022