17th-century transcripts of foundation charters of religious houses in Scotland made by Sir James Balfour; and a transcript, probably late 16th-century, of the Chartulary of Balmerino Abbey.
Scope and Contents
A volume containing transcripts of foundation charters of religious houses in Scotland in the hand of Sir James Balfour, and a late 16th-century transcript of the Chartulary of Balmerino Abbey.
The two sets of transcripts were probably brought together in the mid-17th century, and were certainly together before the death of Charles Fairfax in 1673. The volume is interleaved, which was probably done in the late 18th century, with insertions also added at the end.
Folios 1-24 contain the 17th century transcripts by Balfour.
Folio 25 is an interleaf.
Folios 26-81 contain the 16th-century transcript of the Chartulary of Balmerino Abbey.
Folios 82-85 are later insertions. (1754, 1773, and early 19th century).
On folio 82r is a continuation of a charter which was defective in the volume, in a hand of the early 19th century. The verso is blank.
Folios 83 and 84 apparently contain a copy of charter by Alexander I in favour of the convent of Scone, as stated by a heading on folio 83r. On folio 44v there is an endorsement which reads: 'From the Chartulary of Scone in the Possession of the Visc[oun]t of Stormont now (1773) in the Advocates Library. A.B.'.
Folio 85 is a letter dated September 6, 1754, possibly from Reverend Nicholas Brett to Bishop Robert Keith. The letter contains a list of the charter copies and details about the Balmerino transcript. Following this there are descriptions of three other manuscripts which were all apparently in the possession of Colonel Charles Fairfax. The letter ends with a custodial history of the volumes and a short account of Colonel Charles Fairfax.
Dates
- Creation: Late 16th century and 1st half of 17th century.
Creator
- Fairfax, Charles, Colonel (Antiquary and Genealogist) (Former owner, Person)
- Keith, Robert (Scottish Episcopal bishop and Historian) (Former owner, Person)
- Fairfax, Elizabeth (Great-granddaughter of Colonel Charles Fairfax) (Former owner, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
1 Volumes ; 32.2cm x 21.3cm x 1.7cm
Language of Materials
Latin
Arrangement
85 folios, including interleaved folios and later additions to the rear.
Custodial History
In the 17th century the manuscript belonged to Colonel Charles Fairfax.
On folio 24r, the end of a copy of the Lindores chartulary, the following is inscribed in Sir James Balfour's hand: 'ffor the Rt honorable and My worthy Noble frind Colonell Fairfax'.
There are inscriptions on folio 26r, the start of the Balmerino material, in the hand of Colonel Fairfax which read: 'This is for ye Learned Antiquary Mr Rogir Dodsworth to peruse and then return unto C Fairfax.'; 'My nobl frend Sr James Balfour, Knyght and Baronett, Lord Lyon has the originall in a small octavo, very ancient and now scarce legible in many places.'
The manuscript was next in the possession of Fairfax's greatgrand-daughter, Elizabeth Fairfax, as attested to by an inserted letter, folio 85. This letter, dated 1754, was pobably addressed to Bishop Keith, to whom Elizabeth Fairfax donated the manuscript with the assistance of Nicholas Brett, possibly an acquaintance of Keith's.
The manuscript was bequeathed by Bishop Keith to the Library of the Faculty of Advocates upon his death in 1757, as recorded in an inscription on the paste-down of the front board.
There are ownership inscriptions for the Library on the paste-down of the front board and folio 1r.
The previous shelfmark assigned to the manuscript by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates is present on the paste-down of the front board, 'W.2.29', since superseded.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Turnbull, W. B. D. D. 'The Chartularies of Balmerino and Lindores: Now First Printed from the Original MSS. in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates' Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh, 1841).
Cunningham, I. C. 'Medieval Cartularies of Great Britain: amendments and additions to the Scottish section of Davis', in 'Monastic Research Bulletin', 3 (1997), pages 1-6.
Cunningham, I. C. 'Sir James Balfour's Manuscript Collection: The 1698 Catalogue and other sources', in 'Edinburgh Bibliographical Society Transactions', Volume VI, Part 6 (2004), pages 191-255.
Davis, G. R. C. (ed.) 'Medieval Cartularies of Great Britain and Ireland. Revised by Claire Breay, Julian Harrison, and David M. Smith' (London, 2010), page 229, number 1124.
'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Chartularies' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [18??]), folio 13. NLS Reference: FR.189.
'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Historical' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [18??]), folio161 . NLS Reference: FR.186.
Turnbull, W. B. D. D. 'Fragmenta Scoto-Monastica: Memoir of what has been already done, and what materials exist, towards the formation of a Scotish (sic) Monasticon.' (Edinburgh, 1842), page 4.
Hammond, M. H. 'Syllabus of Scottish Cartularies, Series Two. Calendars of Printed Scottish Cartularies: Balmerino Abbey' (2006). Available online: https://scottishmedievalcharters.wordpress.com/scottish-cartularies/
'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 15, number 144.
Physical Description
Paper.
The binding is from the late 18th century, of light brown leather with marbled paper covering the outer of the front and back boards. The marbled paper is cropped at the corners to suggest the appearance of a quarter-binding. The back has has raised bands and a library sticker with shelfmark on the tail end.
The paper of the interleaved folios is modern and bears a 'Maid of Dort' Pro Patria watermark, as well as the letters 'L G V'. The paper of the two transcripts have various watermarks. Folios 1-12 have watermarks of an elaborate design, possibly a heraldic shield, above which is a fleur-de-lis and below which is lettering, most visbile on folios 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, and 21. Folios 26-81 are watermarked with pots.
Folio 42 has a Pro Patria 'Britannia' watermark. Folios 43 and 44 are watermarked with the initials 'G R' and a design which is obscured by faintness and the overlay of writing.
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk