British Library MS Additional 31042 (the London Thornton manuscript) is one of two miscellaneous collections copied in the middle years of the 15th century by Robert Thornton of East Newton in North Yorkshire. It has secured its place in the history of late medieval book production as `Thornton's other book' since it is always seen as smaller, less varied in content, less well organised, and therefore less important than its sister volume at Lincoln. This study re-examines these assumptions and draws attention to the many bibligraphical problems presented by the manuscript in order to assess the evidence the book can provide concerning Thornton's general book-producing effects.
JOHN J. THOMPSONis Lecturer in English at The Queen's University of Belfast.