Dates Relating To IPM In 1406

[horselydown86]

I would like a little help please to pin down these dates from an IPM taken in 1406.

The first is the date of the Inquisition itself:

...die [pius?] in [cena?] d(omi)ni Anno r(egni) r(egis) henr(ici) quarti septi(m)o...

It's the seventh year of Henry IV, but I'm not sure of the day.

Does it refer to Maundy Thursday?  I have found reference to a Papal Bull called In Caena, issued annually on that date.

The word pius isn't apparently contracted, so is it just:  ...the Holy Day belonging to the Lord's Supper...?

If it is Maundy Thursday, I believe it was 10 April in 1406.

The second date is the day of the death of the subject:

...obijt die d(omi)nica p(ro)x(ima) ante festu(m) Assenc(i)o(n)is d(omi)ni [ult(?)o] [p(re)?to]...

...died on the Sunday immediately before the Feast of the Ascencion of the Lord ? ? ? ? ?...

How does this relate to the day on which the Inquisition was taken?

Thank you for your help.

[Bookbox]

In the first extract (date of IPM), I believe it’s not die pius but die Jovis = 'on Thursday'.

In the second extract (date of death), the last two words are ulti(m)o p(re)t(er)ito = 'last past'.

7. Henry IV is 30 September 1405 - 29 September 1406. According to Cheney,* Easter in 1406 was 11 April, so Maundy Thursday (day of the Lord's Supper) was 8 April.

If he died on the ‘Sunday before Ascension last past’, as viewed from 8 April 1406 when the IPM was taken, he must have died in 1405. Using Cheney again, Ascension in 1405 was 28 May (Thursday), so the Sunday immediately preceding it was 24 May.

Date of death – 24 May 1405
IPM taken – 8 April 1406

Would you agree?

* C. R. Cheney, ed., A Handbook of Dates (Cambridge, 1945, rev. 2000)

[horselydown86]

Brilliant, Bookbox - thank you very much.  It makes perfect sense.

Clearly, Mr Cheney's book is indispensable when attempting to read these early dates.

As always, your help is much appreciated.