Cistercian rules, copied by Alexander Scot, monk of the Cistercian Abbey of Newbattle.

File

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.4.1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

(i) 'Liber antiquarum definitionum', i-iv, omitting ii.1-2 ('Nomasticon Cisterciense', pages 367-400). Section i is the 'Carta caritatis', the original rule of the order (folio 1).

(ii) 'Constitutio Benedicti Papae XII' ('Nomasticon Cisterciense', pages 473-495; different numbering of chapters), with an index prefixed (folio 19).

(iii) 'Liber antiquarum definitionum', ii.1-2, iii-xiii, omitting iii.2 and xii.1 ('Nomasticon Cisterciense', pages 376-378, 395-457) (folio 33 verso).

(iv) 'Liber novellarum definitionum', omitting i ('Nomasticon Cisterciense', pages 499-536). Leaves containing v.3-vi.2, vii.1-6, ix.3-xi.2, and xiv.2 to the end have been lost (folio 68).

There are frequent minor variations from the printed text and major ones at the ends of 'Liber antiquarum definitionum' ii and xiii. The manuscript copied was defective in places and large additions from another have been made at folios 54 verso-55 and 62-64 recto; these are in the same hand as the main text but in a brown ink, contrasting with the black of the main text. This ink is also used in section (iv). Large additions in a cursive hand have been made at folios 33 recto and 64 verso, and marginal additions and corrections by this hand are frequent.

Initials and paragraph marks in red as far as folio 60. Titles and numbering in red throughout by the cursive hand, which appears also to be responsible for the foliation.

Subscription on folio 68 (at the end of section (iii)): 'Expliciunt noue diffinitiones ord(in)is Cist(erciensis) per manu(m) dompni alexandri Scot monachi monasterii Beatissime virginis marie de Neubotill xviii mens(is) Junii Anno d(omi)ni Millesimo Quingentesimo vicesimo t(er)cio.'

Dates

Creation: 1523.

Extent

1 Volumes (ii (paper) + 75 + iv (paper) folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Modern foliation in pencil, including two of the three vellum leaves before the text; the sixteenth-century foliation in pale brown ink and roman numbers ignores these and was done before the loss of leaves noted below.

Collation: 1⁸ (1 is the unnumbered stub before folio 1), 2⁸, 3⁴, 4-5⁶, 6-7⁸, 8⁸ (+1 after 7), 9⁸ (+3 after 5; a bifolium sewn in and a piece sewn to 6), 10⁸ (+2 after 2; -these 2 and 4-5), 11⁸ (-2-7). No signatures. Intermittent catchwords. 1 column. 39 lines.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Vellum. Binding of brown sheepskin, tooled blind, with two clasps, circa 1640 (rebacked) (the pastedowns are from a Latin translation of Aristotle, ‘Historia animalium’, printed in Italic, with manuscript annotations).

Custodial History

The names Robert (twice; once possibly with a surname added) and Jhone Wallace appear on folio 1. The title written (inaccurately) by and the ex-libris (dated 1635) of Sir James Balfour are on folio 2, Denmilne number 71 on folio i. The volume was number 143 in the sale of Balfour`s books in 1698. Former pressmark: A.5.12. The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1698.