Heraldic and genealogical material in the hand of Sir James Balfour.
Scope and Contents
The contents of the volume are as follows:
(i) `Kings of Armes and Heraulds in England. 1628` (pages 1,17).
(ii) Memorial of Margaret, Countess of Lennox (page 9).
(iii) `De gubernatione et reformatione officiariorum armorum’ (page 54).
(iv) `Series Regum Scottorum ab anno 1061 ad annum 1624` (page 59). A genealogy of the Scottish kings, based on ‘De origine, moribus et rebus gestis Scotorum’ by John Leslie, bishop of Ross (Rome, 1578), with additions to 1630.
(v) Blazon of the arms of nine Scottish earls (page 90). These were copied before 1635, from `ane ancient booke of Armes`, 1430-1431, belonging to Sir William Le Neve.
Dates
- Creation: 2nd quarter of 17th century.
Extent
0.00 Linear metres (178 pages (many blank). Octavo.)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Rebacked 17th-century binding of brown calf, gilt stamped.
Custodial History
Bought by the Advocates’ Library, 1723, at the sale of Sir Robert Sibbald`s library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm available: Mf.Sec.MSS.360.
Bibliography
The first two items in (iii) are closely related to the early 15th-century Ordinances of Thomas, Duke of Clarence (see ‘Heralds and Heraldry in the Middle Ages’ by Sir Anthony R Wagner (Oxford, 1956), page 138).
Leslie, John. ‘De origine, moribus et rebus gestis Scotorum’ (Rome, 1578).
The ‘ancient booke of Armes’ from which (v) is copied may possibly be the manuscript described by Sir Anthony R Wagner in ‘A Catalogue of English mediaeval rolls of arms’ (London, 1950), page 120.
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 21 01 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk