The Luton Guild Book, the official copy of the membership list of the Confraternity or Guild of the Holy Trinity at Luton.

On vellum, 130 leaves, 12 blank, plus 3 contemporary flyleaves, covering the period 1475-1546. The confraternity was dissolved in 1547. A study of English illumination from the late Gothic period to the High Renaissance. Written by many scribes in Gothic litrugical hands, it has 265 lines in burnished gold letters as well as several in silver. 22 large and many small illuminated initials; borders in colours with coats of arms, figures, birds and animals. Full page frontispiece showing the Holy Trinity, the founders of the Guild and the King and Queen, Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. The arms on the binding overstamped are those of James I.

Provenance

Sotheby's 1778; James Matthews; A.C. Duracel, Keeper of Lambeth Palace Library; Thomas Astle,1779; Earl of Bute, John Stuart; by descent to present Marquess of Bute who withdrew it from sale at Sotheby's 13/6/1983, lot 19, for private sale.


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