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Heraldic collection of Sir David Lindsay.

 File
Identifier: Adv.MS.31.3.20

Scope and Contents

Material copied in the late 16th and early 17th centuries apparently for Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1591 to 1620. It is closely related to John Scrymgeour`s manuscript (Adv.MS.31.5.2) in that some of its contents are apparently taken from Adam Loutfut`s manuscript (British [Museum] Library Harleian MS.6149), and the same order of arrangement is followed as by Scrymgeour; but there is also some additional material. Loutfut`s manuscript is described in ‘The Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry’, pages xxvi-xxix. (In the following description, ‘Loutfut MS.1-19` refers to the various sections of the manuscript as listed therein.)

The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) A treatise on tournaments (folio 1). This consists of Loutfut MS.1, 9, 3 and 4.

(ii) `The description of the offices of Costable Mareschall and utheris officers of armes with the blasoning ... to be put in armes ...` (folio 14 verso). This corresponds to Loutfut MS.2, but does not depict the various coats of arms.

(iii) `The caus quhair foir officiaris of armes war first ordinit` (folio 39 verso). Loutfut MS.16. A section on how to cry largesse (folio 43) occurs in Loutfut’s manuscript, folios 42-44. The shields depicted in Loutfut’s manuscript are omitted.

(iv) `Liber armorum`, beginning `How gentilmen salbe knawin Frome churles` (folio 53). Loutfut MS.5.

(v) `The Buke of the ordour of Chevalrie` (folio 59). Loutfut MS.8. There are many variations from the Loutfut text as edited in ‘Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry’, and the epilogues in the Loutfut and Scrymgeour manuscripts are omitted.

(vi) A paraphrase in English of sections from Vegetius, `De re militari` (folio 79 verso). Loutfut MS.14. There is an additional paragraph on the origin of heraldic bearings at the siege of Troy.

(vii) `The Coronatioun of the Empriour` (folio 83). Loutfut MS.10. The text breaks off after the Emperor`s oath.

(viii) Notes on ceremonial at the Parliament in Edinburgh in 1617 (folio 98).

(ix) List of peerage creations, 1596-1606 (folio 99).

(x) Forms of oaths of knights, earls, dukes and heralds (folio 123).

(xi) Brief extracts from ‘Scotorum historiae’, concerning the origins of Scottish families (folio 124).

(xii) Notes on preferments to the nobility, 1606, 1619 (folio 125 verso).

(xiii) Blazons of Lords Binning and Melville (folio 126 verso).

There is a note signed by Sir David Lindsay on folio 98 verso, and the signature A Lindsay(?) possibly that of Alexander Lindsay, brother of the poet and father of the Lord Lyon, on folio 59. The date 11 October 1586 is written on folio i, probably by Sir James Balfour of Denmilne.

Dates

  • Creation: Late 16th century-early 17th century.

Extent

0.00 Linear metres (i + 126 folios (several blank). Folio.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1723, at the sale of Sir Robert Sibbald`s library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilms available:

Mf.Sec.MSS.26;

Mf.Sec.MSS.664.

Related Materials

Adv.MS.31.5.2: Heraldic collection of John Srymgeour.

British [Museum] Library, Harleian MS.6149.

Bibliography

‘Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry’, edited by Alfred T P Byles (Early English Text Society, Original Series, 168) (London, 1926).
Scrymgeour`s and Lindsay`s manuscripts are discussed in ‘Gilbert of the Haye`s Prose Manuscript’, edited by J H Stevenson (Scottish Text Society) (Edinburgh, 1914), volume ii, pages xxxiii-xxxiv. This manuscript is discussed also (with the other surviving copies), in more detail, in ‘Deidis of Armorie’. edited by L A J R Houwen (Scottish Text Society, 1994), volume i, pages lxx-lxxvii. A description of and extracts from this manuscript were printed at page 55, and what follows, of the preliminary dissertation in ‘Complaynt of Scotland’, edited by John Leyden (Edinburgh, 1801).
Boece, Hector. ‘Scotorum historiae’ (Paris, 1527).
Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland
Date
10 07 2015
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
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