Florentius, Chronicon ex chronicis, London, 1592, contemporary vellum, George Shirley copy

Florentius, monk of Worcester

Chronicon ex chronicis, ab initio mundi usque ad annum Domini 1118 deductum... accessit etiam continuatio usque ad annum Christi, 1141. London: Thomas Dawson for Richard Watkins, 1592

4to (193 x 140mm.), title within woodcut border [McKerrow & Ferguson 161], woodcut initials, contemporary limp vellum with stubs from two pairs of green fabric ties, upper hinge broken

This chronicle, an important source for the late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman periods, is now attributed to John of Worcester; whilst John has always been identified as an author of the sections of the Worcester chronicle completed after Florentius's death in 1118, the attribution of the earlier entries to Florentius is now considered incorrect, though it is likely he helped compile some entries.

LITERATURE:

STC 3593

PROVENANCE:

signature of George Shirley on title-page, presumably Sir George Shirley (1559-1612), of Ettington and Astwell; Clifford Baylis, bookplate; by family descent