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Manuscript,1589, of a poem by Jacob Jacobsen Wolf in honour of the marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark; with a printed work, 'Cenotaphium illustrissimo principi ac Domino Friderico II' (Rostochij, S. Myliander, 1588).

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.19.3.29

Scope and Contents

Manuscript, probably written in Denmark, containing a complete copy of Jacob Jacobsen Wolf's wedding poem to King James VI and Princess Anne of Denmark. Harsting suggests that this manuscript is Wolf's original version of the Latin text and is written in his hand, in a humanistic script.

The verses are written across the spread of two pages, from the verso of one leaf to the recto of the next.

The manuscript was written in 1589, and Harsting suggests late November to mid-December 1589 as a possible time of writing.

Harsting further notes that certain differences to the text as well as the absence of corrections in this manuscript implies that it was copied by Wolf after he had amended the Rosenkilde manuscript - the copy of the wedding poem which was to be sent to the printer in Copenhagen.

On folio 1r is a dedication from Wolf to John Maitlaind, Chancellor to James VI. The dedication reads: 'Magnifico et amplissimo Domino, D[omino] Johanni Me[t]landi serenissimae Scotorum Regiae Maiestatis Cancellario, d[omi]no suo et mecaenati benigniss[imo] clientulus Jacobus Jacobaeus.'

Folio 1v is blank.

The poem itself runs from folio 2v-11v.

On folio 11v the poem ends with a chronogram in which the capital letters are to be read as Roman numerals. The numbers in the manuscript give the date of the wedding.

The printed publication that follows is a prose oration on the death of Frederick II of Denmark: 'Cenotaphium illustrissimo principi ac Domino Friderico II' (S. Myliander, Rostochij, 1588). Further detail can be found on the Library's online catalogue.

Dates

  • Creation: 1589.

Creator

Language of Materials

In Latin with a word in Greek on folio 11v.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

1 Volumes ; 15.5cm x 10cm x 1.5cm

Arrangement

i-ii + 38 + iii folios.

The manuscript portion of the volume is on folios 1-11.

The printed portion of the volume is on folios 12-38.

Collation of manuscript material: a² (flyleaves, tipped in), b⁶, c⁶

The flyleaves have been tipped in after the first leaf of quire b, which is pasted down to the inner of the front cover.

Custodial History

The manuscript was dedicated to John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlstane and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, but it is unclear if the volume was ever in his possession.

The volume was later owned by John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe. The manuscript was bought at the sale of his goods by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates in 1812.

The previous shelfmark assigned to the manuscript by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates is present on the recto of folio i, '[Aq].2.18', 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

Borland, C. R. 'Catalogue of Mediaeval Manuscripts in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh', 4 Volumes. (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh, 1906-1908). Volume III, folios 702-703. NLS Reference: FR.198a/3.

'A Catalogue of the Library of the Late John Duke of Roxburghe ... sold by auction ... on Monday 18th May 1812...' (London, 1812), page 81, number 2824.

'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Poetry' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [18??]), folio 36. NLS Reference: FR.190.

Harsting, P. 'JACOBUS JACOBAEUS VOLFIUS: "CARMEN IN NUPTIAS JACOBI VI REGIS SCOTIAE ET ANNAE" (1589). Edited with a Study of the Autograph Sources', Humanistica Lovaniensia, Volume 50 (2001), pages 329-349.

Kristeller, P. O. 'Iter Italicum Accedunt Alia Itinera: A Finding List of Uncatalogued or Incompletely Catalogued Humanistic Manuscripts of the Renaissance in Italian and Other Libraries' (London, 1989), page 18.

'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 85, number 1051.

Wolf, J. J. 'Cenotaphium illustrissimo principi ac Domino Friderico II' (S. Myliander, Rostochij, 1588).

Wolf, J. J. 'Carmen in Nuptias ... Jacobi VI. Scotiae Regis et ... Annae ... Friderici II. Daniae Norwegiae etc. Regis Filiae' (Hafniae, L. Benedictus, 1590).

Physical Description

Paper.

The binding is plain vellum, probably of the late 16th or early 17th century. The front and back covers have blind-tooled borders and tooled corner designs. In the centre of each cover is a lozenge featuring curvilinear designs of scrolls, spirals, and curlicues. The fore-edges of the covers are bevelled. The back has remnants of library stickers on the head and tail ends. The sewing is visible for the shoulder joints. There are remnants on the fore-edge of each cover of green tie-cords, since lost. In the centre of the front cover is a sticker which has the Roxburghe sale lot number, 2824.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

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