Collection items

Chronicon Anglicanum

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

After Archbishop Hubert Walter’s death in 1205 and the rejection of other nominees to the see of Canterbury, the monks o...

Dialogue of the Exchequer

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

Richard fitz Nigel (1130-98), Bishop of Ely and author of The Dialogue of the Exchequer, has been described as a model c...

Double-edged sword

Object Created date: c. 1250-1330

This sword is typical of those that would have been wielded by European knights in the 13th century. Weighing 1.2 kg (2 ...

King John's thumb-bone, hose, shoe and shroud

Object Created date: 1200-99

When King John’s tomb was opened in 1797, its contents were described in meticulous detail, and a small number of items ...

Magna Carta translated into Anglo-Norman French

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

To make Magna Carta readily intelligible to the barons, it was translated into French, their spoken language. One transl...

Mitre, buskins, slippers, stole and crozier of Arc...

Object Created date: 1200-99

Hubert Walter occupied a special place in the early years of John’s reign, since he served both as the king’s first Arch...

Murder of Prince Arthur in Chronicle of Margam Abb...

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

The murder of King John’s nephew, Prince Arthur (1187–1203) had far-reaching consequences, since it led indirectly to th...

Portrait of King John from Matthew Paris's Histori...

Manuscript, Illustration Created date: 1200-99

One of the most significant works by Matthew Paris (1200–59), author, illuminator and monk of St Albans Abbey, is the Hi...

Reliquary depicting St Thomas Becket’s martyrdom

Object Created date: 1200-99

Thomas Becket was canonised in February 1173, less than three years after his death. The Church was shocked by Becket’s ...

Tally sticks

Object Created date: 1200-99

Tally sticks were used by officials of the Exchequer as physical proof of payments to the king, functioning in the same...

The poisoning of King John and coronation of King...

Manuscript, Illustration Created date: 1200-99

King John was taken ill in October 1216, having suffered an attack of dysentery, and he died at Newark, Nottinghamshire,...

The siege of Lincoln Castle and battle of Sandwich

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

At the time of King John’s death, England had descended into civil war. Following the papal annulment of Magna Carta, th...

The Unknown Charter

Manuscript, Charter Created date: 1200-99

Throughout the winter of 1214–15, means were sought to restrain the king and to preserve the peace. At some point, perha...

Verse account of Magna Carta in the Chronicle of M...

Manuscript Created date: 1200-99

One of the earliest accounts of the settlement reached at Runnymede is found in the Chronicle of Melrose Abbey. Melrose...