This volume contains over 250 charters and other documents relating to four of the six hospitals established in medieval Bury. The core of the collection is the cartulary of St John's hospital, the domus Dei, but documents relating to the hospitals of St Nicholas, St Peter and St Saviour are also included. The charters relate mainly to the endowment of the hospitals by the abbot and convent, but there are also ordinances for the administration of the hospitals and for the establishment of chantries therein. The great majority of texts are presented in the form of a full English calendar, and there are English summaries of those printed in Latin. This is the first volume of the Suffolk Charter series to concentrate on Bury St Edmunds; it will be followed eventually by an edition of charters relating to the abbey's property in the borough.
CHRISTOPHER HARPER-BILLis Principal Lecturer in History, St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, London.