John Sawers` Armorial, containing the arms of the Scottish nobility, mostly painted on engraved outlines.
Scope and Contents
The later entries are unfinished and some are merely pencil sketches.
The manuscript was shown in the Heraldic Exhibition in Edinburgh in 1891 (see ‘Memorial Catalogue’, number 60).
The armorial is preceded by a printed form of charge concerning the right to bear arms, 1675 (folio ii verso) and a list of Scottish peers (folio iv). It is followed by an index and, on inverted pages 1-47, by a copy of a list of Scottish families and their arms by Thomas Craufurd, Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh. For another version of this list, see Adv.MS.34.3.13, folio 1.
Dates
- Creation: 1st half of 17th century.
Extent
0.00 Linear metres (viii + 241 + many blank folios + 47 inverted pages. Quarto.)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
According to signatures and notes on folio viii and elsewhere, Sawers had the manuscript in 1645. In 1654, it was bought by his son-in-law, Joseph Stacey, Ross Herald, who gave it to his son Isaac. It then passed to Henry Fraser, Ross Herald (died 1724), Roderick Chalmers, Ross Herald (died 1746), James and Robert Norie, and James Cummyng, Lyon Clerk Depute (died 1793).
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.954.
Bibliography
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 10 07 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