Skip to main content

Two manuscripts bound together, containing the burgh laws, ‘Regiam Maiestatem’, ‘Quoniam Attachiamenta’, statutes, and other smaller legal texts, some in Scots.

 File
Identifier: Adv.MS.25.4.14

Scope and Contents

The first part, sections (i)-(xv), contains the burgh laws, ‘Regiam Maiestatem’, ‘Quoniam Attachiamenta’, statutes, and other smaller legal texts, some in Scots, written by G H about the middle of the 15th century; the second, sections (xvii)-(xxi), contains the burgh laws, statutes, and other smaller legal texts, in Scots, written at the same period. Sections (xxii)-(xxiii) are a slightly later addition. Section (xvi) is an 18th-century copy.

(i) `Leges et consuetudines quatuor burgorum scocie` in 139 chapters (the numbering in the text is faulty from 118) with table at the beginning (folio iv). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 21-44.

(ii) `Consuetudines portuum` in 16 chapters with table at the beginning (folio 12). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 303-308.

(iii) `Libellus tenendi Iter camerarie In burgo` in 25 chapters with table at the beginning of section (ii) (folio 16). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 317-318.

(iv) `Interpretationes quorundam vocabulorum` in the Regiam Maiestatem (folio 21).

(v) `Liber Regie Maiestatis` in 3 parts of 35, 106, and 67 chapters (36, 111, and 70 in the table) with table at the beginning (folio 22). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 233-277.

(vi) `Forma de recenti deforciamento` (folio 62 verso).

(vii) `Quoniam attachiamenta` in 89 chapters (92 in the table) with table at the beginning (folio 62 verso). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 283-295.

(viii) Treatise in 21 chapters with table at the beginning, starting with `Quoddam notable de maritagio` (folio 81 verso). Chapters 18-21 are lost.

(ix) `Statuta Regis Roberti de Brysse` in 22 chapters (folio 84). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 106-114.

(x) `Statuta Regis David primi` in 20 chapters (19 in the table) with table at the beginning, in Scots (folio 87). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 5-13.

(xi) “Kyng William’s lauwis” in 10 chapters with table at the beginning, in Scots (folio 90 verso). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 49-62.

(xii) Ye lauwis and statutis mad be Kyng Alisander` in 42 chapters with table at the beginning, in Scots (folio 92). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 67-74.

(xiii) Introduction to the burgh laws (folio 100).

(xiv) `Quhether a bourges may gif landis in his deid bed` (folio 100 verso). Cf. ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, page 359.

(xv) `Doctrina utilis ad compositionem cartarum` (folio 101).

(xvi) ‘The manere of batell within listis`, copied in an 18th-century hand from Adv.MS.25.5.6, folios 375 verso-378 (folio 104).

(xvii) Burgh laws in 120 chapters (modern numbering) (folio 108). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 21- 44.

(xviii) `Ye fourme and ye maner off ye chamerlayne ayre haldyne` in 19 chapters (modern numbering) (folio 127). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 329-338.

(xix) Forms of brieves (folio 131 verso).

(xx) `The fourm and ye maner off ye haldying off ye courts off Barown` in 37 chapters (modern numbering) (folio 135 verso).

(xxi) `The Statutis off Kyng Robert`, incomplete at the end (folio 146 verso). ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, i, pages 106-114.

(xxii) `Ye buk of Jugimentis` in 27 chapters with table at the beginning (folio 149).

(xxiii) `Statutis of Kyng Jamys ye fyrst`, table only (folio 154). Cf. ‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’, ii, pages 1-24.

Titles in both parts are in red. Subscription to the first part (folio 90 verso): `Per manum venerabilis viri G H`.

Dates

  • Creation: 14th century-15th century.

Language of Materials

Scots

Extent

0.00 Linear metres (vi + 154 folios.)

Arrangement

Collation: 3 leaves (18th century), 1¹⁸, 2²² (-17, 22), 3²⁶, 4²² (-1, 22), 4 leaves (18th century), 6²⁶, 7¹⁸ (-17, 18), 6 leaves (-1 after the first). No signatures. Catchword only on the last verso of gathering 6, in lower right-hand margin, parallel to the text. First part ruled with hard point, second part in ink. 1 column. 40-48 lines in the first part, 31-34 in the second part. Ruled area in first part 215 x 145 millimetres, in second part 185 x 130 millimetres.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Paper (watermarks: gathering 1, horse, similar to Briquet 3371, 1433-1463; gatherings 2-5, ox-head, similar to Briquet 15060, 1445-1448; folios 61, 83, gothic P, type Piccard iv III 703 etc., 1450s and 1460s; gatherings 6-7, circle, similar to Briquet 2956, 1455-1463; folio 136, scales, similar to Briquet 2427, 1449-1451). Binding of full leather, with Advocates` Library stamp, late 18th century, rebacked 1937.

Custodial History

The second part belonged in the 15th century to Mr Thomas Herui (folio 107 verso); both parts in 1502 to David Cokburn: (folio 102) `Magistri dauidis cokburn uniuersitate aberdonensi Sub magistro hectore boethio, collegii primario, eximio theologie professore et In omni disciplinarum genere erudito, eruditionis gratia, docentis munere protunc fungenti per magistrum Jacobum broun prsidentem substitutum in artibus promoti anno salutis humane 02 supra millesimum et quingentesimum codex`, (folio 149) `Iste liber pertinet dauidi cokburn artium magistro`. Among other notes on folios 102 verso and 107 verso is, on the latter in a sixteenth-century hand, `The Rental off ye vicarage perpetual of craufurd lyndsay`. On folios i-iii are notes by Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck, on the old laws of Scotland and the contents of this manuscript, dated 1731, and his donation of it to the Advocates` Library, dated 1776. Former pressmark: W.4.28 or penultimate.

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 Originals

Adv.MS.25.5.6: Manuscript of the ‘Regiam Maiestatem’, statutes, burgh and guild laws, ‘Quoniam attachiamenta’, forest laws, ‘De judicibus’, and other smaller legal texts.

Bibliography

‘Acts of the Parliament of Scotland’.

Physical Description

0.00 linear metresvi + 154 folios.200.00 x 280.00 millimetres

Dimensions

200.00 x 280.00 millimetres

Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland
Date
28 05 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

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700