Skip to main content

Notebook of Richard Augustine Hay apparently originally intended for notes (folio 1), meditations and extracts (folios 1-10 inverted) of a religious character, but used almost entirely for transcripts of documents relating to the family of Sinclair of Rosslyn (folios 3-83).

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.32.6.2

Scope and Contents

Following the transcripts are a list of books ‘of help for Composing our history’ (folio 84) and transcripts of two charters apparently unrelated to Rosslyn or the Sinclairs.

The notes and transcripts are all undated but were doubtless made before the writing of Adv.MSS.34.1.8-34.1.9 was begun in 1700. Most perhaps were made by Hay when he was in Scotland between 1686 and 1690; Slezer`s ‘Theatrum Scotiæ’ (first published 1693) is mentioned at folio 86. The watermark of the leaves suggests that Hay acquired the notebook whilst he was on the Continent before his return to Scotland in 1686.

Leaves have been cut out before folio 1, folio 3 and folio 1 inverted: folio 87 is blank.

Dates

  • Creation: 4th quarter of 17th century.

Extent

0.00 Linear metres (88 + 10 inverted folios. Octavo.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

The notebook was probably acquired by the Advocates’ Library shortly after 1820.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Related Materials

The transcripts (or at least, several of them) were recopied as illustrative or explanatory material in his account of the Sinclair family in Adv.MS.34.1.9(i), folios 121, and what follows (the first at folio 143 verso).

Bibliography

Slezer, John. ‘Theatrum Scotiæ’ (London, 1693).
Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland
Date
14 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