London Jubilee Book, 1376-1387: An edition of Trinity College Cambridge MS O.3.11, folios 133-157

During the reforming spirit of 1376 in London, a committee examined the ordinances at the Guildhall and produced the Jubilee Book. However, controversies and disputes led to its burning in 1387. Recently, a fifteenth-century copy of the Jubilee Book, possibly of an earlier draft, was discovered in a manuscript at Trinity College Cambridge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2021
Publisher: London Record Society

In the summer of 1376, a spirit of reform swept through the bustling city of London. Recognizing the need for greater accountability and transparency in city governance, a series of measures were implemented. A committee was formed to review the ordinances at the Guildhall, identifying those that were beneficial to the citizens and those that were not. Two years later, in the jubilee year of Edward III's reign, the committee unveiled the Liber de Ordinancionibus, also known as The Jubilee Book. This volume, initiated with the aim of celebrating the king's jubilee, sparked controversies and disputes that ultimately led to its public burning in March 1387.

For centuries, historians have engaged in heated debates over the possible contents of this contentious yet immensely significant document, widely believed to have been lost to history. However, recent developments have shed light on its existence. In a remarkable discovery, a fifteenth-century copy of the Jubilee Book, possibly an earlier draft created during the two years of its formulation, has been unearthed in a manuscript housed at Trinity College Cambridge (Ms O.3.11).

This newfound copy offers a glimpse into the early stages of the Jubilee Book's creation and sheds new light on the debates surrounding its contents. It provides valuable insights into the reform measures proposed by the committee and the reactions they elicited from the city's inhabitants. The discovery of this fifteenth-century copy adds to the rich tapestry of historical knowledge and sheds further light on the complex and fascinating period of fourteenth-century England.

Dimension: 244 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780900952616