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Sarum processional, 15th century.

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.5.20

Scope and Contents

15th-century processional produced in England. The manuscript contains musical services according to the Use of Sarum. The work is written in littera textualis with 24 lines to a page.

The contents are as follows:

Temporale. Folios 1r-143v.

Sanctorale. Folios 144r-176v.

Commune Sanctorum and Votive. Folios 176v-193v.

Folio 1r is extensively decorated and features two illuminated initials and a complete border. The initials are blue and red on grounds of gold, with floral decorative elements and tails which extend into the margins with sprays of gold. The border design is a ribbon spiral twisting around foliage, gold leaves, and blue and red flowers. In the margin to the right is a full length figure of a nimbed Christ, wearing a blue robe and carrying the orb.

On folio 14r is a gold-illuminated initial surrounded with filigree tracery in purple, extending into the margins. Above the initial is an illumination of a figure on blue grounds, wearing a white robe and holding a gold goblet.

There are additional gold-illuminated initials with filigree tracery in purple extending into the margins on the following folios: 9r, 19r, 125r, 127v, 128v, 144r.

The manuscript is decorated throughout with littera florissae, as well as litterae notabiliores in red and blue. Some of these smaller capitals in the text are elongated and ornamented with anthropomorphic and grotesque figures. Guide letters are occasionally evident within the red and blue initials.

Rubrics, incipits, and explicits are given in red.

The staff lines for musical notation are red. The notation itself is neumatic.

Each folio recto and verso has been line and ruled.

Pricking is evident for the horizontal lines and occasionally for the vertical lines.

Quire signatures in the form of Arabic numerals can occasionally be seen in the bottom left corner of folios.

Horizontal catchwords are present in the lower margin of the following folios: 9v, 19v, 28v, 38v, 48v, 58v, 85v, 95v, 105v, 115v, 125v, 137v, 155v, 163v, 173v, and 183v.

Modern foliation is given on the recto side in both top left and bottom right corners of the leaves.

Dates

  • Creation: 15th century.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

1 Volumes ; 23.5cm x 16cm x 7.5cm

Language of Materials

Latin

Arrangement

193 folios, as well as 3 modern vellum flyleaves to the front and 3 modern vellum flyleaves to the rear.

Collation as recorded by Catherine Borland:

In gatherings of 10: a⁹ (wants 1?), b¹⁰, c⁹ (wants 1), def¹⁰, g⁸ (wants 1 and perhaps 10), h⁹ (wants 10?), i-n¹⁰, o¹², p⁶, q-v¹⁰

Collation as recorded by Walter Howard Frere:

a-k¹⁰, (l), m-o¹⁰, p¹², q⁶, r-x¹⁰

The following are missing: a1, c1, g1, h10, quire 1.

Custodial History

It is unclear when this manuscript came into the Library of the Faculty of Advocates. It was certainly present by the mid 19th century when it was included in the folio catalogue of miscellaneous manuscripts. There is an ownership inscription for the Library on folio 1r.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.

Bibliography

Borland, C. R. 'Catalogue of Mediaeval Manuscripts in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh', 4 Volumes. (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh, 1906-1908). Volume I, folios 113-114. NLS Reference: FR.198a/1.

'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Miscellaneous Manuscripts' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [after 1837]), folio 13 . NLS Reference: FR.195.

Frere, W. H. 'Bibliotheca Musico-Liturgica: A Descriptive Hand List of the Musical and Latin-Liturgical MSS. of the Middle Ages Preserved in the Libraries of Great Britain and Ireland', Volume II (London, 1932), page 53, number 688.

'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 93, number 1173; page 102, number 1298.

Physical Description

Vellum.

The binding is modern and of red morocco leather, bound in 1913 by W. H. Smith and Son. The front board has a blind-tooled design of a floral medallion, within which the words 'ADVOCATORUM BIBLIOTHECA' are surrounding a face within rays. The spine has raised bands and gold tooling for the title which reads: 'PROCESSIONALE AS USUM SARUM' and below this 'SAEC. XV'.

The inners of the boards have leather turn-ins with blind-tooled borders and vellum paste-downs. The rear board has a blind-stamped design in the lower border which reads 'WHS'.

Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
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