13th-century manuscript, produced in France, containing the 'Perceval' of Chrétien de Troyes, with the First and Second Continuations and the Continuation of Manessier.
Scope and Contents
Manuscript produced in France containing the 'Perceval' of Chrétien de Troyes, with the First and Second Continuations and the Continuation of Manessier. The manuscript is the work of one scribe and is written in two columns of 40 lines.
The place of production of the manuscript has been attributed by Hilka (1932), Micha (1939) and Roach (1949) to the eastern part of France based on the language. Nixon reports that more recent scholarship has localised the manuscript to the border between Champagne and Burgundy.
The work was dated to the first half of the 13th century by Weston, Hilka, Micha, Ivy, and Roach. However, Nixon suggests a date of the second quarter of the 13th century or later based on the style of writing. The decoration, according to Nixon, further suggests a later date of production, possibly from the middle to third quarter of the 13th century.
The manuscript is written continuously without a break between the 'Continuations'. There are several leaves wanting at the beginning and end. The 'Perceval' begins with verse 5493 of the Hilka edition.
The contents of the manuscript are as follows:
Vellum flyleaf with ownership inscriptions. Folio 1rv.
Chrétien de Troyes, 'Perceval'. Folios 2r-25r.
First 'Continuation'. Folios 25r-130v.
Second 'Continuation'. Folios 130v-211v.
'Continuation' of Manessier. Folios 211v-262v.
Folios 263r-266v are contemporary vellum flyleaves and contain various drawings, inscriptions and pen trials.
The manuscript is decorated with large red and blue pen-flourished initials with decoration extending into the margins. Litterae notabiliores are in red and guide letters for these are present in the margins. There are no rubrics.
There are marginal drawings in a 15th century hand of flowers, animals, and figures. These illustrations can be found on folios 1v, 48r, 82r, 87v, 88r, 112r, 198v, 263r, 264rv, 265r, 266rv.
Catchwords are present on the following folios: 79v, 182v, 214v.
Each folio has been lined and ruled in lead on the recto and verso sides.
Pricking is occasionally evident on the fore-edge of the leaves for the horizontal lines.
Many folios are damaged and lack text in places, and there is evidence of contemporary and modern repairs to the vellum throughout.
The foliation of the manuscript is in the lower margin, except for on folio 1, where it is in the upper right corner.
Dates
- Creation: 13th century.
Creator
- Chrétien de Troyes (Poet) (Author, Person)
- Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, Duc de La Vallière (Former owner, Person)
- Foucault, Nicolas-Joseph (administrator and bibliophile) (Former owner, Person)
- Robert and Andrew Foulis (Glasgow, printers and booksellers) (Former owner, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
1 Volumes ; 28.7cm x 21cm x 8.5cm
Language of Materials
French, Old (842-ca.1400)
Arrangement
i + 266 + ii-iii folios, as well as 2 modern paper flyleaves to the front.
Collation as recorded by Catherine Borland:
a⁶ (wants 1 + 2 probably), b-m⁸, n⁷ (1 half gone and 8 wanting), o-u⁸ (3 + 6 both torn), v-H⁸ (3 and 4 torn, 8 defaced).
Collation as recorded by Terry Nixon:
Quires: 1⁶, 2-12⁸, 13⁷, 14-33⁸. Loss of a folio at the end of quire 13, after folio 102. Loss of two quires after present quire 16, folio 126. Loss of four quires plus two folios from the beginning of the manuscript and two quires from the end.
Custodial History
There is a 15th century ex libris of a 'Magister Johannes' on folio 1v. Middleton has identified a French form of the name on folio 263r in a different cursive hand which reads 'Jehans mestre'. Middleton further suggests that two other inscriptions also contain the name Jean; a note on folio 116v is possibly signed 'iohant seuestre' or 'iohant senestre', and a signature on folio 63v may possibly read 'johan le josne', but this has been partially erased.
