Manuscript of ‘Historia Romana’ by Paulus Diaconus and ‘Index commentariorum G. Julii Caesaris’ by Raimundus Marlianus, probably written by Robert Braidfut.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.3.10

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

(i) ‘Historia Romana’ by Paulus Diaconus. The title in the manuscript is ‘Incipit Eutropius historiographus et post eum Paulus diaconus de historiis Italie provincie et romanorum’, but the whole text is the recension of Eutropius by Paulus.

There are 18 books, the normal book xii being divided at chaper 8, and book xvii being included (cf. Crivellucci in ‘Bulletino dell’ Istituto storico italiano’, xl, page xlviii and what follows). The text is of the second class (cf. Crivellucci in ‘Bulletino dell’ Istituto storico italiano’, xl, page xviii and what follows) (folio 1).

(ii)‘Index commentariorum G. Julii Caesaris’ by Raimundus Marlianus (folio 100).

Subscription (folio 90 verso): ‘Explicit Eutropius historiographus. Anno dmm[m]º, cccc.lxxxiº. Vltimo die mensis Octobris,’ followed by the signature ‘Ro.Braidfut’, which is also added on folio 132 verso.

Ornamental initials in red or blue or both.

Some of the marginalia at folios 100-132 verso (passim) are by Archibald Whitelaw, secretary to James III.

Dates

Creation: 1481.

Extent

1 Volumes (iv + 132 + iv folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1-9¹⁰,10¹⁰ (-10¹, probably blank), 11-12¹², 13¹² (-13¹⁰⁻¹², probably blank). Catchwords below and at right angles to the right-hand lower corner of the text. Pricking with a flat awl in the outer margins, from first recto to last verso of each gathering. Ruling in ink. 1 column. 26-27 lines in gatherings 1-10, 28 in gatherings 11-13. Ruled area 165 x 112 millimetres in gatherings 1-10, 175 x 112 in gatherings 11-13. Secundo folio: `a[*n]is xviii qui’.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Paper (watermarks: gothic P, cf. Briquet 8619; gothic P, cf. Briquet 8610; hand, cf. Briquet 11417; vase, cf. Briquet 12478; all French, late 1470s). Binding of brown sheepskin, tooled blind and in gilt, circa 1640 (rebacked, 1970; vellum strips formerly used to strengthen the folds are now in Adv.MS.84.1.20).

Other Finding Aids

A detailed index to (i) is on folio 91 (from circa 1640 to 1970 this was bound in at the end of Adv.MS.18.3.11).

Custodial History

Notes of ownership: ‘Ex libris magistri davidis conyngami ax dono-‘ (David Cunynghame, Bishop of Aberdeen, died 1600) (folio 132 verso); ‘Ex libris andreȩ Broun ex dono Davidis episcopi aberdonensis` (folio 90 verso); ex libris of Sir James Balfour, dated 1630 (folio 1) (Denmilne number 38 on folio iii). It was number 10 and 14 in the sale of Balfour`s books in 1698. Former pressmark: A.5.46. The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1698.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Bibliography

Diaconus, Paulus. ‘Historia Romana’, edited by A Crivellucci (Rome, 1914) (first printed at Rome, 1471).

Marlianus, Raimundus. ‘Index commentariorum G. Julii Caesaris’ (first printed in the edition of Caesar by Petrus Justinus Philelphus, Milan, 1477, and frequently reprinted in the 15th and 16th centuries).
(i) is II number 28 in the list given by Crivellucci in ‘Bulletino dell’ Istituto storico italiano’, xl, 1921, 7 and what follows.