16th-century manuscript of the 'Lives of the bishops of Dunkeld' by Alexander Myln.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.34.5.4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Myln was a canon of Dunkeld who served as Official of the diocese from 1513 to 1519 when he was appointed Abbot of Cambuskenneth.

R K Hannay, in his introduction to ‘Rentale Dunkeldense’, page xii, suggests that the manuscript was revised, if not written by Thomas Brown, who succeeded Myln as Clerk of accounts in Dunkeld in 1511. The text includes events which took place late in 1516, but was composed before Myln succeeded to Cambuskenneth.

The opening pages are illuminated: folio iii verso has a panel containing the royal arms of Scotland and those of Bishops Gavin Douglas and George Brown; folio 1 recto has an illuminated capital and borders containing fruit and flowers. Other initials in the text are red or blue with decorative penwork.

Dates

Creation: 16th century.

Extent

1 Volumes (v + 45 folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1², 2-4⁸, 5¹⁰, 6⁸ (+ 1 after 8), 7² (+ 1 after 2), 8². A catchword survives on folio 33 verso. 24-27 lines. Frame ruling.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Vellum. 18th-century binding of brown sheepskin.

Custodial History

There are ownership inscriptions of Thomas Greig, canon of Alyth, James Cramb, vicar of ‘Tillene’ [?Tealing], both of the late 16th century (folio ii), and Sir William Sinclair of Roslin (succeeded circa 1582) (folios iii, 1). The bottom half of folio 45, which may have contained an inscription, has been cut out. The manuscript was presented to the Advocates’ Library, circa 1700, by John Doull, scribe, Edinburgh.

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.470.

Bibliography

The work was edited for the Bannatyne Club by Thomas Thomson in ‘Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae episcoporum’ (Edinburgh, 1823), and again by Cosmo Innes (Edinburgh, 1831).
‘Rentale Dunkeldense’, ‘Scottish History Society’, 2nd series, volume x (Edinburgh, 1915).