Cartulary

Cartulary (veterun chartarum volunen) is a book containing a collection of the originals, or copies, of contracts of sale and exchange, deeds, privileges, immunities, and other monuments and papers, relating to churches, monasteries, etc. The most ancient known cartulary is that of the abbey of St. Bertin, at St. Omer, compiled, according to Mabillon, by Folquinus, a monk of that abbey, at the end of the 10th century. The most noted in Italy are those of Monte Cassino and Farsa. That of Compostella, in Spain, was put together about 1120. In the library at Turin is a cartulary entitled,

Chrysobulloe et Argyrobullae, being a collection of diplomas of the Greek emperors, which formerly belonged to some monastery. It is signed at the end by the emperor and patriarch. Of the numerous cartularies which still exist, relating to monastic foundations in England, a list has been printed by Sir Thomas Phillips, Bart., of Middle Hill.

The term cartulary is sometimes extended to include any monastic record- book, and is likewise applied to the receptacle or room in which such documents are kept.