XXX INTRODUCTION 



James I. A considerable interest attaches to this volume, 

 as it contains three of the four treatises now printed. 

 Considering how much they have been combined in early 

 MSS., like those printed in Fleta and by Lacour (vide snb 

 pp. xxxii, xxxvii), there is a satisfaction in finding them here 

 side by side as independent treatises. Walter of Henley's 

 treatise is in a handwriting of the fourteenth century, but 

 that in which the other two treatises are written is some- 

 what later, and so cramped as to be very difficult to read. 



The text and headings are those of the Canterbury 

 MSS., but the transcriber has corrected at least one slip 

 that runs through the other MSS. of this group. He gives 

 the measurement of the acre as forty perches in length and 

 four in breadth. 



(15) Trinity College : 9, 26 f. 98. This is a late 

 fourteenth century transcript of the Canterbury family, 

 clearly but not very carefully written, and without any 

 special features of interest. It consists principally of 

 statutes, royal charters, and some forms for leases, &c. 

 It also contains a glossary, a few recipes, and a vision of 

 S. Thomas of Canterbury in a later hand. 



London. 



(12) British Museum. Add. 6159 f. 220 b. This is a 

 fourteenth century MS. full of documents of various kinds 

 relating to Christchurch, Canterbury ; it is clearly written, 

 and has been used to correct the text of the present edition 

 where it was specially difficult to construe, and it seemed 

 to be desirable to have recourse to another form of the text. 



(14) Lansdowne 1176 f. 131. This is a fourteenth cen- 

 tury MS. fairly written on vellum, but not in good preserva- 

 tion. The volume also contains Bracton and several statutes. 

 The transcript of Walter of Henley is similar to that of 

 Dd. vii. 14 in the Cambridge University Library. It may 

 perhaps be regarded as the earliest representative of that 

 family, for the Heralds' College MS. appears to combine 

 two sources ; like the others of the group, it has no num- 

 bers to the chapters and no headings. 



(19) Sloane 686 f. 1. This is an English translation 



