Early 16th-century manuscript of the allegorical poem 'Le Chevalier délibéré' by Olivier de la Marche, composed in 1483.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.19.1.8

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The manuscript is listed with eleven others in 'Etude biographique, littéraire et bibliographique sur Olivier de la Marche' by Henri Stein. It is also included in La Marche, Olivier de. 'Le Chevalier Deliberé (The Resolute Knight) ed. by Carleton W. Carroll, 1999.

There are ten miniatures, each in a pillared frame. The subjects are the author writing his work (folio 1), the knight setting out on his quest (folio 3), the knight approaching the hermit (folio 5 verso), the hermit showing the relics to the knight (folio 9 verso), combat of the knight and Age (folio 16), the knight before the Palace of Love (folio 20), the knight and Fresh Memory among the tombs (folio 27), combat of Philip, duke of Burgundy with Messire Debille (folio 36 verso), combat of Charles, duke of Burgundy with Messire Accident (folio 39 verso), and the combat between the Duchess of Austria (Mary of Burgundy) and Accident (folio 43). Headings are in red throughout, and the initials of verses are in black and white penwork on gold grounds.

Dates

Creation: Early 16th century.

Creator

La Marche, Olivier de, 1422-1502 (Person)

Extent

1 Volumes (ii + 56 folios.)

Language of Materials

French, Middle (ca.1400-1600)

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1-7⁸. Quiremarks in Roman numbers at the beginning of gatherings 4-7. Ruled in red ink. 29 lines.

Custodial History

The manuscript was made for an unidentified owner whose arms (folio 1) were quarterly, 1 and 4, paly of six or and gules; 2 and 3, gules an eagle displayed crowned sable. Supporters and crest are unicorns. The motto Au perdre gain` occurs on folios 1, 16 and 27. The manuscript later belonged to Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise (pressmark ‘Vest.4.D.91 Bibliot. Subis.` inside front cover) and appears in the catalogue of his library, Paris, 1788, number 4955. It was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1795.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Bibliography

La Marche, Olivier de. 'Le Chevalier Deliberé (The Resolute Knight) ed. by Carleton W. Carroll, translated by Lois Hawley Wilson & Carleton W. Carroll, Medieval & Renaissance Text & Studies vol. 199, Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (1999).

Stein, Henri. `Etude biographique, littéraire et bibliographique sur Olivier de la Marche`, ‘Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Mémoires couronnés’, xlix, (Brussels, 1888).