Creations of Nobility
Unknown
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
1572 - circa 1750
Materials
Calf skin, Paper
Measurements
400 x 283 x 42 mm
Order this imageCollection
Cotehele, Cornwall
NT 347452
Summary
MS of an armorial, Creations of Nobility, composed in 1572 and probably copied shortly thereafter; bound with some early 18th-century genealogical material. The MS has 18th-century calf binding; bookplate of John Holland, with Hogarth engraving, on front pastedown.
Full description
The MS is preserved in a plain but handsome 18th-century calf binding. The bookplate of an 18th-century owner, John Holland, a herald painter, is attached to the front pastedown. It features an engraving of Minerva by William Hogarth. The first few and the last few folios contain genealogical material from the 18th century. This can be dated between 1714 and 1727, since it records the accession of George I, but not that of George II. The bulk of the MS (68 folios) contains the text of a 16th-century armorial, entitled Creations of Nobility. The composition of this work, in its present form, can be dated from internal evidence to the latter part of 1572. Its purpose is to provide a record of the individuals who were raised to noble titles, as dukes, marquesses, earls, etc., from the Conquest onwards, reign by reign, together with their coats of arms. It supplies a brief account of each individual, typically of four to six lines (though some are as short as one line and the longest extend to a dozen or more). In the left-hand margin beside each of these accounts there is a sketch of the relevant coat of arms. The sketches are not coloured, but are fully annotated with an indication of the correct heraldic colours. This work has no apparent connection with Cornwall or the west of England: its focus is national rather than regional. The Creations of Nobility is a substantial text of nearly 26,000 words, comprising 483 individual entries. The great bulk of the MS was written by a single scribe, in the secretary hand which is typical of the mid-to-late 16th century. The text has been written rather carelessly, with many corrections, and contains numerous errors; this suggests that it was the work of an amateur scribe. Towards the end, a few entries have been added somewhat later by three different scribes. The MS also contains various minor additions and corrections in later hands. This is a work of considerable significance. A scholarly edition, complete with introduction, textual and explanatory notes, and index, has been authored by Professor Malcolm Andrew.
Makers and roles
Unknown, scribe William Hogarth (London 1697 - London 1764), engraver (printmaker)