Early 15th-century manuscript containing copies of English law statutes, including the 'Magna Carta' and the 'Statuta Lincolni'; 'Prerogativa regis'; 'Consuetudines Londoni'.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.28.7.5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Early 15th-century manuscript produced in England, containing a collection of English law statutes. The work is written by a number of contemporary hands in a bastarda script, normally with 23 lines to a page.

The contents are as follows:

Paper and vellum flyleaves with ownership and shelfmark inscriptions. Folios i-iv.

Table of contents, in a 15th-century hand. Folio 1rv.

Later insertions of various statutes, in a 15th-century hand. Folios 2r-4v.

English law statutes, beginning with the 'Magna Carta', including the 'Carta Foresta', and the 'Statuta Lincolni'. Folios 5r-179r.

The King's Prerogative, 'Prerogativa Regis'. Folios 179r-184r.

'Consuetudines Londoni', with a few other laws and consuetudes of England. Folios 184v-203v.

Vellum flyleaf containing worn annotations and inscriptions in contemporary hands. Folio v.

The remaining paper flyleaves vi-vii are blank.

On folios 5r-183r there is a running header in red in the upper margin.

Occasionally the scribe has numbered statutes with Roman numerals in the margin, though these are often cropped.

The manuscript is decorated with large initials in blue and red alternately, with penwork decoration in red or blue extending into the margins. Rubrics are given in red and paraphs in blue and red alternately. Folios 184v onwards are not decorated, but guides for the letters and headings are visible.

Each folio has been lined and ruled recto and verso.

Pricking is occasionally visible for the horizontal lines, particularly at the start of the volume.

Dates

Creation: Early 15th century.

Creator

Balfour, James, Sir, 1st Baronet of Denmilne and Kinnaird (antiquary) (Former owner, Person)

Language of Materials

Latin

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

1 Volumes

Additional Description

Arrangement

i-iv + 203 + v-vii folios.

Custodial History

The volume was once in the possession of a John Pakyngton or Pakington, as recorded in an inscription on the verso side of folio iii. This signature is possibly of the early part of the 16th century.

The manuscript once belonged to Sir James Balfour of Denmilne. The Denmilne number, 45, is present on the recto of folio iv, and his device is present on folio 203v.

The volume was bought by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates at the sale of Sir James Balfour's goods in 1698. There are ownership inscriptions for the Library on the recto of folios ii, iv, and 2.

The previous shelfmark assigned to the item by the Library fo the Faculty of Advocates is present on the recto of folios ii and iv, 'A.6.25', since superseded.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deposited, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates.

Bibliography

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.
'Folio Catalogue of Manuscripts: Law' (Unpublished manuscript, Edinburgh [18??]), folio 39. NLS Reference: FR.185.
'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 70, number 872; page 102, number 1294.

Physical Description

Vellum. The binding is of brown leather and dates to the 18th century. The front and back boards have gold-tooled borders. The three edges of the boards are tooled in gold. The spine has raised bands and extensive gold-tooled floral designs. THere is the remnant of a Library sticker on the tail end. There is a gold-tooled title, partly worn, which reads: 'MAGN[A] CHA[R]TA'. Folios i-ii and vi-vii are watermarked with the Maid of Dort 'Pro Patria' design. The bolts have not been cut on folios vi and vii.