Copies, 17th century, of documents relating to heraldry.
Scope and Contents
The contents of the manuscript are as follows:
(i) A treatise on heraldry in 28 chapters, with particular reference to the Court of the Lord Lyon, 1661 (page 1). The last chapter is a copy of the proclamation, 1447, of Arthur, Constable of France and later Duke of Brittany. See Adv.MSS.31.5.2, folio 1, and 31.3.20, folio 1.
(ii) `Kinges of armes and heraulds in Ingland 1628` (pages 75, 79). This has been numbered Cap.29 in continuation of (i). The work has been printed, from Adv.MS.15.2.13, in ‘Ancient heraldic and antiquarian tracts’, pages 131-140.
(iii) Memorial of Margaret, Countess of Lennox (page 77). ‘Ancient heraldic and antiquarian tracts’, pages 143-145.
(iv) `De gubernatione et reformatione officiariorum armorum` (page 91). ‘Ancient heraldic and antiquarian tracts’, pages 141-142. The first two items are closely related to the early 15th-century Ordinances of Thomas, Duke of Clarence (see ‘Heralds and Heraldry in the Middle Ages’, page 136).
(v) `De officio comitis Mariscalli Angliae` (page 93). Four miscellaneous items copied from a book belonging to William Le Neve, York Herald (later Garter), which was itself copied from records in the Tower of London.
(vi) `Orders to be observed ... by the officers of armes’ made by Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, the Earl Marshal, 1569 (page 95).
(vii) Confirmation of heralds` fees by Thomas, Earl of Derby, 1511 (page 107).
(viii) Grant by Richard II of the office of Earl Marshal to Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham, 1385 (page 109). See ‘Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1385-1389’, page 11.
(ix) Order of the commissioners for the office of Earl Marshal of England, 1618 (page 113). See ‘Calendar of State Papers, Domestic series, 1611-1618’, page 593.
(x) Statute of Thomas, Earl of Arundel concerning admission to the office of herald, 1613 (page 121).
(xi) Royal commission for the restoration of the office of Earl Marshal of Scotland, 1626 (page 123).
(xii) `The office and Fies of the great Chalmerlane of Ingland at the Kings Coronation`, undated (page 129).
There are incomplete lists of contents on folios i-ii.
Dates
- Creation: 1385-1661.
Extent
0.00 Linear metres (v folios + 130 + several blank pages. Folio.)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
17th-century binding of brown sheepskin, gilt-stamped with crowns and fleurs-de-lys, rebacked 1931.
Custodial History
The manuscript was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1698, with Sir James Balfour`s library, Denmilne number 68.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
Wagner, Anthony R. ‘Heralds and Heraldry in the Middle Ages’ (Oxford, 1958).
‘Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1385-1389’.
‘Calendar of State Papers, Domestic series, 1611-1618’.
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 10 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
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk