Manuscript, probably Scottish, of the 'Vitae Caesarum’ of Suetonius.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.3.11

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The final lines, ‘pro certo habuisse’ etc., are lost.

Before the text is placed without heading Ausonius, `Caesares` (XXI Monosticha 6-41 in Karl Schenkl`s edition), which is found in other 15th-century manuscripts of Suetonius, and a list of chapters.

Ornamental initials in blue and red.

Marginalia throughout in the hand of Archibald Whitelaw, secretary to James III.

Dates

Creation: Late 15th century

Creator

Suetonius Tranqillus, Gaius (historian) (Author, Person)

Extent

1 Volumes (iv + 155 + iv folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1¹⁰ (-1¹, possibly blank), 2-15¹⁰, 16¹⁰ (-16⁷⁻¹⁰, some probably blank). Catchwords by the text-hand below and at right angles to the right-hand lower corner of the text. Pricking not preserved. Ruling in ink. 1 column. 29 lines in gatherings 1-4, 28 in 5-16. Ruled area 178 x 126 millimetres in gatherings 1-4, 172 x 126 millimetres in 5-16. Secundo folio: `Neronis Cesaris lib` sextus`.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Paper (watermarks: three fleur-de-lis in a crowned shield, cf. Briquet 1744; gothic P, cf. Briquet 8331; both last quarter of 15th century). Binding of brown sheepskin tooled blind and in gilt, circa 1640 (rebacked, 1970; vellum strips formerly used to strengthen the folds are now in Adv.MS.84.1.20).

Custodial History

The manuscript was presented by Hector Boece to King`s College, Aberdeen (damaged inscription on folio 1: `Collegii Aber[donensis dono magistri] Hectoris Boeti[i primi primarii] eiusdem`). The signature ‘Alex. Ga[lloway]` (Rector of King`s College; his signature and Boece`s ex dono also appear in Aberdeen, U.L.214, and Cambridge, Trin.Coll. 1421; cf. W D Simpson in ‘A catalogue of the medieval manuscripts in the University Library Aberdeen’, page 122, note 1) occurs on folio 1 , where also is the ex libris of Sir James Balfour, dated 1630 (Denmilne number 12 on folio iii). It was number 8 in the sale of Balfour`s books in 1698. Former pressmark: A.1.21.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Separated Materials

The index to Adv.MS.18.3.10(i) and the contents list of Adv.MS.18.4.8, which by a 17th-century binder`s error were added at the end of this manuscript, were in 1970 restored to their original postitions.

Bibliography

Suetonius. `Vitae Caesarum’, edited by M Ihm (Leipzig, 1907).

Ausonius. ‘Epistolae’, edited by Karl Schenkl, ‘Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi’, V, 2 (Berlin, 1883).

James, M R. ‘Catalogue of the medieval manuscripts in the University Library, Aberdeen’ (Cambridge, 1932).