The manuscript was in the possession of Nicolas-Joseph Foucault, as attested to by a bookplate on folio 1r which bears his arms and reads: 'Ex bibliotheca Nicolai Joseph Foucault comitis consistoriani'.
This volume possibly formed part of the collection of Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, duc de la Vallière and is possibly number 5608 in his sale of 1767.
The manuscript was offered for sale in Glasgow in 1771 by Robert and Andrew Foulis, booksellers. It was probably bought at this sale by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, and was certainly in the Library by 1808. There are ownership inscriptions for the Library on the rectos of folios i and 2.
The previous shelfmark assigned to the manuscript by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates is present on the rectos of folio i and 1. The inscription on folio i reads: 'Jac.5.6.19'. The 19 replaces the number '18' which has been scored through. The inscription on folio 1 reads: 'Jac.5.6.18'. These shelfmarks have since been superseded.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Busby, K. (ed.) 'Chrétien de Troyes. Le Roman de Perceval ou le Conte du Graal' (Tübingen, 1993).
'A Catalogue of Books of various Ages, Languages, and Sciences; to which is subjoined, a Catalogue of Manuscripts ... Robert and Andrew Foulis...' (Glasgow, 1771), page xiv, number 57.
'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Poetry' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [18??]), folio 3. NLS Reference: FR.190.
Hilka, A. (ed.). 'Der Percevalroman (Li contes del Graal) von Christian von Troyes: Christian von Troyes sämtliche erhaltene Werke', Band 5 (Halle, 1932).
Ivy, Jr., R. H. 'The Manuscript Relations of Manessier's Continuation of the Old French "Perceval"' (Pennsylvania, 1951).
Lecoy, F. (ed.) 'Chrétien de Troyes. Le conte du Graal (Perceval). Les romans de Chrétien de Troyes édités d’après la copie du Guiot (Bibl. Nat. fr. 794), V-VI.' 2 volumes (Paris, 1973-75).
Micha, A. 'La tradition manuscrite des romans de Chrétien de Troyes' (Paris, 1939).
Middleton, R. 'Index of Former Owners', in K. Busby, et al. (eds.) 'Les M Manuscrits de Chrétien de Troyes: The Manuscripts of Chrétien de Toyes', Volume 2 (Amsterdam, 1993), pages 87-176.
Nixon, T. 'Catalogue of Manuscripts', in K. Busby, et al. (eds.) 'Les Manuscrits de Chrétien de Troyes: The Manuscripts of Chrétien de Toyes', Volume 2 (Amsterdam, 1993), pages 1-86.
Roach, W. (ed.) 'The Continuations of the Old French "Perceval" of Chrétien de Troyes. I. The First Continuation. Redaction of Mss TVD.' (Pennsylvania, 1949).
Roach, W. (ed.) 'The Continuations of the Old French "Perceval" of Chrétien de Troyes. III, part 1. The First Continuation. Redaction of Mss ALPRS.' (Pennsylvania, 1952).
Roach, W. (ed.) 'The Continuations of the Old French "Perceval" of Chrétien de Troyes. III, part 2. Glossary of the First Continuation.' (Pennsylvania, 1952).
Roach, W. (ed.) 'The Continuations of the Old French "Perceval" of Chrétien de Troyes. IV. The Second Continuation.' (Pennsylvania, 1971).
Roach, W. (ed). 'The Continuations of the Old French "Perceval" of Chrétien de Troyes. V. The Third Continuation.' (Pennsylvania, 1983).
'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 87, number 1080; page 103, number 1311.
Weston, J. L. 'The Legend of Sir Perceval. Studies upon its Origin, Development, and Position in the Arthurian Cycle', 2 volumes (London, 1906).
Physical Description
Vellum.
The volume was rebound in 1964 in green morocco leather. The front and back boards have gold-tooled borders. The back has raised bands and gold tooling for the library stamp, shelfmark, and title, which reads: 'PERCEVAL LE GALOIS'.
Genre / Form
- 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
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk